The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) brings to light a crucial issue concerning the faster wear of original equipment tires, as spotlighted by the recent J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study. A notable satisfaction gap is emerging as EV owners report accelerated tire degradation when compared to their gasoline vehicle counterparts, despite having comparable tire longevity expectations.
The Impact on Electric Vehicle Tires
EVs typically carry more weight and deliver higher torque than traditional vehicles, which influences how quickly tires wear out. Ashley Edgar, J.D. Power’s Senior Director of Benchmarking and Alternative Mobility, points out a pressing need for tire producers and automobile manufacturers to address the issue. Educating EV owners about the expected performance differences and pursuing innovative solutions that balance tire durability with maximizing range is essential, especially as EVs gain market share.
2024 Tire Customer Satisfaction Rankings
In the realm of tire satisfaction, Michelin leads the luxury segment for the 21st year running, scoring a notable 834. Not far behind, Goodyear and Continental round out the top three in the luxury league with rankings of 812 and 811 respectively.
Performance Across Segments
Michelin again takes the crown in the passenger car segment, boasting an 823 score, while Goodyear secures a strong second place, and Kumho proudly lands a third-place finish. The performance sport segment witnesses Michelin standing tall with a score of 833, extending its reign across multiple categories.
In the competitive truck/utility segment, Falken claims the highest ranking with an 818 score, closely followed by BFGoodrich and Hankook, taking second and third place respectively.
Detailed ranking charts for each vehicle segment are accessible at J.D. Power’s website.
Methodology of the Study
The comprehensive study assesses customer satisfaction across four key aspects: ride quality, wear, traction/handling, and appearance. Insights were derived from over 31,000 owners of vehicles from the 2022 and 2023 model years, collected from August to December of 2023. Covering luxury, passenger car, performance sport, and truck/utility segments, this study offers a panoramic view of current trends and customer experiences in the tire industry.
