Which Michelins?

[08HoeCD]

I'm close to done with the mediocre-at-best Goodyear LS2s on my '08 Tahoe LT3 with factory 20s (275/55-20 tires). I'm planning to go with new tires when I get my year-end bonus, and I've read nothing but great things about Michelins. Come to think of it, I loved a set when I had them on our old 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. But which ones to go with?

My driving style & needs:
-Drive under 10K miles per year, mostly within a 30-mile radius
-Do various roadtrips 3-5 times per year, mostly within 400 miles for roundtrip
-Do not go off-road beyond parking in grassy areas during daughter's soccer tournaments
-Live in temperate climate and rarely see more than 4-6" of snow at any given time in winter

Which Michelins would you recommend?

 

[iLikeEggs]

LTX Defenders. Well worth the price.

 

[sumo]

I like michelins but around here they dry rot and side wall crack like crazy

 

[sk1dm4rk]

I agree with sumo. I bought a set at Samsclub for my Envoy XL and they look so bad that I am just waiting for a blowout. That said, I bought another set quite a few years ago for my Z-28 and they were the greatest thing since sliced bread.

So, I am torn. Is it the typical quality issue that tends to spring up over the years of the manufacturer finding ways to make more money on them or is it an issue where the manufacturer is making them at a price point that the warehouse club dictates and this is what you get?

I honestly don't know where I will be buying tires in the future.

Good luck with your choice.

Regards,

Mark

 

[08HoeCD]

I've heard the complaint about dry-rotting and/or sidewall cracks on Michelins but do not know if those issues are confined to any particular model of Michelins. At the same time, many people rave about the ride/handling/longevity of the Michelin brand. I had great experience with the tires that I ran but that was roughly 6 years ago (on my Jeep, now long gone) and I don't recall the model, but they wore like iron.

I believe that products marketed & sold through warehouse club retailers MAY be of lower quality in order to meet price-point or margin objectives.

 

[sumo]

I've heard the complaint about dry-rotting and/or sidewall cracks on Michelins but do not know if those issues are confined to any particular model of Michelins. At the same time, many people rave about the ride/handling/longevity of the Michelin brand. I had great experience with the tires that I ran but that was roughly 6 years ago (on my Jeep, now long gone) and I don't recall the model, but they wore like iron.

I believe that products marketed & sold through warehouse club retailers MAY be of lower quality in order to meet price-point or margin objectives.

I'm sure not all of them do it but here is an example of a car i worked on today. Great tread but really bad side wall cracking. Measured 6/32

 

[08HoeCD]

Wow. That's really bad-----that sidewall looks like it's been on an old car from a barn find.

 

[sumo]

Yea and that not be worse one I can remember. One was really bad, you can see down to the cords on the sidewalls

 

[sumo]

Few more Michelin. These are the pilots mxv4. Separating tread meets sidewall. Tires measured 6/32

 

[08HoeCD]

Pretty bad.

 

[FrankU]

Mich used to be the best tire around , bar none. But then again that was a long time ago.

 

[iLikeEggs]

I like michelins but around here they dry rot and side wall crack like crazy

I never had any Michelin that dry rotted. Drywalls can crack though when when vehicle sits for a loooong time. If they did crack and are still within warranty, Michelin would probably replace them. However, the rubber covering the side wall part of the tire is only a cosmetic skin and not structural.
Any tire can have cracked appearances on the side wall.

 

[iLikeEggs]

Few more Michelin. These are the pilots mxv4. Separating tread meets sidewall. Tires measured 6/32

View attachment 67597

View attachment 67598

View attachment 67599

That appears to be a tread separation. Take it in to a Michelin dealer.

 

[iLikeEggs]

I've heard the complaint about dry-rotting and/or sidewall cracks on Michelins but do not know if those issues are confined to any particular model of Michelins. At the same time, many people rave about the ride/handling/longevity of the Michelin brand. I had great experience with the tires that I ran but that was roughly 6 years ago (on my Jeep, now long gone) and I don't recall the model, but they wore like iron.

I believe that products marketed & sold through warehouse club retailers MAY be of lower quality in order to meet price-point or margin objectives.

No true. If it's a brand name tire the brand has to stick behind it. However, the mileage warranty on pretty much all tires are arbitrary and more marketing than a reflection of the actual mileage that a particular tire can last. Mileage warranties are smoke an mirrors. It is feel good thing. Buy a tir based on load, tread wear, traction and temperature ratings.

 

[sumo]

That appears to be a tread separation. Take it in to a Michelin dealer.

I work for a dealer and these are oem equipped tires. There are a lot of run arounds that the customer and dealers have to go through and most the time it's not worth the effort. 90% of the time customers end up going with another brand due to the cost. For example 1 17 mich 91v rated can cost 179 per tire where customer would rather spend the money for the cost of 2 michelins and get 4 tires with an alignment.

I did 4 Michelin pax tires and a alignment for a customer and the bill was over $1000. And they only went about 30k miles on them. Talk about crazy

 

[mike1944]

Baloney. I have Michelin LTX M/S2's on my Denali and they are great tires.

If they were all cracking and falling apart they wouldn't be so highly rated on Tirerack and other sites....and Michelin would be out of business.

 

[sumo]

Like i said. Not all do it. Also take into consideration area location. I live in New England.

 

[08HoeCD]

I'm sure it's not all Michelins, and I'm sure the overall brand includes great tires. But I've heard from a number of members on here and on other forums who have experienced cracking sidewalls. These are not made-up stories. I just wonder what circumstances cause it and/or if there are certain tire models where it is more prevalent.

 

[Ciro]

I would like to see the manufacturing code of those Michelins with cracked sidewalls.

 

[iLikeEggs]

I would like to see the manufacturing code of those Michelins with cracked sidewalls.

There could also be recall from Michelin. He could inquire at Michelin customer service. They will need the tire size, model and DOT numbers stamped into the tires. I used to be be Michelin dealer. I've seen Michelin give pro rated adjustments for things as small as side wall cracking. Sometimes they will request the tire, likely so if it's a case of tread separation. However if they determined, that the tire was over heated from doing burn outs he won't get zip. Other things that will void the warranty (like with most manufacturers) are wear and damage caused by misalignment, worn suspension components, bent rims and impacts. As always, your mileage may vary.