Michelin Tires

A Brand Built on Tire Firsts

Michelin was founded in 1889 in Clermont-Ferrand, France, by brothers André and Édouard Michelin, and it has been responsible for some of the biggest changes in how tires are built — most notably bringing the steel-belted radial tire to market after the Second World War. The radial design is now standard on virtually every passenger vehicle on the road. The company is also behind the Michelin Guide and the Michelin Man, and in North America it owns the BFGoodrich and Uniroyal brands as well.

Michelin also has deep Canadian roots: it has manufactured tires in Nova Scotia since the early 1970s, making it one of the larger tire producers in the country.

Which Michelin Line Fits Your Driving

Michelin's range is organized into families. The Defender line is built around long tread life for commuters and families who put on serious kilometres. CrossClimate is Michelin's all-weather family, carrying the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol for drivers who want one set of tires all year. X-Ice is the dedicated winter line, built for the cold, slush, and packed snow of a York Region January. Pilot Sport covers performance driving, and the Primacy and LTX families focus on quiet touring and on SUVs and light trucks respectively.

The trade-off is price — Michelin is typically at the top of the market. Where it tends to earn that back is in tread life and in how consistently the tire performs as it wears, which matters if you keep a set for several seasons.

Is Michelin Worth the Premium?

It depends on how you drive. If you put on 25,000 kilometres or more a year, a long-wearing Michelin can cost less per kilometre than a cheaper tire you'd replace sooner — the higher price is spread over more distance. If you drive a few thousand kilometres a year, mostly around Aurora, you may never wear a Michelin out before the rubber ages, and a value brand can make more sense. Tell us your annual kilometres and we'll do that math with you honestly.