For winter tyres, Japanese prefer Michelins

ERJ staff report (DS)

Tokyo - Japanese drivers have, for the 9th consecutive year, ranked Michelin as the winter tyre brand to bring most satisfaction.

A new study from J D Power finds that customer satisfaction with winter tyre performance on icy roads has improved during the past six years, surpassing satisfaction with performance on dry or wet roads, which has decreased during the same period. Customers express the lowest satisfaction with winter tyres regarding the basic performance characteristics: poor fuel economy and ride, noise, and fast tyre wear.

The study, now in its ninth year, measures customer satisfaction with winter tyres by examining six key factors: tyre performance in snow-covered road conditions (25 percent); performance in icy road conditions (22 percent); durability/reliability (17 percent); ride/quietness on dry or wet roads (14 percent); handling/traction on dry or wet roads (12 percent); and appearance (11 percent).

In addition, the study finds that changes have occurred in customer purchase behaviors during the past six years. The percentage of customers who compare brands at the time of winter tyre purchase has increased to 42 percent, an 8-percentage-point increase from the 2005 study.

Among the 10 brands ranked in the study, Michelin ranks highest in overall in customer satisfaction for a ninth consecutive year with a score of 644 points. Michelin performs particularly well across all factors. Bridgestone ranks second with a score of 614.

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Press release from J D Power