Quote:
Originally Posted by JCL
There are two schools of thought on premier brands utilizing second tier brands to build volume and market share.
Theory A states that the top brand pulls up the second tier brand by its bootstraps, pushing its technology and processes down to the lower brand. The lower brand rises, and is a price competitive option, essentially the top brand product at a discount price.
Theory B states that the top brand keeps its second brand one step behind, permanently, so as not to undermine its top brand position.
Choose A or B.
I go with B. Think how good that tire could be if Michelin was prepared to put its own premium label on it.
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I can see that as far as the brand as a whole is concerned, but Michelin doesn't really have a direct competitor for the two BF Goodrich tires I mentioned above.
As far as passenger tires go, the three top catagories are as follows with the Extreme being the most performance oriented;
Extreme Performance Summer
Max Performance Summer
Ultra High Performance Summer
The BF Goodrich g-force Rival is a great Extreme Performance tire. Michelin doesn't offer a tire in this catagory.
Michelin is the king of the Max Performance Summer tire with the Pilot Super Sport. BF Goodrich doesn't offer a tire in this catagory.
BF Goodrich currently makes arguably the best Ultra High Performance Summer tire with the g-force Sport Comp 2. Michelin does actualy make a Ultra High Performance Summer tire called the Pilot Exalto PE2, but I bet you never even heard of this tire.
With that last exception, none of these tires are in the same performance catagory and don't directly compete with each other, so to me it seems Michelin has put out some really good products under the Goodrich name where there is currently no space being filled by a Michelin branded tire.
Obviously, if you are talking the entire range of tires, Goodrich is below Michelin. However, I would replace your #2 Pirelli with Bridgestone. This is all personal opinion of course and probably the reason you were hesitant to list your top brands. You knew this would happen.
