Is Android Saga Tien >= Frieza?

[CroMagnumDVH]

This is just a possibility, mainly revolving around this statement:

Chapter 337 (DBZ 143), P7.4
Tenshinhan: “I left Chaozu behind. He trained, but frankly he couldn’t keep up with this fight…”
Goku: “That’s for the best.”

So this might imply Tien thought he could keep up with the androids despite knowing that they're superior to Frieza. This might be against what Tien later says when he compares Trunks losing the androids and him beating Frieza causally, but I want to see your premise on it. What do you think?

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

Well as a team with Goku and Piccolo sure. But not as individual.

 

[Tapion]

Tien was probably afraid of Chiaotzu pulling a Saibamen on him again.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

The short answer is no.

Kuririn still treats the power a Super Saiyan can achieve as a godly tier and the thought of Piccolo being on that tier without being a SSJ being mind blowing.

Chapter: 346 (DBZ 152), P12.4
Kuririn: “He’s st-strong…! What kind of training did Piccolo do…And he’s not even a Su-Super Saiyan…”

Ten also still treats Trunks oneshotting Freeza in high regard, hardly something that would matter if even he were on Freeza's level.

Chapter: 355 (DBZ 161), P8.3-4
Tenshinhan: “Th-this is the man who took down Freeza…And he was helpless before these androids…I’ll be frank…! No matter how strong Goku may be, he shouldn’t be that different from Trunks or Vegeta…”

The statement in the OP doesn't mean much as Piccolo only told everyone to show up if they could provide some use. Ten could still play a supporting role with his techniques, whereas Chaozu has nothing to offer when it's been established his telekinesis is useless against too strong a foe and his only other skill is pointlessly self destructing.

 

[GSM123]

Tenshinhan would be lucky to reach Dodoria's level IMO.

 

[Pyro]

If you asked Toei to write a blurb about this now, they'd say he was equal to Piccolo after merging with Kami.