MICHELIN DEFENDER LTX M/S vs. CONTINENTAL CROSSCONTACT LX25
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 265
From: Sacramento, CA
2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2008 ML550 4Matic; 2004 C320
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 497
Likes: 196
From: Palm Beach, Fl
2016 S550 sport, 2018 GLC300, M3, Zo7, 2021 Sierra Denali
That is a great deal. Now look at the tread depth and realize its not just tread wear rating....you actually get more tire with the Defender...which means it lasts longer....which means its worth a little more. The ride is outstanding, great in the rain, quiet and compliant......and they last!!
I bought a brand new 2021 Denali Sierra with Bridgestones. Terrible tire. At 300 miles I sold them on craigslist and bought new Michelin Defenders....transformed the truck and it was shocking what a difference. Well its 2 years later and I just rotated them for the 4th time every 5K. I am still amazed how they are almost new with no wear. 23K on them! My wifes GLC has much more mileage and same story.
Real world experience. Was not needeling you, actually trying to help you help yourself!!! Over the next week you will be sold and never look back.
BTW I dont think I have had as bad a tire as the Pirelli Scorpion ever. The worst.
Good luck,
I bought a brand new 2021 Denali Sierra with Bridgestones. Terrible tire. At 300 miles I sold them on craigslist and bought new Michelin Defenders....transformed the truck and it was shocking what a difference. Well its 2 years later and I just rotated them for the 4th time every 5K. I am still amazed how they are almost new with no wear. 23K on them! My wifes GLC has much more mileage and same story.
Real world experience. Was not needeling you, actually trying to help you help yourself!!! Over the next week you will be sold and never look back.
BTW I dont think I have had as bad a tire as the Pirelli Scorpion ever. The worst.
Good luck,
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 265
From: Sacramento, CA
2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2008 ML550 4Matic; 2004 C320
That is a great deal. Now look at the tread depth and realize its not just tread wear rating....you actually get more tire with the Defender...which means it lasts longer....which means its worth a little more. The ride is outstanding, great in the rain, quiet and compliant......and they last!!
I bought a brand new 2021 Denali Sierra with Bridgestones. Terrible tire. At 300 miles I sold them on craigslist and bought new Michelin Defenders....transformed the truck and it was shocking what a difference. Well its 2 years later and I just roatted them for the 4th time every 5K. I am still amazed how they are almost new with no wear. 23K on them! My wifes GLC has much more mileage and same story.
Real world experience. Was not needeling you, actually trying to help you help yourself!!! Over the next week you will be sold and never look back.
BTW I dont think I have had as bad a tire as the Pirelli Scorpion ever. The worst.
Good luck,
I bought a brand new 2021 Denali Sierra with Bridgestones. Terrible tire. At 300 miles I sold them on craigslist and bought new Michelin Defenders....transformed the truck and it was shocking what a difference. Well its 2 years later and I just roatted them for the 4th time every 5K. I am still amazed how they are almost new with no wear. 23K on them! My wifes GLC has much more mileage and same story.
Real world experience. Was not needeling you, actually trying to help you help yourself!!! Over the next week you will be sold and never look back.
BTW I dont think I have had as bad a tire as the Pirelli Scorpion ever. The worst.
Good luck,
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,007
Likes: 2,198
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Nokian and Michelin tires are the most reliable brands out there. I've owned several sets of Nokians in all flavors. (And Michelins.) I started moving from Michelin in 2004 and appreciate the Nokian ride, mileage, MPG and, mostly, grip.
Also, there are only two brands that are reliably round and easy to balance - Michelin and Nokian.
However, tire companies have major steps forward in newest generations.
One of my least favorite brands, Continental, has leapfrogged the rest. I was really disappointed when they arrived OE on my car, until I spent some time on them - CrossContact LX25.
Absolutely incredible in the wet, seem to be outlasting my Nokians and Michelins on similar Mercedes SUVs over the past decades. And they provide .8G+ steady state cornering at the track, 1G+ peaks.
Much of the development in the new generations of tires in the entire industry, comes from Nokian research on rubber tech, solvents and other advances. A couple of the Majors are even thought to have pirated Nokian's IP before they opened their own plant in Dayton.
