Regret LTX Michelin Defenders. Rough ride advice.

Well, I might be getting old and tender. I'm 59 and feeling it.

• I bought a 2014 Sequoia.
• Lifted the back 1.5 inches with spacers in the back.
• Let my local shop talk me into KYB front struts. He said he didn't replace the OEM Springs.

All was mostly well, I just didn't like the Bridgestone P Alenza because, I don't know, I thought truck tires would be better for towing my 3500lb trailer. But looking back, I never had a problem.

Now, I put on the LTX Michelin Defender MS2s and damn... what a rough ride! My back hurts I swear.

I have the rears at 40 and the fronts at 35. Discount says to keep them at 35 all around unless I tow. I find that wrong. What I read is to keep them at 45 from tirepressure.com

I hate to be a big whiny baby but... I'm about to return them to Discount and put Ps back on.

Do you think all of the above means that my particular Sequoia may ride harder than a stock one?

I mean a Tundra and a Sequoia Limited are the same... except I have coils in the back... mostly. Shouldn't the Sequoia Limited have a softer ride even than a Tundra?

I accept all advice and ridicule well.

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with Michelin. These are actually P tires. "Unless there is a LT in front of the 275 on the tire... they are P tires. The LTX you see is just part of the name of that tire." and... so... I can respect the door sticker. 30 and 32 PSI are also well within the load range for towing my 3500lb trailer with 600lb tongue weight. Who knew?

 

I think the spacers have something to do with the rough ride and Yes your Sequoia should be much better at absorbing bumps than a tundra's leaf suspension.

I have a '15 Sequoia with the same tires (20") and they ride like a Dream (just about a car like ride) and handle off-roading well too.

 

You can write to Michelin and ask them specifically what pressure you should run at to match performance of your stock P-rated. They'll get you in the ballpark and then you can adjust from there. I've had the MS2's on a Hyundai Santa Fe, and the ride wasn't nearly as harsh as you describe. You sure you don't have a blown shock/strut?

 

Oh but I run 33 lbs all around - might make some diff....

 

Why did you lift the back?

 

I've used Defenders on my trucks and my wife's Highlander for over 20 years and I have never had an issue with quality or ride. I really think the source of your rough ride lies elsewhere.

 

when I ran the stockers, P load, I ran about 2 lbs more than door sticker. They were a touch firmer, in a good way, and wore better. Your pressure is higher than it should be for a stockish size P load. 33 front and 33 to 35 rear should be right, or run the 30-32 as in the sticker. I can tell you, even a few lbs pressure difference is noticeable in a Tundra so even being a few lbs higher than needed can make a difference in the ride.

However, if you are running 275/70-18 in a Michelin Defender then you are probably running E load tires. Pressure should be set at 35 for those (ive run that size) and they will ride much harder than S load. I would bet you have E load tires, I checked DT, Tirerack and other and 275/70-18 Defenders listed are all E load. 275/65 is available in P

 

What size tires do you have? Take a picture of the sidewall if you’re unsure about the specs.

the spacer in the back will make it rougher. You’ve increased the standing angle of your control arms, they no longer pivot the same arc you’re used to feeling

 

Tire pressure makes a significant difference.

 

I think part of reason for rougher ride is because of the rear spacer lift. Did you lift on the front also? Or only rear lift? I used to have 08 Sequoia limited and I put a small 1" spacer in the rear, it did ride a little stiffer. I also had bilstein 5100 shocks in the front and rear. Overall it wasn't a terrible ride, but it was a little stiffer than stock OEM suspension. But more stiff in a good way, it was more controlled and handled better. I now have a 2011 Sequoia Platinum with Eibach in front and factory air suspension in the rear. It is a smoother ride compared to my other Sequoia.

 

Take the spacers out, replace bump stops with Timbren SES for better towing experience.

 

If you want a lift - try a full body lift - Zero affect on suspension and two-thirds less center of gravity change (so corning is least affected).

 

It’s the pressure as you noted and the rear spacer. Our Seqouia rode like a dream with the fox TRD pro suspension. I did the westcott kit + airbags and the rear suspension is jarring- doesn’t move 1mm if I put my 203lbs butt on the rear. Going to swap to dobinsons springs and shock extenders until the fox shocks die then swap in something better

 

Indeed. I feel like sitting on a plush sofa while driving the TRD PRO. There is no jarring at all. The suspension just eats up the bumps and potholes. And I'm in my 50s also, so I know how the OP is feeling. Comfort is what I want.