Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Continues to Improve, J.D. Power Finds Ranks Highest in All Four Segments COSTA MESA, Calif.: 22 March 2018 Overall customer satisfaction with original equipment tires shows a year-over-year increase, and has improved significantly since 2015, according to the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study, SM released today. Notable, too, is that run-flat tires are closing the satisfaction gap with conventional tires. The annual study measures tire owner satisfaction in four key areas (in order of importance): tire wear; tire ride; tire appearance; and tire traction/handling. Rankings are included for four vehicle segments: luxury; passenger car; performance sport; and truck/utility. ranks highest in all four vehicle segments, scoring 765 in luxury; 753 in passenger car; 774 in performance sport; and 731 in truck/utility. The rise in satisfaction helps validate tire manufacturers efforts to meet the demands of OEMs while simultaneously improving the customer experience, said Brent Gruber, Senior Director, Automotive Quality Practice at J.D. Power. The fact that there is little difference in satisfaction between run-flat and traditional tires is a great example. Many OEMs have been replacing spare tires with run-flats to help reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency. Just a few years ago run-flat tires were a detriment to customer satisfaction but the experience is much more positive now. The 2018 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 30,477 owners of 2016 and 2017 model-year vehicles, and was fielded in October-December 2017. Media Relations Contacts Geno Effler; Costa Mesa, Calif.; 714-621-6224; media.relations@jdpa.com Shane Smith; East Coast; 424-903-3665; ssmith@pacificcommunicationsgroup.com About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/about-us/press-release-info # # # NOTE: Four charts follow.
Overall Satisfaction Index Ranking Luxury 765 Luxury Segment Average 728 724 717 710 Dunlop 702 693 Included in the study, but not ranked due to small sample size, are BFGoodrich, Hankook and Yokohama. Source: J.D. Power
Overall Satisfaction Index Ranking Passenger Car Passenger Car Segment Average Firestone Toyo Yokohama Kumho Nexen Dunlop Hankook 753 707 703 687 681 680 679 668 658 657 650 649 648 Included in the study, but not ranked due to small sample size, are BFGoodrich and Falken. Source: J.D. Power
Overall Satisfaction Index Ranking Performance Sport 774 740 Performance Sport Segment Average 720 712 705 Included in the study, but not ranked due to small sample size, are BFGoodrich,, Dunlop, Firestone, Hankook, Kumho, Nexen and Yokohama. Source: J.D. Power
Overall Satisfaction Index Ranking Truck/Utility 731 691 684 Truck/Utility Segment Average 684 Hankook 676 664 Firestone 600 Included in the study, but not ranked due to small sample size, are BFGoodrich, Dunlop, General, Nexen, and Toyo. Source: J.D. Power