In 2019, Michelin bought Multistrada Arah Sarana (MASA), one of Indonesia’s biggest tire makers. MASA, a 34-year-old tire company, owns the Achilles and Corsa brands.
Many people wonder about Achilles tires: who makes them, where they are made, and how good they are. Let’s compare Achilles tires to Michelin tires to find out if Achilles can compete.
Achilles can’t match Michelin’s wide range of premium products and long history of expertise. However, Achilles has winter and off-road SUV tires that can outperform Michelin.
When comparing Michelin tires to Achilles, keep in mind these key differences.
| Feature | Achilles Tires | Michelin Tires |
|---|---|---|
| Price | More affordable | Generally more expensive |
| Performance | Varies depending on the specific model, but generally good value for the price. | Known for excellent performance in all weather conditions, handling, and comfort. |
| Warranty | Typically shorter warranties compared to Michelin. | Typically longer warranties offering more coverage. |
| Availability | May be easier to find in certain regions. | Widely available globally. |
| Brand reputation | Less established brand compared to Michelin. | Well-established brand with a reputation for quality and innovation. |
What Are They?
1. Achilles Tires
Achilles is a tire brand made by Multistrada Arah Sarana (MASA) in Indonesia for cars. MASA also has a brand for motorcycles called Corsa.
Achilles Radial tires came out in 2005, a year after MASA bought PT Oroban Perkasa, which started in 1988. Before the purchase, the tire company worked with Pirelli Italy in 1991 and Continental in 1995.
Today, Achilles has 8 tire categories. Here are some of their tire models:
| Category | Number of tire models | Tire Designs | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3– ATR Sport | 2 | ATR Sport2, ATR Sport | Comfort |
| 5– All Seasons | 5 | 868 All Seasons, 122, ATR-K, Platinum, Platinum 7 | Comfort |
| 3– Winter | 3 | Winter 101, Winter 101+, Winter 101SUV | Winter |
| 7– SUV | 7 | Desert Hawk H/T 2, Desert Hawk MT, Desert Hawk XMT, Desert Hawk AT, Desert Hawk AP, 838 MT, Desert Hawk UHP | SUV |
| 6– Commercial | 6 | Multivan, Dura Grip II, X-Grip, LTR-80, 9595, Econo Van | Commercial |
| 3– Truck and Bus | 3 | HD12, AAA9, AA08 | Truck and Bus |
| 3– Competition | 3 | 123, ATR K-Spor, GS328 | Competition |
| 1– Industrial | 1 | A01 | Industrial |
The brand’s website shows ratings for Achilles tires. But, info about Achilles tire warranty is limited. It’s wise to read user reviews on Consumer Reports and forums.
2. Michelin
Michelin began as a farm equipment company in 1889. Brothers Edouard and Andre switched to making tires. They got a patent for a removable pneumatic tire in 1891. That year, Charles Terront, the first long-distance cycle race winner, used their tire.
Michelin currently has 6 tire categories. Each category includes multiple tire designs within 9 tire families.
| Category | Number of tire models | Popular Tire designs |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger car | 12 | Michelin Crossclimate, Michelin Defender, Michelin Defender T +, Michelin Energy Saver All Season |
| Luxury Performance | 14 | Michelin Crossclimate 2, Michelin Primacy 3 |
| Performance Sport | 16 | Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect, Michelin Pilot Super Sport |
| SUV Crossover | 21 | Michelin Crossclimate, Michelin Defender 2, Michelin Defender T + H |
| Light truck | 9 | Michelin LTX /MS2 |
| EV Compatible | 14 | Michelin Crossclimate 2, Michelin Defender 2, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
| Winter | 7 | Michelin X-Ice Snow, Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, Michelin X-Ice Xi3, Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 |
Some tires, like the Michelin Crossclimate 2, Michelin Defender 2, and Michelin Defender T + H, are listed in multiple categories.
Similarities and Differences: Michelin vs Achilles Tires
Let’s delve into a comparison between Achilles and Michelin tires in the performance category:
1. Performance Tires
Achilles:
- ATR Sport: Showed subpar performance on both dry and wet surfaces, along with weak resistance to aquaplaning and low comfort levels.
