subbylover

I got about 40,000 miles out of the OEM Bridgestones, so I researched replacement options and the Michelin Defender seemed like a good choice. After two weeks with them, it's been a mixed experience.

On one hand, the Defender seems like an objectively better tire -- the car seems to corner with less body roll, high-speed lane changes seem more stable -- but the funny thing is that the car just doesn't seem as much fun with the Defenders. Maybe it was the softer rubber or the stiffer sidewall, but the car just seemed a little more fun with the stock tires. It's kind of paradoxical, but despite what I felt as greater wobble, I was always looking to take corners a little faster with the Bridgestones; maybe the softer rubber just sticks better. The ride was more comfortable with the Bridgestones too, so my wife's not too happy with the Defenders either.

Now I realize the Bridgestones might be the most panned tire on the Internet (it would be nice to see some objective tests on that one), so now I'm wishing I had tried the Michelin Latitude Tour HP for the softer rubber and stiffer sidewall (oddly enough, Consumer Reports seems to suggest that the Defender is a better-handling tire).

Not sure what I'll do next, but just wanted to share my completely subjective experience. The Defenders have about 500 miles tops on them at the moment.

subbylover

Thread Starter

Both Michelin and TireRack seem to think the Defender likely gives a nicer ride than the Latitude, so I'll probably just stick with them.

Tire pressure may be high; my old manual gauge seems to have them around 35 psi, so I'll get a better gauge and test again.

Finally, CR had these as good in the rain, but TireRack disagrees. Sure wish there was a better all-around tire; I think Michelin over-hyped this one.

Tire Test Results : Testing Passenger and Touring All-Season Tires

2010subieforester

I can tell you that the defenders are night and day better than the duelers from experience. They handle great, give a smooth comfortable ride, are quiet, and seem to be excellent. Did you go 215/65/16? That's the defender size I went with as it was the stock tire size for my vehicle. I've not had any trouble out of them in the rain.

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INSubbie

I put the defender on my car as the 4th set of tires. ANYTHING was better than the OEM tires. The OEM tires had a bad habbit of hydroplaning as they got older. I was able to get 53K miles out of them, but still had tread left. I replaced them due to the hydroplaning.

So far, I'm happy with the defenders. They seem to be as good as the Pirelli P4s that they replaced.

__________________
'06 XT w/ 5MT

Rand

have you put 500-1000miles on them? they might still be breaking-in

my michelin xice xi2's had an amazing difference after about 500-600miles.

subbylover

Thread Starter

Thanks, everyone. The tires have about 500 miles on them now, so hopefully the next 500 miles will be a vast improvement. I got them in the stock size (215/65/16). I had them on uneven two-lane roads yesterday and felt every bump, so I checked the tire pressure this morning and they were at 34/33 cold in about 45-degree weather. I dropped them to 32/31, but I suppose I could go a pound or two lower than that.

2010subieforester

I'm beginning to wonder but what you've got something else going on like a wheel bearing(s), tie rod end, u joints gone bad that might be causing the ride issue. Heck could even be the suspension.

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subbylover

Thread Starter

Thanks for the advice, fellow 2010 owner. :) I took it back to the dealer today and they couldn't find a problem with it after checking everything, so I may take advantage of the 30-day guarantee and trade these in. After 700 miles, I still feel every bump in them, and as my wife drives this on a 25-mile commute, it's time to try something new. I'm thinking the Michelin Latitude HP for the overall ratings or the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia for comfort. The Pirelli Scorpion Verde all season seems like a great tire, but won't be available in 215/65/16 for another month, according to Tire Rack.

I'll respect the negative reviews on the stock H/T 687. I agree with two things I've read about them - they seem wobbly and they're terrible in snow.

dpm

I've been very impressed with the Latitude HP. I've also got on well with General's Grabber UHP, but they don't impress in the snow.

__________________
2009 SH XCdiesel 6MT

subbylover

Thread Starter

Well, Michelin's going to let me upgrade into the Latitude HP for $37 a tire, which seems cheap enough, so fingers crossed that it does the trick. Don't know if these particular tires just happen to be defective, but the Defenders have yet to turn comfortable after 800 miles and a thorough second look by the dealer, and I'm out of time on the 30-day guarantee. Nice of Michelin to offer that guarantee. :)

subbylover

Thread Starter

Following up...

The Defenders finally broke in a little bit at about 1,000 miles, but I was past the 30-day decision point and had already opted for the Latitude HP. After 600 miles, I'm very happy with the Latitudes - more comfortable ride than the Defender, plus it seems to be an exceptionally good tire. Chews up wet weather like it's dry pavement.

I think softer rubber would make the Defenders a winner...otherwise a very good tire.

Rand

yea thats part of the giant tread life guarantee of the defenders.

cant have everything..

tires are always a compromise triangle.

(although in that analogy some have a bigger "triangle" than others.)

SixStarPugilist

I just installed Defenders on my car last night. Time will tell how they work for me. I had the Michelin Harmony on my last car and was quite happy with them.
Roger

SixStarPugilist

My 2012 (with 16" wheels) requires 30psi front & 29psi rear according to the decal on the door jamb. Does your 2010 require the higher pressure you mentioned?
Roger

subbylover

Thread Starter

hey Roger, hope you like the Defenders; they were a good tire, just not terribly comfortable after the 687s. The Latitude HP is better, but after 1500 miles it's still not as comfortable as the 687, but it's such a good tire that I'll happily accept the added safety (it chews up wet roads like dry pavement). The Defenders took 1,000 miles to break in and the Latitude 600; neither improved noticeably after that. I had the Defenders for 1300 miles.

Yes, it can go to 30-29 psi, but I think I was a little shocked that it was set so high to begin with and was also leaving a cushion for winter temperatures.

Best,

Paul