Premium brands such as Michelin tires are great to own. They are expensive, but they offer great value, superior quality, and a great warranty.

We will be comparing Nexen and Michelin tires to see which products they offer for light trucks, performance, touring or both. I will also compare Nexen tires against other major brands, such as Bridgestone and Pirelli.

You shouldn’t assume that Michelin will be the dominant brand in every category. Nexen tires with their Aria or Roadian product lines are slowly catching up to Michelin in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness.

Nexen and Michelinan: Overview of the Two Tire Brands

1. Nexen Tire

Pros

• More affordable
• A good selection of light truck tires
• It is a good value for the price

Cons

• There are fewer options for tires

2. Michelin Tire

Pros

• One of the most popular brands in performance tires
• More comfortable touring tires
• Higher overall quality
• Excellent warranty

Cons

• One of the most costly brands

What to Know About Nexen

Nexen Tires was established in 1942 in Yangsan, South Korea as Heung-A Tire Company. After the construction of Yangsan Plant, 1984, they produced their first tires and began mass-producing radial tires.

There were a few partnerships, including technological cooperation with Michelin. After a few years of being managed jointly by the Woosung Group, it was renamed Woosung Tire.

They changed the name to Nexen in 2000, combining the words “Next” and “Century”.

Nexen, a trusted brand in the tire industry, is an OEM supplier for major automakers like Hyundai, Volkswagen, Chrysler, and Volkswagen. With annual sales of $2B, it is one of the most popular tire brands in South Korea. These Nexen tires are indeed preferred by many to the other tire brands on the market.

What to Know About Michelin

Michelin is a major player in the tire manufacturing sector. They offer quality tires for all vehicle types and are considered the most trusted brand in the tire industry. Many of their products have received high ratings on several sites such as Tire Rack and Discount Tire.

Michelin was originally a rubber factory. It has been a well-known brand for its innovative innovations that have revolutionized the tire industry. The invention of the radial tires, which eventually commanded a 100% market share in 1968, is one example.

The Michelin Guide was also created by the company. It is a guide that helps motorists find good restaurants. A Michelin star is the highest possible recognition that a restaurant can receive.

Differences Between Nexen and Michelin

Are Nexen tires good? Let’s see how they compare to the Michelin’s tires. Here are comparisons of various tire types, including cost and warranty.

1. Performance tires

Michelin is a formidable competitor for performance tires, even if it’s from other large brands. The Pilot Sport 4S and 4S are two prime examples. These are both among TireRack’s top-rated performance tires.

Nexen has a wide range of performance tires, including the N’fera Su1 and N7000 Plus. The Pilot Sport 4 vs. N’fera Su1 is a great comparison in this category.

N’fera SU1 tires offer great comfort and are performance-focused. The N’fera SU1 also offers low rolling resistance which makes it an excellent choice for fuel efficiency. The wet and dry traction and braking are average, as is cornering.

On the other hand, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is just ahead in all aspects. This tire is everything you would expect from a performance tire. Its low tread life is the only thing you need to be concerned about.

This category is sure to win for Michelin. Nexen tire problems can sometimes be in traction, as was evident in the comparison with Pilot Sport.

2. Touring Tires

Michelin offers a few tire families that are dedicated to touring: the Premier, Crossclimate and Primacy. Nexen offers fewer options, but some great ones such as the Aria AH7.

The Nexen Aria AH7 offers a great combination of performance, comfort, durability, and long-term reliability. These tires are able to grip well on wet, dry, and light snow. It is possible to expect the treadwear to last for up to 80,000 miles.

The Defender Michelin touring tire has similar benefits to the Aria AH7, but comes at a high price.

Although the Nexen Aria AH7 performs well against Defender T+H, overall the Michelin is the best touring tire. Michelin is the winner of this category.

3. SUVs, CUVs, and light truck tires

This category will be compared to the Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 or Michelin LTX AT2. Both tires are excellent all-terrain tires and are highly rated by several retailers.

