Michelin Tires Review - Brand Guide

‍About Michelin Tires

Founded more than 100 years ago, Michelin has grown to become one of the leading tire brands worldwide.

It’s renowned for its rigorous testing, high-quality standards, technological innovations as well as extended treadwear warranties.

And this explains why their prices are on the higher side, compared to those sold by the other brands.

Also, it’s among the few tire brands that offer mileage warranty for winter tires, which is quite a rarity in the industry.

Its tires are available in a wide range of sizes and types, including all-season tires, all-terrain tires, and performance tires, just to name a few.

Most Popular Michelin Tires

Michelin offers a vast selection of tires. Whether you are looking for all-season tires, all-terrain tires, summer tires, or winter tires, Michelin has numerous options for you.

It also sells tires for different vehicles and applications such as passenger touring tires, commercial highway tires, and performance tires, among others.

Some of its most popular tires include:

Michelin Primacy Tour A/S

The Michelin Primacy Tour A/S is a grand-touring all-season tire, designed for drivers of crossovers, coupes, family sedans and coupes.

According to Michelin, this tire is built to deliver a luxurious, premium and enjoyable driving experience.

And as you may expect, its price is considerably higher than most of the others in its category. But does it deliver according to expectations? Let’s take a closer look.

Performance on Dry Tarmac

Without a doubt, the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S is one of the best all-season grand touring tires when it comes to performance on dry pavement.

It delivers precise and direct steering, thus making the ride more responsive. It also delivers outstanding feedback from the road, resulting in a thrilling ride.

And when it comes to traction and grip on dry surfaces, the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S is up there with the best in its category.

Unlike some of the other all-season grand touring tires, you will not experience any loss of cornering grip, even when you are moving at high speeds.

I also noted how competent and dependable it is, especially when you are accelerating or braking.

Overall, this tire will not disappoint you when you are driving on dry surfaces. Its grip on the surface is impressive, the steering is precise and its road manners are great.

Performance on Wet and Slippery Surfaces

When driving with this tire on wet surfaces, I noticed that its responsiveness on wet surfaces is considerably low, compared to dry roads.

For instance, it doesn’t react to your inputs as fast as you would want. Also, the steering response is not as great as I was expecting from a premium grand touring all-season tire.

Nonetheless, its traction and grip on wet surfaces remain superb and you will not experience any issues.

Its hydroplaning resistance is also excellent, thanks to the wide circumferential grooves on its tread.

Also, its braking distances on wet surfaces remained short, meaning you don’t have to worry about safety issues.

Performance on Snowy Roads

Its traction on snowy roads is much better compared to most of the other all-season grand touring tires that I have used.

On light snow, this tire will deliver some dependable traction. It will also provide some usable traction when you encounter ice-covered roads.

But with that said, it’s important to mention that this is not a proper winter or snow tire. And it cannot replace a dedicated winter tire.

And as we always say, if you live in an area that experiences heavy snowing for several months, then you should simply opt for a proper winter tire.

Ride Quality

As mentioned earlier, Michelin designed this tire to deliver a luxurious and comfortable driving experience.

And it delivers according to expectations when it comes to ride quality. It feels comfortable on the road, even when you are driving at highway speeds.

I also loved how quiet this tire is. Whether you are driving at slower or higher speeds, you will not experience any road noise.

Should You Buy the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S?

The Michelin Primacy Tour A/S performs according to expectations. It delivers outstanding performance in almost all areas. It’s also backed by a solid treadwear warranty.

So, if you are looking for a premium grand-touring all-season tire that will have stable and responsive handling as well as a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience, then the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S deserves consideration.

Michelin Latitude Tour

The Michelin Latitude Tour is an all-season tire, designed for light-duty trucks, crossovers and SUVs.

According to Michelin, this tire is engineered to deliver superior traction in wet and dry conditions, enhanced fuel efficiency, as well as a quiet and cozy ride.

It’s also one of the most expensive tires in its class. So, does it perform as expected and offer value for money? Let’s find out.

Performance in Dry Conditions

Its overall performance on dry roads is impressive. The steering is precise and it feels responsive all through.

It also maintains outstanding directional stability, even when your vehicle is moving at higher speeds.

Having driven on this tire several times, I can confidently say that its levels of traction and grip on dry roads are among the best in the class.

Cornering grip even at high speeds is impressive and the braking distances remain short.

Performance in Wet and Slippery Conditions

Some all-season tires lose traction and grip whenever they encounter wet and slippery conditions.

Fortunately, you will not experience such issues with this tire. It’s one of the best all-season tires for driving in wet conditions.

Its tread features four wide circumferential grooves, which channel water away from its surface, thus ensuring superb hydroplaning resistance.

It also delivers short braking distances in wet and slippery conditions. What sets it apart from the other tires in its category is that it will continue providing safe and dependable traction in wet conditions, even as it wears down.

