Michelin XLT/AS vs Defender LTX MS?
- Thread starter Gebo
- Start date
I take it you've seen the Tirerack reviews?
I've had no experience with XLT/AS, but I've used the Defender LTX MS on my Tundra. They are really good tires, and I find both the dry and wet traction to be very good.
So are you saying you literately get no traction whatsoever on wet pavement with Michelin Defender LTX MS tires? That's an amazing statement. They are rated at 95% vs best in the category with over 11 million miles reported on Tire Rack.
I have a set on my Colorado and they are amazing. The sipes run the entire depth of the tread and for me the traction is the best I've experienced from any tire.
I did come across this on the web for what it's worth.
I called Michelin Customer Service (866-866-6605) and was told
Michelin XLT Defender M/S =Costco Michelin X LT A/S
They are the same tire, just different marketing since the A/S is a club only tire...
Even the Michelin site lists it as a "club" tire, what ever that means.
MICHELIN®
X® LT A/S
This tire is currently unavailable for sale online. Please visit your closest dealer to purchase this tire.
I called Michelin Customer Service (866-866-6605) and was told
Michelin XLT Defender M/S =Costco Michelin X LT A/S
They are the same tire, just different marketing since the A/S is a club only tire...
Even the Michelin site lists it as a "club" tire, what ever that means.
MICHELIN®
X® LT A/S
This tire is currently unavailable for sale online. Please visit your closest dealer to purchase this tire.
- Ultimate Treadlife
- All-Season Safety
- Eco-friendly
- Club Exclusive
- Mileage warranty: 70,000 miles. See warranty for details.
- Standard Limited Warranty: 6 years
There must be more to this story.
I just put 4 new XLT/AS on my Tundra at Costco.
Great tire. Ran up to Vermont, and back down through NYC. 2,000 mile trip. Smooth quiet ride, excellent traction in very heavy rain, and my MPG was noticeably improved.
Also, Costco did a good job installing them. Balanced them properly, then snugged bolts with a torque stick and did final torque by hand. I was honestly impressed and plan to buy from Costco again.
Great tire. Ran up to Vermont, and back down through NYC. 2,000 mile trip. Smooth quiet ride, excellent traction in very heavy rain, and my MPG was noticeably improved.
Also, Costco did a good job installing them. Balanced them properly, then snugged bolts with a torque stick and did final torque by hand. I was honestly impressed and plan to buy from Costco again.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Sweet Jesus, do you have a notification set for LTX so that this can be shared every time a thread comes up? This gets posted in EVERY LTX thread. Every. Single. Thread.
BTW, curious what changed between this post by you in 2008:
mrsilv04 said:
Michelin LTX M/S
I'm looking at new tires for my 2005 F-150 2wd and I think I've settled on the LTX M/S in P265/70-17. Mostly highway service, I don't do heavy towing, and no snow or ice to be found around here. I've read reports of these tires lasting 70-100k miles on full sized trucks. I've read glowing...
www.bobistheoilguy.com
This post by you in 2010:
mrsilv04 said:
Michelin or Uniroyal?
Help me decide: For my wife's '08 Highlander...Michelin Cross Terrain $900 OTD or Uniroyal Laredo Cross Country $480 OTD. Both include lifetime balancing and rotation. I love Michelins and generally get screwed when I try to cheap out, but almost half-price for the Uniroyals is tempting. Anyone...
www.bobistheoilguy.com
This post by you in 2013:
mrsilv04 said:
Michelin Dry Rot Problems
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about Michelin's dry rot problems? Did they clear the issue up? Anyone experience it? Thinking about getting a set of Michelins soon...
www.bobistheoilguy.com
To you in 2014 where the tires would have been seven years old:
mrsilv04 said:
MOTOMASTER TIRES
I bought 4 used MotoMaster Total Terrain A/P truck tires for my Dakota and it has 9,320 miles on them.I know Cooper tire makes them and just thinking how many of you used them and how they wear and ride in the winter etc...the truck is a 4x4
www.bobistheoilguy.com
Which has now morphed into this:
mrsilv04 said:
It's apparently been what, seven years since owning them, and you are now even more jaded than you were in 2014? Despite giving them glowing reviews from their 2007 install date through 2013.
