Hercules Tires vs Michelin: Which Suits You Best?

Henry

Written by

Henry Speciale

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FACT-CHECKED BY

Steven Schiller

hercules tires vs michelin

Midrange and budget tire brands are starting to get more attention from consumers. Companies like Hankook Tires, Kumho Tires, and Hercules Tires bring a lot to the table including dependable performance and good warranty for lower costs than premium.

In this Hercules Tires vs Michelin comparison, we will determine which brand has better offers. The former aims to provide quality tires at an affordable price. In contrast, the latter wants to make the finest tires and present a complete package to their customers.

Category Hercules-Tires Michelin-tires
Performance High customer ratings Top-level traction and handling
Durability Competitive treadwear ratings Top-level tread life
Variety Michelin offers a wider range of tires
Warranty Up to 85,000 miles Up to 80,000 miles

What to Know About Hercules Tires?

michelin-tires-comparison

Before discussing their products, let us first know some company history of Hercules Tires. It was in 1952 when Hercules Tires and Rubber Company was founded. In 1960, they formed a partnership with Cooper Tires, which manufactures tires for their company.

Since then, the company has consistently demonstrated a desire for innovation, which has led to increased popularity. Many customers think Hercules Tires is a good brand to buy because their products are less expensive than most high-quality brands and have long mileage warranties.

What to Know About Michelin?

general-tire-vs-michelin

Michelin is one of the giants today in the tire industry. Based on the 2021 revenues of tire companies, Michelin surpasses long-time leader Bridgestone to become the largest tire manufacturer for the year.

Upon being founded in 1989, the Michelin Group invented multiple notable tire designs. Michelin began by making bicycle tires, and in 1891, they invented the first detachable tire. After a couple of years, they also made tires for automobiles which greatly contributed to the car industry.

Differences Between Hercules Tires and Michelin

goodyear-tires-vs-michelin-tires

To have a better idea of how these two brands differ, let us make a comparison based on different categories such as performance, durability, variety, warranty, and cost.

1. Performance

company-history

  • Michelin has several tires that give emphasis to performance.

If you want sportier handling and extreme grip, you can try the Pilot Sport 4S which is currently ranked 1 in Tire Rack’s customer tire ratings.

They also have tires that are perfect for practical driving like the Defender T+H and Crossclimate 2. These are popular all-season tires that give high traction levels while ensuring quietness and ride comfort.

  • On the other hand, the tire performance of Hercules Tires is also good.

Although Hercule tires are not on the same level as Michelin, you are still getting more for your money. Hercules Tires ratings are also high which means that they are achieving great customer satisfaction.

For instance, the Terra Trac HPT, aka Hercules HPT tire has a 4.8 stars rating on the Hercules website. It received its highest scores in dry traction, hydroplaning resistance, comfort, quietness, and steering response.

A brand like Michelin is hard to beat in terms of performance. This part of the Hercules vs Michelin tires comparison revealed numerous benefits of using the latter’s designs and innovations. This makes it an excellent choice if you are not much worried about the costs.

2. Durability

hercules-tires-vs-cooper

If you ever used any of the products of these two brands, you will notice that they give priority to durability.

  • Despite being a budget brand, Hercules Tires provides its customers with long-lasting products.

The treadwear ratings of Hercules Tires are above the market average of 300 to 500. Some of their tires even reach up to a grade of 800 which competes with the bigger brands.

For example, the Roadtour 855 SPE with a T-speed rating has a UTQG rating of 780 A A, which is just slightly lower than the treadwear rating of Defender LTX M/S with 800 A A in the same speed rating.

  • Michelin also has a couple of long-lasting tires.

Consumer Reports testing revealed that the Defender T+H could last up to 90,000 miles. Another Defender tire, namely the Defender 2, also has an impressive estimated tread life of 94,400 miles according to Michelin.

You could also look for other suitable alternatives from other manufacturers. Aside from Hercules, you could try Toyo Tires, which are well-known for their tough off-road tires.

