Michelin Defender LTX MS2 Buyers Remorse Based on Looks Only

[ttnuagmada]

I don't think they look particularly bad. My issue with them is that they ride rougher than previous Defender/LTX models.

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[rong]

I don't think they look particularly bad. My issue with them is that they ride rougher than previous Defender/LTX models.

I can't speak to that, they seem to ride fine and are quiet so far. Much better that the stock Hankkoks that were on it. What did they change from the last edition?

My only issue is aesthetic. They aren't horrible looking but I did pick them because of the high ratings, thought I would grow to love how they look. Maybe I will LOL.

 

[RocketPack12]

I can't speak to that, they seem to ride fine and are quiet so far. Much better that the stock Hankkoks that were on it. What did they change from the last edition?

My only issue is aesthetic. They aren't horrible looking but........

I can't speak to that, they seem to ride fine and are quiet so far. Much better that the stock Hankkoks that were on it. What did they change from the last edition?

My only issue is aesthetic. They aren't horrible looking but........

I mean I get it. I value performance, ride quality, and safety. But I also want to like the way my vehicle looks and tires play a big part of that. There aren’t many solutions that meet my criteria but the Terraincontact is one of them.

 

[rong]

I can't speak to that, they seem to ride fine and are quiet so far. Much better that the stock Hankkoks that were on it. What did they change from the last edition?

My only issue is aesthetic. They aren't horrible looking but I did pick them because of the high ratings, thought I would grow to love how they look. Maybe I will LOL.

I mean I get it. I value performance, ride quality, and safety. But I also want to like the way my vehicle looks and tires play a big part of that. There aren’t many solutions that meet my criteria but the Terraincontact is one of them.

They look good to me as well. To me tires are an expensive gamble. Until you shell out the $1k plus you won't know how they really perform. I like the defenders and if I did take them back and got the tires I think look great I would be screwed if the performance sucked.

 

[Steelerz1]

I have had the Michelins but last few sets on my old truck (2012 FX4) were various AT's...Cooper , Falken etc. I just like the look way better and I know that is a superficial problem haha. My "new" truck I just picked up (2022 XLT 4x4) had the dynapros and they looked decent but were almost shot so I just picked up some Nokian Outpost nAT's. With the 1.5 inch spacers they make me smile everytime I look at my truck lol. I probably would have went back with dynapros but they were 339$ each. I got the Nokians for $250 and they have 60k warranty. I don't offroad much but do like the extra traction /piece of mind for the occasional bad weather or snowboard trip.

 

[rong]

They look good to me as well. To me tires are an expensive gamble. Until you shell out the $1k plus you won't know how they really perform. I like the defenders and if I did take them back and got the tires I think look great I would be screwed if the performance sucked.

The defenders are like a

I have had the Michelins but last few sets on my old truck (2012 FX4) were various AT's...Cooper , Falken etc. I just like the look way better and I know that is a superficial problem haha. My "new" truck I just picked up (2022 XLT 4x4) had the dynapros and they looked decent but were almost shot so I just picked up some Nokian Outpost nAT's. With the 1.5 inch spacers they make me smile everytime I look at my truck lol. I probably would have went back with dynapros but they were 339$ each. I got the Nokians for $250 and they have 60k warranty. I don't offroad much but do like the extra traction /piece of mind for the occasional bad weather or snowboard trip.

those look nice

 

[ttnuagmada]

They look good to me as well. To me tires are an expensive gamble. Until you shell out the $1k plus you won't know how they really perform. I like the defenders and if I did take them back and got the tires I think look great I would be screwed if the performance sucked.

They're using a harder compound, (XL rating vs SL).

 

[moritzes]

Yes, they are ugly like an Airstream tire, but they will go 80,000 miles and be pretty to your wallet and peace of mind. Suggest you hit up Hobby Lobby for a glue gun and some bedazzler stuff ...

In case anyone wonders what they would look like, I bedazzled a set, along with the wheels. I think they look great.

 

[rong]

In case anyone wonders what they would look like, I bedazzled a set, along with the wheels. I think they look great.

hahahaha! I'm going to Hobby Lobby now

 

[js312]

I don't think they look particularly bad. My issue with them is that they ride rougher than previous Defender/LTX models.

I noticed that too. They're a little more jittery than the previous version. I still like them because they're quiet, get great mileage, and have good traction on wet roads, but they definitely don't absorb road imperfections quite as well.

 

[honda250xtitan]

I have had the Michelins but last few sets on my old truck (2012 FX4) were various AT's...Cooper , Falken etc. I just like the look way better and I know that is a superficial problem haha. My "new" truck I just picked up (2022 XLT 4x4) had the dynapros and they looked decent but were almost shot so I just picked up some Nokian Outpost nAT's. With the 1.5 inch spacers they make me smile everytime I look at my truck lol. I probably would have went back with dynapros but they were 339$ each. I got the Nokians for $250 and they have 60k warranty. I don't offroad much but do like the extra traction /piece of mind for the occasional bad weather or snowboard trip.

i'm also on the 1.5" spacer's and they made the OEM grabber atx's off a tremor look a size or two bigger (never a bad thing right?) plus, most of ford's stock wheels look good, all we need a little tire poke and its perfect.

 

[Steelerz1]

Yes I agree. My 2012 FX4 had the gray 6 spoke wheels that I loved and I put 1.5 spacers on and ran them for probably 8 years. Totally changed the stance/look. It was the first thing I did with the new one. I love these wheels too.

 

[S14suspense]

While I still think it's boring with the Michelin tires it isn't horrible. Glad I had it leveled 2.5 last week. Looks much better

I like it, they look pretty beefy.

 

[ttnuagmada]

I noticed that too. They're a little more jittery than the previous version. I still like them because they're quiet, get great mileage, and have good traction on wet roads, but they definitely don't absorb road imperfections quite as well.

I was trying to think of a good way to describe them, and "jittery" is pretty good. Almost like there's some sort of mild reverb or something. It's more noticeable at lower speeds on mine. I can feel it ever so slightly in the steering wheel too. The best way I can describe it is that they always feel like they're riding on pavement that's slightly rougher than it is. I don't know that I've ever gotten that "driving on glass" feel with them on a smooth road, and I definitely did on the last generation of defenders on my previous truck, and those had less sidewall (275/55/20 vs 275/60/20 on this one)

I'm admittedly more sensitive to this kind of thing that most people I think. I'm also not 100% sure it's not one of the tires being sub-par. I couldn't get the tire shop or the dealer to acknowledge anything though. One weekend I may just swap the spare around and see if there's any change. It's not something I'd probably even think too hard about except that I've had every generation of these tires going back 20+ years on multiple trucks, and something just seems off.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

They look good to me as well. To me tires are an expensive gamble. Until you shell out the $1k plus you won't know how they really perform. I like the defenders and if I did take them back and got the tires I think look great I would be screwed if the performance sucked.

well, it’s not really quite a gamble anymore. There are so many online web stores. It’s easy to get an idea on how a Tire performs and how people like them based on ratings.

tirerack is one in the reviews there pretty much fall in line with what I’ve seen in experience for quite a few years

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