2018 Tire Tier Study: The Results

With the lack of clarity regarding tire industry tiers, Tire Review surveyed those from across the industry on the topic.

We asked those from across the industry to identify which tire brands belonged in their distinct tiers for different segments.

Below are the results showing how the industry ranked different brands.

For results on how brands would rank based on quality and engineering, click here.

Overall Tier Rankings

Tier One: Michelin; Bridgestone; Continental; Goodyear

Tier Two: Pirelli; Firestone; Toyo; Yokohama; Cooper; General; Hankook; Dunlop; Nitto; Uniroyal; Kumho; Carlisle

Tier Three: Falken; Kelly; Nexen; Sumitomo/TBC; Nokian; Hoosier; Vogue; Hercules; BKT; Vredestein; Trelleborg; Kenda; Trailer King/TBC; Power King/TBC; Armstrong; Galaxy/ATG; GT/ Giti; Camso; Harvest King/TPC; Laufenn; Milestar; Sailun/TBC

Tier Four: Triangle

UHP and HP Tires

Tier One: Michelin; Bridgestone; Continental; Pirelli; Goodyear

Tier Two: Firestone; Yokohama; Toyo; Hankook; Cooper; General; Nitto; Dunlop; Falken; Kumho; Uniroyal

Tier Three: Hoosier; Kelly; Nexen; Nokian; Sumitomo/TBC; Vogue; Vredestein; Hercules; Kenda; GT/Giti; Laufenn; Armstrong; Sailun/TBC

Tier Four: Milestar

M/T and A/T Tires

Tier One: Goodyear; Bridgestone

Tier Two: Michelin; Toyo; Firestone; Nitto; Continental; Yokohama; Cooper; General; Pirelli; Hankook; Falken; Dunlop

Tier Three: Kumho; Uniroyal; Kelly; Nexen; Sumitomo/TBC; Hercules; Hoosier; Carlisle; BKT; Kenda; Armstrong; Laufenn; GT/Giti; Sailun/TBC; Milestar

All-Season Tires

Tier One: Michelin; Bridgestone; Continental; Goodyear

Tier Two: Pirelli; Firestone; Toyo; Yokohama; Cooper; General; Hankook; Uniroyal; Nitto; Dunlop; Falken; Kumho; Kelly

Tier Three: Nokian; Nexen; Sumitomo/TBC; Vogue; Hercules; Vredestein; Laufenn; Kenda; Armstrong; GT/Giti; Sailun/TBC; Milestar; Triangle

Winter Tires^*

Tier One: Bridgestone; Michelin

Tier Two: Goodyear; Continental; General; Firestone; Nokian; Cooper; Pirelli; Toyo; Hankook; Vredestein; Yokohama; Dunlop; Uniroyal; Falken; Nitto

Tier Three: Nexen; Kumho; Kelly; Hercules; Sumitomo/TBC; Laufenn; Vogue; Kenda; GT/Giti

(*Data taken from those states with meaningful snowfall accumulation)

Summer Tires

Tier One: Michelin; Bridgestone; Continental; Goodyear; Pirelli

Tier Two: Toyo; Firestone; Yokohama; General; Cooper; Hankook; Dunlop; Nitto; Falken; Kumho; Nexen

Tier Three: Nokian; Sumitomo/TBC; Hoosier; Vredestein; Laufenn

Specialty Trailer Tires

Tier One: Goodyear

Tier Two: Bridgestone; Carlisle; Firestone

Tier Three: Power King/TBC; Hercules; Trailer King/TBC; BKT; Kenda; Armstrong; Milestar; Triangle

OTR – Industrial Applications

Tier One: Michelin; Bridgestone; Goodyear

Tier Two: Firestone; Continental; Carlisle; BKT; Pirelli; Trelleborg

Tier Three: Galaxy/ATG; Nokian; Camso; Hercules; Vredestein; Triangle

Ag Tires

Tier One: Michelin; Bridgestone; Firestone; Goodyear

Tier Two: Continental; Carlisle; BKT; Trelleborg; Galaxy/ATG

Tier Three: Camso; Nokian; Harvest King/TPC; Vredestein; Triangle

Materials Handling Tires

Tier One: Michelin; Bridgestone

Tier Two: Goodyear; Firestone; Continental; Carlisle; Trelleborg

Tier Three: BKT; Camso; Hercules; Galaxy/ATG; Kenda; Triangle

Commercial Tires

Tier One: Michelin; Bridgestone; Goodyear; Continental

Tier Two: Firestone; Yokohama; Toyo; General; Hankook; Cooper; Dunlop; Pirelli; Kelly; Uniroyal; Sumitomo/TBC

Tier Three: Kumho; Falken; Hercules; Nokian; Armstrong; BKT; Trelleborg; Sailun/TBC; Milestar; Triangle

(Source: Babcox Research)

Yokohama Rubber said it will supply its Advan Sport V107 tires as original equipment (OE) for the new Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+ Coupé. The Coupé is being fitted with 265/40ZR19 (102Y) front tires and 295/35ZR19 (104Y) rear tires.

The Advan Sport V107 being fitted on the new CLE 53 4Matic+ Coupé was jointly developed with Mercedes-AMG. Yokohama said the tread pattern is designed to deliver a quiet ride, and the tire’s groove area and a compound have been adjusted for performance in dry and wet road conditions. Additionally, the optimized casing rigidity contributes to steering stability that is essential for high-power premium cars while also improving fuel efficiency, the manufacturer said. The tire accordingly features the Mercedes-AMG’s “MO1” mark of approval on the sidewall.