Short answer - Michelin has been a go-to brand, but Nokian makes tires as good or better in many segments.
Right now, I'd choose Conti.
Also, there are only two brands that are reliably round and easy to balance - Michelin and Nokian.
However, tire companies have major steps forward in newest generations.
One of my least favorite brands, Continental, has leapfrogged the rest. I was really disappointed when they arrived OE on my car, until I spent some time on them - CrossContact LX25.
Absolutely incredible in the wet, seem to be outlasting my Nokians and Michelins on similar Mercedes SUVs over the past decades. And they provide .8G+ steady state cornering at the track, 1G+ peaks.
Much of the development in the new generations of tires in the entire industry, comes from Nokian research on rubber tech, solvents and other advances. A couple of the Majors are even thought to have pirated Nokian's IP before they opened their own plant in Dayton.
Short answer - Michelin has been a go-to brand, but Nokian makes tires as good or better in many segments.
Right now, I'd choose Conti.
Last edited by mikapen; Jun 13, 2023 at 05:47 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,124
Likes: 222
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
What will it be...??????
- MICHELIN DEFENDER LTX M/S - seems like you guys are in favor. But hard to get. And the size is a 235/60 106T designation. Is the T speed max of 116mph not safe enough when OEM was an H rating 130mph?
- MICHELIN DEFENDER2. $238. Tire rack
- MICHELIN CrossClimate2 SUV tire rack $248. - hearing both good and bad. I heard they're soft and mileage tanks. Check out reviews on the Michelin USA official site. Pretty interesting. https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tir...-crossclimate2
- CONTINENTAL CROSSCONTACT LX25 $222. tire rack high rating?
- Also just got this from TireRack customer service CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DWS 06 PLUS. $238. Not sure, seems like TR is trying to promote them for Cont.
- eliminate prices; they're so close they don't matter. really, if the best tire was gonna cost +$100 per set, or even +$300 per set, is that a deal breaker? $1000 vs. $1300? that's a conundrum for a Hyundai driver.
- speed rating, 116mph vs. 130mph?? I might ponder that for a moment if shopping for my SL400 that occasionally sees 90mph but not in the GLC or ML.
- I used to be plagued by flat tires and cracked wheels and I placed the blame on horrible Massachusetts roads and soft Mercedes wheels with low profile tires. For that entire era I was a faithful TireRack customer and I bought what Luke recommended, always Contis. Knock on wood I don't seem to have the tire and wheel problems anymore and I'll keep it short and sweet as to the solutions: avoid Continentals.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,007
Likes: 2,198
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
I'll leave the specific tire recommendation to others but as for your data points:
- eliminate prices; they're so close they don't matter. really, if the best tire was gonna cost +$100 per set, or even +$300 per set, is that a deal breaker? $1000 vs. $1300? that's a conundrum for a Hyundai driver.
- speed rating, 116mph vs. 130mph?? I might ponder that for a moment if shopping for my SL400 that occasionally sees 90mph but not in the GLC or ML.
- I used to be plagued by flat tires and cracked wheels and I placed the blame on horrible Massachusetts roads and soft Mercedes wheels with low profile tires. For that entire era I was a faithful TireRack customer and I bought what Luke recommended, always Contis. Knock on wood I don't seem to have the tire and wheel problems anymore and I'll keep it short and sweet as to the solutions: avoid Continentals.
Speed ratings - a higher speed rating will get a better tire, period. Wet and dry grip, especially. Noticeably better handling, even around town. Kid chased a ball into the street in front of you? Speed rated tire will help you, and the kid. Spend the money.
A broad statement like "Pirelli's are bad" is probably at least one generation out of date. Conti's are a great example - the new generations starting three years ago is exemplary (in our sizes). Same with Michelin All Weather tires (not winter or AS), Pirelli Winters, Hankooks, Yokohamas. They have all made big strides in the past few years.
Forget what you heard or experienced in the past. Find a reviewer that knows the generational differences, which does not include Tire Rack. I suggest Tyrereviews.com
I also spend the money on MO rated tires, and even more apparent to a driver is the MO-1 rating for AMG tires.
A nice car can be ruined with the wrong tire.
You're right - these aren't Hyundai's.
