Michelin Defender LTX Tires

[RossM]

How are the Michelin Defenders LTX? Have a 2024 Yukon Denali w/ air ride, not impressed with the alenzas anymore. Had alenzas on my 07 tahoe and the 2017 Denali but the new alenzas aren't that great. How are the defenders for wear, noise, wet traction?

 

[West 1]

I have had several sets of the LTX tires, been very happy with all. Quiet, they offer good traction in snow, last a long time. I have tried a few brands but these became my go to tire.

I currently have a set of Firestone Pursuit Highway patrol radials on my 08 Denali, only because I got all 4 tires brand new for $500 so I tried them. I have to say these are very smooth riding and quiet but I have yet to test them in snow or ice. These are normally over $300 per tire because they have a high speed rating for highway patrol use. I only have about 4,000 miles on them but so far so good I am surprised how satisfied I am with them. If the Firestones were full price I certainly would have bought the LTX again.

 

[swathdiver]

They've been fantastic in the rain and off-road on my 2009 Yukon XL. Quiet, smooth ride and tough. No punctures in 4 years whereas the old KO2s had 4 punctures in 4 years.

Heading into their 5th year now with fifty-six thousand miles on them at 6/32nds tread depth. The sun will rot them out before the mileage wears them out.

 

[Blueinterceptor]

I put them on my Tahoes etc before the leave the dealership lot

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I had the LTX 305/50x20 tires on my 07 Yukon XL Denali, and I loved them. Quiet, beat any winter weather NH could throw at them, great handling for a truck, and after 35K miles, they were less than 1/2 worn.

Then, I did something stupid and crashed into a stone wall and blew out the sidewall on one of them. So, now I have the LTX2 tires in the same size, and they seem to be just as good. I am concerned that the Traction rating on the LTX2 are B, while the Traction rating on the LTX were A. A small sample size for driving distances, so far, so my opinion may change in the warm/hot weather, but I don't think it will.

 

[tuckerrnr1]

Had them on my 2010 and now my 2016 Suburban's. They are my go to tire as well. Smooth ride, great handling, low noise. You wouldn't think it would be hard to make a tire round but other companies seem to struggle with it.

 

[swathdiver]

I had the LTX 305/50x20 tires on my 07 Yukon XL Denali, and I loved them. Quiet, beat any winter weather NH could throw at them, great handling for a truck, and after 35K miles, they were less than 1/2 worn.

Then, I did something stupid and crashed into a stone wall and blew out the sidewall on one of them. So, now I have the LTX2 tires in the same size, and they seem to be just as good. I am concerned that the Traction rating on the LTX2 are B, while the Traction rating on the LTX were A. A small sample size for driving distances, so far, so my opinion may change in the warm/hot weather, but I don't think it will.

I read last year that the Traction rating is a holdover benefit from the days before vehicles had ABS brakes. The authors of the articles stated that it is not so important now that we have anti-lock brakes.

My Defenders (P265/70R17) and (P265/65R18) have been replaced with a new style Defender that is an XL tire that are also Traction B instead of A. My plan is to get a new set sometime this year.

 

[KMeloney]

Imagining I'll need new tires soon, I'll be looking first and foremost at Defenders. Now, is there an LTX version, and a non-LTX version? If so, what are the appreciable differences between them?

 

[West 1]

I had a pair of the LTX AT2 on my 2003 Yukon, there were a little noisier on the highway and picked up more rocks on gravel roads but did seem to handle well. I would stick with the std LTX if I bought again just for the slightly smoother ride and quiet. The AT2 may have been better on snow and ice but I really never had a chance to test that. Sold the Yukon, tires only had about 10,000 miles so I can't say how long they might have lasted. The LTX AT2 did look good on the Yukon, more aggressive looking if that is your goal.

 

[swathdiver]

Imagining I'll need new tires soon, I'll be looking first and foremost at Defenders. Now, is there an LTX version, and a non-LTX version? If so, what are the appreciable differences between them?

The Defender LTX is all I'm aware of. Well, there is a Primacy LTX too.

What size are you looking at and did you see them currently on Michelin's website?

 

[KMeloney]

The Defender LTX is all I'm aware of. Well, there is a Primacy LTX too.

What size are you looking at and did you see them currently on Michelin's website?

Thanks. No, haven't checked them out on a tire site or anything yet -- I just keep seeing Defenders mentioned here as great tires, and so I'm trying to learn more about them (and which are most appropriate for our trucks).

When it comes time, I'll probably just replace my stock 22" tires with the same size. Probably.

 

[Capt Ed]

I just had a set of Defender LTX M/S installed two months ago. They're very quiet, track well, and steering response is great.

Last weekend we got 5-7" of ice, sleet, and snow followed by a deep freeze. Our streets are very hilly and the VDOT snow plow couldn't get to us for 4 days.

I put the drive selector in automatic 4 wheel drive and these tires performed flawlessly.

 

[tsuintx]

Had the Defenders on my wife's old 2017 Suburban we just traded in for the 2021. They were great for the two years and around 15K miles we had them on.

The 2021 needed tires and the Defenders were on my short list for that one, too, but I just didn't think they were worth the extra $400 over the BFGs I just had installed on it a couple of days ago.

 

[Blueinterceptor]

Which bfg’s did you put on?

 

[JayceeP]

The defenders ride like butter and wear like iron.

Would not recommend for snow/ice. That’s what Blizzak DM-V2’s or Michelin x-ice Xi2’s are for.

 

[mjgirard]

I have had 3 sets of Michelin Defenders LTX on my 2001 Tahoe that I have owned for 24 years. The only reason I have had 3 sets was due to the age not mileage. I know the Michelins are a little more expensive but they last a long time. I even run the Defenders on my daily driver which is a 1996 Jeep Cherokee, I joked with the Discount Tire guys that the tires are probably worth more than the Jeep.

 

[tsuintx]

Which bfg’s did you put on?

275/60-20 BFG Advantage Control HT from Costco.

https://tires.costco.com/Product?ItemNo=1949104&tirename=bfgoodrich-advantage-control-ht&partno=57280&width=275&aspect=60&rim=20

 

[adventurenali92]

I ran two sets of Michelin LTX A/T2s, one set on my factory 17s and another set a size taller than stock for 20s and loved both sets. Only reason I went to defender LTXs, the first time was because I couldn’t get the A/Ts as they were out of stock everywhere. I’m now on my second set of defenders and they’ve both been fantastic. First set was standard defender LTXs in a 275/60/R20, and they’ve both lasted way longer than any tire I’ve had. Mountain living eats through tires ridiculously fast. Second set of defenders now in the XL load range, and they’ve been just as good. I’m surprised they’re as grippy as they are in the snow. I had my original set on when we got 10 feet of snow in just 10 days here in big bear lake back in February of 2023, which was record shattering for us and the defenders trucked through all that snow with no issues whatsoever.

 

[Stbentoak]

Defenders are the only other choice when you have 24's. Albeit a very solid choice. I would never put the Alenza's on again....

 

[KMeloney]

The defenders ride like butter and wear like iron.

Would not recommend for snow/ice. That’s what Blizzak DM-V2’s or Michelin x-ice Xi2’s are for.

Are those the "previous" model? There's a newer model (where the tread pattern wraps more around the shoulder into the sidewall), yes? Did you have the option of the newer model when you put those on your truck? I'm wondering what the differences are between the two.