Michelin LTX A/T2 or LTX M/S2

So, I don’t need to replace my stock tires quite just yet, I know eventually the time will come and I'd like to have money set aside for it since it will be a fairly large purchase. I have a 2009 Tacoma Aux Cab 4x4 with the basic 16" wheels. I don't have a lift. I know Michelin is a really good brand, and was doing some research, and I think two very good options are the LTX A/T2 and the LTX M/S2. I like the looks of the A/T2, but M/S2 has an addition 70,000 mile warranty, and under its specs, out performs the A/T2 in every category except off-roading, which I do almost none of, the little I do...isn't real off-roading, its just literally driving off-road... My question is this, has anyone had an experience with these? The A/T2 has excellent tread life, according to consumer reports, and the website only has it rated slightly under the M/S2. I know A/T stands for all terrain, and M/S stands for mud and snow. I do a LOT of winter driving, and its really crappy winters, lots of snow, ice, slush, and slippery crap. With the aggressive tread of the A/T2, I'd think it'd handle nicely, but the M/S2 claims to be the best. I'm at a loss, the price difference is negligible.

Also on a different note, my current tires are 245/75/16R. I don’t want a lift...but wouldn't mind a tiny bit taller, I'd like to put the biggest wheel/tire that I can in the well to fill it up, without having it rub, or have to shave anything, or lose any of my turning radius, so I don’t know if that means upgrading to a 17inch wheel, which I wouldn't be opposed to, or getting a bigger 16inch tire (not sure if anything bigger will fit?)

Thanks for all the help and input! Any 2 cents will be appreciated!

 

265/75/16 is the biggest you can go on stock. there will be no rubbing, any issues with speedometer, regearing, or anything mechanical. you MIGHT lose 1-2 mpg depending on where you live as far as traffic (country vs. city). and they will be around 32" tall. looks good to me, that's what is on mine.

 

I currently have the M/S2 in 265/70/16. I like them. No rubbing in the wheel well. Ive had them for over 15000 miles with minimal wear. Theyve been offroad on trails with some 4x's and the grip is OK. They're quiet on street and handle pretty well. All in all a great tire. Michelin is known for good tires. But down the road, if u plan on doing some serious dirt, u may want to just get some real A/T's. BFG All Terrain, GY Duratracs, Hankook Dynapros-something with a more aggressive tread pattern. If youre just mainly street and minor offroading, the M/S are just right. hope this helps. good luck with ur new rubber.

G

 

Thanks very much, thats exactly what I was looking to hear. I dont do a lot of off roading...but I do a lot of winter driving, so I thought maybe the M/S2's might be a good idea. I'm curious to see how the A/T2's would compare to the M/S2s though. I like the slightly bigger tread of the A/Ts, but like the 70,000 warrenty on the M/S2 as opposed to the no mile warrenty for the A/T2s... I guess, for practicallity, I probably should stay with the wheels I got, and get the M/S2s...but I can always dream haha. I'd like to not loose any mpg, So I guess I'll stick with the 245/75/16Rs. Infidel do you have any pics of your taco with those tires? thanks a bunch!

 

Do they make your truck sit any higher? and 2 mpg is actually a considerable amount just for a slightly bigger tire...I dont do a lot of highway driving, mostly rural areas.

 

Ill try to get some pics.

 

well a 245/65/16 is approx. 28.5 in tall. a 265/75/16 is approx 31.8-32 in tall (depending on brand and tread). so i guess it sits about 3 in higher with the 265/75/16. i get about 18-20 mpg with these, depending on where i'm driving. but if i had the stock tires i would get maybe another mile or two a gallon. i myself, don't do much highway driving, mostly rural too. my truck has never even seen anything over 4 lanes, and the 4 lane is very seldom. i was just suggesting the biggest tire since that's what you asked about:

"I'd like to put the biggest wheel/tire that I can in the well to fill it up, without having it rub, or have to shave anything, or lose any of my turning radius..."

and what i told you met all of the standards you set. you didn't say anything about mpg, but i don't think the mpg loss is very significant.

 

Hey I got the ltx at2's on my truck in a 265/75/16 in a load E. I love them.

1st... I drive through heavy rain storms down here in GA and they never hydroplane.
2nd I have had them for prob 25,000+ miles and people ask me when I got new tires. They still look new like the day I got them.
3rd Every tacoma owner I run into that is running OEM wheels always ask what I had to do to get bigger tires to fit. (THEY FIT STOCK, but I do have billies at 1.75 and billies in back and 1" block.)
4th Gives it a slightly aggressive stance.
5th They handle GA red mud like its no ones business.
6th Did I mention I love them.

 

and to answer your other question, these tires will fit your stock wheels. anything bigger will require lift, new wheels, and so on, and so on.. and i just read what i posted earlier. i hope it didn't come off as me being a jerk. i was just trying to answer your questions.

