J.D. Power and Associates, Agoura Hills, CA, announced that Michelin has received the 2001 Best Original Equipment Tire in Highest Customer Satisfaction for Passenger Vehicles among buyers in the U.S. (Corporate, Financial News).

J.D. Power and Associates, Agoura Hills, CA, announced that Michelin has received the 2001 Best Original Equipment Tire in Highest Customer Satisfaction for Passenger Vehicles among buyers in the U.S. This honor brings to 29 the total number of awards the brand has earned since 1989. The Michelin brand swept the replacement tire customer satisfaction awards; receiving both passenger car and light truck honors from J.D. Power and Associates. Michelin and Dunlop tire brands rated highest in customer satisfaction in J.D. Power's annual tire survey, while the Firestone light truck tires dropped below average. Firestone tires sold on new pickups, vans and sport utility vehicles scored just above average before 6.5 million were recalled last year. In the survey, the Firestone brand ranked below average for both light trucks and passenger cars. Dunlop rated first among tire brands used on light trucks, which includes vans, pickups and sport utility vehicles. Michelin ranked highest in passenger vehicle tires for the fourth consecutive year. The study is based on the experience and opinions of more than 39,000 consumers who have owned the tires that came with their vehicles for three years or less. The tire customer satisfaction study identifies product quality as the largest factor contributing to tire satisfaction. Other contributing factors include performance, design and winter traction. BFGoodrich, Michelin, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Bridgestone and Continental, respectively, follow Dunlop in the light truck segment. Yokohama and General also finished at or below industry average in this segment. Pirelli, BFGoodrich, Continental and Dunlop, respectively, follow Michelin in the passenger car segment.