Brandwave

Bridgestone vs Michelin:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, Bridgestone had more branded searches than Michelin among tyre brands in New Zealand. Bridgestone had about 18,000 branded searches, while Michelin had 3,520. Bridgestone made up 59.1% of all tyre brand searches we track, and Michelin accounted for 11.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about tyre brands, both Bridgestone and Michelin appeared in all five answers. Michelin was mentioned before Bridgestone in four out of five answers.

Among tyre brands in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Bridgestone, about 5 searches for every 1 for Michelin

Bridgestone 18K searchesMichelin 3.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Bridgestone in 5 of 5Michelin in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Michelin, named ahead of Bridgestone in 4 of 5 answers

Michelin first in 4Bridgestone first in 1

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Top tyre brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Bridgestone and Michelin showed up in all five answers. Michelin was listed before Bridgestone in four of them.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Michelin1st
  2. Bridgestone2nd
  3. Continental3rd
  4. Goodyear4th
  5. Hankook5th
  6. Pirelli6th
  7. Yokohama7th
  8. Dunlop8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Bridgestone5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Michelin5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Continental5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hankook4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Goodyear4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pirelli3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Yokohama2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Dunlop2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about tyre brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Bridgestone or Michelin more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Bridgestone and Michelin by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight tyre brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Bridgestone and Michelin among tyre brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Bridgestone, Michelin. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBridgestoneMichelinPirelliYokohamaHankookGoodyearContinentalDunlop
Nov 202568%11.7%6.8%2.3%3.3%4%2.6%1.4%
Dec 202572.3%8.5%6%2.3%2.8%4.1%2.6%1.4%
Jan 202670.1%9.8%5.9%2.7%3.4%4%2.5%1.7%
Feb 202669.1%9.4%6.1%2.9%3.6%4.6%2.7%1.6%
Mar 202669.1%9.7%6.1%3.1%4.1%4%2.6%1.3%
Apr 202667.4%10.9%6.4%3.1%4.1%4.3%2.5%1.4%
May 202666.3%11.6%6.1%3.5%4.1%4.4%2.5%1.6%
Jun 202658.8%20.5%6.4%2.8%4.1%3.7%2.5%1.4%
Jul 202654.1%27.7%5.4%3%3.2%3.4%2%1.1%
Aug 202661.1%16.5%6.4%4%3.7%3.9%2.9%1.5%
Sep 202661.7%13.3%7.9%4.4%4.2%3.9%3%1.6%
Oct 202659.1%11.5%10.9%5.5%4.4%3.8%3.1%1.5%

How has branded search for Bridgestone and Michelin changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Bridgestone was ahead of Michelin in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Bridgestone’s share of searches among tyre brands in New Zealand moved from 68% to 59.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 23.1K to 18K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Michelin’s share of searches among tyre brands in New Zealand moved from 11.7% to 11.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4K to 3.5K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand tyre brands in October 2026?

2 changes
  1. In October 2026, Bridgestone lost share of searches among tyre brands in New Zealand, from 61.7% to 59.1%.

  2. In October 2026, Michelin lost share of searches among tyre brands in New Zealand, from 13.3% to 11.5%.

How are Bridgestone’s and Michelin’s branded searches counted?

29 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bridgestone’s and Michelin’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Bridgestone

18 branded search terms

  • bridgestone
  • bridgestone adelaide road
  • bridgestone dueler
  • bridgestone ecopia
  • bridgestone ecopia tires
  • bridgestone ecopia tyres
  • bridgestone moorhouse
  • bridgestone potenza
  • bridgestone potenza sport
  • bridgestone potenza tires
  • bridgestone potenza tyres
  • bridgestone select
  • bridgestone st lukes
  • bridgestone tires
  • bridgestone turanza
  • bridgestone turanza 6
  • bridgestone tyre
  • bridgestone wairakei road

Michelin

11 branded search terms

  • michelin
  • michelin anakee adventure
  • michelin e primacy
  • michelin mtb tires
  • michelin pilot sport
  • michelin primacy
  • michelin primacy 4
  • michelin primacy 5
  • michelin primacy suv
  • michelin tires
  • michelin tyre

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among tyre brands

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