Michelin Tire Question. Get new or stay with what I have?

Hello,
I moved back to snow country from the desert recently. I always ran street tires because I never saw a need for all terrains on dry streets.

I have michelin defenders LTX MS in a standard load range 265/75-16 or whatever. They are pretty much new, and I paid a lot for them. I would like to keep them if at all possible in lieu of dumping $1000 on new rubber. I don't want to say what I have my eye on as far as new tires, because they are much more exciting than the Michelins, and everyone will say "hell yeah, go with those". Again, I don't want to spend the $$ if I don't have to.

Are the LTX MS Defenders any good on snowy roads? I am talking about paved roads, or dirt roads with a couple inches of snow. I don't plan to do any offroading, at least intentionally.

Anybody who has owned these and wants to chime in, please let me know.

Thanks guys!

-BTW, I do have four wheel drive, for what it's worth.

 

My suggestion is to keep your Michelin’s on for now and give them a try this winter in the light snow conditions you described. I’ve been accused of being so tight, I squeak walking down the street. The truth is that money you don’t spend is money you still have. The Michelin tires performance in the snow might surprise you. My $.02

 

My factory Michelin’s did fine in the snow. They were actually surprisingly good all around for a non aggressive looking light ply rated tire.

 

It helps to be a cheapskate sometimes, I know I am, but it has bitten me before. I am concerned that the price of tires is about to go waay up, so I am trying to do my homework ahead of time in case I have to make a quick decision.

I like tire shopping! It's fun walking into tire shops, smelling new tires and running my hands over the rubber nubs on new tires. It's tire buying that I hate

 

This is what they look like...

 

Same here. They performed better than expected. I'd still have mine on if I didn't pop one when off roading on some sharp basalt rocks during hunting season.

 

Good advice.

Up here it gets really sketchy and cold in the winter where celcius and farenheit can be the same negative value. One of the best purchases I've ever made were snow tires for my vehicles. I can't believe I drove around without them when I was young. I am very happy to put my studded snow tires on in a month or so. I am jealous of living in a place where vehicle block heaters and studded snow tires are not required!

 

Took mine off for 10 plys to avoid that very issue.

 

I had those tires on my F350 and was happy with their performance in the snow. Nothing offroad, but street driving was good.

Every forum I’ve been on has people that love and hate every single tire. It is kind of funny. So knowing that, I’d run them until they prove unworthy for your conditions and driving style.

 

I had the philosophy of run em til I need new ones. Same spot previous 2 years of hunting without issue. Got 19.5k miles out of them. You can't get anything for them even if brand new off the lot when you switch tires. I got my monies worth I'd say. Now I have 10 ply coopers. Hopefully I can go a few more years without incident. That sharp basalt rock can be killer on even the best tires.

 

I can see why you popped one, I can press the tip of my thumb 1/2" into the sidewall. They are pretty soft.

 

That's the 3 ply for you. They worked great, until they didn't. If just on road use they are more than capable. I used them through 2 winters. Was going to use them this winter. No issues in snow or on ice.

 

If it were me I would run them and get what you can before changing. I had those same tires on my F250. I live in the Colorado Mountains and they did okay for a winter. I ran them until they needed replacement. They did okay for what they are. I would never buy another set. Now I run Fallken AT3s and Les Schwab Open Range on our vehicles. Both of those models are 3Peak rated tires.

 

I would definitely run the course with them…

I also feel you will be shockingly surprised at their performance depending on what kinda of “snow country” you moved to. In the northeast they are amazing and they will go toe to toe with any AT tire out there. The only time the Defender will perform less than an AT tire is in very deep snow. So if you moved to Wyoming…it will probably be worth buying new tires. Otherwise the Defender is unbelievably confident and has a ton of traction in adverse weather for a highway tire.

 

Those Michelin tires have fairly soft rubber and a great bit of siping -- they should perform very well in light snow conditions -- if it ain't broke don't fix it .... "run what you brung" - until you can't bring it any more!

 

Spraynard agrees. I'm on my second set of 10 ply Defenders. I've pawed around Pissburghs horrible roads in 6" of snew. You'll spin all four but you wont get hung up.

 

You are a hoot brother! You never cease to crack me up!

 

I got a lot of family in Swissville . That is too funny.

 

Michelin Defenders are hands down the best truck/SUV tire available for all weather conditions on paved roads.

For your situation keep them.

 

I ended up in Wyoming LOL. I drove around all morning getting quotes on what I thought I wanted. Of course, OF COURSE, not one tire shop had them in stock, so I will have to make three trips to the unfortunate shop of my choice by default.

After hearing what everyone had to say, it actually worked out in my favor. I was looking at Nitto Terra Grapplers, or some variation thereof. Had somebody produced four of them, I would be $1000 more broke. I remember when radial truck tires were $50 apiece!!!

It'll give me time to think it over anyway. I'll see how my Michelins do and then decide. I don't plan on going out if the weather is terrible anyway.

 

I have those tires on my 2000 Tundra 4wd. They've worked quite well during the few times we get snow, and there's some steep roads around here. That said, if ya got 2wd forget about it. Park it and drive a Camry.

 

Haha! What are the chances…I literally pulled Wyoming out of my you know what. LOL, I was the snow state I could think of. I have made it home in plenty of blizzards with my Defenders. They have never not gotten me home.

 

That's excellent! I have exactly the same truck you do, minus the running boards. Color is even the same. If you can make it through wheel deep snow, I'll bet mine will be okay for some messy roads.

 

Just ordered a set of 10 ply myself.

 

As long as ya got 4wd you'll be good to go.