WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. (March 28, 2013) — Owners of 2011- and 2012-model-year cars in the U.S. rate Michelin as the No. 1 OE brand in the latest J.D. Power and Associates' OE tire customer satisfaction survey, while light truck/utility vehicle owners rate Pirelli as the top brand.
Car owners named Michelin as the top brand in the three passenger car segments that J.D. Power tracks: standard, luxury and performance/sport.
The 2013 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study is based on responses from more than 30,835 new-vehicle owners who purchased a 2011 or 2012 model-year vehicle. The study was conducted during October-December 2012.
Michelin earned satisfaction ratings of 720, 775 and 751 out of 1,000 possible points in the standard, luxury and performance categories, J.D. Power said, while Pirelli earned a 737 rating in the truck/utility category.
Finishing behind Michelin and above the industry average in the standard passenger segment were Pirelli, Goodyear and Firestone. Michelin was the only brand in the luxury segment abover the industry average, while Pirelli was nearly on par with Michelin in the performance/sport segment.
Likewise, Michelin was nearly equal with Pirelli in the truck/utility segment, the data show. Bridgestone and BF Goodrich also finished above the industry average.
J.D. Power measures tire owner satisfaction in four factors: tire wearability; tire appearance; tire traction/handling; and tire ride. Rankings are based on owner experiences with their tires after two years of vehicle ownership.
Overall satisfaction with OE tires in the latest survey is 686, unchanged from 2012, J.D. Power said. Satisfaction increased in wearability, appearance and traction handling but fell in ride.
Satisfaction is highest in the luxury segment, with an average score of 738, followed by the performance sports segment at 728 and the passenger car and truck/utility segments tied at 676.
For a fourth consecutive year, customers reported experiencing fewer tire problems.
On average, customers report 74 problems per 100 vehicles, an improvement from 76 in 2012 and 84 in 2011, J.D. Power said. The most frequently reported problems are road hazards/punctures, slow leaks, excessive road noise and fast tread wear.
Satisfaction is 135 points lower among customers who experience a specific tire problem than among those who do not experience any problems.
J.D. Power is a global marketing information services company providing forecasting, performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. It is a business unit of McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.