The incredible segmentation in the passenger car tire market makes most of the time challenging to choose the best alternative for your car. This situation becomes more complicated for minivans and CUVs since they can use tires from different segments.
If that’s your case, this review is for you. In it, we will explore two tires, the Premier A/S and the LTX, each belonging to a different segment but with very similar qualities.
TL;DR: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
Ready to find out which of the two tires is best for your vehicle? Let’s analyze the following summary first.
Michelin Premier A/S
PROS
- Excellent tread life
- Unbeatable wet grip
- Outstanding dry traction
CONS
- Available in fewer sizes
Best For:
Drivers of sedans, coupes, minivans, and CUVs looking for an all-season tire with outstanding performance and excellent durability.
Michelin Premier LTX
PROS
- Excellent dry traction
- Available in more sizes
- Amazing wet and light snow traction
CONS
- Its durability could be better
Best For:
Drivers of light trucks, SUVs, minivans, and CUVs looking for an all-season tire with extraordinary performance in adverse weather conditions.
Performance Ratings: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
Possibly the most crucial aspect when comparing the ratings of two tires is the total number of miles reported. This is because the higher the number of miles, the greater the reliability of the ratings.
To this end, the two tires that we analyze in this review have more than 10 million reported miles, so their ratings are highly reliable.
In other words, neither the ranking of the Premier LTX in the Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tire segment (17 out of 38) nor the ranking of the Premier A/S in the Grand Touring All-Season tire segment (19 out of 57) will vary anytime soon.
With that said, feel free to use the links below to browse the review.
- Dry Performance
- Wet Performance
- Snow / Ice Performance
- Comfort Performance
- Treadwear Performance
- Warranty
- Specs & Options
- Reviews
Michelin Premier A/S
Dry Performance: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
|
Dry Performance Ratings |
Michelin Premier A/S |
LTX |
|---|---|---|
|
Dry Overall |
9.0 |
8.8 |
|
Cornering Stability |
9.0 |
8.8 |
|
Dry Traction |
9.2 |
9.0 |
|
Steering Response |
8.9 |
8.8 |
Unsurprisingly, the ratings in this category are so similar that it would be difficult for the average driver to tell the difference between the grip of each tire.
This similarity is because both tires use Michelin’s Total Performance Technology, which is focused on improving stopping power and cornering stability. That said, if you drive a sporty CUV and want to get the most out of it, the Premier A/S is probably your best option.
Wet Performance: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
|
Wet Performance Ratings |
Michelin Premier A/S |
LTX |
|---|---|---|
|
Wet Overall |
9.0 |
8.6 |
|
Hydroplaning Resistance |
9.0 |
8.6 |
|
Wet Traction |
9.1 |
8.6 |
Interestingly, although both tires use Expanding Rain Grooves around the tire’s circumference and Emerging Grooves across its shoulders, the Premier manages to prevail over its rival by a slightly higher margin than the previous category.
We hypothesize that the Premier’s tread pattern is better suited to rain and other inclement weather conditions, as it is a tire aimed at family sedans and minivans. In other words, if you are looking for the tire with the best wet traction and the highest resistance to hydroplaning, the Premier A/S is again your best option.
Snow / Ice Performance: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
|
Snow / Ice Performance Ratings |
Michelin Premier A/S |
LTX |
|---|---|---|
|
Snow / Ice Overall |
7.4 |
7.0 |
|
Light Snow Traction |
8.2 |
7.8 |
|
Deep Snow Traction |
7.2 |
6.9 |
|
Ice Traction |
6.9 |
6.5 |
When it comes to traction on snow and ice, the same pattern observed in the other categories is repeated. Despite being aimed at light trucks, SUVs, and crossovers, the Premier LTX fails to beat its opponent.
Both tires have extreme silica, and sunflower oil enhanced tread compound, which gives you the ability to drive your car safely on light snow roads. However, the Premier A/S manages to once again impose itself as the leader in this category.
Comfort Performance: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
|
Performance Ratings |
Michelin Premier A/S |
LTX |
|---|---|---|
|
Overall Comfort |
8.7 |
8.6 |
|
Ride Quality |
8.9 |
8.6 |
|
Noise |
8.5 |
8.5 |
In terms of comfort, both tires provide a very similar driving experience. This is due to the advanced manufacturing processes used by Michelin and the quality materials and great structural rigidity of both wheels. So if you are looking for quiet and smooth tires, you cannot go wrong choosing either of them.
