Michelin LTX AT2's this week!!

[LandRvr Convert]

After 4 years and 80K miles on my OEM Mich Cross Terrains (and just now down to the wear bars) it's finally time to replace them.

After months of reading reviews here and on many tire sites, I decided not to stray away from Michelin. Not surprisingly, the Michelins had stellar reviews accross the board, while many other brands had pretty good reviews and some were very hit or miss.

So.... I decided to skip over the (awesome, but very similar to my Cross Terrains) MS2's and go with the LTX AT2's for something a little different and more aggressive tread.

I finally saw a new set of the LTX AT2s on a Ford pickup today and they look great in person!!

I'll post photos when they are on!!:guitar2:

 

[K.C.]

I use to work at Wheel Works & I HATED Michelin.

However...I'm loving the Michelin LTX2, that's going to be my next tire!!

 

[LandRvr Convert]

I use to work at Wheel Works & I HATED Michelin.

However...I'm loving the Michelin LTX2, that's going to be my next tire!!

I'm curious, can you be more specific?? Did you hate the Michelin company........and why?

 

[K.C.]

I'm curious, can you be more specific?? Did you hate the Michelin company........and why?

I use to dislike the Michelin brand all together.

Their tires weren't good, expensive, horrible in traction & treadwear life.

• MXV4 not so great
• XGT V4 - Beyond Horrible
• Pilot Sport were nice looking, but not sticky enough.

However...I do like the Michelin Cross Terrains & LTX2

LTX2 will be my tires unless I go towards the Offroading Side or just sell my 4Runner.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

oh....got it OK!! Thanks!!

 

[LCPLHumiston]

Did you get them in yet?

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Got them installed TODAY!!!!!! I'll post pics in a minute!!!

For those of you in Atlanta, I got a great deal on them at Sandy Springs Toyota (Roswell Rd) where I bought my 4Runner brand new in July, 2007!! (I actually got the best quote from Discount Tire in Chamblee and got SS Toyota to match it). This will save me a separate trip (and waiting) for mounting and balancing after each 5K service at Toyota at a tire shop. Time is everything to me! It will also save me about $600 over the life of the tires for mounting and balancing that I will not be paying for....... whooooohooooo!)

I got 4 of them installed for $1139 out the door! Included mounting, balancing, TPMS reset, disposal fees for the old ones, alignment and taxes! I also got a 30 day ride guarantee, road hazard including flats fixed free for 2 years and free rotate and balance for life!

Very pleased with the Michelin LTX AT2s! They look great and much more aggressive looking than the OEM Cross Terrains. These tires have one of the deepest treads I've ever seen on an AT tire.

They ride smooth as glass and have minimal road noise especially for an AT.

Photos to follow in a second!!:beer::beer:

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Michelin LTX AT2 Photos

Photos of my new Michelin LTX AT2s!!

 

[martini]

Those look great. What size did you get (P metric I assume)? The tread looks pretty deep too so I checked tirerack and it showed for 265/70/17 (I know you have 18's though so maybe 265/65/18) that it seems to have deeper treads than most tires, at 14/32" rather than the more usual 11-12/32.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Those look great. What size did you get (P metric I assume)? The tread looks pretty deep too so I checked tirerack and it showed for 265/70/17 (I know you have 18's though so maybe 265/65/18) that it seems to have deeper treads than most tires, at 14/32" rather than the more usual 11-12/32.

Yes, I believe the tread depth is 14/32.
You are just a bit off on the size. The size I got is 265/60/18 which is the OEM size of the Cross Terrains that came on the Runner new in 2007.

 

[K.C.]

LandRvr Convert,

Good choice!!

Costco?
Did you replace all (5)?

Time to update the signature & please give us a feedback after breaking them in.

City driving, freeway, ride quality & noise level.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

K.C.

Thanks man! I actually considered Costco, and 4 other local shops, and just basically had my local Toyota dealer match the lowest price. Since I have the dealer do my services every 5K, and it will be nice to just have them (Toyota) rotate and balance at the same time as my service and not have to go to a separate shop for that and waste another hour in another waiting room.

I only bought 4. My spare is a new BF Goodrich Long Trail (also 265/60/18) , that I had to get when I ripped the sidewall of one of my CTs and couldn't be repaired.

I will give updates as I put the miles on the AT2s.

On one tire website (either Tirerack.com or discounttire.com.....I forgot which) there is a great search tool when reading reviews of a specific tire, I can read reviews narrowed by mileage the reviewer has on his set.

