2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Michelin tires

[MChrist]

MLee, the new Michelin LTX M/S2 is supposed to be a really good tire in the snow. It doesn't look as aggressive as the BFG, and I don't know how each tire compares. It also depends on what size you need. For me, I prefer the look of a 285/70/17 over the stock 265/70/17 for my truck, but Michelin doesn't make a load range E in the 285 size. Nitto and BFG do (among others).
If the truck in question uses 16s, I think your options are more open.

 

[MChrist]

Here is a comparison of tires you may be interested in:

Consumer Survey Results By Category

Good luck, and happy researching!

 

[MChrist]

And here is a listing of all season/highway:

Consumer Survey Results By Category

Notice the Michelin in this list is the LTX M/S2, the earlier list is for the A/T2.

 

[HBarlow]

The Tire Rack customer surveys appear to be good info. I saved the link.

The fact that Michelin tires are ranked #1 for tread wear even on mud/snow tires where they are ranked second overall, gives credibility to the survey in my opinion.

 

[MChrist]

Did you also notice how the LTX M/S2 ranks much higher then the original LTX in every single category? And the original is one of my all time favorite tires! Also, when you compare the snow numbers on the M/S2 vs the AT2, the M/S2 is only slightly behind in deep snow. Pretty impressive, I think.

Now my question:Michelin doesn't make a LRE in my size preference (285/70/17). They do offer LRD, however. Their LRD in 285 has the same weight rating as a 265 in LRE, and also has 3 steel belts, like LRE.
When I'm towing any great distance, I am only pulling our 8,000 camper. Knowing the specs I just cited of each tire, would you feel confident with a 285 in LRD?

 

[JMetzger]

I have had Michelin tires before & have had good luck with them. The only complaint that I have heard about them is do not try to get them warranted as they(Michelin) will say it was your fault & that they do not have tire problems. I wouldn't know about warranty as I never had a problem with their tires. Like I said I only heard people say this. One was a friend of mine who is a Goodyear tire dealer so naturally he would say that.

 

[Troubleshooter]

Those Michelin XPS tires are heavy duty tires!! I believe they have 3 steel belts, and I know they are good candidates for recaps. These tires aren't supposed to be great in snow, but they could be siped or grooved for winter traction, if you wanted to.

MChrist: Are you saying that the LTX/MS2 is not good in snow? Or the XPS?



The reason I'm asking, is because I'm planning to purchase a set of XPS-Tractions in the spring. The intent is to replace both the Goodyear Silent Armor (at the end of their tread life) and the El Cheapo winter tires (which are approaching the end of their tread life) with one set of tires.



I run about 70% highway and 30% gravel and dirt roads; just the truck of hauling one of several trailers.

 

[HBarlow]

Did you also notice how the LTX M/S2 ranks much higher then the original LTX in every single category? And the original is one of my all time favorite tires! Also, when you compare the snow numbers on the M/S2 vs the AT2, the M/S2 is only slightly behind in deep snow. Pretty impressive, I think.

Now my question:Michelin doesn't make a LRE in my size preference (285/70/17). They do offer LRD, however. Their LRD in 285 has the same weight rating as a 265 in LRE, and also has 3 steel belts, like LRE.
When I'm towing any great distance, I am only pulling our 8,000 camper. Knowing the specs I just cited of each tire, would you feel confident with a 285 in LRD?

Personally, I would not do it because you'll be giving up sidewall stiffness which will show up as reduced directional stability, increased tendency to wander, and reduced towing control when you add in the forces created by the trailer. As I understand your statement, you would only make this trade-off to get the look of a larger tire in the wheel well.

In past years I have read posts by younger guys with lifted four wheel drive truck who made a similar tire choice and then hooked up a trailer. Some of the posts I read complained about the issues I listed above.

The sidewall stiffness of our trucks with LRE tires is one of the characteristics that make them great trailer pullers. I always assume that truck engineers had good reason for the choices they made when selecting tires.

Now, having said all that do I think your truck would be unsafe, would handle dangerously with a little 8k travel trailer? No, I don't. But I think you'll sacrifice a little of the stability built into the platform and will sense it.

 

[MChrist]

Michelin makes 2 XPS tires: Rib, and Traction. Michelin says in their description that the Rib shouldn't be used in freezing temperatures, snow or mud. The Traction XPS looks to be a very tough tire, but I would definitely have them siped, or sipe them yourself. Their description says good for gravel and snow.

 

[MChrist]

Harvey, in my case, my truck came with 315/70/17 BFG LRC, and a 2" leveling kit. I never felt anything but solid pulling my 8,000 camper. Now that I use 285 Nitto LRE, I end up having 55psi front, 52psi rear unless towing, then I go 60/65 on an 80 psi tire.
That's why I was wondering if, under my light trailer, the LRD in a 285 would be enough. I believe the weight rating is equal between 315 LRC/285 LRD/265 LRE. I understand the sidewalls may have more "meat" for stability, and that may be an issue if I was loaded heavy, but it doesn't seem to be an issue for me at my lighter weights.

Something for me to ponder... maybe I'll ask my tire shop what they think, too.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[HBarlow]

I have had Michelin tires before & have had good luck with them. The only complaint that I have heard about them is do not try to get them warranted as they(Michelin) will say it was your fault & that they do not have tire problems. I wouldn't know about warranty as I never had a problem with their tires. Like I said I only heard people say this. One was a friend of mine who is a Goodyear tire dealer so naturally he would say that.

Jack,

That is only a GY tire salesman talking.

I've never had a problem with a Michelin tire but Michelin owns Uniroyal. My HitchHiker fifthwheel was equipped with Uniroyal LT235/85R16 LRE tires from the factory. One of them threw a tread and a second one had separated tread it was about to sling at one year and 16,000 towing miles. I replaced them with a set of Michelins from SAM's Club and called Michelin.

