94SRUNNER
GOLD Star
Anyone running the Defenders on the larger 21" LX wheel? I went through the thread and did not see anyone mentioning they were
So I think the Michelin Defender is the perfect all-terrain tire... (For most of us) (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter chriscosta416
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It’s likely worth finding some 18” take-off wheels for a better ride if you are putting new tires on.
94SRUNNER
GOLD Star
We are going to stay with the stock 21"
I saw that Michelin makes a 275/55R21 XL Defender LTX M/S2 that is listed at 32.9" in diameter. I bet that would look good on the LX; no idea whether it fits but my thought is probably so...
Finally got my 100! Previous owner was rocking Nokian street tires in 275/65R18 but they are 9 years old and need replacing. Narrowed it down to the Defender LTX M/S2 in the XL rating and are $265 a pop or the new Nitto Terra Grappler G3 in the SL rating and are $280. Nittos look way better obviously and have a 70k warranty like the Defender and are supposedly their newest compound and best on road out of their A/T's. Most of my off roading involves dirt and rocky roads like in Big Bend National Park camping etc. Otherwise all street driving in Austin and surrounding areas. Should I just go for the grandpa spec and get Michelins? That much better on road?
My vote is Defenders. Get 5 tires and keep the spare in rotation. These tires are seriously head and shoulders above everything else for most users.
bloc
SILVER Star
Unless someone is in sticky mud a lot, or explicitly values form over function, the Defender is usually an objectively better tire if it's available in the necessary size.
Can't do it. I'm a slave to the 'gram.
I don't even know how I daily drove on Falken AT3Ws for as long as I did. I will say that they are impressive for how aggressive they are, but no amount of R&D will overcome the tradeoffs of an AT tire on pavement.
After my 20's where I could *NOT* be seen at the coffee shop without an aggressive sidewall, owning Defender's has been liberating.
Update: Got the Defenders man they ride like a dream in conjunction with the AHC on the 100 series
They are only available in 20”, according to the Tire Rack.
I run 275/65/18 Defenders on my 2013 LX570. 32" and speedo is dead on (odometer reads 3.5%low). This is an excellent fitment for this vehicle with smooth ride ,quiet, & good fuel economy. Excellent Tire life.
As Sandroad stated, the new Defender Platinum seems to only be available in a 20” rim, at least for now. I’m still unclear on what this Platinum version is for versus the regular Defender LTX M/S. It seems to be targeting the HD pickup truck segment, but I’m not clear on the pro’s & con’s versus an LT rated “regular” Defender.
The “regular “ Defender LTX M/S has a number of sizes available for 18” wheels, in LT or SL loads. I currently have 275/65r18 in SL. But if I were replacing today I would get the XL rated version in 285/65r18.
Not a Defender specific question, but for those going from the factory 285/60R18 to the slightly larger 285/65R18, do you notice any weird or quirky shift point behavior? Like the truck is not in the power band, or is hunting for the right gear?
On my 80 series, I went from 285/75R16 to 315/75R16 and it was fine. But when I went to 295/75R16 it seemed to have trouble finding what gear to be in, and it was often not in an optimal power band for the speed I was driving.
I think I want to get something smaller than the 275/70R18 I am using now but feel the stock size isn't going to be big enough. The 285/65R18 may be what I end up with but want to make sure there aren't any driving or shifting issues with that size.
On my 80 series, I went from 285/75R16 to 315/75R16 and it was fine. But when I went to 295/75R16 it seemed to have trouble finding what gear to be in, and it was often not in an optimal power band for the speed I was driving.
I think I want to get something smaller than the 275/70R18 I am using now but feel the stock size isn't going to be big enough. The 285/65R18 may be what I end up with but want to make sure there aren't any driving or shifting issues with that size.
Just get the non-Platinum (me and many others here are running those). We do not actually have any data from the Platinum yet.
bloc
SILVER Star
I tore a 1" hole in the middle of the tread of a 285/60R18 Defender LTX M/S in colorado recently (wasn't properly aired down) but wasnt too worried as I had roadhazard coverage through Discount Tire. Turns out that model/size has been discontinued.
When trying to find a M/S 2, Discount said that size wasn't made, but when I pointed out it is available on Tire Rack, they said it must be made specifically for them.. they'd try to get one.
Just throwing it out there.. 285/60R18 Defender LTX M/S in XL rating appears to be NLA. Not sure about the LT fitments.
When trying to find a M/S 2, Discount said that size wasn't made, but when I pointed out it is available on Tire Rack, they said it must be made specifically for them.. they'd try to get one.
Just throwing it out there.. 285/60R18 Defender LTX M/S in XL rating appears to be NLA. Not sure about the LT fitments.
32cls6speedmt
SILVER Star
@bloc. I called Michelin of North America. I love my defenders. Five tire rotation after 5k miles. 40k of usage and down to 8. I asked discount tire about Michelin defender ms 2. None in their system for 285/60/18.
Michelin stated that the tire is not discontinued but discount tire is not carrying this size. It would appear. Costco also is not carrying in my area.
I'm about a year into a new set of Defender 2s on my tundra in 295/70/18 size. I had the same Defender in a P275/60/18 prior. One thing I noticed is that the LT version is worse on snow and ice. I expected them to be very similar, but it was a noticeably worse traction on the LT. Hard to quantify it, but I'd say around 10% less traction than the P metric ones that I replaced. They were down to about 4/32. Overall still pretty happy with them. Quiet, smooth, and do pretty well in the sand. Not so good in mud, but I didn't expect them to be. Would buy again, but probably won't need to for a long time. I think the last set lasted about 60k and probably could have squeezed out another 10-20k but I like to replace them when they reach the first wear bars.
Something I really like about the Defender is that the sipes run all the way down so you don't loose that traction component when they wear. A lot of all seasons and probably every all terrain I've owned had sipes that were maybe half of the tread depth. The outgoing defenders seemed to do well all the way until I replaced them.
I'm sure it's in this thread somewhere - but it would be really great if Michelin would offer them in larger sizes. A 285/75/18 or 37" tire might have a fair amount of potential buyers.
Something I really like about the Defender is that the sipes run all the way down so you don't loose that traction component when they wear. A lot of all seasons and probably every all terrain I've owned had sipes that were maybe half of the tread depth. The outgoing defenders seemed to do well all the way until I replaced them.
I'm sure it's in this thread somewhere - but it would be really great if Michelin would offer them in larger sizes. A 285/75/18 or 37" tire might have a fair amount of potential buyers.