Treadwear Performance: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
|
Treadwear Performance Ratings |
Michelin Premier A/S |
LTX |
|---|---|---|
|
Treadwear |
6.8 |
4.9 |
In terms of durability, the Premier A/S tread design proves to be superior to that of the Premier LTX. Proof of this is the overwhelming difference in the Treadwear rating of both tires.
This is not to say that the LTX is not a suitable tire for daily driving. In fact, both tires have the same Treadlife Warranty. However, there is no denying that the Premier A/S is a better option.
Warranty: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
|
Warranty Ratings |
Michelin Premier A/S |
LTX |
|---|---|---|
|
Treadlife Warranty |
6-year warranty or 60,000 miles (whichever occurs first). This warranty is halved for rear tires when they are different in size from the front tires. |
6-year warranty or 60,000 miles (whichever occurs first). This warranty is halved for rear tires when they are different in size from the front tires. |
|
Uniformity Warranty |
One year of use or the first 2/32″ of wear. |
One year of use or the first 2/32″ of wear. |
|
Workmanship / Materials Warranty |
6-year warranty and free tire replacement for the first year, 2/32″ wear, or 25% wear. |
6-year warranty and free tire replacement for the first year, 2/32″ wear, or 25% wear. |
|
Road Hazard Warranty |
None |
None |
|
Tire Rack Road Hazard Warranty |
Refunds of up to $40 for repairs per tire per occurrence. Refund of the original purchase price or replacement purchase price (whichever is less) when the tire suffers non-repairable damage (valid within the first 2 years of use). |
Refunds of up to $40 for repairs per tire per occurrence. Refund of the original purchase price or replacement purchase price (whichever is less) when the tire suffers non-repairable damage (valid within the first 2 years of use). |
When it comes to the manufacturer’s warranty for these tires, there is not much to say. Both have the same backing from Michelin and Tire Rack. So if you need a tire with an excellent warranty, any of them is a good option.
Specs & Options: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
One of the biggest differences between the Premier A/S and the LTX is the target audience for each tire. Since the Premier A/S is oriented to sedans, minivans, and coupes, the measures in which this tire is available range from 15 inches to 19 inches, with rim widths from 195 to 245.
For its part, the LTX It is aimed at light trucks, SUVs, and CUVs, so it is available in sizes ranging from 16 inches to 22 inches in rim width from 215 to 285. Despite this, their UTQGs are not so different. The Premier A/S is rated 640 A A while the LTX is 620 A A. For more information on UTQG, read this article: How Long Do Tires Last.
Although they overlap in various measures, the specifications of these two tires are as different as their ideal use cases.
Michelin Premier LTX
Reviews: Michelin Premier A/S vs LTX
Before talking about user reviews, it is important to emphasize again the applications for which these tires were designed. The Premier LTX is a tire designed for SUVs, vans, and midsize crossovers, such as the Lexus RX 350, the Mercedes-Benz GLA250, or the Cadillac SRX.
For its part, the Premier A/S is a tire designed for sedans such as the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. This is not to say that it is unsuitable for crossovers and even compact SUVs like the Toyota RAV4. The problem is that the specifications and sizes of the tire may not be optimal for this type of vehicle.
That said, the feedback from the drivers is fascinating. Almost unanimously, everyone agrees that these tires are exceptional in dry, wet, and snow. Something similar happens with ride quality, where both tires have earned praise from drivers for their smoothness and excellent handling experience.
It’s when we get into the issue of durability that reviews go their separate ways. With proper care, Premier A/S users can exceed 80k miles with relative ease. However, a recurring complaint from drivers using the Premier LTX is that its useful life hovers around 65k miles.
Overall, depending on the type of vehicle you drive, one tire or the other may be a better fit. However, in applications such as crossovers or minivans where you can use any of them, the Premier A/S is undoubtedly the best alternative.
Quick Recap
|
Michelin Premier A/S |
|
|---|---|
|
Dry |
Score |
|
Wet |
Score |
|
Snow / Ice |
Score |
|
Comfort |
Score |
|
Treadwear |
Score |
|
Michelin Premier LTX |
|
|---|---|
|
Dry |
Score |
|
Wet |
Score |
|
Snow / Ice |
Score |
|
Comfort |
Score |
|
Treadwear |
Score |
End of the Road
In this review, we compared two great tires, the Premier A/S and the LTX. While both are part of Michelin’s Total Performance family of tires, each is targeted at a specific niche in the market. In other words, depending on whether you drive a sedan, an SUV, or a CUV, one of these tires may be the most suitable for you.