Michelin is a world-renowned brand that consistently wins awards for its superior tires across numerous categories, from sport driving to passenger cars.
Yet for all the accolades and good reviews, how long do Michelin tires last?
In general, Michelin tires should last between 45,000 and 85,000 miles (or 5-10 years). However, the mileage you get from your Michelin tires depends on many variables such as road conditions, driving habits, and proper maintenance like keeping your tires properly inflated.
Keep reading to find out more about the longevity of these famous tires and all you need to know about when and how often to change them, as well as how they fare when compared to other leading tire manufacturers.
How Many Miles Do Michelin Tires Last?
Michelin tires should last for between 40,000 and 85,000 miles, depending on the type of tire.
Ultra-high performance (UHP) summer tires have a lifespan of around 40,000 miles, whereas all-season tires can travel up to more than twice that amount, according to Consumer Reports’ road tests.
However, it is important to bear in mind that these figures will be lower if you drive aggressively or have a more powerful car.
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How Many Years Do Michelin Tires Last?
Generally speaking, Michelin tires should last for at least five years and maybe even longer.
The lifespan of a tire depends on a number of factors — particularly road conditions and driving habits — but with the proper care, such as regular basic maintenance checks, your tires should be able to carry you around for many years to come.
Many years, but not forever.
Michelin advises to get your tires comprehensively checked by a professional every year after five years of use, but once they are 10 years old it is recommended to change them for new ones regardless of the condition that they appear to be in.
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Why Do Michelin Tires Wear Out So Fast?
Michelin manufactures tires to be long-lasting and durable, but its tires are, after all, still tires, and are therefore subject to regular wear and tear just like the rest.
As mentioned above, there are numerous reasons why tires wear out, but some factors have a particularly big impact in comparison to others.
A couple of the main offenders in accelerating the wearing out of a tire are tire alignment and pressure.
Misaligned tires will not only wear out quicker but may also possibly result in driving hazards.
Underinflated tires also wear out faster than ones inflated to the recommended air pressure.
Away from tire maintenance, using the incorrect tire type for the season or terrain, for example, summer tires in below-freezing temperatures, can damage and reduce the lifespan of a tire; as can physical objects on the road, like potholes and curbs.
Do Michelin Tires Last Longer Than Other Brands?
Certain Michelin tires do last longer than those from other brands, but due to the wide variety of tires available, there is no simple answer to the question as there often isn’t much between them.
Below we compare Michelin’s tires to four other giants of tire manufacturing to see how they shape up.
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Michelin vs. Bridgestone
Frequently, when comparing two reputable companies, the deciding factor in which is the better product is down to personal preference.
Nonetheless, since durability is the question here, the consensus tends to point towards Michelin tires as lasting longer since the company focuses on tread life quality more than Bridgestone does and offers a higher warranty, too.
Michelin vs. Goodyear
When it comes to summer tires, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport has higher ratings than the best that Goodyear has to offer, with its long tread life highlighted as an advantage over its competitor.
However, it is not so straightforward when looking at all-season tires, since both companies make durable tires that top different categories.
For example, Goodyear wins out in the Passenger All-Season ratings, whereas Michelin’s offering is superior in the High-Performance All-Season category.
Michelin vs. Continental
Continental tires offer a similar lifespan to that of Michelin’s in terms of mileage and balance all-weather performance with tread life very well.
As with Goodyear, some Continental tires beat Michelin’s tires in certain categories but not others.
Nevertheless, it is hard to go wrong with either company since you can be sure that whichever you choose, you will be buying a quality, well-built tire.
Michelin vs. Pirelli
This is possibly the toughest comparison of the four, as both Michelin and Pirelli make sturdy tires with special features that are designed to improve durabilities, such as Michelin tires’ shoulder blocks and sidewalls which help to stop road debris from damaging the tires’ performance.
With both companies recognizing the importance of durability and focusing their efforts on achieving it, there is really very little between them in terms of the longevity of their respective tires.
How Do You Know When Your Michelin Tires Need To Be Replaced?
The biggest factors which indicate that your Michelin tires need to be replaced are damage, tread wear, and performance issues.
If you notice that your tire has been damaged but still looks inflated, just because you don’t have a flat doesn’t mean that it doesn’t need replacing.
Signs to look out for that might warrant a trip to the mechanic includes a “bubble” in the tire, a deep cut on the sidewall, or a sharp object embedded in the tire.
Another sign that may mean you need to replace a tire is if it falls below the recommended air pressure within a week of filling it.
If you experience this, have a mechanic check for the source of the leak, as it could signal that your wheel is damaged, too.
A neat trick to test whether a tire’s tread is too worn is to measure the tread’s depth with a penny and a nickel.
A depth of 2 millimeters indicates that the tire needs to be changed, whereas anything over five is usually okay.
If you notice that the wear is unequal, you may need to replace the tire as well as get your wheels aligned to save it from happening to your new tire.
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How To Make Your Michelin Tires Last Longer?
Making your tires last longer is a question of proper maintenance and care, not just of the tires themselves, but also the wheels.
Check the air pressure of your tires once a month to ensure that they are properly inflated.
Underinflated tires mean that they will wear out faster due to there being more of the tire in contact with the road.
An unequal alignment will cause tires to wear out unevenly, so making sure your wheels are aligned accurately will go a long way to improving the longevity of your tires.
Uneven wear can also be caused by not rotating a car’s tires — that is, removing all of the tires and refixing them to a different place on the car.
According to most tire companies, tires should be rotated every 6,000–8,000 miles to keep them rolling and safe to use for as long as possible.
Final Thoughts – Michelin Tire Longevity
Michelin has a well-deserved reputation for making some of the best, most reliable tires out there.
However, tires wear out at different rates depending on an array of factors.
In order to maximize the lifespan of a tire, it is crucial to be aware of the necessary care to be taken on the part of the owner.
What’s more, performing the appropriate maintenance on your tires can save you money whilst keeping you safer on the road.
But by using Michelin tires, you can drive in peace knowing that your car will be equipped with the gold standard in tire manufacturing, allowing you to deal with whatever the road throws at you.