According to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Original Equipment Tyre Customer Satisfaction Study, although overall tyre satisfaction is at an all-time high, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have taken their toll on the tyre industry. Vehicle owners have reduced the amount of driving and delayed visits for maintenance or tyre replacement.
The annual study measures tyre owner satisfaction in four key areas (in order of importance): tyre wear; tyre ride; tyre traction/handling; and tyre appearance. Rankings are included among four vehicle segments: luxury; passenger car; performance sport; and truck/utility.
“The events of the past year have forced many consumers to change their routines, from delaying medical care to reducing their regular vehicle maintenance,” said Brent Gruber, senior director of automotive quality at J.D. Power. “Just as it is important to stay on top of personal health during the pandemic, it is also important that vehicle owners keep up with necessary automotive care, including tyres.”
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Study findings show that 13% fewer miles were driven during the past year and tyre rotations and pressure checks saw similar rates of decline. Also, owners delayed replacing their original equipment tyres with the study indicating a 23% decline in replacement rates.
“While less driving may have helped reduce tyre wear and increased the time to replacement, many owners also put off much needed maintenance or tyre replacement,” Gruber said. “This is similar to a trend seen among electric vehicle owners in which lower maintenance needs are keeping people away from service facilities. This is a concern for tyre manufacturers and retailers alike. Tyre manufacturers can help boost sales and get people back to service facilities by implementing better visual wear indicators and increasing tyre safety communications.”
Study Rankings
Michelin ranks highest in the luxury segment with an overall satisfaction score of 782 (on a 1,000-point scale), followed by Pirelli with a score of 760. The segment average is 750.
Michelin ranks highest in the passenger car segment with a score of 752. Goodyear ranks second with a score of 739 and Kumho ranks third with a score of 736. The segment average is 721.
Michelin ranks highest in the performance sport segment with a score of 789, followed by Goodyear with a score of 761. The segment average is 731.
Michelin ranks highest in the truck/utility segment with a score of 771. Bridgestone ranks second (737) and Hankook ranks third (712). The segment average is 711.
The 2021 U.S. Original Equipment Tyre Customer Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 26,131 owners of 2018 and 2019 model-year vehicles and was fielded from October through December 2020.
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About J.D. Power
J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.
J.D. Power is headquartered in Troy, Mich., and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company’s business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.