New Michelin AT tire?

[TLC2013]

I just swapped to them yesterday. KO2s are 285/70-17. Hakkas are 265/60-18. Oddly both measure ~9” on the tread width.

And I have to say, I notice it twice a year, but man the p metrics ride nice.

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Thanks for sharing. I wondered about the ko2s width as well. They always looked to be on the narrow side . My old kenda klever rt tires in lt275/70r18 measure 9.25" across the tread, which is even lighty wider then my new yokohama G003 MT 's in lt285/70R18.

 

[Madtiger]

I just swapped to them yesterday. KO2s are 285/70-17. Hakkas are 265/60-18. Oddly both measure ~9” on the tread width.

And I have to say, I notice it twice a year, but man the p metrics ride nice.

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The problem is that the LTX Trail 266/70/18 tread width is only 7.9” per TireRack. It is quite skinny!

 

[Pskhaat]

It is quite skinny!

That's a good thing!

 

[Madtiger]

That's a good thing!

Yeah, but i am just a chickensh!t to make the jump to such a skinny tire…yeah, you guys have told me about the benefits……just afraid for safety of my family on a road trip with such a heavy vehicle on tires that are so skinny compare to what Toyota engineers intended.

 

[Coupedncal]

I just swapped to them yesterday. KO2s are 285/70-17. Hakkas are 265/60-18. Oddly both measure ~9” on the tread width.

And I have to say, I notice it twice a year, but man the p metrics ride nice.

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Have you noticed you have at least 3 screws planted firmly in your tire in picture 3? I don't believe these are gravel bits. Please check it out.

 

[coleAK]

Have you noticed you have at least 3 screws planted firmly in your tire in picture 3? I don't believe these are gravel bits. Please check it out.

Thanks for the heads up. They supposed to be there, Studded winter tires, run them an all our vehicles ~7-8 months a year.

 

[Coupedncal]

Thanks for the heads up. They supposed to be there, Studded winter tires, run them an all our vehicles ~7-8 months a year.

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I certainly did not know this was a thing. And this does not reduce the integrity of the tire?? I have really learned something new today!

 

[1Maverick]

I certainly did not know this was a thing. And this does not reduce the integrity of the tire?? I have really learned something new today!

Studded tires are very common in snowy areas of the U.S. and have been around for many many years.

 

[Redbull]

The problem is that the LTX Trail 266/70/18 tread width is only 7.9” per TireRack. It is quite skinny!

Load rating is 2756 lbs per tire but don’t know what pressure you’d need to run them for that.

@gaijin care to help us out here?

 

[coleAK]

I certainly did not know this was a thing. And this does not reduce the integrity of the tire?? I have really learned something new today!

These are manufactured with the studs integrated. When I was young growing up in Tahoe in the late 70’s early 80’s I remember helping my dad stud winter tires, back then many “off road” tires came with pre-set stud holes. By the time I was driving in the end of the 1980’s many tires came pre studded.

I’m about to go walk the dog, my shoes have carbide studs. My bike tires as well, we have a long winter here in Alaska.

 

[1Maverick]

These are manufactured with the studs integrated. When I was young growing up in Tahoe in the late 70’s early 80’s I remember helping my dad stud winter tires, back then many “off road” tires came with pre-set stud holes. By the time I was driving in the end of the 1980’s many tires came pre studded.

I’m about to go walk the dog, my shoes have carbide studs. My bike tires as well, we have a long winter here in Alaska.

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Small world, I went to Tahoe middle and skied for Heavenly Valley starting on the D team then J team in the 80’s. Love and miss Tahoe.

 

[coleAK]

Small world, I went to Tahoe middle and skied for Heavenly Valley starting on the D team then J team in the 80’s. Love and miss Tahoe.

Yea small world. Grew up just over the boarder in NV. I guarantee we were skiing at Heavenly at the same time.

 

[gaijin]

Load rating is 2756 lbs per tire but don’t know what pressure you’d need to run them for that.

@gaijin care to help us out here?

It looks like the Michelin LTX Trail 265/70R18 116T SL is a Standard Load ISO-Metric tire (Info on TireRack). If so:

The RCTIP for the 265/70R18 116T SL tire on an LC200 is 33psi for a Load Limit of 2579 lbs.

The RCTIP for the 265/70R18 116T SL tire on an LX570 is 30psi for a Load Limit of 2392 lbs.

The Max Load Rating of 2756 lbs is reached at 36psi and does not increase up to the maximum inflation pressure of 51psi.

HTH

 

[CO18Cruiser]

I’ve been happy with my Defenders. Being in CO, more sipes is a must at the front and back end of winter before I put my dedicated snow tires on. So these new ones aren’t an option.

Imo the Nokian Outpost AT looks like a legit contender… they just need to move the OE tire size molds stuck in Russia to either the Finland or Tennessee plants and start cranking them out.

