Yokohama Tires Vs Michelin Tires (Which Is More Rugged?)

Okay, here’s a set of Yokohama tires on the left, and Michelin on the right; they both are all-season tires with good tread life, which would you choose?

In this Yokohama tires vs Michelin tires comparison, we’d take you through the core factors that should guide your decision in choosing between tire brands – in this case, Yokohama and Michelin.

Both Yokohama and Michelin are top brands – remarkable for making top-quality tires for different purposes, and all-season drives. However, most drivers prefer Michelin tires because they typically offer better balance and comfortability, especially on wet pavements.

Yokohama Tires Vs Michelin Tires

You’d discover different tire models from Michelin and Yokohama; the models are built to serve specific purposes. For example, the Yokohama Geolandar range comprises all-terrain tire models; tires from this range can drive through any path – including snowy paths – hassles.

While the Yokohama AVID range comprises all-season tires; these tires are not actually fortified for all terrains; they are basically designed to withstand weather and seasons. Michelin also has different ranges – or rather, tire series – and they comprise tire models engineered for specific purposes.

Let’s take a look at the overview of these notable brands before proceeding to explain how they compare against each other.

Yokohama Tires Overview

Founded in 1917, Yokohama Tires is a brand under Yokohama Rubber Company that manufactures tires for all kinds of automobiles.

The company is headquartered in  Minato City, Tokyo, Japan. Yokohama produces different types of tires, ranging from summer tires to winter tires and all-season/all-terrain tires.

Michelin Tires Overview

Founded in May 1889, and headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is a multinational tire manufacturing company. Michelin tires are regarded as the overall best tires based on several factors, which include performance on wet, dry, and snowy tracks.

Michelin is the second largest tire manufacturer in the world; it comes behind Bridgestone. However, the company is “larger” than Goodyear and Continental tires combined. Also, Michelin manufactures tires for different purposes: seasonal tires, all-terrain tires, etc.

Comparing Yokohama Tires and Michelin Tires

We won’t be able to compare all the tire models from these top brands, head to head; however, this comparison is based on a general perspective and performance of Michelin and Yokohama tires.

Dry Performance

Both Michelin and Yokohama tires perform well on dry tracks. The unique tread patterns deployed by both manufacturers help to provide efficient traction when driving on dry pavements. This applies to all tire models from both brands; hence, in this regard, there’s no specific winner.

Wet Performance

While Yokohama tires do perform well on wet pavements, Michelin tires are much better in this aspect. When braking on wet pavements, Yokohama tires don’t seem to offer solid traction and grip. In contrast, Michelin tires are as good on wet pavements as they are good on dry terrains.

Also, Yokohama tires do not perform best when driven on muddy paths, while Michelin tires would go through such paths without issues. In wet performance, Michelin tires outperform Yokohama tires, and so, Michelin is the winner here.

Durability

Surprisingly, Yokohama tires are more durable than Michelin tires. You could ride with Yokohama tires all year long without experiencing punctures – even if you drive across a bad road. Well, this does not mean that Michelin tires are not durable or long-lasting.

Actually, Michelin tires would last for a long time if you always drive on good roads. But, if you typically go “off-road” or drive through bad roads – most of the time – Yokohama tires with double-ply are a better option. Overall, Yokohama tires beat Michelin in durability.

Handling, Cornering, and Braking

In all these aspects, Michelin tires are better than Yokohama tires. When you drive with Michelin tires, you’d typically experience more easiness and swift response while cornering and braking.

But this does not imply that Yokohama tires suck at handling and cornering – they are not just as good as their Michelin counterparts, within specific price ranges and tire series.

Road Noise

Yokohama tires are among the quietest tires in the market. If you need a tire that produces less road-noise, you may need to consider Yokohama tire models.

On the other hand, Michelin tires aren’t too noisy on the road, but they are not as quiet as Yokohama tires. Well, Michelin is working on improving its tire tread technology to reduce road noise.

Ride Convenience and Balance

Under good road conditions, Michelin tires offer better convenience and balance than Yokohama tires. Michelin tires have good traction abilities in wet and dry conditions – ensuring a perfect balance during drifts, skids, or sudden brakes.

Notwithstanding, Yokohama tires feature durable treads – shoulder tread units – and twin rail ribs to provide overall driving comfort. Both Michelin and Yokohama tires guarantee smooth, balanced drive on highways.

Summary

This Yokohama tires vs Michelin tires comparison focuses on the average ratings and scores of all tire models from both brands, as rated on TireRack.Com

Overall, Michelin tires are rated as the “Best” by customers, but Yokohama tires are really a good alternative to the predominant “big names” in the market; talking about Bridgestone, Goodyear, Dunlop, Continental, and others.

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