Performance on Snowy Roads

Michelin has equipped this tire with numerous zigzag sipes on its tread, which provide additional biting edges on light snow.

However, you are not assured of a safe driving experience, if you encounter roads covered with heavy snow.

So, if your area experiences severe wintry conditions, you should just use a dedicated winter or snow tire.

Off-Road Driving

The Michelin Latitude Tour is a touring, all-season tire, meaning it’s designed to be used on paved roads.

And as much as you can use it on hard packed surfaces, it may not deliver adequate grip and traction on such surfaces.

It also lacks the technologies and design features present in dedicated off-road tires, meaning it may be easily punctured and bruised.

Furthermore, using this tire for off-roading activities may void its warranty. Hence, if you are planning to be going for off-roading trips frequently, it will be highly advisable to equip your vehicle with proper off-road tires.

Ride Quality

Does the Michelin Latitude Tour deliver a refined and comfortable ride? From a personal experience, I was particularly impressed by how comfortable and quiet the tire is.

Its enjoyable and comfortable ride can be attributed to Michelin’s Comfort Control Technology, which has been utilized in this tire.

It absorbs small potholes and large bumps with ease while road noise is negligible, even when you are driving at highway speeds.

Should You Buy the Michelin Latitude Tour?

The Michelin Latitude Tour performs according to expectations. Its traction on wet and dry roads is great, its steering response and cornering are outstanding and its ride quality is impressive.

However, it can do with some improvements, especially when it comes to traction on snow-covered roads.

But overall, this tire will be a decent choice, if you are looking for a dependable all-season touring tire for your truck or SUV.

Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4

The Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 is an ultra-high-performance all-season tire, specifically designed for high-performance SUVs, coupes, sedans and crossovers.

It’s engineered to deliver dependable cornering at high speeds, excellent braking on dry roads, enhanced wet braking, usable traction in light snow, as well as a quiet and comfortable ride.

The question is, does it manage to tick all these boxes? Let’s take a closer look.

Performance on Dry Roads

As mentioned above, the Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 is designed to deliver impressive traction and grip on dry roads.

And it doesn’t disappoint. Once you hit the road with this tire, your vehicle will immediately feel connected to the surface beneath.

It also delivers adequate feedback from the road. And as a result, you are assured of an enjoyable ride whenever you are using this tire.

One of the areas that stood out for me is its cornering grip. With this tire, I was able to navigate even the tightest of corners at high speeds.

Furthermore, its braking distances are among the shortest I have observed in this category.

It’s also among the few tires that deliver adequate longitudinal traction, meaning wheelspin is practically nonexistent.

If outstanding steering response, great handling stability and excellent traction on dry roads is what you are looking for, then the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 will be an ideal choice.

Performance on Wet Roads

Most tires that perform well on dry roads don’t work as well as you may expect when it comes to wet and slippery conditions.

But with the Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4, you will never have to worry about such problems.

Its performance in wet and slippery conditions is equally impressive. It handles corners with surprising sure-footedness, even when the surface is wet and slippery.

Besides its superior cornering grip, this tire will also deliver excellent steering responsiveness and balanced handling on wet and slippery surfaces.

Furthermore, its braking distances in rainy conditions are among the shortest in the category.

Its superb wet traction can be attributed to the utilization of a race-inspired tread compound, featuring maximum levels of silica to ensure adequate grip on slippery surfaces.

Its tread also features large circumferential grooves, which help to channel water from beneath the tire, thus preventing hydroplaning.

Performance on Snowy Roads

The Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 is an all-season tire, meaning it’s meant to be used in areas that experience mild weather conditions.

And as you may expect, its performance on snowy roads is poor. While it may provide some usable traction on light snow, it tends to lose most of its grip when you encounter heavy snow or icy roads.

Simply put, this tire should only be an option if you live in an area that experiences light snowing.

Therefore, if you live in an area that experiences heavy snowing or severe wintry conditions, then a proper snow or ice tire will be highly recommended.

Ride Quality

Most of the ultra-high-performance tires that I have used didn’t deliver a comfortable and refined ride.

And this is also the case with this tire. It doesn’t absorb road imperfections, meaning you may experience some vibrations or jarring in the cabin.

You will also hear some road noise, especially when you hit highway speeds. But the noises are not overly intrusive or uncomfortable.

While its ride quality is not as impressive as you may expect given its price, it’s not a deal-breaker.

Should You Buy the Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4?

If you own a high-performance vehicle and you are looking for a tire that can adequately complement your vehicle’s level of performance, then the Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 deserves a spot on your list.

It delivers fun handling, dependable braking, as well as adequate traction on wet and dry roads. But, you should be ready for a noisy and rough ride.

Michelin LTX AT2

If you drive a truck and you frequently switch between driving on paved roads and unpaved roads, then you will need a reliable set of all-terrain tires.

And the Michelin LTX A/T2 is one such tire. However, it’s not the only all-terrain tire on the market. So, how does it match up against the competition? Let’s find out.

