Michelin LTX A/T2 or LTX M/S2

Michelin MS2's nothing but the best.

 

These are the Stock OEM size? They look good to me on your truck X2 Michelin are the best,nice ride and handling I bet.

 

Haha thanks for the advice everyone! After lots and LOTS of reading/researching/thinking...I've decided to go with the MS/2s, and get a set of winter tires for winter. Plus...that means I can get a set of those FJ antracite wheels for the MS/2s and use my stock steelies for the winter tires.

I was thinking, for the MS/2s, I'd go with:
Michelin LTX MS2 Tire- LT245 / 75R16E 120R OWL

and for the winter tires:
Bridgestone BLIZZAK DM-V1 Tire- 265/70R16 112R BSW

Although I love to romp around in winter, I can't justify NOT going with the MS/2s for the rest of the year. My question is this...are the stock FJ Cruiser Anthracite TRD wheels, the same specs and size of the stock 16inch steel wheels for the tacoma? Like, will I have any problem fitting the michelins on it, and vice versa for the winter tires on my stock steelies? I liked the 245 size for the michelins for 3 reasons, A) It will match the same size stock spare tire, and B) it had a higher load rating than the 265, and C) with the narrower width...I should get less friction and better fuel economy...at least in theory.

Does that make sense? Or am I just completely wrong

 

Why are you getting a LT E Rated instead of the P Metric? The E rated will give a harsher ride then P Metric unless youll be hauling heavy weights in the truck better look into that,I read a review where a Dude bought the E Rated MS2 tires and the ride sucked ass and he replaced with the P's and could be more happier with the ride I think I read it a the Tundra Solutions.com Forum site.

 

Oh, I did not know that...I thought LT stood for light truck and P stood for passenger...I thought I had to get the LT...my bad!

SO correction!

I will be getting the Michelin LTX MS2 Tire- P245/75R16 109T OWL

Thanks Mush!

Edit: That tire is also 36 bucks cheaper a pop, woot!

 

thanks all, good information

 

According to Tirerack.com, which btw, if anyone has never been there and you are looking for tires...DEFINATELY a great place to look, not nessisarly to buy, but they have amazing reviews and specs of like all tires. They rate the M/S2 highest, and those brigdestone blizzaks highest for winter tires, and for the quality of tire you'd be getting the prices aren't that bad. I will get mine at sears for their lifetime rotation ^_^

 

Keep an eye on Sears Ive heard alot of horror stories about how bad thier Automotive Dept. is unless you know someone that works there you can trust,its hit or miss there,I would let them mount and balance them in order to get the lifetime free rotations and then maybe a real good shop to get an alignment if necessary,do a search here on TW youll find some bad stories on Sears,I was going to get my next tires at BJs Wholesale Iand I dont fell comfortable with themtouching my truck but I get a Road Hazard deal and free rotations there Ill watch them like a hawk. Good thing you didnt get the LTs man you would have been pissed with the ride Im sure I had them once they were the worst ride ever,too hard for a light duty truck.

 

I've always gotten my tires from sears, and have been having them do ONLY the tire work for the last 7-8 years, my dad has been going there far longer, but I will say this, They messed up my dads breaks on his jetta pretty hard core...but they do fine with tire rotating. But you are right, After getting them on, I think I might go over to my dealership (across the street) and have them re-balance them. They have been super awesome to deal with for me. Thanks again for the info about the LT and P! I just like the idea of having Sears do free tire rotations for the life of the tires for me.

 

Cool good deal man,If Sears does a good job on the balance and everything looks and rides ship shape than your good to go,good luck with the tires Im absolutely sure youll love them,I had the original LTX M&S tires they were Fing the best and bought and installed at Sears! Let us know how they are when youget them on I want to hear an update on thier performance and some pictures if you can,you should see an improvement with your MPGs because of the light weight and tread design.

 

I've never had balancing problems from sears before...but, I dont trust them to do anything else, not even an oil change, but that I just do myself, but currently my dealership does them until 60k miles, some package they threw in to sweeten my deal when i bought the truck. After what everone has told me, and all the research I've done, the only hesitations I had was for winter driving...but they had EVERYTHING else that I could ever want in a tire, so I decided thats why they make winter tires, and I might as well get a set. I'll be paying more upfront, but I think in the long run, its by far better and cheaper.

 

Yes Central PA is a heavy Snowbelt area although most people that have the newer MS2 say they are OK in the snow from what reviews Ive read, I had the original LTX M&S thier only low point for me was snow but also you got to remind yourself that they are an All Season tire not dedicated to one particular scenario,I have Firestone Destination AT now and they were a notch above the OG M&S's in the snow,but also if you have a 4x4 than the MS2's will serve you just fine I think,its a tough cal for me whether to get the MS2 or AT2 cause of snow and maybe looks I got a TRD,but the pictures of MS2 on those trucks look good to me so its only snow traction that will sell me on one or another,also AT2 have no wearout mileage number?