 

[Redbull]

It looks like the Michelin LTX Trail 265/70R18 116T SL is a Standard Load ISO-Metric tire (Info on TireRack). If so:

The RCTIP for the 265/70R18 116T SL tire on an LC200 is 33psi for a Load Limit of 2579 lbs.

The RCTIP for the 265/70R18 116T SL tire on an LX570 is 30psi for a Load Limit of 2392 lbs.

The Max Load Rating of 2756 lbs is reached at 36psi and does not increase up to the maximum inflation pressure of 51psi.

HTH

You are the man!!

@Madtiger so you can do 11000 lbs on these tires at 36 psi. I wouldn’t be too concerned with tread width I very strongly suspect Toyota went with 265s on the 300 series just for fuel economy purposes. If they had a choice they’d probably go a little bigger. My stock 21s are shod with 275s down from 285 on the previous versions of 200s.

 

[kevin2i]

Yeah, but i am just a chickensh!t to make the jump to such a skinny tire…yeah, you guys have told me about the benefits……just afraid for safety of my family on a road trip with such a heavy vehicle on tires that are so skinny compare to what Toyota engineers intended.

I would not worry about the ‘skinniness’ of the tire - the load rating of 2756 is the same for the defender in a 275/65/18 and more than the 60 profile (non LT tires).

I have been running the Defender LTX M/s LT265/70/18 for about 100k on my 100 . 2 tires swapped due to road hazard by 80k (nails), then a damaged tire after road hazard expired, so I bought 2 new tires and total Defender miles is over 120k. I have another 40k of life at this point.

Hydroplaning: No issue with the 265’s. Curious what size tires are experiencing hydroplaning? Handle very well in the wet, standing water can be a wiggle or jolt if on one side (I need to slow down, because at that point my windshield is covered with water). Tires have spent a lot of time in New Orleans (63” rain per year) and Tampa (50” rain) - so lots of rain driving, as well as freeway miles.

The Trail’s look interesting - at 39 lbs about the same as the non LT Defenders. LT’s are 50 lbs.

Defenders work well on gravel, dirt, rocks, easy sand, snow - I have avoided deep mud - obviously not designed for it.

LT’s were installed after bubbling 2 P-rated BFG sidewalls within 6k of mounting (warrantied by Michelin). I drive easier Jeep trails - with a 400 lb (motorcycle) trailer hitch carrier.

My other 100 has P-rated tires in stock size - ‘rides’ much nicer but handling is sloppy compared to the LT truck. I think the LT’s behave like a low profile tire - not much sidewall flex and harsh hitting potholes at speed (also this truck has heavier springs and shocks, mild lift). Just bought some 17” rims for truck #2 and doing a tire-search now.

The LT Defenders handle pretty well with the motorcycle on the back in mountain roads. Truck definitely has some oversteer on corners, but predictable, and I drive ‘assertively’. LT’s are smooth on the freeway.

Buying tires for truck 2 is difficult - I know I will be trading the ride/mileage of the Defender’s to get some off-road capability and (honestly) off-road looks. I have read most of the tirerack tests and reviews (especially the low star ratings) and am leaning towards the Falken A/T3W’s in LT 275 or 285/70/17. Will be interesting to compare to the Defenders on truck #1.

 

[Madtiger]

Here is a review (or more like infomercial):

 

[JohnPW]

Not sure this is the best place to discuss, but the new Sequoia TRD Pro comes in P rated 285/65r18 Falken Wildpeaks. This size was previously only available in LT rated. So I would assume lighter and more compliant.

I suppose for some, P rated Falkens might be the worst of breed…worse on road than a highway tire due to tread pattern, but lacking LT sidewall strength off road. But I’m happy to see more P rated options in a size larger than stock. I wish I could get Defenders in 285/65r18 or 275/70r18 without moving to a heavier LT-E tire.

There is also the General Grabber APT available in P rated 275/70r18, the inly other P rated choice in a larger size for 18” wheels.

The LTX Trails may prove to be a good tire, but they look completely lame. The Defenders look more rugged than the Trails.

 

[Madtiger]

Not sure about the Defender looking more rugged than Trails…Trails seems to have all of Defender‘s tech and maybe more?

But yeah, hard to discount Defender’s reputation…i am thinking of getting Defender 265/70/18 in LT-E...no rubbing risk. Weight of tire is 49 lbs…not great but improvement over my current stock-sized KO2. This size gives me a 32.5” tire…0.5” improvement in ground clearance than stock size. Still quiet and smooth.

And since it is narrow and slightly less heavy than KO2, better fuel economy!

Lastly, because it is Load Range E, Michelin uses more durable rubber compound in the LT tires (vs. P-metric Defenders)…so, you CAN air down while off-road and sidewall should be decent strength.

 

[Stickgunner]

The LTX Trails may prove to be a good tire, but they look completely lame.

I got the LTX Defenders for our last GX460, and my wife hated them for two reasons. First was they looked lame, and second because they hydroplaned on a regular basis. I hate to say it, but looks matter. Certainly not the most important thing, but they do matter.