On-Road Performance

Whether you are driving on dry, wet or snow-covered tarmac, you are assured of dependable performance and a safe driving experience.

It has been equipped with Michelin’s Biting Edges technology, which helps to increase the tire’s traction on dry roads, dirt, snow, mud and other terrains and conditions.

At the same time, its asymmetric tread pattern, featuring a series of circumferential grooves and lateral grooves help to evacuate water away, resulting in enhanced hydroplaning resistance.

Its braking distances on dry roads, wet surfaces, slippery conditions and snowy roads are impressively short.

Off-Road Performance

As much as the Michelin LTX A/T2 tends to lean more towards on-road driving, it's off-road performance should be capable for most drivers.

It delivers sufficient traction and grip in gravel and dirt. Its traction on loose surfaces is also great, meaning it should be capable of handling loose dirt and sand.

However, it’s important to mention that this is not a dedicated off-road tire. Therefore, it will struggle considerably, especially when you are driving through deep muddy conditions.

Also, it’s not the best choice for rock crawling or harsh off-road conditions. But if your daily drive involves driving on ordinary gravel roads or hard-packed surfaces, then this tire will be more than adequate.

Ride Quality

Ride quality may not be one of the features to consider when buying a set of all-terrain tires.

But despite that, Michelin has still gone ahead and equipped this tire with various features and technologies, to ensure it can deliver a comfortable ride.

For instance, it comes with Michelin’s Comfort Control Technology, which helps to reduce road noise significantly while increasing the ride quality.

When using this tire, you will also notice that it absorbs road imperfections comfortably, thus helping to minimize vibrations and other discomforts.

Its overall driving experience is comfortable, smooth and serene, which is not usually the case with most all-terrain tires.

Should You Buy the Michelin LTX A/T2?

Whether to buy the Michelin LTX A/T2 or not will depend on the road surfaces that you normally drive on and your priorities.

If you spend most of your time driving on paved surfaces and only encounter unpaved surfaces occasionally, then the Michelin LTX A/T2 will be an ideal match for you.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a tire that can tackle harsh off-road terrains and conditions, then this tire will not cut it.

Warranties and Guarantees

Michelin stands behind its tires with strong warranties and guarantees. These warranties and guarantees are offered under the company’s Promise Plan.

The Promise Plan features a workmanship and materials warranty, treadwear warranty, a 60-day customer satisfaction guarantee and roadside assistance service.

Workmanship and Materials Warranty

As the name suggests, this warranty is designed to protect you against loss, if your tire is removed from service due to workmanship and materials defects.

So, if your tire becomes unserviceable due to workmanship and materials defects, Michelin will replace it either with a comparable new one or you will get prorated credit.

If an eligible tire is removed from service during its first 2/32-inch of its original usable tread or within 12 months from the purchase date, Michelin will replace it with a comparable new one, free of charge.

Michelin will also pay for mounting and balancing charges while the buyer will be responsible for applicable taxes and other service charges.

And if the tire is worn by more than 25% of its original tread, Michelin will replace it on a prorated basis.

Coverage under this warranty extends for 6 years from the tire’s date of purchase or until it wears down to its treadwear maintenance indicators, whichever comes first.

Treadwear Warranty

Michelin also offers to replace your tires, if they wear down uniformly across the tread’s surface without attaining the warranted mileage.

But under this warranty, all replacements are done on a pro-rata basis, meaning Michelin doesn’t offer free tire replacements.

Under the pro-rata basis, Michelin will share the replacement costs with the buyer, depending on the percentage of mileage the tire has delivered.

The buyer’s pro-rata portion is determined by multiplying the percentage of mileage the tire has delivered by the tire’s selling price.

Customer Satisfaction Guarantee

Most tire brands offer customer satisfaction guarantees, designed to give the buyer confidence that they are buying a high-quality product.

And Michelin is no exception. Most of its tires are backed by a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.

Hence, if you purchase a set of tires from Michelin but you are not 100% satisfied with their performance or quality, you can opt to return them to the place where you purchased them within 60 days.

And when you return them, the dealer will exchange the tires with a new set of equal or lower value.

Cost of Michelin Tires

Michelin tires don’t come cheap. Its tires are among the most expensive in the industry. But as much as you will be paying more, you are getting a set of high-quality tires, which will deliver long-lasting performance.

Michelin Tires Pros

• A vast selection of high-quality tires
• Outstanding treadwear warranties
• Innovative technologies and design features

Michelin Tires Cons

• Its tires are among the most expensive on the market

Our Take

After hours of testing and our experience using Michelin tires, we can conclude that it’s one of the best tire brands countrywide. But as mentioned above, its tires are quite expensive, compared to other options.

So, whether to choose Michelin as your preferred tire brand or not will depend on how much you are willing to spend on tires.

If you are a budget tire shopper, then Michelin may not be within your reach. On the other hand, if you are willing to pay premium prices for high-quality, long-lasting tires, then Michelin will be a perfect match.