Michelin LTX M/S 2 - Initial Thoughts (Now LTX Defender)

After much mental dilemma, review reading, advice inquiry, research, and mental math I've finally put a set of Michelin LTX M/S2's on my 2015 Tacoma. Toyota is offering a Buy 3 Get 1 for $1 tire event through April 2015. I'm using the stock SR5 16" rims. My tire size is now 265/70-16.

I've read many complaints about the OEM Dunlop Grandtrek AT20's that Toyota puts on the Tacomas. They seemed to ride just fine to me. The ride was smooth, comfortable, and quite honestly felt better than my old Toyota Camry did. Steering felt easy, road noise was low, blah blah.

People who loved the Michelin M/S 2 tires always said they were instantly better. They lasted forever (even saw claims of 90k - 100k miles on them), looked better, etc. I couldn't imagine how anyone could tell the difference in two tires so quickly. One guy said he only had 20 miles on his when he left his review.

So I've got maybe a couple dozen miles on these tires so far today. And I could tell as soon as I left the Toyota dealership something was different. I haven't measured but the truck "feels" taller. It just feels like it has a more solid foundation. The steering is very smooth and has little resistance - yet it somehow feels stiffer than the old Dunlops did.

At speeds ranging from 45mph to 75mph on the freeway the truck stays straighter. Driving my usual routes I'm already finding the truck doesn't "follow the road" so to speak. Bumps in the road no longer determine where the tires point themselves. Although I can feel the bumps in the road now. It's apparent these tires are much stiffer than the Dunlops. Those Dunlops apparently acted like shocks and absorbed the bumps.

When I pulled the Dunlops out of my pickup bed here at home I was shocked. The sidewalls on them are - flimsy. Seriously I've never handled a passenger car (even sedan) tires that had this much sidewall flex in them. Now I understand why people say they offloaded them so quickly on their Tacomas. Only drawback so far is that I think the Michelin's make more road noise. Going down the interstate at 75-80 I could hear them over my two 10" subs (though they weren't cranked up too loud). Though I will say the steering wheel didn't vibrate as much at 80mph as it did with the Dunlops. Come to think of it I don't think it vibrated at all with the Michelins.

Just topped off my fuel tank. Interested to see how my mileage changes.
Dunlop 245/75/16
Michelin 265/70/16

Comparison Photos

Dunlop Grandtrek AT20



Michelin LTX M/S 2



As you can see the removal of the balancing weights from my rims removed the Plastidip. Fixed that and it's curing as I type this.

Now to see if someone on Craiglist will take these Dunlops off my hands. Only have 2,837 miles on them!

 

Looks great, I am considering swapping to these as well. I may go with their new all-terrain model though. Lets us know how you end up liking them.

 

The Dunlops are fine in dry weather, but in snow and ice they are horrible. You purchased a much better tire that should last you many miles and get you through the nasty stuff with confidence. JMO.

 

Probably my next tire.

 

It's a great tire. You should also feel better acceleration response if you need to WOT the pedal. Better friction and little to no slip. Definitely worthy of their cost.

For winter driving, I'll admit I was a little cocky with these. it sure was nice not needing 4x4 on every snow covered road and highway.

 

The Michelin LTX A/T 2 was the other tire I was considering actually. My hardest choice was A/T 2 vs M/S 2. Almost all my driving will be paved roads so I didn't see the point in doing the A/T 2's. They might "look" slightly more aggressive but they aren't big knobby tires. So there's not much reason to go for the looks of the A/T 2 in my mind.

I've read lots of awesome reviews on both tires though. An electrician I know has the A/T 2's on his Tacoma DCLB and he likes them. Said they did fine this winter (granted we had a weak winter this season).

I went M/S 2 because they match my driving (mostly paved roads) and are said to handle snow better. Plus they have a higher expected mileage warranty.

 

Yeah we had a heavy (4-5") spring snow last week. I pulled over to yield to a firetruck. My Dunlop AT20's in the rear couldn't get me moving again. Had to use 4H to get enough traction to get moving. Rear end was slipping toward the roadside ditch otherwise. I was already considering the M/S2's at the time but decided then and there the Dunlops just had to go.

 

in my old truck i used to play the lets see how far i can get in 2wd up the windy ass, icy snowy mountain road to the ski resort game..... with MS2's on i almost never needed to use 4wd they are SURPRISING in snow and ice, and all around grip they are phenomenal.

If i didnt want a little more aggressive tire i would of gone with then on my taco... but i went with the hankook dynapro atm rf10's definietly not disapointed, but id bet the MS2's would still grip better on icy roads.

 

I went with the AT2's. Haven't put a lot of miles on them because I need an alignment, but they look good. Wanted to get away from LT's and go back to P rated. Will update when I get some miles on them.

 

Welcome to Club Responsible. When you get a chance to test them on wet roads you'll be shocked. rear end will all of a sudden have traction.

I love my MS2's and recommend them to anyone who doesn't play in heavy sticky mud all the time. I find they are even good off road because they bite so well on rock, both wet and dry.

 

MS2's are great. I have gotten 90K out of them. Much better in the rain and snow. I don't get off road much but the times that I do they perform well.

 

Best road tire I've ever ran. You got 70,00 miles to find some17" rims,and always put those unsightly weights on the inside.

 

Good choice in tires. I used to work in automotive and tire sales through college, Michelin's were always very well liked.

Btw, OEM is Dunlop? my Tacoma came with Bridgestone tires, only other thing I saw was the 4x4's at the dealership had BFG's

 

Sport and SR5 come with Bridgestone or Dunlop. OffRoad come with the BFG's.

 

In all fairness comparing Michelin to Dunlop is like comparing Kate Upton to Roseanne Barr. I have the MS2s and love 'em. You won't be disappointed.

 

These tires are so good that, when on packed-snow surfaces, you can do slow controlled drifts just by feathering the throttle. As soon as you let off the throttle on that surfaces, the truck returns to straight.

Separately - For the stock tires, not that it matters to me any more, but I suspect that Toyota (or the tire manufacturer per Toyota's request) temperature-conditions (ie. bakes) the tires at hot temperature for a period of time to pre-maturely harden them up. Harder tire has less friction and yields better gas mileage. My truck was flat out dangerous on snow when new with the BF Rugged Trails, with lots of fresh tread depth. The treads had cracking only after 2-3 years of ownership. I can't imagine a manufacturer would knowingly sell tires that performed that poorly...usually the reputable manufacturers (like BF) discontinue, then revise the tire model to fix previous problems.

 

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...just wait till you hit standing water on highway around 75 mph with those LTX's

you'll wonder why they are not federal mandatory equipment on all trucks and suv's

 

This. Had 2 sets on my old GMC. Anything paved = great traction. Just don't expect much help getting up a muddy hillside.

 

This will be my next tire. I'm rocking Duratracs right now and am pleased with everything except slight steering wheel vibes at highway speeds.

 

Remember that the circumference of your new tires is about 5% larger than your old tires. Whatever your gas mileage calculates out to be, multiply by 105% to compensate for error in odometer.