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How to compare tyres?

On what basis should you compare tyres to select the one that will give you complete satisfaction? This article is about the main performance criteria to consider, the decision aids you can use and Michelin's best advice. We will discuss how to select the one you need within the same tyre line and provide you with decision aids, such as independent tyre tests, labelling and tyre comparison sites. Finally, we will discuss another important criterion: long term performance.
    • 05/06/2026 -  Updated on 01/07/2026

The main performance criteria for tyre comparison

To ensure effectiveness, tyres need to deliver numerous, often conflicting, performance characteristics. Improving one of these performances must not be to the detriment of the others.


Traction or grip

Remember – the tyres are the only contact your vehicle has with the road, so their grip plays an essential role in your safety. Your ability to brake, to turn, to accelerate or to stay stable at higher speeds all depend on your tyre’s grip. Each type of tyre is designed to provide grip in specific types of weather and road conditions. That’s why it’s so important to think about how and where you will be driving and what type of grip you’ll need when you choose your tyres.


Longevity

How long a tyre lasts before wearing out its tread is an important element to ensure you are getting the best value for your money. There can be huge differences in the tyre mileage you will receive based on the tyre's design and quality of the tyre. Sport tyres (high performance tyres) tend to have lower tread life than standard passenger car tyres because the focus of the design is grip and performance instead of longevity. How and where you drive and whether or not you take care of your tyres will also impact how long they last.


Energy efficiency

Did you know that 1 out of every 5 tanks of a vehicle’s fuel is due to the tyres’ rolling resistance on the road? Tyres can have a big impact on your vehicle’s fuel consumption. Some tyres have specific construction and materials that help to reduce the rolling resistance. Buying energy efficient tyres that offer low rolling resistance can help you save on fuel or extend your battery range for electric vehicles. Another way to give you good value for money.


Handling

Handling is how your vehicle responds to the demands of the driver (such as steering, accelerating, braking) and to road conditions. Great handling tyres can enhance safety – by keeping the vehicle stable and the driver in control – as well as driving pleasure. The tyre plays a very important role in handling: It transmits the driver’s instructions from the wheel to the ground. In general, sporty high-performance tyres are designed to maximize handling performance and deliver precise steering and cornering.


Comfort and Noise

Driving comfort refers to how the tyre cushions the driver from the irregularities of the road. Tyres that are optimized for better comfort have specially designed construction to help absorb bumps and provide a smooth ride. Another important element for an enjoyable drive is a quiet ride. This is determined by a tyre’s tread design – the amount of grooves in the tyre and their positions. In general, the more aggressive a design looks, the higher the probability that it may generate noise. But remember that the grooves have an important role to play in delivering grip – decide if that additional traction is worth a little more road noise.


Robustness

Tyres need to be able to resist whatever the road brings. A tyre’s robustness, or toughness, is its ability to overcome everyday road hazards. If you often drive on damaged or unpaved roads, look for tyres with reinforced construction.


Long lasting performance

Whatever performance criteria are considered, it is important that they last throughout the life of the tyre. This means not just comparing tyres when they are new, but ensuring that they continue to perform throughout their life cycle until they reach the wear indicators. A tyre should perform well from the first kilometer to the last.

How to compare tyres within the same tyre line?

Each of our tyre lines is made in a selection of sizes to fit appropriate vehicles.

Sometimes a tyre line will have several versions of the same tyre size but with different technical specifications such as :

  • Speed ratings (ex: S, T, H, V, W, Y, etc.),

  • Load index (ex : 91, 94, XL, etc.),

  • OE markings (Original Equipment).

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These technical specifications are important details that can determine whether or not that version is compatible with your vehicle and the way you drive.

If several versions are compatible with your vehicle, we recommend that you choose the version with the same specifications as your original equipment tyres, including the correct OE marking.
The OE marking concerns tyres developed in cooperation with car manufacturers that meet more specific requirements, proper to each car brand. For example, the "MO" marking means that the tyre is approved by Mercedes for its vehicles.
However, the OE marking is not a requirement as long as the size, speed, and load indexes are respected.
You can also safely select a version with higher speed rating or load index; however, higher speed or load capability can negatively impact tread life and ride comfort.

Independent tests to help you compare tyres

Independent tyre testers such as specialized magazines or professional organisations can help you for your tyre comparison.
Each year, these independent testers use very strict criteria to assess the performance of tyres by testing them on different surfaces. They evaluate various aspects such as braking, handling, rolling resistance, noise, etc…

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MICHELIN's tyres are regularly tested by independent tyre testers and have received numerous awards over the years for their objectively assessed effectiveness.
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Compare tyres with the european labelling

European labelling is designed to help you compare different tyre models (from different brands or within the same brand) on objective criteria.

Labelling can therefore be an aid to decision-making. However, you should be aware that it is limited to a few criteria and that it only measures tyres when they are new, which does not tell you everything about a tyre's performance.

Compare tyres with tyre comparison sites

Using tyre comparison sites can be helpful, but it is important to remember that their comparisons are generally based on new tyres which means that they do not put the tested tyres into perspective beyond a certain level of wear (once they have covered a few thousand miles).

Yet some tyre performances become less effective with wear, particularly on wet roads and especially when braking. Therefore, it is also important, when comparing tyres, to assess the performance of tyres once they start to wear.

Choosing tyres with performance made to last

Maintaining the performance of the tyre until the very last mile is precisely what Michelin demands of its tyre ranges.

In the development and production of our tyres, we strive to obtain the best performance without compromise when they are new, and that this performance remains at an excellent level until the very last mile, once the maximum wear level has been reached.

Tyre Comparison & Selection FAQ

Evaluating new tyres can be confusing with all the different ratings, labels, and performance claims out there. Explore these frequently asked questions to learn how to effectively compare tyre specifications, decode technical markings, and choose the perfect set for your driving needs and budget.

FAQ

Most standard tyre comparison sites and European labels only evaluate tyres when they are brand new. However, tyre performance—especially wet braking and road grip—can deteriorate significantly as the tread wears down over time. When comparing options, look for brands that prioritize "performance made to last," ensuring the tyre remains safe and effective from the first kilometre to the very last mile before replacement.

Tyres have a massive impact on efficiency, accounting for roughly 1 out of every 5 tanks of fuel (or about 20% of an electric vehicle's battery range) purely due to rolling resistance. Selecting energy-efficient tyres built with advanced low-rolling-resistance materials reduces this drag, directly saving you money at the pump or extending your driving range per charge.

OE markings indicate that a tyre was developed in close collaboration with a specific car manufacturer to meet their strict vehicle dynamics and performance requirements (for example, "MO" denotes approval for Mercedes-Benz vehicles). While these tyres aren't strictly mandatory as long as the size, load, and speed ratings match your vehicle specs, sticking to the factory OE marking ensures the exact driving feel intended by the manufacturer.

Yes, it is entirely safe to select a tyre version with a higher speed rating or load capacity than your vehicle's factory standards. However, you should factor in performance trade-offs: tyres engineered for higher thresholds feature stiffer internal construction, which can slightly reduce ride comfort and shorten overall tread life compared to standard ratings.

Tyre design requires balancing conflicting performance traits. High-performance sports tyres prioritize maximum traction, precise cornering control, and high-speed stability, which requires stickier, softer rubber compounds. Because the engineering focus is strictly locked onto driving pleasure and safety at high speeds, these tyres naturally wear down faster than standard passenger tyres optimized for daily commuting longevity.

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