Hankook vs. Michelin – The Ultimate Tire Showdown

When it comes to tires, we often shop with a focus on size and model without showing much concern for brands. Usually, the best tire brands usually supply products that make it easier to get the perfect match for your car.

It’s no news that several tire manufacturers exist, but Hankook and Michelin are two of the most popular brands and what if you have to favor one. Now, compare Hankook vs. Michelin, so that you may vote for the one offering the best returns for your money.  

Remember, suitable tire replacements provide drivers with better driving experiences, enhance safety, and offer sufficient traction. In this article, we will take a good look at the pros and cons of Hankook and Michelin tires to help you make an informed decision. 

Hankook Tire

Hankook

Hankook tires are popular products manufactured by a tech-savvy brand, keen on delivering products with impeccable quality. Hankook Tire and Technology (formerly known as Chosun Tire Company) emerged in 1941 and shot to fame pretty faster for supplying outstanding products for the auto and truck part industry.

In line with their fame, they not only manufacture some of the best tires but also sell alloy wheels, brake pads, and batteries. Hankook is based in South Korea (Seoul) and has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Hungary, Indonesia, and the People’s Republic of China. 

Are Hankook tires good or bad?

Hankook tires are known for their affordability and top-notch performance. So, you can rely on this brand if you want quality tires without spending much. Impressively, there are cost-effective tires between $100 and $500.

You can count on this company for innovative tires that offer superior performance. Safety promoting perks such as their Stone Ejection Technology can help keep stones from damaging the tires while improving your overall driving experience. 

Hankook owns a wide range of tires for SUVs, sedans, and luxury sports cars and produces close to 102 million tires each year. This marque remains one likable supplier for Mercedes Benz, Audi, and BMW as an OEM.

Michelin Tire

Michelin

Michelin is a French tire manufacturer established in 1889. This multinational company produces over 166 million tires and operates across 69 facilities in 18 countries.

Michelin plays a significant role in car sports, supplying tires for MotoGP, Formula 1, and Le Mans. It is an OE for carmakers such as Ferrari, Porsche, Lexus, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Toyota, Lamborghini, Honda, Ford, and Benz.

Hence, a trusted supplier when it comes to durable and safe tires. With numerous inventions encompassing removable, radial, and bias tires, you can rest assured of finding the perfect match for your vehicle. 

Thus, you should find practical options for automobiles, space shuttles, motorcycles, bicycles, and heavy equipment. This brand researches and comes out with tires with optimal performance and outstanding features.

You would find tires formulated with Zero Pressure technology and the EverGripTM advanced regenerative feature that tends to punctures and allows support better traction, respectively. This premium brand initiates environment-friendly processes and gives off 5th-generation tires that reduce carbon emissions and increase fuel efficiency.

Hankook vs. Michelin: Differences

Michelin and Hankook tire brands have great experience manufacturing effective and safe tires that run down different terrains for years. You can depend on both labels to extend great help in making tires with improved mileage.

Kindly note that Michelin and Hankook emerge 2nd and 7th, respectively, on the list of the top tire companies in the world. However, various reviews, including discussions about Hankook vs. Michelin on Reddit and other similar forums, reveal Michelin’s upper hand.

Michelin holds an unquestionable track record of high-ranking handling and exceeding durability. Nevertheless, Hankook is also great at what they do; it is one fast-rising brand that concentrates on providing drivers with exceptional grip and control. 

Again, as a premium brand, Michelin can be pretty expensive compared to Hankook; but the latter still offers excellent value for your money. 

If you want a clue about the better choice between Hankook vs. Michelin RV tires, Hankook vs. Michelin winter tires, or Hankook vs. Michelin truck tires, your choice would depend on your needs. Hence, Michelin and Hankook remain the top choices for reliability.

FAQs

Q: Does Michelin make Hankook tires?

Michelin and Hankook are top tire manufacturing brands that exist independently. Hankook tires are products of the renowned Hankook Tire & Technology, a company based in South Korea. This marque remains one of the best options for affordable tires with great value.

You would find a wide range of tires that works well for vast applications and improves mileage. However, few speculations exist, stating that Michelin has owned a 6.24% stake from Hankook since 2006 and further boosted it to 9.98% after the 2003 tire maker partnership.  

Q: What tires are better than Michelin?

Michelin has an outstanding record as a supplier of some of the best tires in the world, appearing as the 2nd largest tire producer (following Bridgestone). This tire marque ensures consumers get quality tires across various categories.

Michelin tires last long; they also provide drivers with excellent drivability, giving much value for the money. But, you can also find other efficient tires from brands such as Goodyear, Bridgestone, Cooper, Hankook, and Pirelli.

Q: Are Hankook tires good?

Hankook remains the go-to brand for affordable and effective tires. Thus, it is a suitable choice if you are on a budget and need good tires to hit the road. While this brand’s price is pretty lower when compared to some competitors, there is no bargain on such tires’ quality, durability, and performance. 

Thus, Hankook’s balance is excellent since they have impressive tread-life warranties. You can look across Hankook tires reviews for 2022 to find suitable options perfect for your car’s needs.

Q: Is Hankook a premium brand?

This tire manufacturer possesses the ultimate goal of providing drivers with excellent products that improve their experiences on the road beyond mere mobility. Thus, it is becoming part of other big names as premium tire suppliers worldwide.

Hankook holds an outstanding reputation based on various reviews, leaving multiple customers with satisfactory results.

Q: Are Hankook tires made in the USA?

Hankook is based in Seoul in South Korea but has various facilities worldwide. You should know that this company has a manufacturing plant in Clarksville, Tennessee, in the United States.

Q: Are Hankook tires made in China?

Hankook remains committed to innovating efficient technology and supplies some of the best tires available. There are made-in-China Hankook tires manufactured from the state-of-the-art production unit in Western China.

Final Words

Most people face some problems making the right choice when shopping for new tires. But it would help if you always consider a few factors when deciding which tire brand to go with for your vehicle – price, tread life, and customer service all come into play. 

Michelin and Hankook remain two giants within the industry and supply some of the best tires for small cars, trucks, and SUVs. Thus, it is not uncommon for Hankook vs. Michelin comparisons to appear as a regular topic. Check out this comparison guide if you seek a replacement tire and need a better choice between both brands.

Tito

Hi There, I am R. Hasan Tito, a mechanic, and owner of this website. My friend and I created this website to share our knowledge, expertise, and experience with our fellow mechanics' community and car users. I am a specialist and certified automotive mechanic (Both Heavy Commercial and Private Cars). I have been working as a mechanic for over fifteen years. I worked for a long time at Global Rebound Automotive companies (Toyota, TATA, BMW, Nissan, TVs, and Others ) as a Mechanic and Mechanics Supervisor.

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