Alot of folks LOVE thier tires right when they get them and up to 15K miles or so and that's when things can go south............so I read reviews by people that had over 60K miles on the LTX ATs and WOW..........without one exception, every person said the tires were still killer and still had at least 10K-20K to go before replacement!! All said they'd buy the same tire again.

Again, I put 80K on my Mich CTs so I have no doubt the LTXs will live up to the Michelin reputation!

........and just to boot, I think it boosts credibility IMMENSELY in favor of Michelin, when I consider they make all OEM tires on the entire Airbus fleet of commercial jets when they roll each one out new from the hangar!! All of them!! A319, A320, A330, A340 and A380.

Not to mention they are also OEM on the B747, B777 and some B757 and B737 depending on the airline.

Gulfstream, Lear, and Bombadier are also huge Michelin clients.

 

[Scoobs]

You will be happy with them. I have them on my 4R, they were already mounted and virtually brand new when I bought my 4R used in 2009. They are remarkably smooth and quiet on the highway given their tread.

I don't offroad. If I did I'd probably look at something different.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

You will be happy with them. I have them on my 4R, they were already mounted and virtually brand new when I bought my 4R used in 2009. They are remarkably smooth and quiet on the highway given their tread.

I don't offroad. If I did I'd probably look at something different.

I agree totally! I don't off-road either, but I love it when it snows here in the deep south, so I know the AT2s will do great in the white stuff!

You're right, they are as smooth as glass and very quiet!

My old Cts were the quietest tires I've ever owned (really ZERO road noise), but the AT2s are remarkably quiet. I have to turn the stereo off, roll my window down and listen carefully to hear the difference! I drive 100% with tunes cranked, so the barely noticeable road noise is a non-issue anyway.

I will say the AT2s are a bit stiffer ride than the super-soft, mushy CT's but I'd expect that from and AT tire with a higher load rating.

 

[Falls]

My friend owns a large tire store and sells many brands and says those are excellent tires with excellent off road capability/traction.

The store is out in the country and he actually put a set of P rated on an F350 pick up just to see how soon he would tear them up and they have stood up incredibly well on that heavy work truck . Since a lot of his business is farm related he travels into farm fields a lot and traction has never been an issue. He obviously did this as a test for himself. He raves about them.

Just a little info for ya

 

[LandRvr Convert]

My friend owns a large tire store and sells many brands and says those are excellent tires with excellent off road capability/traction.

The store is out in the country and he actually put a set of P rated on an F350 pick up just to see how soon he would tear them up and they have stood up incredibly well on that heavy work truck . Since a lot of his business is farm related he travels into farm fields a lot and traction has never been an issue. He obviously did this as a test for himself. He raves about them.

Just a little info for ya

Hey Falls, thanks man! It's great to hear testimonies like that from someone's real-world experience!

I read your post about putting BFG ATs on your Runner, so I'm curious, but how many miles did you get out of your Cross Terrains?

 

[ozzyleven]

Glad to hear you like them! I am getting a set on my 94 4runner next week at Costco. $540 installed. Best deal I could find on a decent tire anywhere in town. Now I'm even more excited for them!

 

[Mechanic]

I'm personally fond of the ATX AT2 as well, good tire, good tread life, decent off road capability(or at least, what little I've tried them on) but not very good on ice, I don't know what it is, maybe it's the lack of sipes on them or something, but they are like driving on a skating rink on anything else except hard pack(I'm talking on road). That's why I'm running the LT4's and not the ATX. LT4 has some very decent siping on them. Very good on ice for an all season, best I've tried to be honest without going to a dedicated winter tire.

 

[004Gunner]

Just another opinion on the AT2s. I replaced my Cross Terrains after getting 92k miles on them and went with the AT2. It is definitely very smooth in ride and only slightly louder than the Cross Terrains. The traction is outstanding on dry and seems very good on wet roads. I haven't been in icy conditions yet but they did very well in over a foot of wet snow. I can't say how they do in mud, but the tread looks very mild for an all terrain tire so I wouldn't expect excellence in that type terrain. Overall this tire looks great and performs very well on paved roads whether wet, dry, or snow covered. If it gets anywhere near the life my Cross Terrains did then these tires are definitely worth the $950 I spent on them.

 

[jmanderson]

I just sold my two year old LTX AT2 to a buddy of mine and bought the Goodyear Duratracs. Loved the Michelins but didn't do as well in the winter like I expected. These Duratracs are great and handle much better in the winter. If you're in a warmer climate get the Michelins it's a good tire to invest in.