3. Variety

tire-performance

Michelin has a wide set of tire families which caters to different vehicle types and usages. Hercules also has a good range of tires but is far from the number of designs that Michelin has.

For performance tires, Michelin offers the Pilot Sport. Touring and highway tires include Premier, Primacy, Crossclimate, and Defender. LTX tires for light trucks. Winter tires include Alpin and X-Ice. This just goes to show that Michelin covers almost every tire category and that you have a lot of options.

For Hercules Tires, they have the Roadtour, Avalanche, Terra Trac, Raptis, and H/P. These tire families also cover different tire categories such as performance, passenger, SUV/CUV, light trucks, and winter.

4. Warranty

consumer-reports

Hercules is one of those brands which gives long mileage warranties. This is one of the reasons why most of their customers are satisfied with their services and products.

When comparing Hercules to Michelin, the former has a slight advantage because their tires come with warranties of up to 85,000 miles, whereas the latter only offers warranties of up to 80,000 miles.

Aside from Michelin, Hercules’ warranty offers also compete with those of other larger brands. When comparing Hercules Tires vs Cooper, you will notice that Hercules has a better warranty because Cooper Tires are only guaranteed for 50,000 to 80,000 miles.

5. Cost

toyo-tires

In terms of cost, Hercules Tires manufactures more affordable products than Michelin. However, both brands offer excellent value to their respective target markets. Here are the tire prices for some of their popular designs.

Hercules Tires

  • Terra Trac A/T II: starts at about $120
  • H/P 4000: $138-$223
  • Avalanche RT: $87-$173
  • Power ST2: $83-$188

Michelin Tires

  • Pilot Sport 4S: $238-$632
  • Crossclimate 2: $172-$343
  • Defender T+H: $145-$212
  • Defender LTX M/S: $155-$316

These prices may still vary depending on the tire shop you visit.

Hercules Tires
  • Long tread life warranties
  • Very affordable price
  • Good customer ratings
  • Durable
  • Overall performance is not on par with premium brands
Michelin Tires
  • One of the top brands in the industry
  • Wide selection of tires
  • High level of performance
  • Highly durable
  • Expensive

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which is better: Goodyear Tires vs Michelin Tires?

Goodyear and Michelin are two premium brands that produce the best tires in the market. It is hard to distinguish which is better between the two as their designs and technologies have their advantages over the other.

Michelin has some of the highest-rated performance tires with their Pilot Sport tire line. On the other hand, Goodyear has better options when it comes to off-roading with its all-terrain and mud-terrain designs.

Which is better: General Tire vs Michelin?

General Tire is another brand that provides excellent value to its customers through its affordable designs. Although Michelin is still superior in terms of performance and tread life, its products remain viable options in the market, particularly for those looking to save some money.

Is Hercules Tire owned by Cooper?

Hercules Tires is not owned by Cooper. However, Cooper Tires is the one that produces Hercules products as part of their partnership which began in 1960.

Who is Hercules Tire owned by?

Hercules Tires is owned by American Tire Distributors, Inc, which is a major supplier of tires in North America.

Conclusion

I hope that this Hercules Tires vs Michelin review has helped you in buying your next tires. Without a doubt, these two brands could meet our driving needs in different areas such as performance and durability.

Michelin is an excellent brand to consider if you are willing to spend more money and want high-performing tires that will last a long time. If you want cheaper but dependable tires, then go with the Hercules Tires. They are guaranteed with mileages that are above market average so you won’t be disappointed.

Explore the comprehensive comparisons between tire brands, click the following articles to learn more:

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Henry-Speciale - Writer

Henry Speciale

I’m Henry, the content writer for PPMC Transport. We build our site entirely on experience and extensive market and customer research. My goal is to create a trusted platform where people can go to determine what is best for their vehicles in terms of safety and convenience. Keep an eye out for our useful guide!...more