Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2023 Rating: Simply Excellent - Tire Info (2023)

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Dry

95%

Nat

95%

Snow

90%

Comfort

95%

Open

95%

(Video) Best Quiet Tire In 2023 - Top 10 Quiet Tires Review

Wearing soles

95%

in general

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94%

Modern trucks, crossovers and SUVs are much more powerful than before. In addition, they have a higher load capacity and much better dynamics on the road. In addition, drivers now drive faster with their large vehicles. All these forces, of course, create much greater pressure on the tires.

In the past, trucks and SUVs were quite slow and drivers never pushed them too hard in corners. For this reason, truck and SUV tires are primarily designed to be durable and suitable for towing and towing. Today, however, these tires won't cut the mustard.

Introducing the Michelin Defender LTX, the most capable all-season highway tire for drivers of every tall vehicle imaginable. All trucks, small and large SUVs and even most crossovers can benefit from the properties of this tire.

I don't usually say how good a product is in the introduction, but with the Defender LTX it's different. First of all, Michelin makes this tire and every experience I've had with their products has been positive. Therefore, even before mounting the tires, I doubt that they will meet high standards.

The Defender LTX M/S is the successor to the Michelin LTX M/S2, which was already very popular with North American truck drivers. According to Michelin, the new model aims to improve performance on all fronts.

It starts, of course, with the driving dynamics, which should be better on any surface, including dry, wet and snowy roads. In addition, Michelin claims that the new model has 10% better tread life when used in harsh conditions, such as driving on hard surfaces (gravel and mud).

Michelin offers a new all-season road tire in 45 popular sizes, from 15 inches to 22 inches. As far as I can tell, the company by size includes all the most popular SUVs and trucks produced in the last two decades, and the most popular crossovers produced in the last decade.

More importantly, the range includes both Euro-metric and LT-metric sizes. The former is more suitable for lighter crossovers and SUVs, while the latter is designed for demanding applications. Michelin even offers variants of the E load range for those towing very large trailers or heavy loads.

Which naturally leads us to the question - whetherMichelin Defender LTXIs M/S worth it? Like most tires from the French manufacturer, this one is expensive. In fact, it's the most expensive highway tire you can buy today.

To answer that question, you need to read on to find out. In this Michelin Defender LTX M/S review, I will talk about the on-road dynamics on different surfaces, comfort level, tread life and tread wear warranty, and off-road grip.

But before we do that, let's take a look at what features make the Defender LTX so good.

What are the characteristics of Michelin Defender LTX M/S tires?

“Our best just got even better. The MICHELIN® Defender® LTX® M/S combines the proven tread design of the LTX® M/S2 tire with the Evertread™ compound to provide a long-lasting all-season tread.

In addition, the company boasts the longest tread life, year-round safety, environmental certifications and a long lifetime warranty.

To achieve these goals, the company used the Michelin Total Performance package. This package means that engineers are focused on all aspects of the tire during development. Other companies may claim to have focused on wet grip or tread life - Michelin focuses on everything.

This allows Defender LTX to deliver targeted features and benefits in each area without compromising other areas. In addition, the Total Performance package ensures that the tire provides high performance even when worn.

Part of the Total Performance package is the Evertread compound, which lasts longer in tougher conditions. The compound is shaped into a symmetrical tread pattern with stable, independent tread blocks and high-density active 3D sipes.

The tread pattern is specially designed to provide riders with year-round grip, including handling and braking in both dry and wet conditions. In addition, four wide circumferential grooves, numerous side grooves and open shoulder blocks ensure water evacuation and better resistance to aquaplaning.

Michelin also used the MaxTouch design in the sidewall to increase the contact area and improve overall handling, stability and braking on a variety of surfaces. The internal structure with double steel belts improves stability as well as strength and durability.

However, the Defender LTX is not marked with the 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) symbol. This does not mean that the tire is not suitable for driving in various winter conditions - the tire is simply not tested to receive this symbol.

What are the maintenance indicators?

Like most all-season road tires, the Defender LTX M/S is equipped with traditional wear indicators (TWI).

These indicators show how much tread is left and inform the driver about the behavior of the tire on wet roads. TWIs are narrow rubber bars placed in the circumferential grooves of the tire.

These indicators are very important for safety - worn tires are much less resistant to driving on slippery surfaces. The manufacturer's recommended minimum tread depth for the Defender LTX is 2/32 inch or 1.6 mm.

When the tire wears to this extent, the TWI will be completely flush with the road surface. In this case, replace the tire immediately. Otherwise, you risk driving with tires that no longer work well during rainy days.

Fortunately, the Defender LTX is one of the most durable all-season highway tires. In addition, thanks to the Evertread compound, the tire maintains its excellent wet performance for longer compared to other products.

Michelin offers a 70,000-mile tread wear warranty on T and -H models and an 80,000-mile tread wear warranty on R-speed models.

How does it behave on dry asphalt?

All in all, the Defender LTX is arguably the best all-season highway tire for dry road performance. In addition, the tire performs well with or without heavy loads.

And the performance of this tire can be felt even after a few kilometers of driving. Response is excellent for an all-season tire and steering feel is excellent.

In addition, the Defender LTX offers safe and reliable traction, excellent cornering grip and exceptional stability at high speeds. Even with a heavy load, the braking distance is very short.

How is it on wet and slippery roads?

The Defender LTX continues to impress in the wet. The tire's resistance to aquaplaning is simply first-class - even very large and deep puddles do not interfere with stability.

In addition, thanks to the advanced Evertread compound, the tire performs well on wet surfaces. The traction is excellent, the cornering grip is reliable, and the braking distance is very short.

In short, Michelin once again shows who rules the rubber industry - the Defender LTX is perfect for rainy days.

Also, what's it like on the snowy roads?

Being an all-season tire, it's normal for drivers to expect the Defender LTX to perform well on snow. However, keep in mind that all-season tires are not designed for very extreme winter conditions - a winter tire performs much, much better.

Still, the Defender LTX is one of the better all-season highway tires for light snow. The handling is reliable enough, and the braking distance is not too long. However, some 3PMSF rated tires offer even better snow grip.

Is it suitable for off-road driving?

The Defender LTX isn't designed for off-road use per se, but Michelin did use some features to help riders navigate hard surfaces like gravel and dirt.

The level of grip will certainly not be at the level of an off-road tire, but the solid carcass of the tire should withstand cuts and fragments of small stones. So yes, you can drive off-road, but be moderate.

Is it comfortable and sophisticated?

Michelin is a step ahead of most competitors in terms of ride quality and quietness, which is evident in the Defender LTX. Regardless of the type of road, the tire is one of the quietest I've heard, if not the quietest in its category. Ride quality is excellent, even on metric LT models, which have stiffer sidewalls.

You can see more Michelin Defender LTX M/S reviews here: Video made of anything and everything

Should I buy a Michelin Defender LTX M/S?

If you don't mind the higher price, the Defender LTX is the best buy in the crowded all-season highway tire sector. This tire does everything you ask of it and more.

In terms of performance, the Defender LTX beats the competition on both dry and wet surfaces. The comfort level is also very high, the tread life is excellent and you can rely on these tires even when transporting very heavy loads. In addition, the durable casing allows the tire to be used on uneven, paved surfaces.

So yeah, I think you should get the Michelin Defender LTX M/S. I really highly recommend it!