Michelin LTX A/T2 or LTX M/S2

Any "progress" on your decision? Ive ruled out the AT's. I am Leaning toward the Defender but still not sure of size 265/70 vs 75.

For what it's worth, I see on tire rack that the Defender 265-70's are listed as "Michelin Total Performance". The 265-75 does not have that label. Michelin total performance is defined as "Low rolling resistance tire technology". Some of the Defender sizes have it and some do not. This doesn't appear to be related to SL vs LT versions.

I've also noticed none of the standard load Defenders are labeled "P" (they're not labeled "P" on the Costco site either). But the MS2 standard loads are prefaced with "P" on both tire rack and Costco.

One last thing- notice that the measured rim width is a half inch larger on the Defender 265-70 (vs the 265-75). Can someone explain the effect this would have? Is it still possible to mount either tire on my stock rims with one being 7.5" and the other being 8"?

 

I have the ship notice for the AT's. Being Costco I can change my mind last minute. No problems. I'll roll them up next to the MS. I KNOW what a good MS can do. I have some. And 90k? That would take me forever, I'd buy new tires at my mental time limit. I don't even think I would have this truck that many miles away.

I'm not gonna overthink it. The MS tread pattern looks just like my current Michelin.

 

Here are the requested pics of my new Defender LTX M/S tires. They are the P version, even though there is nothing on the tire to indicate this. They just say 265/70R16. I called Michelin, and they verified that this is the way they are, and that the LT version will say LT on the tire size. Btw, she also said they have a "club version" of this tire for places like Costco, Sams, etc.

Left Front


Left Rear


Truck Side View

 

Ohh those are good questions, I wonder if it was a misprint on Tire Racks part. I just use the little will this tire fit thing and go with it.

I'm pretty sure that I'll be going with a Defender MS and that I'll the LT version given my desire to take it off the pavement, otherwise I'd totally do the Defender MS P rated without a second thought.

Those looks nice....you liking how they drive/feel?
I too have a MGM DCSB and have always wondered what the white walls out would look like. I think I like them better white walls out...breaks things up a little..adds character.

 

Yeah, I'm a white lettering out kind of guy also, lol. They definitely ride good. I've only been up to 60 mph so far, so I still need to hit the freeway for some higher speeds. Really like the looks more than I thought I would, and the wife does too (we know that's important, don't we ).

 

Hey, thanks a ton for posting the photos! Exactly what I was hoping to see! That extra inch in the section width is really apparent compared to my current 245 MS2's. Much better looking tire size in comparison.

 

I believe the X-radial was/is the Costco version of the MS2. That might be the tire she was referring to, although I think it just comes in an LT E-rated version (probably "too much tire" on a Tacoma for a lot of people).

Considering the Defender is replacing (and similar to) the MS2, but all sizes aren't available yet, and the X-radial being the club version of the MS2, this could get confusing to an uninformed Costco consumer. In this case, it probably doesn't matter much, as I'm certain they're all great tires.

 

I think you are right. Costco told me the same thing

 

Here are some photos I took today comparing the different Michelin tire sizes (265/70 vs 245/75 vs 265/75).

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...65-70-16-photos-michelin-ms2-x-radial.404273/

 

If you ever feel like doing a 265/65/17 vs a 265/70/17 I'm all ears, errrrr....eyes.

 

I have ran Michelin LTX M/S and LTX M/S2 tires for the last twenty years and 350,000 miles. I have gotten 90,000-110,000 miles from each set. They are as good as Michelin claims them to be under all types of conditions. You will not regret purchasing Michelin.

 

wanted to close my portion of the thread.

i got the AT2 on my truck. went with the stock 265-70-16 size. i had the Michelin X-radials mud-snow tires before. oddly enough my work truck has the MX2 tires..so i have them all. haha

first the X-radial is still available at Costco. they had a display set right next to a display set of MS-2. so i dont think the two tires are the same beast. side by side, they look different (but similar for sure). my work MS2 are super silent. on a 2wd, so there are differences.

my new AT2 are a bit louder. just a slight hum. they were also bumpier, but i went and checked psi and every tire was about 3lbs heavy..i took out a bit of air and it might help, but did this last night and didnt drive much afterwards. i like to run my tires just a couple lbs more than what the door decal says. mpg, too soon to tell, but it seems the same. i'll do a long distance hog hunt this weekend and will burn some gas. i'll do the math then.

no offroading yet. i dont expect problems at my level of offroading. and i ran the white letters out for a change. jury is still out, but my wife likes it.

 

The X-radial is only available in an LT (no P rated X-radial available). So, the X-radials will be heavier. A majority of drivers will probably want to chose an MS2/Defender over the X-radial.

 

You know, i got to thinking about this- And I think the results with 17's would be about the same overall diameters- the only difference being that the hole in the middle would be 1" bigger on the 17's (smaller sidewalls but same diameters in comparison to 16's). But I'm a guy that would like to see the real thing before making a decision, as well

I do know that a 265-75-16 is the same overall diameter as a 265-70-17. And a 265-70-16 is the same as a 265-65-17.

Whew. Gotta watch out for type-o's here.

 

A note about speedo/odo (on stock tire size):

My 2014 speedometer is 2-3mph fast (at 75mph on GPS, my speedo says 77/78mph). I hear everyone on the forum talk about how the speedo reads about 2-3mph fast from the factory, but the odometer is right on. Well, i clocked my odometer today and it is also running fast. When my odometer read 100 miles, I had only traveled 98 miles according to GPS and mile markers.

So, don't just assume that what everybody says is actually the case. Looks to me like both the speedo and odo will be right on for me with a 1" larger tire.

 

This sounds great!!!! I really need to check my own out. I went by Costco today to look at the tires and "feel" them up so to speak. The dude at the front desk said it wouldn't be a problem for them to put on the 265/70/17's so I'm a happy camper was a little worried they might give me a hard time. Said January they are going on sale again.....gonna wait till January!

 

The guy told me December 28 is the next $70 off deal at Costco.

 

I was in Alabama......dec 28 was too hard to say so he just said January

 

just drove over the pass in a snowstorm.

AT2's performed great. no surprises, and plenty of traction if i did my part and drove casual. cant tell if i took a hit in MPG with the slightly more aggressive tread pattern since i had to do the entire climb thru the mountains in 4hi. there were a couple huge jacked up 4x4 fords spun out into the snow banks.. Caltrans was hooking up to them when i drove by.

lady in a jeep cherokee, i assume 2wd, since she had chains on the rears spun across traffic and hit my friends. opps.

AT2 are definitely louder than my previous X-radials.

 

Hey, MS2-crew... I just upgraded to 265-70-16's from 245's. And this time I went with the new Defender M/S. Pics tomorrow.

For those that run 265-70-16's, What pressures are you running?