Michelin Defender LTX Platinum vs KO2/KO3??? Got the LTX’s

I'm hoping to find some good feedback here. I've been considering switching to the Michelin Defender LTX M/S when my KO2's needed to be replaced, and now have been looking hard at the new Michelin Defender LTX Platinum option. Some thoughts:

I have been using the LT285/55R20 KO2's my truck came with since new. The D-rating is a minimum for me because of towing. Treadlife is great, but they aren't exactly quiet on the road and only get more noisy as they wear. They spin out constantly on wet roads, their wet pavement problems are well known.

LTX Platinums are E-rated so capacity is covered. Early reviews are raving, and talk about a quiet ride with great traction on all surfaces. A possible issue is they are accordingly a heavier tire made for heavy duty pickups.

I had been looking at the Defender LTX M/S in 265/60R20 before the Platinum tires came out, but it looks like these are being phased out and are out of stock.

I think I want to try the Platinums, any reviews with some decent mile counts here that want to weigh in?

Majority of my driving is unloaded on city/highway roads, some under managed gravel and dirt roads or pasture, and maybe 10% towing. Considerations are traction, road noise, longevity, and even mileage if that applies here.

 

Edited down to the single question.

 

This popped back up so I may as well update it; I had posted in the other similar thread but I ended up getting the LTX Platinums.
So far, much less road noise, WAY better wet road traction and really any pavement traction. I haven’t driven them off road yet but so far so good.

 

Is the velour sidewall truly striking as indicated by the manufacturer?

 

Those platinums are an all-season tread, not all terrain. They look like anything more demanding than a dirt road will be a disappointment off-road. They look like they will be great in the rain and snow based on the siping though. The platinum and the KO series are not competitors. Two different classes of tire.

 

They do look nice, I’ll have to take a picture and post it. I don’t know about “striking” though.

 

No doubt they’re different. I’m hoping they are a decent compromise, with my minimal time off road. If traction is garbage on pasture, gravel or dirt roads, or sand I’ll have made an expensive mistake.

 

I found traction to be pretty decent on some mucky lanes. Specifically, they were 2-3" of mud followed by a hardpacked lane, and they held much, much better than the stock tires ever did. They're not AT tires, but they're serviceable.

 

They look better than I expected.

 

Thise michelins look good!

 

I'm thinking about giving these a shot myself.

 

I have been using this 275/65/20 for about 1K miles now and they have been really good, but I drive most of the time the time on pavement not really wheeling on off road trails other than dirt roads.

 

Anyone have snow experience with these yet?

 

Based on the pic with all the siping....these will rock in the snow!

These new ones look to be a better truck tire than the previous gen Defender.....and the earlier Defender was great in the snow so these should be even better.

 

Ya, I have the old ones on my previous Tacoma, and F150 before that and they did good.

 

Update on heavy rain/standing water handling. These things are magical in the wet. Hours of driving in full downpour, sometimes inches of water on the road, and I had ZERO hydroplaning.
I’m talking full toad-strangler with everyone driving as slow as 10-15mph on a state highway with hazards on, with only seeing the vehicle in front because of the hazards. So much water it felt like I had brakes on or was dragging a trailer with revs a bit higher than normal pushing through the water. Not one instance of hydroplaning!
Towing performance remains awesome, and no complaint in any other department(no snow yet). I’m a convert.

 

Looks like right now they only come in 6 20 in sizes, if they start making 18s I may look at them

 

the tires mentioned are not an apples to apples comparison.. lol

 

And? You’re not wrong, really this turned into a “what are these new tires like” thread vs several years and two sets of KO2’s. And I’m stoked so far.
I rarely drive in true off-road conditions like deep sand(1-2 times per year) or mud but I’ll update when I do.
Also they don’t throw rocks, with the KO2’s I had to drive slow for a while after driving on gravel to try to clear most of them before higher speeds. I haven’t bothered at all with these new tires.

 

i think the title and original post should be updated then, to prevent confusion for other potential readers.

 

Go with the KO3's. I absolutely LOVE them. Better performance from KO2's. Now time will tell how they wear out. The KO2's haven't done to well after 30-40K miles.

 

Yeah, the soyboys at Michelin told me that model is for "luxury" trucks

 

lol. You don’t know what you’re missing. Maybe some off-road performance is lost but I haven’t dealt with it yet. The KO2’s got plugged up with heavy mud pretty quick anyway so I doubt these would be much worse. All depends on use case I guess.