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Any recent experience with Michelin Defender LTX M/S tires?

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Synmag

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I got my 2013 just over two years ago with Pirelli Scorpion Verde all seasons (255/55/R18) that after 32,500kms I was told by my dealer to replace them. My mechanic said they will be fine until this winter but I noticed a huge cut on one of them after picking it up from the dealer and need a new set now with 37,800kms on them.

I was extremely happy with the smooth ride, handling, and mileage but don't want them if they don't last. I was looking at the Michelin Defenders as I have seen highly rated reviews and it has a long tread warranty 115,000kms (~70,000miles).

I searched the forums and saw one person commenting that they liked it and they lasted a long time. I also saw a lot of people using the Michelin Latitude Tour HP which have a 25,000km less warranty at 90k.

I also saw a lot of Nokian WRG2 recommendations the only thing is one website has them listed here in Canada for $94 a piece. I think people said they paid US$200-300 for them. Anyone know if this is a legit site?

Tyre Nokian WR G2 SUV 255/55 R18 in Toronto - tires-ca.com - By tyres in Toronto

www.tires-ca.com www.tires-ca.com

The Defender is reviewed as one of the most aggressive all-season tires that does not have winter rating.

I'm tired of switching wheels as I'm too old to lug them into the car and out twice a year so please don't give me a lesson on winter tires. I managed to drive just fine on all seasons most my life.
 
#2 ·
The Michelin defender ltx m/s is rated even higher and is one of the highest rated tires ever, and they're snow rated.
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
Yes, I read good reviews I'm just wondering if they're suitable for the Treg. They look like tires you see on pickup trucks and most of the reviews are by people driving domestic trucks. I also don't see much snow here in Toronto. It's mostly rain and dry pavement driving. I understand the compound is probably softer for better handling in the winter.
 
#4 ·
There is also the michelin defender ltx at2. Look at all of them. The at2 is an all terrain. Pretty much zero complaints exist on this planet about the Defender series.
 
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Discussion starter · #5 ·
I googled some pictures and they look ok. The product photo by Michelin doesn't do it justice. Michelin also has a 60 day guarantee so I will order them. What I find odd is that tirerack has hundreds of reviews and they have 0 reviews for German vehicles. Most F150 and Chevy, a few Japanese SUV/trucks and Europe is represented by one Volvo XC. I went in about a dozen pages out of over 500 reviews.
 
#6 ·
Agreed they don't have a great look to them - not a good look at all. None of the Defender series look good to me. But as long as they perform I'd be willing to overlook that part.

Most German SUV owners want good handling street tires not AT's.. I imagine thats why you won't see many reviews for them.

Let us know how you like them though! Lots of tire snobs on this website.
 
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Discussion starter · #7 ·
The tire place confirmed they honour the 60 day return policy but he said nobody has ever made us of it and they do an insane amount of business. My only concern is if there is a major difference between the scorpions and the defender where even my wife will notice the difference which wouldn't be the fault of the tire. Since she drives like 95% of the time I'm willing to forego the excellent handling for durability. Comfort/quiet/normal winter handling/durability are my priority.

I will report back.
 
#8 ·
All of those things you require are where the defender at2 is supposed to shine. Please do keep us posted
 
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#10 ·
I have used Michelins for 40yrs and love the product. I am currently using Michelin Latitudes on my TREG, replaced the OEM GY LS with 17000 miles ,because they wore out. I have always gotten at least 35K miles with my Michelin tires. On lighter cars like JSW you will get 50K miles of ware.
 
#11 ·
yrktreg said:
I had the defender LTX M/S on my T1 for a number of years.

LOVED THEM!

IIRC I got like 50k something odd miles out of them before replacing and still had a little life left in them.
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How did they do in the snow and in light off-roading? Most people say they are excellent in the snow but absolutely atrocious off-road in any form
 
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Discussion starter · #12 ·
I had a chance to drive it with the new set a few times now and I have no problem recommending them. The day I drove home, mostly highway, nothing jumped out at me that would be of concern. I think I heard some extra wind noise which seemed to come from the tires but it either went away I don't notice anymore. Perhaps those little rubber pieces that stick out and wear off early on made the noise and now they're gone.

I pushed it, ahem over the limit, to ensure a smooth ride as the first thing I noticed about the Scorpions was how smooth and vibration free they were at high speeds. The defenders are pretty damn close. If anything I would blame the balancing as my dealer has the hunter road force balance machine which is the best for vibration free operation and the tire place does not have it.

