I’m sure you’ve heard of the Michelin man and have seen their commercials on TV. You may also know that they make tires for cars, which in turn makes them a trusted name when it comes to automotive products. What you might not know is that this company doesn’t just manufacture car tires; they also offer other types of tires like motorcycle and bicycle tires.
So what exactly is the difference between these types of tires? Well, let’s start with Michelin Tires Vs Crosswind Tires!
The big question many people are asking themselves when choosing between these two tire brands is: “What does each type of tire mean for my vehicle?” As we all know, there are plenty of factors to consider when buying a new set
Just as people have preferences over computer and smartphone brands, you can also find people that prefer a certain tire brand over others. And when we are talking about the rubber that goes on those four wheels of yours, the first brand that comes to most people’s minds is Michelin. They are literally legendary.
Still, their tires are a tad bit expensive for most people, so they find themselves looking for more affordable brands. Today we will focus on Crosswind and compare them to Michelin to answer the million-dollar question: is the more affordable price worth the decrease in quality?
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Michelin Tires
Michelin, a brand that is very recognizable by its marshmallow-looking mascot, is a French tire company that originates in the late 19th century. Today, they are widely considered as one of the best tire brands in the world, with options ranging anywhere from kids’ bicycles all the way to jumbo jets.
Over the span of more than a century, Michelin has gained a strong reputation for using high-quality rubber to deliver an incredible driving experience as well as unparalleled fuel economy.
So, it should come as no surprise that we, as well as many people out there, choose Michelin as our pick for the best tire brand ever. The reason behind this is the fact that they offer exceptionally balanced tires with great performance and little to no operational risk.
Michelin employs hundreds of experts who run numerous research centers all around the globe, working around the clock to continuously make the tire designs better, smoother, and more durable.
Their primary offerings include tires for:
- Passenger vehicles
- Trucks / SUVs
- Commercial Trucks
Why Are Michelin Tires More Expensive?
Michelin tires tend to be more expensive than the competition for a wide variety of reasons. It’s mainly due to the fact that the tires have exceptional quality, come with long-lasting warranties, and usually rank the highest in the industry in terms of performance, safety, and more.
Here are some of the features that make Michelin tires expensive in detail:
Quality
The Michelin brand has long established a strict standard that all, and we mean all, its tires must meet up with before they see the light of day.
According to the company’s ex-president, Pete Selleck, if a sample does not meet up with the standards set by the company, production is immediately put on halt until an amendment is made.
So, it should come as no surprise that Michelin records some of the lowest numbers of customer complaints in the industry of all time.
Customer and Industry Reviews
Everybody loves Michelin. They are the favorite tire brand of most customers and independent reviewers out there.
According to both parties, Michelin tires always deliver incredible performance for a long, long time (good tread life).
And despite their higher than usual prices, Michelin tires are still sold in huge numbers, bringing the company incredible revenue numbers each year.
If these things aren’t a testament to Michelin’s greatness, we don’t know what is.
Warranty
Michelin is also known for providing an excellent warranty for its tires. All of their models enjoy a 6-year warranty. Under this warranty, if the tire(s) you bought suffer from any material defect, cracking, vibration, you’re entitled to a free replacement.
Some models come with a mileage warranty. As the name suggests, Michelin will happily replace your tire as long as it doesn’t exceed a certain estimated mileage (tread) life.
Crosswind Tires
The Crosswind brand is one of the largest tire manufactures in the world. However, their reputation is somewhat questionable.
Still, the company makes a variety of tires for passenger cars, SUVs, medium-sized trucks, and more. They have many manufacturing and testing facilities all around the world, meaning their tires are readily available in many parts of the world.
These facilities are managed by competent teams that are held to the highest of standards by the company’s headquarters.
According to Crosswind themselves, their tires do meet North American standards and are available at almost half the price of equivalent class Michelin tires at times.
So, How Good Are Crosswind Tires?
According to a publication by a testing facility, Crosswind did not rank well when it comes to performance, getting 8th place. Such a lackluster finish means that you need to be careful when grabbing some Crosswind tires since they may not perform as you want.
We used “may or may not” because although the tires’ performance is questionable, they still meet North American tire standards. In other words, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if some Crosswind tires perform incredibly well. The only issue is, unlike more established brands, it can be harder to predict whether they would perform well or not on your vehicle.
Yes, you get to save a significant amount of money, but at the end of the day, this is sort of a “you get what you pay for” situation. Still, test results, such as the fact that tires from Crosswind took 22 feet longer to stop a car going 50 mph, should tell you that you have to be cautious when braking.
Michelin Tires Vs. Crosswind Tires
There isn’t really a comparison here. One research tester went out of their wait to test around nine different tires and concluded that the Crosswind ones come nowhere near Michelin’s tires in terms of specs, performance, etc. In other words, if you want a tire that performs like a Michelin, you’re going to have to buy a Michelin.
As we’ve mentioned before, Michelin has a very good reputation in the market, so they take it upon themselves to uphold such a hard-earned reputation.
The same cannot be said about Crosswind and its tires. Their tires don’t perform well, which eventually leads to them having a somewhat unhealthy reputation.
Main Takeaways – Michelin Tires Vs. Crosswind Tires
Sadly, sometimes reputation rules. So, if your reputation is bad, no matter how good a tire you manufacture, no one bats an eye, and people will always see it as an inferior one.
Yes, Crosswind does have some models that are good. However, most of their tires have questionable quality. So, instead of throwing your money on some, try saving up for better tires from a more reputable brand such as Michelin!
Michelin Tires Vs. Crosswind Tires which is better? These are two very different products and each has its own benefits for your car, but there’s no clear-cut answer to the question of which one is better.
If you want a tire that will last longer overall types of terrain, then you should go with Michelin because they have tires specifically designed for this purpose.
However, if you drive mostly on smooth roads or highways more often than not, then we suggest trying out crosswind tires first because their tread designs allow them to grip the road surface much more effectively in these conditions. You may find that both options work well enough depending on what type of driving you do most often so it’s worth