- ATR Sport 2: Performs well on dry and wet roads when adequately warmed up, but performance suffers otherwise. Noise levels vary from low to moderately loud.
- 2233: Offers good grip and handling on dry roads but struggles on wet surfaces. Comfort on hard surfaces with potholes is average, accompanied by loud noise.
- Platinum and Platinum 7: Reviews for Platinum are more positive, providing excellent grip on wet and dry roads with good wear and road feedback.
Michelin:
- Michelin Pilot Super Sport: A max performance summer tire known for impressive dry grip, excellent handling, and short braking distances.
- Michelin Crossclimate 2: An all-weather tire with a snowflake symbol, delivering remarkable aquaplaning resistance, year-round traction, and long-lasting mileage. It ranks second out of 58 grand touring tires on Tire Rack, with a 99% approval rating from consumers.
In comparison to Michelin tires, Achilles’ performance tires exhibit mixed results. While Michelin’s offerings, such as the Pilot Super Sport and Crossclimate 2, outshine Achilles in terms of dependability, grip, and performance on various road conditions.
2. Winter Tires
Michelin has a big advantage over Achilles in winter tires. Michelin offers many options for different winter conditions.
Michelin’s Snow-Certified Tires:
Consumers rave about the high snow traction, handling, and braking capabilities of Michelin X Ice Snow and Michelin X-ice Xi3.
Even the non-snow rated tires like the Defender perform admirably in light snow conditions.
Achilles’ Winter Tires:
Achilles offers three winter tire options, but information is available for only two of them.
Winter 101 X: Designed to handle severe winter conditions, including 20-25 cm deep snow, with high comfort levels and ease. It’s praised for being noiseless and stable on wet and dry roads.
Winter 101: Provides a comfortable and firm ride in snow, ice, and rain, with good grip in dry and wet conditions. However, braking performance at high speeds is somewhat lacking.
In summary, Michelin has many winter tires that work well in different winter conditions. Achilles also has good options for winter driving. The Winter 101 X from Achilles is especially good in severe winter conditions.
3. SUV and Light Truck Tires
Michelin makes SUV and light truck tires for different seasons like summer, winter, and all-season options for SUVs. For light trucks, they offer all-season and winter tires.
One of their best off-road tires is the Michelin LTX A/T2, made for SUVs and light trucks. It has great traction on wet and dry roads and lasts 35% longer than other off-road tires.
On the other hand, Achilles focuses on off-road performance with their SUV tires but doesn’t match Michelin’s quality.
The Desert Hawk XMT tire is good on moderate mud, dirt, gravel, and snow. It can be noisy off-road but quiet on highways. However, it grips wet roads just okay during turns. The Desert Hawk AT tire makes noise and wears out slowly. It’s good for city and highway driving at first, but its performance gets worse over time.
Overall, Michelin’s SUV and light truck tires perform better, especially the Michelin LTX A/T2, which does well in different terrains and conditions. It offers better traction and lasts longer than Achilles’ tires.
4. Warranty
Michelin is known for making tires that last a long time. Many Michelin tires come with support for miles you can drive.
Summer tires usually have warranties for 20,000 to 50,000 miles. Winter tires support driving 25,000 to 40,000 miles. All-season tires cover a wide range from 20,000 to 80,000 miles.
This shows Michelin is dedicated to making durable, long-lasting tires.
Achilles offers a 35,000-mile warranty on its summer tires. These include the ATR Sport, 2233, and Achilles 122 tires.
