Michelin vs Falken

[billtex]

Had a tragic failure on my Nitto DT at 4 yrs old last week (ask Buzz how scary that can be!) so I am pulling all of them off and getting new skins.
Thought I made up my mind on Falken Wildpeak H/T purchased from tire buyer (they have been great with Customer service). When I went to my install Guy he said “no way would I run foreign tires” with the loads I carry. He suggested Michelin Defender LTX M/S (purchased from TB as he could not match their price). He runs Michelins on his tow trucks, flat beds, etc. and say he sells more of these to commercial guys than any other brand.
So I call TB back and they say “Michelin are known for the softest sidewall in the market”! (Never heard that before).
So. Now I am confused.
I prefer a highway tread (AT’s too squirmy for me. And I am to off roading anyway). Cost not an issue-want the most robust 285 75 16 LR 126 out there.
For those running this Michelin-what is your experience?

I hate buying new tires!!!

Thx, Bill

[billtex]

mountainkowboy wrote:

billtex wrote:


Trying to wrap my head around what would make a tire ride harsh as it ages?
Less rubber?
Belts are work hardened?

As tires age they lose elasticity and the rubber actually get harder cause they are losing the chemicals and oils that make them soft. Thus the dramatic difference in ride between old and new tires.

Thx mk...sounds reasonable. It’s funny how the ride changes over time...sneaks up on you!
Another good reason to replace tires after a certain amount of time, regardless of mileage.

Another PSA; verify or replace your tire pressure gauge periodically. You never know when it may be out of spec and you may NOT be running the pressure you think you are!

Safe travels,
Bill

[mountainkowboy]

billtex wrote:


Trying to wrap my head around what would make a tire ride harsh as it ages?
Less rubber?
Belts are work hardened?

As tires age they lose elasticity and the rubber actually get harder cause they are losing the chemicals and oils that make them soft. Thus the dramatic difference in ride between old and new tires.

[billtex]

Grit dog wrote:

billtex wrote:

ardvark wrote:

billtex wrote:
BFG’s were mounted today.
I have purchased many sets of tires previously on a variety of vehicles. This is the 4th set of tires on this truck.
I only drove a few miles around town (unloaded) but can honestly say I have never experienced such an improvement in ride as I have with these tires.

Don’t know if the Nitto’s were that BAD or the BFG’s are so GOOD!?

Time will tell. Lot’s of trips with TC planned in the next few months-that will be the real test.

Thanks all for your input.

Bill

How did they improve your ride?

Again...very limited data at this point. But the Nitto’s were giving a VERY harsh ride. My truck is pretty jacked up; Super Spings, air bags...so it does NOT ride ‘nice”. But the BFG’s give a much smoother ride. Immediately noticed.
Maybe it was moving up in size from 285 to 295?
Don’t know...but it is def improved.

Can’t wait to load up and get on the road!

Stands to reason, new tires "should" be smoother. However, ride is mostly proportional to tire pressure, not brand. Road noise, vibration are mostly a function of tread design and tire wear characterisitcs.
Glad you like the new bfgees though. Always been one of my go to tires for year round use. Good snow tires when they have sufficient tread left.

I would agree...

Running same psi in the BFG’s as I was with Nitto’s.

Trying to wrap my head around what would make a tire ride harsh as it ages?
Less rubber?
Belts are work hardened?

I gues it could be a lot of factors.
Anyway, pleased with these LI 128 BFG’s.

Only a few 16” tires in this load index on the market.

Should be interesting!
Bill

[Grit_dog]

billtex wrote:

ardvark wrote:

billtex wrote:
BFG’s were mounted today.
I have purchased many sets of tires previously on a variety of vehicles. This is the 4th set of tires on this truck.
I only drove a few miles around town (unloaded) but can honestly say I have never experienced such an improvement in ride as I have with these tires.

Don’t know if the Nitto’s were that BAD or the BFG’s are so GOOD!?

Time will tell. Lot’s of trips with TC planned in the next few months-that will be the real test.

Thanks all for your input.

Bill

How did they improve your ride?

Again...very limited data at this point. But the Nitto’s were giving a VERY harsh ride. My truck is pretty jacked up; Super Spings, air bags...so it does NOT ride ‘nice”. But the BFG’s give a much smoother ride. Immediately noticed.
Maybe it was moving up in size from 285 to 295?
Don’t know...but it is def improved.

Can’t wait to load up and get on the road!

Stands to reason, new tires "should" be smoother. However, ride is mostly proportional to tire pressure, not brand. Road noise, vibration are mostly a function of tread design and tire wear characterisitcs.
Glad you like the new bfgees though. Always been one of my go to tires for year round use. Good snow tires when they have sufficient tread left.

[996Pilot]

billtex wrote:
When I went to my install Guy he said “no way would I run foreign tires” with the loads I carry. He suggested Michelin Defender LTX M/S (purchased from TB as he could not match their price).

Thx, Bill

Hankook - based in Seoul, South Korea is the seventh largest tire company in the world

Bridgestone - is a Japanese rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi (?????, Ishibashi Sh?jir??) in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

Pirelli - founded 1872 in Milan by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy

Dunlop - Dunlop Tyres was an international United Kingdom-based company founded in 1888 by John Boyd Dunlop
Continental

Michellin - incorporated on May 28, 1888 in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France
BF Goodrich........

