michelin cross climateRanges are expressed using a number and the higher the number, the stronger the tire. Government standards for reaching and sustaining a specified speed. Typically, a tire with a higher speed rating results in better handling. Speed ratings apply only to the tire itself, and not to a particular vehicle.
With that said, here are some of the worth-noting features of this tire. Your Michelin Defender MS LTX sit snugly in the mid-priced range, which is actually a very good thing when you consider the sheer weight of technology and design that went into these tires. The Michelin LTX Defender MS tires last a long time, but also perform very well in harsh conditions. This carries over even near the end of their life when their effectiveness drops around 10% less than its leading competitors.
michelin cross climateSummarizing everything said above, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S offers a smooth and quiet riding experience with a decent level of traction in dry and wet conditions. This makes it a good year-round option for SUVs, vans and light trucks. While we couldn’t see them, the special 3D active sipes provided it with a better grip in wet weather conditions. As long as we kept the speed below what this tire’s speed rating tells is a safe limit, we didn’t encounter any slippage.
The aspect ratio is the relationship of a tire’s sidewall height to its section width, expressed as a percentage. In this example, the tire sidewall height is approximately 55% of the tire width. The higher the number, the taller the sidewall; the lower the number, the lower the sidewall.
The biggest issue we found when writing this Defender review is the treadwear. The tread wears out much quicker than advertised in almost all cases, so that is something to keep in mind. You may find yourself replacing these tires quicker than you’d like, although this is dependent on how much you are driving. Overall, the Michelin is a great, fuel-efficiency tire at an affordable price for cars and minivans. The tire has first-rate all weather traction and thanks to the tire compound and special 3D active sipes it grips the road in dry, wet and winter weather conditions.