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Michelin Defender LTX
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912 outlaw
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 8:14 pm    Post subject: Michelin Defender LTX Reply with quote

Hi yall anybody runnin michelin defenders ltx in

215 75 15 if so how ya like em and send a pic ot too

If dicussed before sorry

Please chime in if u are running these in this size not other tires

Thanks
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JudoJeff
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:32 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

Used them for years, no problems.
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jlrftype7
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 6:34 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

Not running your size, but have more than 1000 miles on my 15” Defenders.
Quiet so far, good traction both Dry and Wet. I don’t run heavy loads, so I can’t comment on that.
They are more ‘supple’ than my higher load rated snow tires, that is a noticeable difference with the 102 Snow Tires on hard pavement.
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Marshj
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 6:54 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

I have 10,000 miles on Defenders in size 215-65-16 - 85% highway and 55 mph roads. They are quiet and smooth. Excellent in all conditions.

Snow traction on ice is not great. 3/10 but on snowy roadways in storms they were fine. I did 300 miles in a snowstorm and had confidence. Start and stop on snow pack not great.

But I drive 99% in summer with a single winter trip. So they are what I need. Wear had been good.
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Marshj
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 6:55 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

They do tend to dry rot after 6-7 years. Keep that in mind on lower use vehicles
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markswagen
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:12 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

That seems to be the case on several brands, I have nexen tires on my westy 5 years old, now showing tire rot.

Marshj wrote:
They do tend to dry rot after 6-7 years. Keep that in mind on lower use vehicles

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Vanagon Nut
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 9:30 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

My 205/65/15 Defenders are wearing well; the compound may be similar-same as the older 14" Michelin LTX (NLA) which wore well by all counts. The tread looks nearly the same or is the same.

I've driven these LTX on lots of dirt road, highway, city. Not great in snow but better than my Hankook RA-O8 tires. Good on wet roads. They work for me. Would buy again. I purchased them from Discount Tires. Overall, I was not impressed with a couple aspects of their after sales service but that would obviously vary depending on which Discount Tire one is dealing with.

Neil.
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jlrftype7
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 11:01 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

Vanagon Nut wrote:
My 205/65/15 Defenders are wearing well; the compound may be similar-same as the older 14" Michelin LTX (NLA) which wore well by all counts. The tread looks nearly the same or is the same.

I've driven these LTX on lots of dirt road, highway, city. Not great in snow but better than my Hankook RA-O8 tires. Good on wet roads. They work for me. Would buy again. I purchased them from Discount Tires. Overall, I was not impressed with a couple aspects of their after sales service but that would obviously vary depending on which Discount Tire one is dealing with.

Neil.
. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m running that same size on my Tin Top. I have dedicated Snow Tires for Winter that are going back on my Mefro Rims all too soon since Winter Is Coming..... Rolling Eyes Wink
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
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‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto
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912 outlaw
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 7:07 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

My frends 2019 mercedes sprinter weighs 9000 lbs they come stock with michelin defenders 16 inch fwiw
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 7:49 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

Well, what that is worth is very little.
That model of tire comes in a wide range of strength classes depending on actual size.
The 215/75/15 size Defender you asked about is only an SL which is the weakest of all tire classes for cars.
Many of the other Defender sizes are a stronger class, some MUCH stronger.

Load B, SL - weakest, standard load
Load B, XL - extra load, extra pressure, not as weak
Load C - stronger
Load D - even stronger
Load E - silly strong

The above means little without also knowing the SIZE of the tire in question. The Load Index is what you want to check as well.

Mark


912 outlaw wrote:
My frends 2019 mercedes sprinter weighs 9000 lbs they come stock with michelin defenders 16 inch fwiw
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:35 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

just a FWIW and not saying this is right at all by the tire or car manufacturer
but my AWD astro 7 passanger van with towing capacity of 5,ooo#s
specified tires are 215/75/15 SL tires..

should be 'ok' on a similar vanagon.. that astro is a heavy van with a cast iron V6 and front steel frame.
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:43 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

Agreed, at Load 100 and 44 psi max, the 215/75/15 SL Defender LTX meet the load requirements for Vanagons.

Mark

danfromsyr wrote:
just a FWIW and not saying this is right at all by the tire or car manufacturer
but my AWD astro 7 passanger van with towing capacity of 5,ooo#s
specified tires are 215/75/15 SL tires..

should be 'ok' on a similar vanagon.. that astro is a heavy van with a cast iron V6 and front steel frame.
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Vanagon Nut
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 11:27 am    Post subject: Re: Michelin defenders Reply with quote

Vanagon Nut wrote:
My 205/65/15 Defenders are wearing well; the compound may be similar-same as the older 14" Michelin LTX (NLA) which wore well by all counts. The tread looks nearly the same or is the same.



Old NLA LTX vs Defender "Extra Load" tire treads

old

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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1981 Westy, 15º ABA

1988 West, 50º ABA

Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://tinyurl.com/2f24rmh

VE7TBN
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msinabottle
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 11:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Michelin Defender LTX Reply with quote

BTDT.

(Bought Those Delightful Tires!)

Shocked

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7871770#7871770


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Best!
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