If you have Michelin Defender LTX Tires...

[ember1205]

The $70 off is a rebate from Michelin, and it's on right now. The install for a penny is not being offered anywhere that I can find.

 

I'm going to have Town Fair do it since their price on the tire lines up pretty well with the competition and I'll get an alignment done for cheap. I always look at the final price out the door when all is said and done.

[bndawgs]

5 minutes ago, Donstar said:

My 2016 and 2017 Consumer Reports ranked Defender and the LTX MS2 it replaced number 1.  Did it change for 2018?

They must have. I just got the 2018 Buying Guide.  

[MaverickZ71]

1 hour ago, Donstar said:

My 2016 and 2017 Consumer Reports ranked Defender and the LTX MS2 it replaced number 1.  Did it change for 2018?

After very carefully examining their new rankings, I am becoming dubious of CR's methodology.  For example, the Hankook AT-M was top ranked before, and now is halfway down their list and it says the ride or noise was below average, which was NOT reported during their last review.  Same tire, tread, compound, but suddenly noisy and/or bad ride?  The Michelins and some other tires on their list suddenly do not have good wet traction, but they were OK last time.  Say what??  Compared to what?  Again, the same tire, tread, compound, etc.  Besides, if you Google the Continental and Goodyear tires that are suddenly top-ranked in the Truck AT category, there are many many reports of construction defects and belt separations, etc. 

[ember1205]

I don't ever consider CR's reviews or ratings. They are heavily biased and, like you've noticed, subject to change with zero explanation as to why.

[gmissed]

You probably already know this but this tire is an all season tire and is not rated for winter use. Otherwise it's rated as an excellent tire from any research that I've done and would consider it when my bridgestones wear out.

 

NOTE: The Defender LTX M/S Highway All-Season tire is NOT a dedicated winter / snow tire. It does NOT meet the severe snow traction requirements and is NOT branded with the three-peak mountain/snowflake symbol (3PMSF).

[diyer2]

5 minutes ago, ember1205 said:

I don't ever consider CR's reviews or ratings. They are heavily biased and, like you've noticed, subject to change with zero explanation as to why.

True IMO.

[ember1205]

1 minute ago, gmissed said:

You probably already know this but this tire is an all season tire and is not rated for winter use. Otherwise it's rated as an excellent tire from any research that I've done and would consider it when my bridgestones wear out.

 

NOTE: The Defender LTX M/S Highway All-Season tire is NOT a dedicated winter / snow tire. It does NOT meet the severe snow traction requirements and is NOT branded with the three-peak mountain/snowflake symbol (3PMSF).

Your statement is misleading...

 

You stated that it is "not rated for winter use" and that's not accurate. M+S tires are absolutely rated for winter use. They are NOT, however, as the Michelin statement shows, intended to be used as your vehicle's "snow tires". They are a blended functionality tire to be used year-round as opposed to something like the Blizzak tire, which is specifically designed for use in the snow.

[gmissed]

3 minutes ago, ember1205 said:

Your statement is misleading...

 

You stated that it is "not rated for winter use" and that's not accurate. M+S tires are absolutely rated for winter use. They are NOT, however, as the Michelin statement shows, intended to be used as your vehicle's "snow tires". They are a blended functionality tire to be used year-round as opposed to something like the Blizzak tire, which is specifically designed for use in the snow.

Not misleading...It's 'not rated for winter use' and in some provinces in Canada you would be breaking the law if you didn't have 'winter tires'.  M+S tires are not rated as winter tires. 

 

Official pictogram for winter tires

Since December 15, 2014, only tires on which this pictogram is found and studded tires are considered winter tires under the Highway Safety Code.

[Donstar]

15 minutes ago, ember1205 said:

Your statement is misleading...

 

You stated that it is "not rated for winter use" and that's not accurate. M+S tires are absolutely rated for winter use. They are NOT, however, as the Michelin statement shows, intended to be used as your vehicle's "snow tires". They are a blended functionality tire to be used year-round as opposed to something like the Blizzak tire, which is specifically designed for use in the snow.

In addition, I've had Michelin  LTX LTX's on my trucks for the past 17 Canadian winters and they have been excellent.  These tires are rated all season which is an acceptable designation for winter driving in my area.

[cbrsilv15]

Who cares what a symbol on the tire means. It performs great in the snow for me. 

[ember1205]

3 hours ago, gmissed said:

Not misleading...It's 'not rated for winter use' and in some provinces in Canada you would be breaking the law if you didn't have 'winter tires'.  M+S tires are not rated as winter tires. 

 

Official pictogram for winter tires

Since December 15, 2014, only tires on which this pictogram is found and studded tires are considered winter tires under the Highway Safety Code.

There's a difference between being "rated for winter use" and being recognized / categorized as a winter tire. That's why I said it's misleading.

[gmissed]

Hey OP sorry to intrude on your posting, carry on. 

[seamus2154]

10 hours ago, bndawgs said:

Consumer Reports ranked the Defender 5th behind 

 

1 Continental Cross Contact LX20 EcoPlus

2 Michelin Premier LTX

3 Firestone Destination LE 2

4 Pirelli Scorpion Verde

 

I've always been a fan of Michelins and will probably be switching to them once my SRAs bite the dust.  Will wait for a Costco deal on a set of 4. 

 

I just took the Conti eco plus off my truck for the Defender without any regret. Did it at 1000 miles. They weren't horrible or in the same bad class as the goodyears or bridge stones but Continentals do not age well as you put mileage on them. At half life they get loud and harder. Michelins have more tread which is a selling point people rarely notice, and they are as good on day one as in the last 6 months of use. Michelin Premier's are an excellent tire also. Anyone who has owned the Premiers, or Defender would do it again, just look  at the reviews. Tirerack is having a sale and 70 dollar gift card for the purchase of Michelins right now! Check that against Costco with install. TR has delivery so you have to total it out mounted. Good luck

[ember1205]

4 minutes ago, seamus2154 said:

I just took the Conti eco plus off my truck for the Defender without any regret. Did it at 1000 miles. They weren't horrible or in the same bad class as the goodyears or bridge stones but Continentals do not age well as you put mileage on them. At half life they get loud and harder. Michelins have more tread which is a selling point people rarely notice, and they are as good on day one as in the last 6 months of use. Michelin Premier's are an excellent tire also. Anyone who has owned the Premiers, or Defender would do it again, just look  at the reviews. Tirerack is having a sale and 70 dollar gift card for the purchase of Michelins right now! Check that against Costco with install. TR has delivery so you have to total it out mounted. Good luck

The $70 is a Michelin offer and is valid anywhere you buy a full set of four. The "sale" for TireRack appears to be an amount that roughly negates the shipping (for me, the discount was $10 less than the shipping cost). You don't pay sales tax on them in my area, but it's harder to find a place to mount them (Town Fair won't do it). And if you have an issue, a lot of shops will turn you away if you bought tires on line. Most local places are sick of Tire Rack eating their lunch.

 

Any reasonable local shop will match the prices against TR anyhow.

[cbrsilv15]

Check your dealers for prices also. My local Chevy dealership was the cheapest out of anyone and they road force balance. Hard to believe about the cheapest price, but true. Lol.