Michelin Defender LTX 285/60 R18 on 2021 HE

[goodnightnyc]

I guess road noise can be very subjective. I’m not that sensitive to mild road noise and to my ears the Defenders seem very quiet so far. Tire rack even rates them as one of their top three quietest tires.

https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/make-driving-fun-2/looking-for-quiet-tires-check-out-my-top-three-picks

 

[BrownDog09]

Yeah, that is what i am afraid of. Unfortunately, at least with my experience with my wife’s MDX with Defender, the noise gets worst fairly rapidly as it ages…and she rotates them every 5k.

Here you go. I can get another angle if you want it later on.

FWIW, I’ve had Defenders on my past two SUVs and I found them to be whisper quiet. It’s subjective of course. Way quieter than those crappy Ridge Grapples I had on her.

 

[goodnightnyc]

Looks good! Would you mind posting a pic from the direct side view?

 

[Sandroad]

I have 55k miles on Defender 275/65-18 and there is no way I would call them noisy. Perhaps more sound than new, but most any tire with 55k miles is going to be different than new. I’m going to buy new this fall (same tire) and I’ll note noise change. Road noise is a big no-no for my family. As a relevant aside, the width of the tread on the road is actually 0.1”wider for the 275/65-18SL than it is for the 285/60-18XL in the Defender.

 

[andyp]

So is 35 the correct PSI for these tires? I’m getting some stock size installed next week.

 

[andyp]

Decided to replace the spare as well and just do a 5 tire rotation.

 

[Madtiger]

PSI on Defender in stock size is the same as OEM Dunlops. See driver’s door jam.

 

[gaijin]

PSI on Defender in stock size is the same as OEM Dunlops. See driver’s door jam.

Good call!

The RCTIP for those 285/60 R18 120H XL Michelin Defenders on a LC200 is 33psi F/R.

HTH

 

[BrownDog09]

Side shot as requested

 

[goodnightnyc]

Side shot as requested

View attachment 2680564

Looks good! Thanks for posting. What are your driving impressions with the 285/65 size as compared to stock?

Also, is your suspension stock or do you have any spacers?

 

[BrownDog09]

Stock, no spacers.

I thought the stock Dunflops were marginal at best, not as bad as most say, but not good either.

The Michelins make the ride much more composed in my mind, and they wear like iron. I’ve gotten over 100k of my last set.

You won’t be disappointed.

 

[goodnightnyc]

Stock, no spacers.

I thought the stock Dunflops were marginal at best, not as bad as most say, but not good either.

The Michelins make the ride much more composed in my mind, and they wear like iron. I’ve gotten over 100k of my last set.

You won’t be disappointed.

Good to hear. I meant to say, did you notice any difference in ride or handling by sizing up to 285/65 as compared to the stock 285/60?

 

[MRego]

Stock, no spacers.

I thought the stock Dunflops were marginal at best, not as bad as most say, but not good either.

The Michelins make the ride much more composed in my mind, and they wear like iron. I’ve gotten over 100k of my last set.

You won’t be disappointed.

They look like 18wheeler’s tires. So, I guess should last a while.

 

[MRego]

Here is my ko2s in 285/65/18. No rubbing at all. I have the OEM coil spacers. I was torn between the 275/70 and 285/65. Glad I went with the 285s since the profile 65 looks ideal IMO now installed in the truck and the 275s still look thin to me for such a wide body.

 

[BrownDog09]

Good to hear. I meant to say, did you notice any difference in ride or handling by sizing up to 285/65 as compared to the stock 285/60?

I didn’t personally. I found after the size up, it felt more solid. It’s the tire that should be stock in my opinion.

 

[goodnightnyc]

Here is my ko2s in 285/65/18. No rubbing at all. I have the OEM coil spacers. I was torn between the 275/70 and 285/65. Glad I went with the 285s since the profile 65 looks ideal IMO now installed in the truck and the 275s still look thin to me for such a wide body. View attachment 2680637

Looks nice! I was really torn about getting the KO2s in that size rather than the Defenders. Did you notice any loss in acceleration or braking performance? What do you think about the highway ride?

By the way is that a base Land Cruiser with HE wheels?

 

[Madtiger]

I didn’t personally. I found after the size up, it felt more solid. It’s the tire that should be stock in my opinion.

Well, you went from P-metric to Load Range E!

 

[BrownDog09]

Well, you went from P-metric to Load Range E!

I should mention I went from the stock Dunlops, to Ridge Grapplers, then to Defenders.

Toyota literally had weights stacked on tops of weights to attempt to balance the Ridge Grapplers. They finally took them back and replaced with Defenders.

Perhaps I had a bad run of the Ridge Grapplers but, from my experience they were the worst tires I’ve ever had.

 

[MRego]

Looks nice! I was really torn about getting the KO2s in that size rather than the Defenders. Did you notice any loss in acceleration or braking performance? What do you think about the highway ride?

By the way is that a base Land Cruiser with HE wheels?

Didn’t feel any loss honestly. Both in the highway and street I feel much more planted on the road and that I can go over pretty much anything now (not that I will). Also feel less dive when braking. I am zero sensitive to road noise, so felt no difference from stock tires. My mpg dropped maybe 1 or 2 points. Yes, it is a base LC with HE wheels (don’t call the HE police lol). I was lucky and got a deal in my Toyota dealership. A buyer bought an HE and swap the wheels right away (don’t ask me why). Wheels were sitting there and I was able to cut a deal (but they were not cheap when compared to other aftermarket options).

 

[goodnightnyc]

Didn’t feel any loss honestly. Both in the highway and street I feel much more planted on the road and that I can go over pretty much anything now (not that I will). Also feel less dive when braking. I am zero sensitive to road noise, so felt no difference from stock tires. My mpg dropped maybe 1 or 2 points. Yes, it is a base LC with HE wheels (don’t call the HE police lol). I was lucky and got a deal in my Toyota dealership. A buyer bought an HE and swap the wheels right away (don’t ask me why). Wheels were sitting there and I was able to cut a deal (but they were not cheap when compared to other aftermarket options).

Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. The wheels look good.

When you say you lost 1-2 points in mpg, what’s your average mpg now with the KO2s?