I have a 2016 explorer 4x4 and I’m looking for some recommendations.

Michelin Defender LTX would be my top choice.
Have them on my 2018 Expedition & they're much better than the OE tires that were on it.

Was going to put a set on my 2020 Explorer, but it's soon to be sold.

A sportier option, Michelin Pilot Sport AS4
Has the AS3+ on our Flex & they're a fantastic tire as well.
Handled heavy rain, hot, cold, light snow [dusting on the road as we went through Flagstaff] all with no complaints.
Coworker had them on her 2016 Mercedes C300 & she loved them as well.
LBJ here sold me on these when he put them on his [IIRC] Escape.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Michelin Defender LTX would be my top choice.

I've got 60,000 on those tires on my 4Runner Off Road.

The size, load index, and speed rating on my tires are:
265 /70 R17 115T SL

They make several different types of the LTX with different load indexes and speed ratings. A higher load index (and corresponding lower speed rating) may not provide as long a tire life (mileage) as the lower index.


https://www.discounttire.com/l...eading-tire-sidewall

https://www.discounttire.com/l...oad-range-load-index

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/speed-rating

I have Michelin Defenders on my 2019 RAM pickup. They are wearing very well but are noisier than the Bridgestone OE tires were.

Their Primacy A/S line is also great if you want something a little quieter and less aggressive.

In the next month or two my truck will need new tires. I decided on the Michelin Defender LTX ms2. Runner up was Continental Terraincontact HT

Just had 4 Michelin Defender LTX MS2 tires installed on my 2019 Chevy Colorado 4X4. Quiet on the highway, good traction in the rain.

I was considering Defender in XL for my truck. Currently have LT tires. Is XL closer to p-metric or LT in terms of off-road durability (air down, rocks, etc)?

They don't offer the Defender in LT for the size I need.

Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS - $305 each

Doesn’t work for everyone. I bought two almost new condition 18” truck tires on eBay for $205 shipped.

Yes, they spent a handful of years as a spare under the bed.

Right before Memorial Day, I had Continental Terrain Contact H/T installed on my Frontier. Gets 1st or 2nd in pretty much every wet or dry category in head to head highway tire testing. So far, they're amazing in heavy downpours and dry roads.

They replaced an awful set of Michelin Premier that only lasted 25k on supposedly 60k tires. The early reviews were awesome and so was my early experience. Later reviews were full of people getting shitty life out of them much like me. Michelin discontinued those tires, and would only warranty once you ran down to 2/12 (ie. where you can be ticketed in Texas). I replaced at 3/12 and probably should've bit the bullet at 4/12.

Fan of Yokohama Geolanders here. Had them on my Tahoe, and have them on my 4Runner now.

You can't beat Michelin Defender LTX tires.

I run them on my F150, they're a dream.

Wear, rinse, repeat.

Another Defender LTX fan here. I put them on my Tundra last fall and during our big storm this past January (no power for a week ) I had 0 problems getting around in the mostly unplowed areas of my neighborhood. Never had to break out the chains.

Try tirerack website. You can prioritize among price, wear, noise, and performance.

quote:

Michelin Defender LTX would be my top choice.

Another vote. Great dry, snow and wet performance, quiet, best ever.

No Michelin fan here. Been there done that. No more 25k miles and they were more or less toast. Sure I could of done the "I got 60k out of them" thing too. But I need a tire for service, not a 30k mile slick

Yokahama, Cooper, HanKook, Faulkin, Firestone. There are many good tires. Try to get one not made by the chicom is my advice.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: old rugged cross,

quote:

Originally posted by JohnO:

quote:

Michelin Defender LTX would be my top choice.

Another vote. Great dry, snow and wet performance, quiet, best ever.

I’m onboard as well.

I had them on my last 2 Rams and will be putting them on my current Ram later this year.
Quiet on the road and great in the rain. Supposedly good in the snow but I have no experience with that.

I am a fan of the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W, but may give the Michelin Defender LTX’s a try on either the Suburban or my son’s ‘03 4Runner (both currently on Falken’s) when it’s time, which I think will be the 4Runner.

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:
I am a fan of the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W, but may give the Michelin Defender LTX’s a try on either the Suburban or my son’s ‘03 4Runner (both currently on Falken’s) when it’s time, which I think will be the 4Runner.

How old is your son?

My parents never put a set of tires on any rig I owned.
However, I did buy a set for my dad once