New Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 coming soon

[usofrob]

This video compares the snow performance of basically the Rivian OEM 20" AT tires to the previous Michelin Defender LTX MS tires showing that the Michelins are quite a bit better in the snow even though they aren't 3 peak rated.


Here's the warmer weather test for comparison:

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[oskeei]

Also at Costco, but they also have option of the Costco marketed XLT for $9 less per tire. Specs look identical to the Defenders.

 

[djsider2]

When was the 20” stock size going to become available?

 

[sparkles]

22's

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-defender-ltx-m-s2/p/126850

The tire you linked is the 119S E1 rated tire, which is 10 ply and super heavy. They have a 275/50 R22 115H XL rated tire coming in April, which is the better option for our trucks.

 

[wirenut]

An update. I've had these tires on for about 100 miles. It turns out discount tire didn't inflate them properly... one tire was as low as 39 PSI ? After inflating to 48 PSI road noise and comfort a very similar to the 21s I had before. I still think they are slightly softer than 21s.

Efficiency has been also very similar so far. The last 400 miles on 21s I had 1.94 miles per kw. With defenders I'm getting 1.92 miles per kw, but it's also considerably cooler now.

So far I love the tires. They look great in my opinion and I'm really excited to try them in winter since they rate so high in winter tests.

Adding few more pictures!

 

[BigE]

The tire you linked is the 119S E1 rated tire, which is 10 ply and super heavy. They have a 275/50 R22 115H XL rated tire coming in April, which is the better option for our trucks.

You’re correct…but not sure I’ll make it till April. I’m down to 6/32 @ 17k miles.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

An update. I've had these tires on for about 100 miles. It turns out discount tire didn't inflate them properly... one tire was as low as 39 PSI ? After inflating to 48 PSI road noise and comfort a very similar to the 21s I had before. I still think they are slightly softer than 21s.

Efficiency has been also very similar so far. The last 400 miles on 21s I had 1.94 miles per kw. With defenders I'm getting 1.92 miles per kw, but it's also considerably cooler now.

So far I love the tires. They look great in my opinion and I'm really excited to try them in winter since they rate so high in winter tests.

Adding few more pictures!

Discount Tire did the same when they replaced my tires. They had all of them at 39 or 38 PSI. One of the first things I did when I got home was got the compressor hose out and used the onboard compressor to air them all up to 48 cold.

 

[ForeverOnTheWaitlist]

Now for Winter Tires: Is there a similar advantage to getting 275/60/20's for winter tires ? Same issues exist there. The Michelin Ice-X is my go-to winter tire but like the Defender LTX, it doesn't have sufficient weight rating. There are logs of 65/20 options that do but appear aimed at trucks so guessing the range and ride are similarly worse. Hopefully Michelin releases an Ice-X/2 as well.

 

[OKRivian]

I just replaced my 20" Pirellis at 12k miles with these. With 5 tire rotation all were at 3-5/32nds and they had gotten loud, it was driving me crazy. Finally my truck is quiet again and I can hear the motors instead of the tires.

I weighed these at 77lbs (wheel & tire). Another member weighed the factory wheel & tire at 88lbs. The ride is definitely a bit softer with these tires.

Discount Tire also under inflated one of my tires to 39lbs.

 

[moonjeong]

Got the MS2 installed over the weekend on 20” factory wheels. Size is 275/60. If you have the off-road tires, this will make you R1T feel like a Bentley - plush! My roundtrip to work is about 60 miles, 50 of it at highway speeds. My off-road tires used to get me 2 miles per kw on this route. With the Defenders i averaged 2.5 today! thats just crazy!

 

[Riviot]

Got the MS2 installed over the weekend on 20” factory wheels. Size is 275/60. If you have the off-road tires, this will make you R1T feel like a Bentley - plush! My roundtrip to work is about 60 miles, 50 of it at highway speeds. My off-road tires used to get me 2 miles per kw on this route. With the Defenders i averaged 2.5 today! thats just crazy!

Pics of wheels and efficiency, or neither happened.

 

[Drott]

Got the MS2 installed over the weekend on 20” factory wheels. Size is 275/60. If you have the off-road tires, this will make you R1T feel like a Bentley - plush! My roundtrip to work is about 60 miles, 50 of it at highway speeds. My off-road tires used to get me 2 miles per kw on this route. With the Defenders i averaged 2.5 today! thats just crazy!

Did you recalibrate to the size of 21s or stay with 20s?

 

[oskeei]

Did you recalibrate to the size of 21s or stay with 20s?

275/60/20 tires on the 20" rims are same diameter as the OEM 21", no reconfiguration needed.

 

[moonjeong]

Did you recalibrate to the size of 21s or stay with 20s?

I’ve kept the 20” and didn’t calibrate to the 33” diameter. It’s a 3% difference so the 2.5 goes down to 2.43

 

[Riviot]

I’ve kept the 20” and didn’t calibrate to the 33” diameter. It’s a 3% difference so the 2.5 goes down to 2.43

I changed from 20" to 21" with my 275/60/20s. Hindsight I should've gone 22s to get closer guessometer but that speedometer and off efficiency was killing me.

Ironically with the guessometer being so bad, the arrival milage estimator on the Nav adapted very quickly, I think that one actually updates based on use while guessometer is just basic Rivian wheel guesses.

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