The safety standards are MINIMUM standards. Just because all tires meet the minimum doesn’t mean they are all as good as each other. Some brands exceed the minimum standards, ride smoother, quieter, or last longer than others. My Michelins are going on 7 years old and still look like brand new. Not a crack on any of them and the tread looks perfect too. (At 35,000 miles they are hardly used.) They ride great, handle great, and are quiet. I will replace them soon due to age, and the new tires will be Michelins.