Handling on the highway i.e. taking off-ramp curves at higher speeds seemed not as self-assured as the scropion but it may have been psychological. I like to push on off ramps and haven't had a reason to complain recently. On the way home I had this feeling/sensation that the car was on its tippy-toes if that makes sense but that also went away after the first drive and again could have been psychological.

Where I do notice a big difference is the comfort. The defender significantly dampens bumps. There is one section of read I use regularly and it was really noticeable how much less harsh it was. Whenever I drive my parent's Camry on that road I'm always envious how well it handles roughness and I always thought the difference was the suspension but after experiencing this with a tire change perhaps not.

I'm perfectly fine giving up a bit of cornering ability for the comfort and durability.

Verdict: Unless you want to extract maximum handling performance I would highly recommend the defender. Once on the car they don't look all that bad either.
 
#13 ·
Good review, have any pictures of them mounted?
 
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#14 ·
I swear by Michelins have used defender LTX on my Touaregs and on my JSW,very smooth and have the best wear of any others I have used. My OEM GY/is tires were done at 16K miles. On my 2012 TREG they were still fine a t35K when I traded it back to VW because of Diesel disaster. I now have same Michelins on my 2016 TREG.
 
#15 ·
volkswagens-for-life said:
How did they do in the snow and in light off-roading? Most people say they are excellent in the snow but absolutely atrocious off-road in any form
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I don't have them on my treg, but I've been running them, and their predecessors, the LTX M/S and way back, the XCH4, on my BJ60 Landcruiser, for the last 440,000km. They are great, long-wearing tires, extremely capable and comfortable on the highway, amazing in the snow, and very good for rugged FSR’s and all the off-road (a terrible misnomer) that I do. Bear in mind that they are a favourite tire of the overland community. I am very seriously thinking of putting them on the treg, once my nokians WRG3 tires are worn.
 
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#16 ·
roalco said:
I don't have them on my treg, but I've been running them, and their predecessors, the LTX M/S and way back, the XCH4, on my BJ60 Landcruiser, for the last 440,000km. They are great, long-wearing tires, extremely capable and comfortable on the highway, amazing in the snow, and very good for rugged FSR’s and all the off-road (a terrible misnomer) that I do. Bear in mind that they are a favourite tire of the overland community. I am very seriously thinking of putting them on the treg, once my nokians WRG3 tires are worn.
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funny you mention that, I am also looking to replace my Nokian wrg3 SUV tires. They were great for the 10,000 miles but then after that they were absolute crap and wore out really fast and unevenly. Being you are in Canada you definitely get a fair amount of snow like we do here in Lake Effect zone. Would you say the Michelin Defender LTX Ms is as good as the wrg3 in snow? What type of off-roading experience do you have with them?
 
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#18 ·
They look good. Actually they look pretty conservative, definitely not outrageous.
 
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#20 ·
volkswagens-for-life said:
funny you mention that, I am also looking to replace my Nokian wrg3 SUV tires. They were great for the 10,000 miles but then after that they were absolute crap and wore out really fast and unevenly. Being you are in Canada you definitely get a fair amount of snow like we do here in Lake Effect zone. Would you say the Michelin Defender LTX Ms is as good as the wrg3 in snow? What type of off-roading experience do you have with them?
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Im on my second set of wrg3 tires on the touareg and we have them on three other family vehicles (mini cooper, X1 and a crosstrek). We are on the west coast, so lots of rain all year round, wet slushy snow, and black ice in the winter (its usually just hovering around freezing, rarely below -5C) and probably getting 35-45,000km until they hit 4mm, so yes, a much shorter life than the michelins ive had. But an excellent all round crappy weather tire, just like the LTX.
Most of the backroading i do in both the cruiser and the touareg (different tires) is on forest service roads (mains, secondary and branch) here in the mountains on the coast, so it ranges in season and location from graded and wide enough for a P-16 logging truck to very rough (nasty baseball sized sharp rocks) narrow and steep. Im not a technical rock crawler nor a “lets just boot it and see if we can get through this mud hole” kinda guy. Im a bit older now, so i tend to take my time and pick my line (getting stuck isnt much fun anymore) and found that i can get pretty much anywhere i want with either vehicle and the tires on them, and with little damage to the road (good traction....) or the vehicle.
Oh, and in the winter i always carry a set of four HD tire chains (one for each wheel) in both vehicles. Never needed them yet in the touareg, used them once in seattle in an ice storm on the cruiser (the troopers actually let me on the closed I-5 and the 405, 20mph, anywhere!)
😎👍👍
 
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