Bridgestone, Michelin, Dunlop, score top in JD Power Japanese survey

ERJ staff report (DS)

Tokyo -- Bridgestone came top in three tyre categories in Japan, according to the latest J D Power customer OE satisfaction survey. Bridgestone out-ranked all oter suppliers in the SUV segment, mini car segment and the mini-van segment.

Michelin topped the passenger car segment for the fifth consecutive year.

Dunlop won top ranking in the mini car segment, however, it was only one point ahead of Bridgestone and Yokohama.

These rankings aside, J D Power noted that when customers have a good experience with OE tyres, they tend to buy more replacement tyres in the same brand.

The study finds that, on average, 74 percent of owners are likely to purchase replacement summer tyres that are of the same brand as their original equipment tyres. However, among highly satisfied customers (satisfaction scores averaging 800 or higher on a 1,000-point scale), this figure increases to 88 percent.

In addition, among owners who have previously used a brand of summer replacement tyres other than the brand of original equipment tyres on their new vehicle, an average of 19 percent are likely to switch to their OE tyre brand for their next set of summer replacement tyres. However, this figure increases considerably-to 46 percent-among owners who are highly satisfied with their OE tyres (scores averaging 800 or higher).

“It is important for tyre manufacturers to improve customer satisfaction with OE tyres in order to retain their existing customers and acquire new customers in the summer tyre market,” said Tetsushi Furuya, project manager at J.D. Power Asia Pacific, Tokyo.

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Press release from J D Power