What's America's Favorite Tire?

Issue #189

When was the last time you did some thorough research on your tires? If you haven’t, it turns out you’re not alone. 

Let’s talk about tires, and  why you should pay more attention to them!

Or, you can continue to read by scrolling down.

Market News

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Video Of The Week

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In The Know

This Is America’s Favorite Tire!

When was the last time you put some thought into your tires? Chances are, like many of us, you read some reviews online and consider factors such as the seasons, how many miles you drive, and price. That’s about it.

By the way, here’s how you can run into hefty fines if you don’t change your tires before April 1st.

The reality is that choosing tires isn’t necessarily easy. There are factors such as treadwear, sidewall height, and even how much load you’re carrying (or towing, as is the case with this example).

The topic gets even more complex when we’re talking about EVs. Since electric vehicles use regenerative braking, their tires are even more important for vehicle performance and safety.

As this article highlights, some manufacturers, such as Continental and Michelin, say all their tires are EV-compatible, but Michelin also sells EV-specific options.

So, make up your mind, Michelin.

It’s normal to feel lost. However, there are some excellent resources that can guide you in your next choice. For example, if you have already decided to go with all-season tires because they fit where you live, this article gives you 12 excellent options based on treadwear lifespan.

It doesn’t stop there. We can even know what America’s favorite tire company is, thanks to JD Power.

This survey is honestly fascinating because it’s not about the latest data. Instead, it’s a look into what owning these tires from 2023 to 2025 truly means. To achieve this, the company surveyed 38,244 owners.

So, what’s America’s favorite tire? One company almost got a clean sweep, and it’s Michelin.

Michelin got first place in the luxury, passenger car, and sports car segments. Meanwhile, Goodyear got second place in those same categories.

However, everything changes when discussing the truck/utility segment, as Pirelli ranked highest in satisfaction, with BFGoodrich second and Michelin third.

On the other end of the scale, if you want to know which brand ranked lowest, you can read the survey here.

Have you used any of these tires? Let us know your experience.

JD Power isn’t the only company making valuable surveys. Rival Consumer Reports also released its list for the best car tires of 2026, with some surprising results. It’s important to note that these are specific models and not brands in general.

While Michelin took top honors in many of the categories, it’s surprising to see lower-ranking brands on JD Power get honorable mentions in this list.

Then Consumer Reports also gave us data on something just as valuable: where’s the best place to buy them? Let’s just say that Walmart doesn’t earn first place.

However, it’s also important to look at the bigger picture. These surveys also tell of an important consumer behavior, in which both JD Power and Consumer Reports agree. 

Car owners are likely to stick to the OEM tires unless something extreme happens. So, if you’re buying a new car with Michelins, it’s a good sign.