They asked me to have a local Michelin retailer inspect and ship the failed carcasses back to them and cheerfully refunded the price of the two Uniroyals less used tire life and sent me a check to reimburse the $850 for repair of the damage to the side of the trailer.

My tire buddies at SAM's Club tell me that they have had customers who have had road hazard damage to Michelin tires that they have adjusted for them with support from Michelins.

That story (lie) told to you by a tire salesman is one of the reasons I ONLY buy tires and batteries from my SAM's Club. Their tire employees are not commissioned sales people and have no incentive to lie.

 

[JMetzger]

Harvey, no argument from me & you are probably right but like I said I never had a problem with Michelin tires but plenty of problems with GY ST tires but that is another subject.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Am running 285/75R16 LT2 ATX right now in place of bfg atko. Am 40k into the tires and very pleased. I did change tires in stages and noticed something. In 4WD in deep snow the BFG's snow-loaded their sipes, their track was smooth like a toboggan. The ATX's were largely devoid of snow-load and their track was chiselled into the snow. Mean anything? Not sure, but I think the BFG's were intended as a great offroad, trail tire. The Michelins just seem to bite into the snow without 'stuffing their mouths'... jus my $. 02.

 

[MLee]

Price is almost $ for $ main difference is BFG are more aggressive. The reviews I have read are almost the same on both tires for mileage 70K to 100K six years warrantee down to a 2/32". But the Michelin states in writing the mileage, gives you a buyers protection, ride for 30 days, IF not satisfied, they will take them back and you can choose something else. Nobody else does that. Plus they stop "7" feet shorter than comparable tires.

So i'm taking you guys word for your being satisfied with your choice. And thanks again for your advise and statements.

 

[rrl989]

Those Michelin XPS tires are heavy duty tires!! I believe they have 3 steel belts, and I know they are good candidates for recaps. These tires aren't supposed to be great in snow, but they could be siped or grooved for winter traction, if you wanted to. I think they are also about $300/ tire, but like you said, you got 100,000 miles on them and I'm guessing no blowouts... quality tires cost up front, but pay back dividends in the long run.

I bought them for the snow, I was very limited in the 215 size, they were much better than the worn out LTX's I was replacing. Really not bad on a DRW. Out of 8 XPS's I bought, 2 failed. One was an inside dual that had somehow lost all pressure, the sidewall failed when I filled it, my fault. It was then that I bought 2 more, about 20K miles later, one new one went out of round, some sort of internal tread failing, Costco could not balance. I'll stick with some lower cost Michelins and replace them sooner, the XPS's last so long the sidewall rubber cracks before they wear out.

 

[dresslered]

Originally Posted by dresslered

I had a bad experience with Costco as well (sold me some very bad Michelins for my BMW). Not saying it was their fault, I just hate a hard tire which doesn't handle. I usually use TireRack so I can get what I want but recently have been really pleased with a local shop Lloyd's Tire Service (did my front end as well). They filled all 6 tires with 80-lbs of nitrogen. They get their nitrogen from tanks whereas Costco put in their own nitrogen generators.



We can always settle Costco disputes by contacting ex-member willyslover as he was a Costco executive--he even helped out TDR members who had problems at Costco.

Dave,



Sounds like you made a bad choice in tires. SAM's doesn't "sell" anything and I don't think Costco does either. SAM's Club doesn't employ any commissioned sales people and I suspect Costco does not either. Why would you blame Costco when you selected tires that you didn't like?



The nitrogen fill "advantage" is questionable. I don't think any auto dealer or tire retailer who sells it actually completely evacuates the air from a tire before filling with nitrogen, they simply bleed them down a little and partially reinflate to prescribed pressure. A lot of hype in my opinion.

Wow, I didn't know that this was such a hot topic so just responding. I wasn't trying to blame Costco. I picked the tire from what they had and what the salesman said. I even stated that it wasn't their fault. I just prefer to choose my tires first and then buy them where they are available (usually TireRack).



As far as nitrogen goes, the main reason for its use in daily driving applications is that it doesn't degrade the rubber like oxygen (in regular air) does (oxygen causes oxidation). Also, nitrogen contains less water vapor which reduces rust on steel rims. Nitrogen is way less permeable than oxygen so tire pressures our maintained much longer before reinflation is required.



As far as bleeding down the tires, they were new when I started. 80-psi is quite a bit more volume than when the tire started initially. Besides, only 93% nitrogen is required for optimal results.



Lot of hype. Prolly. But if it is a free service, I'll take it.

 

[MChrist]

Dresslered, I don't think it's a HOT topic, (like religion or politics... or Fords) just an important one. When each corner of your vehicle is riding on patch of rubber the size of your hand, the quality of that patch can make all the difference in the world. Even more important when you have snow, mud, and lots of rain thrown into the equation, and you are trying to find the best "all around" compromise between tread wear and traction and ride.

If I only drove in dry weather, on the highway, and never had to worry about snow, slush, rain, or mud. . I would probably buy the tire that gave the lowest cost per mile. That would be the Michelin XZE Rib in a 19. 5 size. That tire on a truck like ours would have no problem going 150,000 miles before being regrooved, then another 50,000. Then they could be recapped (another 150,000 miles) and then the recaps could be regrooved for another 50,000 miles. At that point, you only have to worry about being too old to drive!!

 

[dresslered]

MChrist,

I must choose my words better. Rather than hot, I should have said active. By the time I noticed a reply to my post, there were two more added pages. One such post was from Harvey, but I'm sure he'll forgive me.

 

[HBarlow]

Dave,

What was it you are seeking forgiveness for?

 

[MChrist]

Nothing to forgive or ask forgiveness as far as I am concerned. . just discussing stuff.