Michelin LTX MS/2 in 18" wheel sizes!

[TNriverjet]

Has anyone noticed that Michelin is now ready to serve us stock 18" rim people with an LTX MS/2 tire? I caught an ad in a popular mechanics and checked it out on the 'net. Sure enough they now have a new version of the famed and popular LTX MS tire, called the LTX MS2. This new version is offered in the stock TRD tire size of 275/65/18! tire rack.com lists the new MS2's for a few bucks cheaper than the AT2's at $211/ea.

I'll probably have a set before long. I wish they offered a slightly larger size since I've already installed the Bilstein 5100s on the middle setting...

[rockstate45]

They have the 275/70/18. It should be an E-range tire.

-rockstate

[TNriverjet]

Originally Posted by rockstate45

They have the 275/70/18. It should be an E-range tire.

-rockstate

Rockstate, I thought that was only in the AT2's. Up until now, the MS tire had no 18" options. The MS2 is a new tire altogether, just released.

Am I wrong?... Heck I'd rather have the old version of the MS tire. It had wider voids in the tread than the new MS2 version.

TNRiverjet

[TNriverjet]

Hey all,

I bit the bullet and had a set of LT275/70/18 (E range) tires installed on my truck. I went with some great advice from another forum member and used Dynabeads to balance instead of wheel weights.

I can safely say this was the single best improvement you can make to your truck over the stock mushytrail tires.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[rockstate45]

Lookin' good! I'm hoping those to be my next tire in that same size.

Mind if you post up the price you paid for each tire and total?

-rockstate

[TNriverjet]

Originally Posted by rockstate45

Lookin' good! I'm hoping those to be my next tire in that same size.

Mind if you post up the price you paid for each tire and total?

-rockstate

No problem... It was $249.99/tire including mounting. Total was $998...TN tax is 9.25%, so total out the door was $1,110 and change.

I ordered the dynabeads separately and had them installed when the tires were mounted. They were around $50 shipped for the 6 oz packs.

[rockstate45]

Not too bad at all man!

I just found out they don't have the snowflake symbol on 'em. I know you don't see much snow, but how do you think they'll do?

I was shocked to find out htey didn't have the snowflake emblem b/c their tread design is so similar to the M/Ss

Also, here's a quote from a guy on tire-rack that is reviewing the tires....

One unusual event so far; after 3 hours of interstate driving in on and off rain I noticed a burning rubber smell coming from the tires. I have heard of this happening with heavily sipped tires, but had never experienced it before. I have not noticed the issue reoccur in daily driving.

Compared to the OEM Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 (which were ok tires); the dry traction is somewhat improved, wet traction is somewhat improved, road noise has increased very slightly. I also notice slightly more of the road texture through the steering wheel. Gas mileage has also dropped about 1/2 mile per gallon (odometer readings/gallons pumped)

The tires have performed well in both wet and dry grass. The tires have impressed me with their hydroplaning resistance. I have not had a chance to try them in snow yet, but I do have concerns about how their hard rubber will perform in the cold and snow.

I bought these tires thinking they had passed snow use certification tests (Mountain Snowflake Symbol) but they have not. I actually looked up the ASTM standards for the snow certification test, and basically it means that a tire with the Mountain Snowflake Symbol has 10% more straight ahead DRIVING traction than a standard reference tire when driven at 5mph in 1-2 inches of snow (on top of hardpack snow). The standard reference tire used for the certification appears to be a R16 Uniroyal Laredo AWR, a much older tread design R14 Uniroyal may also be used. In short I do not expect this tire to perform better in the snow than any run of the mill all season radial. In really cold weather it may actually perform worse than the original LTX M/S because of the long wearing tire rubber used in the M/S2.

The primary competitor to the LTX M/S2 is the Goodyear Fortera TripleTred. The primary difference is that the Michelin may have 20% more treadlife than the Goodyear, but the Goodyear has passed the snow certification test. You should pick which is more important for your driving conditio

To me, that doesn't sound like anything that impressive. If a tire can't do that, then that's why I have 4wd. It seems like it should have a little bit more challenging time getting the snowflake emblem..

-rockstate

[mhollack]

Why are people so excited about a highway tire?

[Sid Post]

Originally Posted by mhollack

Why are people so excited about a highway tire?

Some Tundra's don't see any non-asphalt roads. Why deal with the noise and lower fuel economy if you don't need off-road tires? Larger off-road tires may look trendy but, if you don't really need them you can save some money for other things.

[PPosey]

Well my tundra sees alot of mud and dirt roads with some rocks and stream crossings, but the factory size tires in a decent tread are all thats needed,,, keeps the gas milage and ride OK for the rest of my driving which is paved and gravel roads for 95% of the time.... I'm not real concerned about looks with larger tires

[rockstate45]

I think the M/Ss will do just as well as some of the other ATs (such as everything but the KO and the Cooper Discoverer ST and the Goodyear Duratrac) in the situations. I guess time will tell.

-rockstate

[matrix77]

I like the look of the Goodyear Fortera... but they don't have the sizes for 2007+ tundra.

Why Michelin M/S 2 come with white letters?

[JDA6]

I just got the M/S 2 installed in 275/55/20 and there is a night and day difference between them and the crappy OEM Dunlop. It seems like it is going to be a great tire.

[Jumbo Jet]

Originally Posted by mhollack

Why are people so excited about a highway tire?

Take a ride in a truck with a set of LTX M/S's and you'll know what all the hype is about. Best tire I have ever had on a vehicle, hands down. Suuuuuper quiet, smooth as silk and seem to last forever. They are worth every penny.

[tundra1569]

It´ll be interesting to see as the M/S2 really lasts 70k miles as Michelin claims.

I have seen LTX A/S OEM´s on Tundra worn out at 30k.