Michelin LTX MS Experience

[PKleine]

Lately I've been driving up & down I-5 hauling a 10k cargo hauler. I've still got the original Michelin LTX ms tires with about 63k on them. They show wear but still have good legal tread remaining. That impressed me to the point of figuring I would just replace them with new LTX's in a few thousand miles.



Well, the day before yesterday, while driving back empty, one tire started to shake so I pulled over and had a look. Sure enough, the left front tire had a suspicious looking bulge in the side wall. I put the spare on in its place, the first time the spare has seen the pavement... I thought to myself its time to start tire shopping.



Less than 24 hours later, I'm backing out of the inlaws driveway and the truck makes this funny little wiggle, I think 'man, what a weird curb'. I feel that little wiggle once more a few miles down the road. We stop in front of a friends house for a visit, but on my way 'round the back of the truck I notice the cords sticking out of the sidewall of the left rear tire right below the bead line. :--)



Now I'm not so sure about replacing the worn tires with new Michelin LTX MS. I've always had good service with Michelin in the past, but to have two tires break in less than 24 hours? Now I'm very motivated to replace my tires. I'm considering the Michelin XPS, LTX & Toyo M-55. (I looked into Rickson's 19. 5 but they don't seem to respond to email prepurchase questions about their product, so they're out. ) I have the 8" alloy stock Dodge wheels which I think is too wide for the Michelin XPS traction. So my question is: Those of you that haul/tow heavy, which tire is working good for you?



Thanks for your responses,



Peter

 

[Spyke]

Peter try a phone call to Rickson I was always able to get to talk to someone when I called



Steve

 

[WyoJim]

Peter... . I have run Michelin LTX MS tires hauling my 3000 plus pound camper for 140,000 miles with only one failure. And it was a Michelin from Walmart which I found out are not up to par with normal Michelin's.



I get better overall mileage by not rotating. 40,000 on the rears and 60,000 on the front.



My truck is garaged between trips, so the tires aren't exposed to UV sunlight when it is resting. The first dodge I had with Michelins and NO garage got weather checked sidewalls so bad I took them off because I was afraid to run them and they had lots of tread left.



On a trip to Alaska I finally noticed after 2500 miles that my rear tires looked low. I checked the pressure to find only 60 pounds in each of them. Apparently my tired old eyes misread the gage when I aired them up. I always feel the tires when I stop to see how hot they are running, but somehow this time I didn't. I had to replace those Michelins at 30,000 miles, but they never failed. I was surprised.



My next set of tires will be Michelin LTX MS. I buy them at Costco.

 

[B.G. Smith]

I got 72,000 on my originals and have about 45,00 on tthe replacements(LTX MS) Do you suppose you may have scrubbed a rock or something since the failures were both on the left side?? bg

 

[ndurbin]

I ran a used set of LTX MS's for a little while. The rears only lasted about 12,000 miles with half tread left on them when I put them on, on the other hand the fronts lasted to alittle past 20,000 miles. Their traction on wet grass or mud leaves alot to be desired tho. I'm running BFG Commercials on the rear now and they've held up much better so far. I'll also second the idea of Wal-Mart tires not being upto par with other tries of the same brand.



Nathan

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I've had good luck with the OEM Michelins on my truck - look good for perhaps 50,000 miles - mostly RV towing. But up here in snow country, Les Schwab seems to sell a LOT of Toyos - and all who use them seem to be happy with them, so that's probably what I'll switch to when the Michelins give out...

 

[PKleine]

Tire problems solved by Les Schwab. I didn't want to take a chance that I may have accidently damaged the tires while driving on the ranch or I-5 in CA, so I went with the M-55's.



When they took the old tires off they said the front tire failed with a ply separation under the tread. The rear tire failed from either a heavy load or a sharp blow. I can't recall anything that was a sharp blow except maybe I-5.



Thanks your input.



PK

 

[jandtjil]

PKleine

How noisey are your M-55's compared to your old LTX MS?

 

[PKleine]

PKleine

How noisey are your M-55's compared to your old LTX MS?

Keep in mind that I've only driven them for about 20 miles, briefly up to 70 mph. They are just slightly louder, depending on the pavement. It seems to be a higher pitch sound, pretty hard to hear with the windows closed and the A/C on. Windows open it is audible, not loud, just audible.



I reserve the right to modify the above after I've driven with them for a while. Hopefully I should know more by the end of next week.



PK

 

[TerryLittle]

I Have A Lite Toyoto The Ltx Ms Works Well With This Truck Or Even A1/2 Ton But It Is Not Bilt To Cary Heavy Loads It Is Made For Lite Hauling On Are Off Road M/s Mudd& Snow. I Put 93000 On Mine Before Replaceing Them . I Would Go With A Load Rated Tire If I Were You.

 

[hsmith]

I get real good service from the XPS Michelin. Mileage is good, 50k min, and no separation.