Roadian AT Pro RA8 falls a little behind in terms of on-road performance. It has excellent off-road capabilities. It has excellent grip on gravel and mud. It’s also great in snow, as it has the 3PMSF marking.

The LTX AT 2 is a great vehicle for both on- and offroad. It offers great comfort at moderate speeds and low noise. It is good in light snow but not in heavy snow.

Michelin has still better light truck tires in terms of overall performance.

Nexen is a good option for off-roading. The Roadian tire line offers a wide range of all-terrain and non-mud-terrain tires at a reasonable price.

4. Cost

This section allows us to compare their tire prices, including the ones mentioned above. Below is a list of some of the most sought-after products from each brand.

Nexen

• Aria AH7: $93 – $145
• N’Priz AH5: $73-$130
• N’fera RU5: $88-$143
• Roadian AT Pro RA8: $108-$274
• Roadian MTX: $172-345

Michelin

• Pilot Sport 4: $197-$592
• Primacy Tour A/S $210-$355
• Defender T+H: $138-$231
• Defender LTX M/S: $151-$371
• LTX AT 2 $257-$422

This shows that Nexen’s tires cost more than Michelin tires. The difference in the starting price between Defender T+H and Aria AH7 is more than $40. This is approximately $160 per set.

5. Warranty

Nexen’s warranty is superior despite being a smaller brand. They offer treadwear warranties comparable to the Michelin’s. The Nexen Aria AH7’s treadwear warranty is 80,000 miles, which is the same as the Michelin Defender T+H.

Other Nexen tires, such as the N5000 plus or N’fera R5 have a 65,000 mile warranty. You can also test them for free for 45 days or 500m. Although it is less than the 60-day offer from Michelin, it still shows their confidence and trust in their products.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the quality of Nexen tires?

Nexen is a quality brand that offers high-quality tires at a reasonable price. There are a variety of tires available from Nexen. You can find high-quality tires from Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Aria SU1 at a much lower price than other brands.

Nexen tires manufactured by Michelin.

Nexen tires do not come from Michelin. They did however have a partnership for technical cooperation between 1987 and 1991. In 2012, talks were held about a possible joint venture but the plan was not realized.

Which one is better? Nexen or Bridgestone?

I will be comparing the all-terrain tires of Nexen tires and Bridgestone. Bridgestone’s off-road Dueler tires are highly regarded by consumers.

Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3 is a great tire, with good handling and good impact isolation on bumps. Roadian AT Pro RA8’s off-road performance is close to that of the Dueler tire.

The Dueler tire does not have a 3PMSF label, which gives the Roadian tire a slight advantage on snow. The Roadian AT Pro RA8 is still rated higher than the Dueler tire.

Nexen tires are made in the USA.

Nexen tires cannot be made in the USA. Nexen does have a research and developmental facility in the area. The company currently has four manufacturing plants in operation, including two in Korea, one China and one in Czech Republic.

How many miles do Nexen tires last?

Nexen tires can last between 50,000 and 60,000 miles depending on their design. Both the Nexen N5000 Plus, N’fera RU5 and Nexen N5000 Plus are expected to last 65,000 miles. The Aria AH7 can reach up to 80,000.

How long can Nexen tires last?

These tires will last for up to 8 years if they are properly maintained and used.

Nexen is a premium tire?

Nexen’s annual sales total $2 billion. Their tires are much cheaper than other products on the market and offer great value. Nexen is still considered to be a mid-range brand despite their high quality.

Nexen vs Pirelli

Pirelli is a well-known brand for making high-performance tires. The P Zero is a performance-focused tire that is one of the most popular lines from this brand.

Comparing N’fera Su1 and P Zero 4 will show that it is also less efficient in terms of overall performance. The P Zero 4 has excellent dry traction, cornering, braking, and braking. The only problem is the short tread life, which is not uncommon for performance tires.

Conclusion

This Nexen vs Michelin tire comparison showed that Michelin is a superior brand in quality when compared to other mid-range brands. We can’t deny Nexen has high-quality tires with great warranties.

Nexen is a great option if you are looking for an all-terrain tire. It has more options than Michelin. You will also save money this way.