Toyo Rough country ?? 4080 lbs load each

It's hard to figure exactly where things are made these days. I wouldn't run Chinese tires on anything but Japanese, Korean, European, etc. all seem to have some fine tires. All my tire sources say not to run BF Goodrich AT tires with very heavy loads. (let the barbs fly).

Look at Cooper Tires also for heavy loads.

[ardvark]

Thanks!

Steve

[billtex]

ardvark wrote:

billtex wrote:
BFG’s were mounted today.
I have purchased many sets of tires previously on a variety of vehicles. This is the 4th set of tires on this truck.
I only drove a few miles around town (unloaded) but can honestly say I have never experienced such an improvement in ride as I have with these tires.

Don’t know if the Nitto’s were that BAD or the BFG’s are so GOOD!?

Time will tell. Lot’s of trips with TC planned in the next few months-that will be the real test.

Thanks all for your input.

Bill

How did they improve your ride?

Again...very limited data at this point. But the Nitto’s were giving a VERY harsh ride. My truck is pretty jacked up; Super Spings, air bags...so it does NOT ride ‘nice”. But the BFG’s give a much smoother ride. Immediately noticed.
Maybe it was moving up in size from 285 to 295?
Don’t know...but it is def improved.

Can’t wait to load up and get on the road!

[ardvark]

billtex wrote:
BFG’s were mounted today.
I have purchased many sets of tires previously on a variety of vehicles. This is the 4th set of tires on this truck.
I only drove a few miles around town (unloaded) but can honestly say I have never experienced such an improvement in ride as I have with these tires.

Don’t know if the Nitto’s were that BAD or the BFG’s are so GOOD!?

Time will tell. Lot’s of trips with TC planned in the next few months-that will be the real test.

Thanks all for your input.

Bill

How did they improve your ride?

[billtex]

BFG’s were mounted today.
I have purchased many sets of tires previously on a variety of vehicles. This is the 4th set of tires on this truck.
I only drove a few miles around town (unloaded) but can honestly say I have never experienced such an improvement in ride as I have with these tires.

Don’t know if the Nitto’s were that BAD or the BFG’s are so GOOD!?

Time will tell. Lot’s of trips with TC planned in the next few months-that will be the real test.

Thanks all for your input.

Bill

[billtex]

If Michelin made a 295 75 16 LI 128 tire I would probably go with those...but they don’t. Only ones I could find are the BFGs KO2’s and some Coopers. So BFG it is.

I ran the BFG Commercial Traction T/A’s before the Nitto’s. Found they were way too soft for the new (heavier) TC. I could feel them roll over in the corners, thought I would break a bead for sure. Funny thing; they were the best tire I ever ran in snow on this truck (snowflake rated). Guess everyone has a different opinion of performance. Or maybe it’s different snow here in New England.
In any case moving up a load index from 126 to 128 has a lot to do with this decision, being made in USA sealed the deal on BFG’s K02’s.

[burningman]

The general consensus I found through reading various truck forums (and not “reviews”... those are total BS these days. People get paid to write them!) was that the BFG All Tsrrain T/A WAS a great tire. I used to run nothing else. Even the KO is great. It seems all the trouble is just with the KO2.
There was enough bad ju-ju being reported that I didn’t buy them, and they’re my favorite, go-to tire.

So far the Michelins are great. They took two tenths off my 1/4 mike ET... (just kidding) As for direct comparison, I had BFG Commercial TAs on it before these. Those were fine but lousy in rain and snow and wore out real fast, by 25k miles they were about done. I ran ‘em to a bit over 30k (delaying the $$ for new ones as long as I could).
So, definitely don’t buy those things. I’d even risk the KO2s before another set of them.

[ardvark]

I debated KO2s but thought they might be a little noisier on the highway than Michelins so I will be curious how you find them.

[billtex]

burningman wrote:
There’s a whole lot of bad reviews on the KO2s. Those were what I was going to buy when I bought the Michelins but way too many people are reporting trouble with them.

Yep. You can find bad reviews on any tire. There are a disproportionate total number of reviews for the K02’s. Obviously a very popular tire.

While I do include the reviews in my reasearch, I like to run it by the folks here for first hand experience with heavy load hauling.
Many of the “reviews” are from Folks who aren’t hauling anything.

As TC’ers we are a fairly niche group. Even speaking with the “experts” at tire shops, etc very few are familiar with what we are doing.
Our trucks, and particularly our tires, are seeing severe duty.

Thx All...keep the advice coming. I am open to all suggestions....but likely will order the 295 75 65 LI128 K02’s tomorrow.

Bill

[covered_wagon]

I have had only 16'' Michelin M/S tires put on the entire time I've owned the camper since 2003. Some cracked very soon. That was almost ten years ago. Funny thing..... the ones I've had the longest now, are uncovered, sitting outside, two are almost nine years old and have absolutely no cracks at all. I just got back from a long run with no problems, but those two are getting replaced with Michelin again. I'm not sure about the softer sidewalls, but a stiff sidewall means they run hotter isn't that correct? I trust my michelins and only buy the most expensive ones they have.

I also run on Alcoa forged wheels. Cast wheels are the typical thing you see running around everywhere and have a weight rating far less than forged wheels.