When purchasing a new car, the specific tires it comes equipped with might not be the first feature considered, but recent data show that many vehicles now come with top-notch original-equipment tires from esteemed brands like Michelin, Goodyear, and Continental. According to a J.D. Power survey, overall satisfaction with these tires is high, although EV owners report less satisfaction, possibly due to the faster wear of tires designed for electric vehicles.

The J.D. Power U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study, which uses a 1,000-point scale to measure owner satisfaction, found that scores in each of the four categories were around 800 points. The study highlights a satisfaction gap between EV and gasoline-powered vehicle owners, pointing to a need for better communication about the performance characteristics of EV-specific tires.

The survey results are categorized by vehicle type, showing how different brands rank according to consumer satisfaction:

J.D. Power new-car tire rankings:

• Truck/utility

  • Falken, 818 points

  • BFGoodrich, 812

  • Hankook, 804

  • Michelin, 802

  • Goodyear, 789

  • Bridgestone, 783

  • Pirelli, 783

  • Segment average, 781

  • Continental, 765

  • Firestone, 725

• Performance/Sport

  • Michelin, 833

  • Segment average, 809

  • Pirelli, 798

  • Goodyear, 788

• Passenger car

  • Michelin, 823

  • Goodyear, 811

  • Kumho, 799

  • Bridgestone, 797

  • Segment average, 797

  • Yokohama, 793

  • Falken, 787

  • Pirelli, 787

  • Continental, 786

  • Firestone, 786

  • Hankook, 785

  • Nexen, 783

  • Toyo, 769

• Luxury

  • Michelin, 834

  • Goodyear, 812

  • Continental, 811

  • Segment average, 810

  • Bridgestone, 803

  • Pirelli, 793

These rankings illustrate the competitive landscape of tire manufacturers and the importance of selecting the right tires for both performance and satisfaction. When considering a new vehicle, it may be worthwhile to research and possibly even book a test drive to assess the vehicle's tires and how they contribute to the overall driving experience.