Firestone and Michelin are two of the most famous tire brands in the world.
But which one is better?
Overall, Michelin tires are slightly better quality than Firestone tires. They have better tread life and treadwear warranties than Firestone tires. They also have better heat resistance and are regarded as some of the quietest tires in the world. That said, if budget is a big concern, Firestone tires are significantly cheaper than Michelin tires, while offering similar benefits.
Continue reading as we take a closer look at the difference in cost, tread life, warranties, noise, and traction.
Cost
Most Michelin tires are more expensive than Firestone tires. You can kit out your entire car ( including a spare tire) for under $500 if you purchase Firestone All-Season or Destination LE 2 tires. However, you will pay significantly more if you opt for the Michelin equivalent.
The table below compares 3 popular tires from both brands. As you can see, Michelin tires are significantly more expensive than regular everyday tires, but Firestone also has some expensive high-performance options.
| Brand | Tire Name and Description | Approximate Price ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin | Michelin Defender T+H (passenger all-season tire) | 123+ |
| Michelin LTX M/S2 (SUV or truck all-season tire) | 155+ | |
| Michelin Premier A/S (performance touring all-season tire) | 116+ | |
| Firestone | Firestone All-Season (passenger all-season tire) | 91+ |
| Firestone Destination LE 2 (SUV or light truck all-season tire) | 98+ | |
| Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 (ultra-high performance summer tire) | 152+ |
Durability & Warranty
In terms of durability and warranty, Michelin tires come out on top.
Some Michelin tires have a mileage warranty of 100,000 miles, which is 30,000 miles more than Firestone’s longest treadwear warranty (70,000 miles) That said, Firestone often offers a 90-day trial, so you can test out your tires before you buy them.
With Michelin, you can buy both original equipment and replacement tires. The replacement tires are covered by a limited warranty for up to six years, so you won’t have to pay if there is a problem with the workmanship or the material.
Firestone tires come with a Gold Pledge Limited Warranty, which covers issues with the workmanship for just three years.
So even though Michelin tires are more expensive than Firestone, in our opinion, their durability and warranties more than make up for it.
You might also like: How Long Do Pirelli Tires Last? (Explained)
Tread Life
Treadwear score measures how long your tire is expected to last compared to a government-mandated tire. The government’s tire has a score of 100, so a tire with a score of 200 lasts twice as long.
Michelin tires usually enjoy better treadwear scores than their Firestone counterparts. For example, the Michelin Defender T+H All-season tire has a treadwear score of 820, while the Firestone equivalent (The Firestone All-Season Tire) has a treadwear score of 560.
As you can see in the table below, the best Michelin tire lasts over eight times longer than the control tire, while the best Firestone option only lasts 5.6 times as long.
| Brand | Tire Name and Description | Treadwear Score |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin | Michelin Defender T+H (passenger all-season tire) | 820 |
| Michelin LTX M/S2 (SUV or truck all-season tire) | 720 | |
| Michelin Premier A/S (performance touring all-season tire) | 640 | |
| Firestone | Firestone All-Season (passenger all-season tire) | 560 |
| Firestone Destination LE 2 (SUV or light truck all-season tire) | 520 | |
| Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 (ultra-high performance summer tire) | 500 |
Noise
Michelin tires are generally quieter than their Firestone equivalents.
They are considered as some of the least noisy on the market by industry experts. For example, five of the eleven tires listed as “quietest” by Better Soundproofing come from Michelin. The quiet tires include the Defender T+H and the LTX.
No Firestone tires were mentioned, and they don’t compare favorably to premium tire brands. However, that doesn’t mean they are extremely noisy. While Firestone tires are not the quietest tires, most people agree they are much quieter than other budget tire options.
Traction
Traction is defined by how well your tires grip the road during rain. The lowest grade is C, and the highest AA. All six tires from Firestone and Michelin score that we looked at scored an A, so you can expect them to grip well during day-to-day riding.
| Brand | Tire Name and Description | Traction Score |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin | Michelin Defender T+H (passenger all-season tire) | A |
| Michelin LTX M/S2 (SUV or truck all-season tire) | A | |
| Michelin Premier A/S (performance touring all-season tire) | A | |
| Firestone | Firestone All-Season (passenger all-season tire) | A |
| Firestone Destination LE 2 (SUV or light truck all-season tire) | A | |
| Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 (ultra-high performance summer tire) | A |
Temperature
All three Michelin tires have better temperature resistance than the Firestone tires. The scale goes from A to C. A-rated tires resist high temperatures the best, and C-rated ones disintegrate the fastest. This is an especially important consideration if you plan on driving at high speeds.
| Brand | Tire Name and Description | Temperature Score |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin | Michelin Defender T+H (passenger all-season tire) | A |
| Michelin LTX M/S2 (SUV or truck all-season tire) | A | |
| Michelin Premier A/S (performance touring all-season tire) | A | |
| Firestone | Firestone All-Season (passenger all-season tire) | B |
| Firestone Destination LE 2 (SUV or light truck all-season tire) | B | |
| Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 (ultra-high performance summer tire) | B |
Popularity
Michelin is the second most popular tire brand in the world, with annual revenue of around 24.8 billion dollars. Therefore, Michelin tires are more popular than Firestone tires. However, both Michelin and Firestone are household names in the US.
If you’re looking for great quality and durability, you should opt for Michelin. Tires from Michelin last for up to 10 years. On the other hand, people looking for a good tire at a low price should choose Firestone. You won’t spend very much, but you’ll have to replace your tire sooner.
Customer Reviews
Looking at customer review websites, it’s clear that Michelin has more favorable reviews than Firestone. Neither company is on Trustpilot, but they are both rated Top 5 by Car Treatments, with Michelin taking the top spot and Firestone coming in fifth out of sixteen.
The main complaints about Michelin seem to be the high price, with customers pleased about the good quality, durability, and the extended warranty.
The main complaints about Firestone seem to be lower durability and occasional issues with performance, with customers pleased about the reasonable price and the decent warranty.
Firestone vs Michelin Winter tires
Based on our research, Firestone has the better winter tire, the Winterforce. This is due to its reasonable price, which starts at $83, its long-lasting performance, and its good grip.
Firestone vs Michelin Tractor Tires
Based on our research, Firestone has the better tractor tire, the Super All Traction 23 R1 tires. This is due to its great traction and durable design. In dry conditions, the Super All Traction tire performs significantly better than the Michelin equivalent.
Firestone or Michelin Motorcycle Tires?
Based on our research, Michelin has the better motorcycle tires. This is due to their wide range of options that allow you to ride both off-road and in the city.
Firestone or Michelin All Season Tires?
Based on our research, Michelin has the better all-season tires. This is due to the overall higher quality of their products. Michelin’s all-season tires benefit from better temperature resistance and a higher treadwear score than Firestone’s equivalents, and they last up to seven years longer.
Firestone or Michelin SUV Tires?
Based on our research, Michelin has the better SUV tires. This is due to the high durability, long tread life, and good temperature resistance this brand offers. You might be able to drive your SUV for 10 years without having to change your Michelin tires.