Michelin Defenders M/S Question

After reading reviews and comments from all you wonderful fellow Tundra owners. I am about to replace my the crappy Dunlop factory tires that came with my Platinum. I was shopping around for the best deal, the best of which seems like Costco. I checked my dealership and as it comes to no surprise, they were hundreds more expensive. I mentioned to the service advisor that I will go with Costco, he then proceeds to tell me that Costco Michelins aren't the same as Michelins everywhere else, that Michelin makes a separate only sold at Costco version, that they have a different part number, and aren't the same quality as the ones I could by from any other distributor. I call BS, I was curious if anyone else has any information on this?

 

Unless those tires are Kirkland brand I can't imagine they would be different. When I looked for my tires I also went to Costco to get a quote and they quoted me the tires I asked for. I would have to say BS but someone with more knowledge might say so or otherwise.

 

Try going straight to Michelin and asking. You, also, can ask them for internet pricing and shipped right to your corner garage for install. Worth your time. Rebates too. Last rebate was $70 Visa on some Defenders for the hand model small car.

 

Total BS. The part # on the Costco tires website is the same as everywhere else.

 

I had an Interstate battery sales person tell me the same thing about Interstate batteries too. A quick call to Interstate hq and I found out he was lying.

 

Typical stealership BS trying to make a sale and make you over pay.

 

This may be partly true depending on the model. Years ago I bought a Dakota with GY Wrangler AT/D, they were absolute shit on anything other than dry pavement. Turns out the AT/D were produced for and sold only at Walmart.

Short version there may be a version of Defender produced for Costco but not the model you're looking at.

 

Last time I shopped the defender between the dealer and the local tire dopes they were within $100-$200. There isn’t much money to be had in tires. I feel more comfortable having the dealer do it, proper balance and accountability. Rather than some $15/hr tire jock at Costco. (I don’t expect anyone special at the dealership either though...)

 

Costco alternates each month a special on Bridgestone and Michelin, we are currently in the Michelin promo period. It's coming out to $205 a tire I think more or less, plus mount/balance/nitrogen for 1 cent a tire, plus a $70 rebate for buying 4 tires, so that comes out to more or less $775 for the four tires after rebate plus any disposal fee for the existing crap tires that are on my truck now. The dealership quoted me closer to $1100. One of the comments above suggested I call Michelin direct, that was actually on my call list for Friday. I have seen the tire at Costco when I was there the other day, Michelin Defender M/S, nothing Kirkland. Costco does have their own internal tracking number on it, but the specs say 70k miles for the tire. I figured it was BS, but sometimes you just want to hear or in this case read what you are already thinking. If Michelin gives any contrary information that leads to a non-BS position from what the dealership said, I will post it here, and then I will call Ripley's, because they wouldn't believe it.

 

I cant wait to replace my tires on my 14. Only 15k on it though. I figure by next year they will be shot enough that I can roll over to discount tire. If you have the time, check out the discount tire direct ebay store. they have some pretty good coupons on there at times.I just replaced my wife's tires and when all the discounts were stacked(I had the local discount tire price match), I paid the equivalent of about two and a half tires for 4.

 

shop different dealers.
currently, there is a dealer in my area that has defenders for..
buy 3 get the 4th for free.

they did that last year too. I got 4- defenders out the door for $750

 

What I have heard is that Costco tires are designed only for them just like anything else they sale if you notice part numbers that Costco sales can't be found anywhere else.....for example about 8 yrs ago I purchased a Onkyo surround sound from them that was about 799.00 when I went to register it thru ONKYO they could not find the model number due to the fact no one else sold it......so I have heard that Costco tires are called CLUB TIRES

 

I always get a road hazard that ruins a tire when michelins are not on sale.

 

Follow up - I spoke to Michelin directly, twice actually to make sure I was getting the correct information. All Michelin tires, regardless of which retailer or shop sells them, are the same tires. Period. There is no difference between the Defender sold at Michelin directly, Big O Tires, Costco, or wherever. So it looks like the dealership was trying to screw me. Big shocker there right?

 

What size tires are you putting on? I like the M/S, but wondered how they’d look in a 295/70/18 on my Tundra.

 

I going with the stock size that were on the truck when I bought it. 275/55/20. My truck isn't lifted. I had inquired about 285/60/20 but they would end up rubbing and obviously I didn't want that. Also they would be about another 100 a tire and I didn't want that either lol.

 

So it does look like the part number from Michelin is different from the part number at Costco, and I don't mean Costco's internal part number they assign to everything they sell. Has anyone bought tires at Costco and if so, what's your thoughts on it?

 

And you don't think you will get a $15/hour tire jock at dealer. I had a dealer put 32 lbs in my tires when door sticker stated 46. I was pissed when I got home and noticed they were low. Now I will say that most Tacomas dont come with BFG ATs but this one did. If tires had 46 when you checked them would it not make you stop and think.

 

um yes.
if its within a hundred or so of the dealer id pick the dealer over the place that sells bulk chicken nuggets and paper towels. but thats just me.

 

I own the defenders. the ride is great. Mine are almost brand new.

 

Actually I have had more damage done to my vehicle at the service department at the dealership than I have had anywhere else other than a collision. On this truck alone which is less than two years old. A tear in the rear seat from the service guys tools. A crack in the drivers door panel from when they replaced the window switch panel, and they notched a hole in my window tint on my drivers window. That said, if you think their service reps are any more careful than anyone else, you are deluding yourself.

 

My Costcos tire guys are the same guys who have been there ever since i joined there. Very professional and all they do are tires and they are damn good at it and they are always booked up 2-3 days. Cotstco is top notch in my experience.

 

I was in the toyota dealer shop once and witnessed a tech whip in a customers suv into the bay and ran into a big hose hanging from the ceiling and it hit the hood and just scraped the hood and he just kept going like it was nobodys business. I was like WTF hope that didnt scratch the hood!

Theres no fuckery at costco ime.

 

Yeah I’m not talking about regular service. I’m talking about tires. My truck hasn’t been to the dealer since I signed for it. I’m not endorsing the use of the dealer for anything routine.

However, good tire and balancing machines are not something most ppl have at home. I’d rather the dealer be held accountable for any negligence during a tire change, that’s all. I’m not saying they are better just they may suck less. ymmv.

(again assuming prices are comparable)