Which Michelin Tire? Defender LTX M/S or LTX Winter

[dewey02]

I have a 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 that takes 245 75R 16 tires.
I currently have Firestone Transforce A/Ts that are 7 years old and have cracks in the sidewalls near the rim. We don't do any off road, almost all paved, occasional gravel roads (to get to a campground). We haul a travel trailer with Max loaded weight of 6500 lbs and around 900lbs loaded tongue weight. We put about 5 to 7K miles total on the truck per year.

Discount Tire has 2 Michelin tires that have the same load (E1) and speed ratings. I seek the experience of folks here on the forum.

Michelin LTX Winter: $169 each.
Rebates for buying 4 tires a $100 mail in rebate (on winter tires) and $50 mail in rebate (for buying on a Discount tire credit card).

Michelin Defender LTX M/S: $197 each.
$30 mail in rebate (for buying on a Discount Tire credit card).

Specs of the two are nearly the same.
Winter tire weighs 3 lbs less and has 40K warranty.
Defender M/S weighs 3 lbs more and ha 50K warranty.
Winter tire actually has a slightly better user rating except of course for the mileage wear.

Michelin LTX Winter would cost $526 with rebates (plus $64 mounting and balancing)
Michelin Defender M/S would cost $758 with rebate (plus $64 mounting and balancing)

Is the Defender M/S worth the extra $225? Is it that much better, especially with the low miles we drive each year? Do both tires drive pretty much the same on paved roads? (smoothness of ride)

Thanks for your comments.

[troubledwaters]

I have Michelin LTX M/S 2 on my F250. I got 80,000 miles out of the first set and 65,000 miles out of the second set. I'm on my third set. You won't buy them for $200 each however.

[Flapper]

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
Neither Michelin tires are junk! The last two sets I had on my 04 Ram had 5/32" to 6/32" of tread left on them. They had to be replaced do to heavy dry rot! Will never own a set of them again. BTW my BFG tires did the same thing. There are a lot better tires out there then Michelin.

Don

OK, you force me to ask, since I am in the same situation: What tires are better, so I can get those instead?

[jerem0621]

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
Neither Michelin tires are junk! The last two sets I had on my 04 Ram had 5/32" to 6/32" of tread left on them. They had to be replaced do to heavy dry rot! Will never own a set of them again. BTW my BFG tires did the same thing. There are a lot better tires out there then Michelin.

Don

I have had the exact same experience. Never again will I buy Michelin tires.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[Busdriver]

Look at nitto crossteck

[wrgrs50s]

I have the MS/2 from Discount tire, and so far it's a really smooth ride compared to my previous Bridgestone Duravis tires. The only thing I have noticed is that they feel like they squirm, or drift a little in the wind when not towing. Straight as an arrow when towing. I don't know if it's the soft rubber compound or what. It's not dangerous feeling, just a little odd.

I switched to the MS/2 because a friend of mine had Michelins dated from 2006 and still had decent tread after 70K miles. He just replaced them in 2016 because of age cracks. My Bridgestone Duravis tires only lasted 4 years and 35K miles and had significant wear on them.

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

Neither Michelin tires are junk! The last two sets I had on my 04 Ram had 5/32" to 6/32" of tread left on them. They had to be replaced do to heavy dry rot! Will never own a set of them again. BTW my BFG tires did the same thing. There are a lot better tires out there then Michelin.

Don

[bob213]

I just bought the Defender at America's Tire. $70 rebate. Check Costco. They have an immediate $70 rebate but I'm not sure if they have the Defender.

[Hank85713]

I had a BFG tire separate (its made by michelin co) and since it was discontinued they recommended the defender. Truck seems smoother on highway with them than the BFGs. Only problem I had was when I needed traction in soft dirt and went to 4lo and they were not very responsive to movement. Had 3 ton load on trailer at dump and was almost afraid it would get stuck. Guy at michelin said they were not very good for off road activities and I guess he was right. If you have 4x4 and plan off road anytime you might want something better.

[RinconVTR]

Winter tires are for winter only. Cold temps, wet..snowy...slippery roads. And not for towing.

The Defender LTX are great. I first tried the P rated and quickly switched to their LT's. Anyone towing heavy has no business buying P rated tires!

Oh, I live in Wisconsin and the standard tread of the Defender P and LT's do really well in Winter. Not as good as ATR's and On/Off road rated tires, but I have zero complaints.

Go get some Defender LT's!!!!!

[RAS43]

The winter tire will have a softer rubber compound for better grip in snow and on ice.If it is run during warmer weather and in towing situations I believe they will wear faster, hence the lower mileage warranty. I doubt you would get 40000 miles from them.