So I think the Michelin Defender is the perfect all-terrain tire... (For most of us) (13 Viewers)

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Looking good. Make sure to show us a side pic once installed to check increased wall. These could have probably been the OEM choice (in lieu of those awful Dunlops) if they existed in this size back then.
Will do. Set up to get them installed early next week.
 
The statement in the title of this thread is bold, but so is yours that taller and skinnier results in "better performance". That's all I was pointing out, and we can leave it at that. :cheers:
 

Go for it!

The Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 is available in either the LT245/75R17 Load Range E variety, or the ISO-Metric 245/75R17 XL variety.

However...

Overall diameter of both varieties is 31.5" - the same as the LC200 OEM 285/60R18 tire.

Further...

The LT245/75R17 E tire has an RCTIP of 51psi on the LC200.

But the good news...

RCTIP for the 245/75R17 XL version is the same as stock: 33psi on an LC200.

If either of those floats your boat, go for it.

🤪
 
Very nice work, Tire-Czar!
 
285/65R18 XL's installed, and aired up to 38 psi. Rides so nice compared to the LT's. Time will tell if this suits my needs better or not, for now liking the change.

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Found out today they aren't very good in slushy snow. Travelling down the bypass saw a pickup off the road having taken down a light pole. Slowed down and moved to the left lane to pass the police pulled over, then moved back to the right. This is all along a wide sweeping curve. As I came up to my exit right after moving right the LX started to slide to the right. Let off the brakes and traction control kicked in as I caught traction.
Then about a half hour later I was turning on to the road to my house and slid a ways before catching traction. Was doing about 20. Temps were in the upper 20s and this was the first snow of the season. Had only been lightly snowing for about an hour and had just started accumulating on the roads.
Swapped out the Blizzaks when I got home. Looks like snow for the next week straight.
 
Found out today they aren't very good in slushy snow. Travelling down the bypass saw a pickup off the road having taken down a light pole. Slowed down and moved to the left lane to pass the police pulled over, then moved back to the right. This is all along a wide sweeping curve. As I came up to my exit right after moving right the LX started to slide to the right. Let off the brakes and traction control kicked in as I caught traction.
Then about a half hour later I was turning on to the road to my house and slid a ways before catching traction. Was doing about 20. Temps were in the upper 20s and this was the first snow of the season. Had only been lightly snowing for about an hour and had just started accumulating on the roads.
Swapped out the Blizzaks when I got home. Looks like snow for the next week straight.
One of the things that gives me pause before I pull the triggers on defenders is the lack of 3peak snow rating.
 
Found out today they aren't very good in slushy snow. Travelling down the bypass saw a pickup off the road having taken down a light pole. Slowed down and moved to the left lane to pass the police pulled over, then moved back to the right. This is all along a wide sweeping curve. As I came up to my exit right after moving right the LX started to slide to the right. Let off the brakes and traction control kicked in as I caught traction.
Then about a half hour later I was turning on to the road to my house and slid a ways before catching traction. Was doing about 20. Temps were in the upper 20s and this was the first snow of the season. Had only been lightly snowing for about an hour and had just started accumulating on the roads.
Swapped out the Blizzaks when I got home. Looks like snow for the next week straight.
Which tire construction flavor do you have? LT or XL?
 
Found out today they aren't very good in slushy snow. Travelling down the bypass saw a pickup off the road having taken down a light pole. Slowed down and moved to the left lane to pass the police pulled over, then moved back to the right. This is all along a wide sweeping curve. As I came up to my exit right after moving right the LX started to slide to the right. Let off the brakes and traction control kicked in as I caught traction.
Then about a half hour later I was turning on to the road to my house and slid a ways before catching traction. Was doing about 20. Temps were in the upper 20s and this was the first snow of the season. Had only been lightly snowing for about an hour and had just started accumulating on the roads.
Swapped out the Blizzaks when I got home. Looks like snow for the next week straight.
Great. :rolleyes:
 
That's interesting. I've always remembered the original Defenders being great in snow. Not snow tire great but still better than AT tires due to the amount of siping they have. That will definitely suck if these are worse in the snow.
 
One of the things that gives me pause before I pull the triggers on defenders is the lack of 3peak snow rating.
That very well could be that Michelin didn't test them for the 3PMSF, it isn't required. I wasn't that worried as my 97 originally had Michelin's standard and they plowed through many winter snowstorms in the mountains.

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OE Michelin spare tire. Looks very similar.
 
That's interesting. I've always remembered the original Defenders being great in snow. Not snow tire great but still better than AT tires due to the amount of siping they have. That will definitely suck if these are worse in the snow.
Right!
 
That's interesting. I've always remembered the original Defenders being great in snow. Not snow tire great but still better than AT tires due to the amount of siping they have. That will definitely suck if these are worse in the snow.
And it is possible they aren't bad in actual snow. This was slushy as the roads were pretty cold from the night temps but starting to warm up. I slipped a couple times before on the bypass but it was barely noticeable. WIth the upcoming snow this week and my girlfriend not being comfortable driving in snow (she uses the LX to commute) I figured it was time to throw on the snow tires.
 
New Defender MS2 (285/50/20) installed about two weeks ago. Replaced Latitude Touring. Shop aired at 40ish - I set to 33 psi. Seem to be, for long highway runs, averaging around 2 mpg less than the Latitude (which was delivering around 20 mpg).

But very smooth - not sure if quieter or around the same noise level - I do hear some bearing noise (I'm close to 200k miles) so assuming if I just change those out it will get even quieter.

Visually Defenders do look more "substantial" than the Lattitude.

Great experience at Mavis Tire
 
New Defender MS2 (285/50/20) installed about two weeks ago. Replaced Latitude Touring. Shop aired at 40ish - I set to 33 psi. Seem to be, for long highway runs, averaging around 2 mpg less than the Latitude (which was delivering around 20 mpg).

But very smooth - not sure if quieter or around the same noise level - I do hear some bearing noise (I'm close to 200k miles) so assuming if I just change those out it will get even quieter.

Visually Defenders do look more "substantial" than the Lattitude.

Great experience at Mavis Tire
Which construction? LT-metric or P/XL/standard?

If they are LT's the higher pressure may actually be more appropriate.
 

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