Michelin, Pirelli Rank Highest in Customer Satisfaction · 09/14/2006
Michelin and Pirelli have taken the top accolades in J.D. Power’s 2006 survey of customer satisfaction with their OEM tires, with Michelin taking the top spot in the luxury/sport, pickup/full-size van, and SUV categories, and Pirelli ranking highest in the mass-market/nonluxury category.
According to J.D. Power, the study “measures owner satisfaction with the original tires that came equipped on their new vehicle[s],” and factors in the “appearance, handling, ride, traction, and wearability” of the tires. “Issues such as poor traction/grip on dry roads and fast tread wear can have a more significant impact on a customer’s overall impression of a tire brand,” said Carolyn McBeth, J.D. Power’s director of automotive component research.
(Duh. A pair or tires this writer owned a couple of years ago had great traction, but had to be replaced after achieving only 60% of their rated mileage. So scratch brand A, and try B. Only the new tires, which were very highly rated by Consumer Reports, have skidded three times on slightly wet roads at very low speeds. Which is not good, to say the least.)
“This study brings Michelin’s total to an impressive 48 [J.D. Power] awards in the United States, more than four times the number of all other tire makers combined,” according to a statement by Michelin. In addition to its three top scores, Michelin took second place behind Pirelli in the mass-market/nonluxury category.
With some margins of victory very narrow, second place was not to be sniffed at. In the luxury/sport segment, Pirelli and Goodyear were nearly tied for second and third place, while in the pickup/full-size van and SUV categories, Goodyear and BFGoodrich took the second and third spots, respectively.
— Rim & Tire Wholesalers