 

I have the MS2's and have had them for 10K now. I was in the great debate also, wanting the aggressive look of a AT tire, so I first mounted BFG's AT's , but they were way too heavy and I noticed this on my throttle response. Since I do no offroad, I swapped them out and got the MS2's. I love them. Quiet, smooth, 70K warranty. I have taken them out on logging roads and they handle just fine, also, awesome in the rain and snow. I am running 265/65/17's and get about 19mpg. Good luck!

 

Oh gosh no! Thanks. I didnt think you were a jerk at all haha. Like you said, you were only responding to what I said. I didnt realize bigger tires would worsen my mpg. I thought lifts did that. So I'm actually quite glad you pointed that out...but 3 inches taller...would be nice...haha I guess thats something I'll have to think about!

 

Haha thanks for the input. Glad to know they keep tread life well, that was one of my concerns since it didn't have the 70,000 mile warrenty

 

Yeah, I really dont do any off roading, I do go on some dirt/non-roads but its not like rocks and cliffs. I'm pretty sure the MS2s could hand that. You get 19 mpg??? What did you get with your stock tires?...

I was getting 28 mpg (tonneau cover, scan guage, afe dry pro air filter, manual transmission, and can coast like a fiend everywhere around where I live/drive) I just got the leaf tsb and have been using my A/C a lot since its been hot and am now getting 26 or just a hair under it depending on if I was on the highway or not. I really would not like to see my truck getting 19 mpg if I put those one....but noticing from your pic you have a double cab (i have acess cab) and you have a cab as opposed to my tonneau...do you have an A/T or M/T?

 

OK here is a question...I've been reading like every single review/thread/post on here about the A/T2 and M/S2. I've also been reading any review I can find through google as well. On the Michelin website, it says the M/S2s are best in snow. I have now read like 7 different reviews/posts saying that they dont handle very well in snow...one of the posts was also on here, so I know that it would be applicable since I too have a tacoma...I have also read that the A/T2 handles great in snow, and off road. I dont off road, but the snow thing is very important to me. I like to have my adventures in the snow while others adventure out into the mud. After reading what everyons said in here, I've decided to make a short list of the most important things to me in a tire. They are:

1)Snow capability (though I want all season tires, I dont want to have to swap on winter tires)
2)Tread Life
3)Preferably not kill my mpg

The A/T2 seems that it may handle better in the snow in real life events, but according to the Michelin website, the M/S2 handles better...the M/S2 has a 70k warrenty where as the A/T2 has none. Im guessing the reason tires would kill mpg is if you get bigger ones? So if I stayed with the 245/75/16R in both tires...I guess they would be the same as far as that goes. So...I guess what my decision will come down to is has anyone riden on the A/T2 long enough to say their tread life is amazing? Also, has anyone had possitive driving experiences (or negative) with either tire in some pretty wicked snow? Thanks for all the help everyone!!!

 

I read some more reviews, and read everything consumer reports said...I think I'm leaning more towards the A/T2s. They also look more like a 'truck tire' which isn't real important...but it is nice Even though they don't have a milage warrenty...they seem to have excellent tread life. They also seem to be quite capable in crappy winter weather. I'm also thinking they should be fairly similar mpg wise with the stock dunlaps (on a side note...is anyone else feeling like the stock tires don't have real great tread life??? I mean, I'm at 34k, and I still probably have at least another 5-6k, but I would have thought they'd at least last around 60k.) So...I'm thinking A/T2s. Most likely just the 245/75/16s so I dont lose 1-2 mpg...unless someone can play devils advocate and tell me that the 265/75/16s would handle better in snow. Or if anyone wants to play devils advocate and tell me the M/S2s are better. I love TW for the fact that there are SO many different people with different experiences and different views. It's like a mosh pot of information. So much better than just googling something ^_^

 

I had the MS2 on my former 3rd gen 4Runner and was great on the road, put AT2 on the 2011 Tacoma 4x4 DC OffRoad and after 500 miles. They are a bit noiser than the MS2 and the MS2 handles better in the mountain roads.. Will see this winter is the AT2 was a good winter choice or not..

 

Could some of the difference be because of the different vehicals? I think I can wait long enough till winter...I will love to see what you say about the A/Ts in winter. I do live in a mountainous area...so its good to the know the M/S2s handled well on mountain roads...how were they in snow? And did you drive through any deep snow at all?

 

Holy crap....28mpg????? I never ever get over 20 on mine. But I do have the V6 and double cab. I also drive right through Seattle everyday, so traffic plays a role too. Lucky you to have 28mpg.

 

I put some AT2's on mine... 32k miles, and they will need to be replaced before winter. I wouldn't buy them again. Going back to Bridgestone AT Revo's.

 

you only got 32k miles outta them??? crap...ok, thank you. Thats definately something I needed to hear, now I'm swaying back to the M/S2s with their 70k mile rating. Thanks for your input, very much appricaited.