In comparison, between my father and myself we've owned at least 5 sets of LTX's now ranging from the original LTX to the M/S2. LTX's will be what get put on my wife's truck when the OE Goodyear hockey pucks are done. Unlike your situation, our opinion didn't dramatically do a 180 after 7 years of ownership
Addendum:
If the tires were installed in 2007 and by 2014, which is when I assume you took them off, 7 years had passed and they were only half worn and you were happy with them for 6 of those 7 years, do you not think it possible that the tires simply degraded due to a lack of use over such a substantial duration? Seems far more likely than them simply being garbage when your own words prior to whatever transpired in 2014 clearly don't support that being the case.
Last edited:
I saw the XLT AS at Costco, tread looked similar to the Defender LTX MS.
I got rid of my Bridgestone Dueler Sports on the Pilot and replaced with Defender LTX M/S (from Costco), I only saw the XLT AS at Sam's, BJ's also had the Defender. All driving conditions so far, heavy rain, dry, highway are much better with the Defender LTX M/S. For the wife to comment that she likes it better and a noticeable improvement says a lot.
Zero? Were the tires bald?
I have the XLT A/S tires from Sam's Club. They are the identical tire to the Defender LTX M/S tire. It even has the same Michelin part number on their site though the number escapes me at the moment. Identical tires other than the writing on the sidewall. Fascinating market psychology. Both clubs also sell the identical Defender LTX M/S in their stores, but for more money.
Yes I have actual experience with both. They are the identical tires, except for the writing on the sidewall. I also own both, on different vehicles that I own.
Sweet Jesus, do you have a notification set for LTX so that this can be shared every time a thread comes up? This gets posted in EVERY LTX thread. Every. Single. Thread.
BTW, curious what changed between this post by you in 2008:
Michelin LTX M/S
I'm looking at new tires for my 2005 F-150 2wd and I think I've settled on the LTX M/S in P265/70-17. Mostly highway service, I don't do heavy towing, and no snow or ice to be found around here. I've read reports of these tires lasting 70-100k miles on full sized trucks. I've read glowing...www.bobistheoilguy.com
This post by you in 2010:
Michelin or Uniroyal?
Help me decide: For my wife's '08 Highlander...Michelin Cross Terrain $900 OTD or Uniroyal Laredo Cross Country $480 OTD. Both include lifetime balancing and rotation. I love Michelins and generally get screwed when I try to cheap out, but almost half-price for the Uniroyals is tempting. Anyone...www.bobistheoilguy.com
This post by you in 2013:
Michelin Dry Rot Problems
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about Michelin's dry rot problems? Did they clear the issue up? Anyone experience it? Thinking about getting a set of Michelins soon...www.bobistheoilguy.com
To you in 2014 where the tires would have been seven years old:
MOTOMASTER TIRES
I bought 4 used MotoMaster Total Terrain A/P truck tires for my Dakota and it has 9,320 miles on them.I know Cooper tire makes them and just thinking how many of you used them and how they wear and ride in the winter etc...the truck is a 4x4www.bobistheoilguy.com
Which has now morphed into this:
It's apparently been what, seven years since owning them, and you are now even more jaded than you were in 2014? Despite giving them glowing reviews from their 2007 install date through 2013.
In comparison, between my father and myself we've owned at least 5 sets of LTX's now ranging from the original LTX to the M/S2. LTX's will be what get put on my wife's truck when the OE Goodyear hockey pucks are done. Unlike your situation, our opinion didn't dramatically do a 180 after 7 years of ownership
Addendum:
If the tires were installed in 2007 and by 2014, which is when I assume you took them off, 7 years had passed and they were only half worn and you were happy with them for 6 of those 7 years, do you not think it possible that the tires simply degraded due to a lack of use over such a substantial duration? Seems far more likely than them simply being garbage when your own words prior to whatever transpired in 2014 clearly don't support that being the case.
Savage.
As mentioned previously, i believe they are the same tire.
I run the Defender LTX MS on my 2011 tacoma. Love them. Excellent wet and dry traction. They also do just fine for my mild off road and snow adventures in the sierras.