Laufenn Tires vs Michelin: Which Brand Should You Go For?

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Written by

Henry Speciale

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FACT-CHECKED BY

Steven Schiller

laufenn tires vs michelin

Price-conscious consumers are always on the hunt for quality but budget-friendly tires in forums like Reddit. That is why we went ahead and inspected Laufenn tires vs Michelin.

Laufenn tires may not match the vast tire selection of the century-long expertise of Michelin in balancing comfort, performance, and longevity. Still, the Hankook sub-brand can provide reliable performance in dry and snowy conditions with moderate comfort, wear life, and road noise at half of Michelin’s price tag.

Factors Laufenn Michelin
Dry Above average Winner
Wet Average Winner
Snow Average Winner
Comfort/ Ride Quality Comparable Winner
Noise Comparable Winner
Price Winner Expensive
Mileage Warranty Competitive Winner

What Are They?

1. Laufenn tires

who-makes-laufenn-tires

Laufenn was named after the German verb “laufen,” which means “to run.” The brand was developed by South Korean tire maker, Hankook, to provide budget-conscious consumers with practical tires.

Different types of Laufenn tires

Currently, Laufenn has 9 tire models:

  • 5 tire designs for passenger cars (2 all-season tires and 3 summer tires)
  • 3 all-season tires for SUVs, vans, and light trucks
  • 1 winter tire for passenger cars

Laufenn’s naming conventions for its tire models are easy to remember:

  • S Fit for ultra high performance tires
  • G Fit for touring tires
  • X Fit for on and off-road tires
  • I Fit for winter tires

Laufenn distinguishes its designs by adding AS for all-season, EQ for summer, AT for on and off-road, and HT for on-road driving. Laufenn snow tires have “Ice” in their names.

2. Michelin

tires-ratings

Michelin got its name from its founders, Edouard and Andre Michelin. This company has subsidiary brands composed of BFGoodrich, Kleber, Kormoran, Riken, Taurus, Tigar, and Uniroyal.

Its brand has 51 tire models composed of 26 all-season tires, 18 summer tires, and 7 winter tires suitable for passenger cars, SUVs, light trucks, performance vehicles, and sports cars.

The tires were named after their product families, and Michelin has 9 tire families:

  • X- Ice – comprises winter tires designed for severe winter conditions
  • Michelin Crossclimate – provides superior all-season performance and tire longevity even under heavy loads
  • Michelin Defender – offers the ultimate tread life
  • Michelin Energy – promises all-season performance with better fuel savings
  • Michelin Latitude Sport – composed of SUV and truck tire designs for all weather conditions and better gas mileage
  • Michelin Primacy – Engineered for luxury performance driving
  • Michelin Pilot – exceptional high-performance tires
  • Michelin Premier – Designed to provide a safe driving experience even when the tires are worn
  • Michelin LTX- developed for off-road driving

Related comparisons:

Differences: Michelin vs Laufenn tires

In this section, we will be comparing the two brands’ selection for all season tires.

1. Laufenn S FIT AS vs Michelin Latitude Tour ( UHP vs Touring tire)

laufenn-s-fit-as-vs-michelin-latitude-tour

Michelin Latitude Tour is an all-season touring tire, while Laufenn S Fit AS is an all-season ultra high-performance tire.

The Latitude Tour performs better than Laufenn’s S Fit AS on wet and dry roads. The Laufenn tire has worse traction on wet surfaces with understeering tendencies, though it has nice handling in dry conditions.

On snow, both models are average, which is expected for all-season tires.

The Latitude Tour gives quiet and smooth rides, while Laufenn’s S Fit AS provides comparable comfort and wear life.

2. Laufenn S FIT AS vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ( UHP tire vs Performance Summer tire)

laufenn-s-fit-as-vs-michelin-pilot-sport-4-

This time, if we compare the Laufenn S Fit AS with Michelin Pilot Sport 4, the tires ratings show that the max performance summer tire takes the lead in cornering stability, steering response, and aquaplaning resistance with an average of 5-8% difference. Also, the Laufenn tire lags behind in wet and dry traction.

On the other hand, Laufenn’s S Fit AS scored a little higher in comfort, road noise, and tread life than the Pilot Sport 4.

Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4 is not designed for snowy conditions, while the Laufenn S Fit AS can handle light snow.

3. Laufenn S Fit AS vs Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 (UHP tires)

laufenn-s-fit-as-vs-michelin-pilot-sport-all-season

The Pilot Sport All Season 4 has superior performance in wet, dry, and snowy conditions with minimal road noise. This tire was praised for its superb comfort level, high snow traction, and splendid dry and wet braking ability. Its wear life is 29% longer than rival tires.

In contrast, the S Fit AS is dependable on dry roads with a good level of comfort and road noise. It lacks grip in wet conditions and handles snow-covered areas with below-average traction.

4. Laufenn G Fit AS vs Michelin Crossclimate 2 (Grand Touring Tires)

laufenn-g-fit-as-vs-michelin-crossclimate-2

In this matchup between two grand touring tires, Michelin’s Crossclimate 2 beats the G Fit AS in all categories: all-season performance, ride quality, and treadwear.

The Laufenn tire cannot match the excellent grip and handling of the Crossclimate 2 in wet and snowy conditions. It slides easily on wet surfaces, while the Crossclimate 2 can deal with heavy rain and snow.

The Laufenn tire is quiet and comfortable on dry roads but not as reliable as the Crossclimate 2 because the latter delivers short braking distances with precise steering response.

5. Laufenn X Fit AT vs Michelin LTX A/T2 (On/Off-road tires)

laufenn-x-fit-at-vs-michelin-ltx-at2

Both adventure tires can’t provide aggressive off-road driving, but Michelin’s LTX A/T2 delivers a more enjoyable ride than the Laufenn X Fit AT because it can tackle hard-packed dirt, loose sand, and gravel with less noise.

Both options are stable on the highway, but the Laufenn tire has noticeable noise as the speed increases.

The LTX A/T2 is commended for its towing capability and good wear life.

6. Warranties

laufenn-a-good-tire

Without a doubt, Michelin is an expert in offering tires with long-lasting mileage. Therefore, it is not surprising that its tires have better brand support (20,000 – 80,000 miles) than Laufenn tires (45,000 – 60,000 miles).

On average, Laufenn tires can last up to 5 years while Michelin tires have extra treadwear for another year.

7. Cost

The tires prices of Laufenn cost almost half of Michelin’s starting price.

Tires Price range
Laufenn S Fit AS $90-$150
Laufenn G Fit AS $60-$88
Laufenn X Fit AT $127-$192
Michelin Latitude Tour $197-$256
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 $209-$595
Michelin Crossclimate 2 $148-$420
Michelin LTX A/T2 $200-$388

Pros and cons: Michelin vs Laufenn tires

Laufenn Tires
  • Affordable
  • Competitive warranty
  • Reliable performance in dry roads and light snow
  • Good comfort and ride quality
  • Small tire selection
  • Average grip in wet conditions
Michelin Tires
  • Offers a wide variety of tire options
  • Superior all-season performance
  • Excellent ride quality
  • Longer tread life
  • Expensive

FAQs

where-are-laufenn-tires-made

How long do Laufenn tires last?

Laufenn’s passenger tires offer a treadwear warranty of 45,000 miles or wear life that could last up to 5 years while its SUV and light truck tires have a mileage support of 60,000 miles. The warranty support includes a 30-days trial.

Who are Laufenn tires made by?

Hankook manufactures Laufenn tires. This low-cost brand was launched in the US market in 2014 and was introduced to the European market in 2015.

Is Laufenn a good tire?

Yes, Laufenn is a good tire. For instance, Laufenn’s G Fit AS can handle wet and dry roads with good aquaplaning resistance, good wear life, and a high level of comfort.

Where are Laufenn tires made?

Laufenn tires are made in Indonesia. It is a sub-brand of Hankook, and this South Korean tire company set up its production facility in West Java, Indonesia in 2013.

Conclusion

Forum reviews seldom mention who makes Laufenn tires. We hope that through this Laufenn tires vs Michelin comparison, you learned that you may get more than your money’s worth in Hankook Laufenn.

For drivers who need dependable tires, mostly for warm weather or daily commute on the highway, Laufenn tires are worth considering.

3.9/5 - (26 votes)
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