5. Cost
| Tire Model | Tire Size | Price (USD) | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Achilles ATR Sport | 215/60R16 | $90.99 | Achilles |
| Achilles 2233 | 215/60R16 | $85.96 | Achilles |
| Michelin Crossclimate 2 | 215/60R16 | $174.99 | Michelin |
| Achilles ATR Sport 2 | 245/30ZR22 | $121.96 | Achilles |
| Michelin Pilot Super Sport | 245/30ZR21 | $253.97 | Michelin |
| Desert Hawk XMT | 265/65R17 | $176.98 | Achilles |
| Desert Hawk AT | LT265/65R17 | $238.98 | Achilles |
| Michelin LTX A/T2 | 265/65R17 | $286.96 | Michelin |
| Winter 101 | 195/65R15 | $87.56 | Achilles |
| Winter 101 X | 225/55R16 | $103.55 | Achilles |
| Michelin X-Ice Snow | 195/65R15 | $125.99 | Michelin |
| Michelin X-Ice Snow | 225/55R16 | $223.95 | Michelin |
Summary of Tire Selection and Road Performance
Michelin and Achilles have similar tire types. However, Achilles offers fewer tire styles.
The Indonesian brand focuses on summer, winter, and offroad models. Its only all-season tires are the Achilles 868 All Season, ATR-K, and Desert Hawk H/T.
Many of the brand’s summer tires don’t perform well on wet roads. Two of its three winter tires can handle heavy snow. The brand has some reliable SUV tires for off-road driving, but they can’t match Michelin’s top offroading tire, Michelin LTX AT/2.
In contrast, Michelin excels in every tire category due to its balanced performance, comfort, noise, and durability.
Michelin leads the all-season category with the Michelin Crossclimate 2 and Defender line. For winter, Michelin’s X-Ice Snow is its top tire. The Michelin Pilot Super Sport is Michelin’s high-performance tire.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Achilles Tires
If you read the above information carefully, you should now understand the main advantage of Achilles tires.
Achilles tires are not only cheaper but also offer better value because they cost less and have a shorter lifespan.
For the price of one set of Michelin tires, you can buy two sets of Achilles tires that will last a combined 50% longer.
Achilles tires also outperform other budget brands by providing higher mileage at the same price.
However, there are some performance disadvantages to owning Achilles tires. Drivers rate their performance on dry roads as very good to excellent.
On wet roads, even all-season tires perform adequately. While Achilles tires are safe, caution is advised in wet conditions.
In terms of treadwear, Achilles tires have poor mileage.
This is a common finding in comparisons between budget and premium brands.
Typically, the treadwear and longevity of budget brands align with their price, but Achilles tires slightly outperform them.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Michelin Tires
Michelin tires are top quality.
For any specific vehicle need, Michelin has one of the best three tires for it.
No matter what you compare – traction, stopping distance, comfort, cornering stability, longevity, or anything else – Michelin outperforms.
However, this quality and performance come at a high price. Michelin tires are among the most expensive on the market.
Pros and cons: Achilles vs. Michelin
| Feature | Achilles Tires | Michelin Tires |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Pro: More affordable | Con: Generally more expensive |
| Performance | Pro: Varies depending on the model, but generally good value for the price. | Pro: Known for excellent performance in all weather conditions, handling, and comfort. |
| Warranty | Con: Typically shorter warranties compared to Michelin. | Pro: Typically longer warranties offering more coverage. |
| Availability | Pro: May be easier to find in certain regions. | Pro: Widely available globally. |
| Brand reputation | Con: Less established brand compared to Michelin. | Pro: Well-established brand with a reputation for quality and innovation. |
FAQs
Achilles tires are made for lower to mid-range customers. They are produced in Indonesia, a top rubber producer, which keeps production costs down.
Achilles makes tires for different vehicles like cars, trucks, buses, competition vehicles, and industrial use. These tires aim to provide good performance, comfort, and traction in winter.
Yes, Achilles is owned by Multistrada Arah Sarana (MASA), a big tire maker in Indonesia. Michelin bought MASA, so Achilles is now part of Michelin’s tire lineup.
Yes, Achilles tires are known for being affordable and good for dry and winter driving. For instance, the Winter 101 X model is praised for its deep snow performance.
Achilles offers a 35,000-mile treadwear warranty for three summer tire models: ATR Sport, 2233, and Achilles 122.
Conclusion
Now you know who owns Achilles tires and how they do on the road. We can compare Achilles tires and Michelin tires. Achilles tires might be better than Michelin for some buyers. This is true if you don’t drive in tough conditions and only need tires for regular daily driving.