 

Yeah, they have no wear out milage, which is why i hesitated with the AT/2. Although, they are actually rated less in snow than the MS/2, but their tread seems like it would be better. Some people say the AT/2 lasts forever, but I had one guy PM me and said he got 21k out, and they are shot. Im guess he does quite a bit off roading though. Most off roading tires dont have a milage warrenty, some do though. I think I'm just going to go ahead and get the MS/2s, and try my luck this winter, if they aren't up to par, I'll get those Bridgestone Blizzarks. They were rated the highest for studless winter tires, because unfortunately PA baned studded tires.

 

Hard to believe that AT2 wore out at 21K Really! Whats in the back of my head is that I got to barrel out of my snowed in driveway and out a snow packed back road at 4am or 5am in the morning to get to work which is usually 50-60 or more miles of interstate driving to get to work can the MS2 s tread handle that this trucks my daily driver and weekend offroader(light)? I got to keep researching,I need one tire that does it all.

 

Thats basically what I'm looking for. I searched and searched and searched...the best stuff I found, was all the specs on tirerack.com. If you go there, check out their winter tires, and look at the results for the Bridgestone Blizzaks, DV-LM or something. Its their highest rated stud-less winter tire and it has some pretty sweet winter rated numbers, along with ice. I want a great tire that will last, give me good mpg, and do great in the winter. The MS/2 as far as I know, comes the closest to that...but winters make me feel a little sketchy...so I'm thinking about buying a new set of wheels, throwing the MS/2s on them, and using my stock steelies for those Bridgestones. Its going to really rack up quite the bill though...

Where do you live thats snowy?

 

I could get by with the MS2's in the snow I did it with the OG LTX M&Ss but also then I had a truck with lock in hubs for 4wd which sucks having to get in and out all the time,but now I got push button 4wd which elimnates the hassle,yeah dude your wallet will be hurtin buying all that rubber and Michelins cost the most,Im sketchy too about the snow performance of the MS2 vs AT2,Ill probably get the AT2 cause of just that,from what I read the AT2s have excellent road handling but I think the MS2 is probably superior on dry/wet highway/interstate pavement its a tough call,so close in performance,but no Mileage Rating for the AT2 WTF if they wear out at 21K like that other dude how the F are you supposed to pro rate the mileage warranty to a new set of tires? I live in Mid Atlantic area East coast.

 

Yeah, on all accounts. If the AT/2s had a milage warrenty, I would be all over them. The only reason I'm not is because of that, and the only thing holding me back from the MS/2s is the winter performance. ahhhh I can't decide <_>. I thought I knew...but...I just crunched some numbers and I'll be looking at 1.5k for the rubber and new wheels...and sure...I'm getting slightly fancier wheels...but...they are 125 a pop which isn't too horrible...they could be worse. I do know this, Michelins 70 dollar rebate ends tomorrow, So, im going to sears to buy me some tires tomorrow...ill have to sleep on my decision. I do like the look of the AT/2s...but actually from the guy who posted before, his truck with the MS/2s didnt look bad at all. PA has the potential for a of snow, but not always. I went to school out in Indiana PA, and holy jeeze crap. The winters out there are horrendious. If I was still out there, I would get the biggest massive A/T snow tires I could find. Where I live...it can be hit or miss, but I am going back to school and have an hour commute to Harrisburg now, and I know the roads from home to there can get real crappy. I guess I could get the MS/2s, get the new wheels (because I work damn hard all year round and owe it to myself to buy me something nice!) and then keep the stock steels in the garage and buy the bridgestones if I find i need them. ugh, i keep going back and forth. Why couldn't they just give a milage warrenty on the AT/2s...lol

 

Discount Tire backs the A/T2's for 50k... But I'm telling you that you won't be doubting your decision for the M/S2's for ALL season handling and traction.

 

Good to know. I will most likely end up getting the MS/2s from Sears tomorrow...then order the FJ TRD wheels! I'm pretty stoked...I've read mixed reviews about the MS/2s in snow...I guess the only way to find out...is to try! I'm going to get them, and if I have any issues, I'll just buy a set of winter tires. 70k is a long time and I'm willing to guess, if they warrenty them that long, they probably last a lot longer.

 

I got 125k on the original set on my 02 taco, and my wife will easily get at least 70k on her set. I won't be buying tires for a while!