Michelin Defender LTX M/S

I just put a set of these on my 2014 Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off Road. They replaced a set of Cooper Discoverer AT/3 tires. I wasn’t impressed with the AT/3 wear. I put around 36k miles on them in 26 months. The mileage was a combination of city and highway driving with a little driving on hunting lease property. The Michelin’s are very quiet. Haven’t driven in rain or off road yet. Definitely expecting to get more than 36k out of them.

 

Interested in this tire as well - let us know when you have a sense of any gas mileage impacts

 

I've heard good things about these. Just expensive.

 

had a set on my tundra got 71000 out of them and they still had tread left

 

If your situation is like mine where the driving is predominantly road and highway, these tires are a great choice on a TRD Off Road. I have the off road capabilities inherent in the TRD Off Road coupled with one of the best options for road and highway driving.

 

I’ve had great luck with the older Michelin Ltx and ltx m/s2’s. Expensive but Michelin are my favorite tires. Just keep the tire shine off of them. I’ve had Michelin’s that I had to replace due to dry cracking. Tire shine in my experience and from what I’ve read seems to speed the cracking up.

 

I'm now on my second set of these since 98% of my driving is road and highway. I really like the LTX. Stick when taking turns quickly, feel good on wet pavement, and quiet on the highway. First set on the tacoma was replaced (buy 2 get 2 at NTB...otherwise they're really expensive) due to dry cracking issues after a couple of years. Truck is only used on the weekends - sometimes not even then - so it is something I usually have to watch out for.

 

How are these tires in snow ?

 

I live in Virginia so my snow experience is rather limited but the little bit we get that turns to ice- the tired have done well. They don't hold the snow in the treads so I've always been able to maintain control and not have that slippery feeling or the feeling like they're totally packed with snow/nastyness. Hopefully those who have put them through their snow paces will chime in.

 

have a set on wifes subaru great in snow and ware is great have 55000 on them

 

Great tires. I had the earlier version. Got 91K on a set and they still had tread when I sold the truck. Great in rain. Good in snow.

 

I still have life in the stock OEM tires. Looking at replacement in about a year. I don't drive true "off road", but I do drive gravel roads and on snow covered roads. I do a lot of highway driving. I am thinking these MICHELIN's may be the one for me.

 

I'd be interested in knowing how these work in light mud. I'm not talking about deep sloppy mud bogs. I'm referring to muddy farm lanes that have up to four or five inches of mud with a solid base underneath.

 

I currently have the LTX on my 02. They show no wear after 5k. They are much better in rain than KOs (original) and AT Revos I've had on the truck. They do fine in the snow. I wouldn't trust them in mud. The tread is going to fill up super quick and things will get dicey. Five inches of mud is a bunch!

 

@JNG I was just in NC on hunting property around thanksgiving - the clay/mud combo after a day or two of rain found out in the mountains filled the treads, packed in, and didn't get kicked out. Basically turned into racing slicks. I had a hell of a time getting up a nicely graded, gravel road after that. It took a hose with a pressure attachment to blast the stuff out. If you're routinely in 4-5" of mud, i'd be looking at something with more off-road capability (or at least better ability to kick that kind of stuff out of the treads).

 

Darn, thanks for the report.

 

all mud is not created equal

 

Very true - it definitely is not. Wasn't meant to be an end all be all comment. Was just reflecting on my experience with a pretty specific clay/mud mix and how i'd want something more off-road oriented if i ran into it more often.

 

Was just looking at these yesterday. Will be next set.

 

I had a few different versions on a couple of different trucks. They have lots of siping and were decent in all sorts of conditions. They are not as good as full on snows due to rubber compounds having to be hard enough for summer conditions.

IF I was running an on road only truck with off road being limited to gravel or fire roads I would run them again. If I was in serious snow / ice conditions I would still get full on snows but I am not your average person. I ran these on Dodge 3500 dually and a Dodge 2500 SRW. Both were diesels. IMO they are simply the best on road all season tire for trucks. I would take them over every other all season on the market.