Michelin Defender LTX M/S 235/75-15 109T XL

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Posting to ask about a "new" 15- inch tire from Michelin that looks quite promising. It is the Michelin Defender LTX M/S P235/75-15 109T XL.

Caveat: I don't know that it's actually a new tire, but I've not seen it before and a search of Airforums threads on this tire comes up empty.

This one has the same "T" speed rating as the Michelin LTX MS/2 P235/75-15 108T XL. Key difference seems to be that the Defender 109T is rated at 2271 lb, vs. the MS/2 108T, which is rated at 2205. So, after the 10% de-rating exercise the new tire comes in at 2044, which gives a bit more buffer.

Anyway, it looks promising. Anybody out there already running this tire? Would love to hear your thoughts.

I am running the 15" 108 T tires and they are great.
Even with my water tank full my 2013 30' International comes in at under 7,300 lb. On the average I am only at 6,600 lb.
They had to be ordered in however they came within a day.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

I am running the 15" 108 T tires and they are great.
Even with my water tank full my 2013 30' International comes in at under 7,300 lb. On the average I am only at 6,600 lb.
They had to be ordered in however they came within a day.

To complete my story:
We were on the way to Disney last May. The trailer had the original nightmare ST GY Marathons. with aprox. 12,000 miles. I have tire monitoring system however in a blowout due to thread separation they are useless I found. I just scanned the monitor, looked up at the road and boom. Damage to the trailer $ 9,300.00. Add to that the time and hassle involved it became a nightmare.
I put the Michelin on, which I was planning on to do the next season anyway, and haven't looked back. The biggest pleasure with the Michelins is that I seldom have to adjust the air pressure. I check them religiously, having gotten into the habit with crapola brand.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

To complete my story:
We were on the way to Disney last May. The trailer had the original nightmare ST GY Marathons. with aprox. 12,000 miles. I have tire monitoring system however in a blowout due to thread separation they are useless I found. I just scanned the monitor, looked up at the road and boom. Damage to the trailer $ 9,300.00. Add to that the time and hassle involved it became a nightmare.
I put the Michelin on, which I was planning on to do the next season anyway, and haven't looked back. The biggest pleasure with the Michelins is that I seldom have to adjust the air pressure. I check them religiously, having gotten into the habit with crapola brand.

And yes, it is irresponsible of AS to install those cheap unreliable tires on these expensive trailers. Had I been informed and given the option I would have paid the extra money in a heartbeat.
PS: The Michelin tire " DOES NOT FIT IN THE SPARE TIRE RACK", talk about a idiotic design. So I had to trade the Michelin spare I also bought for an ST tire.

[silverbp]

Thanks. Just ordered 4 of these.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums silver bp

[rmkrum]

The spare tire rack can be bent a bit to accommodate a bigger wheel and tyre.


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[switz]

The 2013 25FB required a slight outward bend of the two vertical support arms on the tire support bracket since the 15" Michelin was about 0.6" larger in diameter than the stock 15" GYM ST tire. The bigger challenge was the securing of the latch and pin as the Michelin was slightly wider in cross section.

I had no issues getting the 16" Michelin on the tire carrier on the Classic and that tire was nearly an inch larger in diameter and a slightly wider cross section than the 15" GYM ST tire.

The 23D required we fabricate a completely new carrier going from 14" GYM ST tires to the 15" Michelins that were 2.2" larger in diameter and had a wider cross section.

[GettinAway]

I put these defenders on my Tundra a few weeks ago. The Autotire store near me said that they were replacing the older LTX M/S version for SUVs and. Pickups. We are only pulling a 23FB with the Tundra, so load isn't a consideration for me.
The newer tire vs the old, which he still had a few out on display, shows a much deeper groove between the treads. The older LTX were 50 or 60 thousand mile tires, I believe the newer defenders were 70,000. (My memory isn't as sharp as it used to be.)
Just a FYI, it transformed the truck. The ride vs the older Dunlops that were on it (OEM) is amazing. The Michelins must have a softer sidewall to change the ride that much. I'd have switched earlier if I would have known it was going to smooth out the ride this much.
(Hope this is still a bit, on topic.)
Jeff

[crispyboy]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

Just a FYI, it transformed the truck. The ride vs the older Dunlops that were on it (OEM) is amazing. The Michelins must have a softer sidewall to change the ride that much. I'd have switched earlier if I would have known it was going to smooth out the ride this much.
Jeff

One thing to remember is that older tires are going to ride much stiffer than a newer tire as the rubber gets harder with age. I just took off a half worn out/aged out set of Michelins off my truck and replaced with some Firestone Transforce At's - of course the ride is better, the new tires balanced well and there is not vibrations etc...... I'm sure this change in time.....

It's too bad the Michelin Defenders couldn't have just a little more weight rating so I could use them on my Classic 30 - I just don't feel there is enough weight margin.

[switz]

The literature empty weight of our 2014 Classic model 30 is listed as 7,365 pounds empty. This empty weight exceeds the GVW of our 25FB which was 7,300 pounds that had four Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires installed. The 25FB tire load was around 5,850 pounds camping ready.

Just filling the 54 gallon water tank and the two 40 pound propane tanks brings the Classic weight to about 7,890 pounds. Four 15" Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires have a maximum derated load capacity of 7,940 pounds. That is not much tire weight capacity remaining for the typical food and stuff most folks carry when ready for camping.

I have weighed our Classic ready for camping and the axles were supporting 8,160 pounds. The four Michelin LT225/75R16/E LTX M/S2 tires have a load capacity of 10,720 pounds. The 16" tires are not overloaded.

Perhaps the 15" Michelin tires would work fine with the older and lighter narrow body two axle Classics. They would be adequate for the recent tri-axle 34' Classics with a 11,500 pound GVW.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

To complete my story:
We were on the way to Disney last May. The trailer had the original nightmare ST GY Marathons. with aprox. 12,000 miles. I have tire monitoring system however in a blowout due to thread separation they are useless I found. I just scanned the monitor, looked up at the road and boom. Damage to the trailer $ 9,300.00. Add to that the time and hassle involved it became a nightmare.
I put the Michelin on, which I was planning on to do the next season anyway, and haven't looked back. The biggest pleasure with the Michelins is that I seldom have to adjust the air pressure. I check them religiously, having gotten into the habit with crapola brand.

You are correct that Tire Pressure Monitor System will not detect or warn of a tread/belt separation.
I addressed how do do a good job of tire inspection in my RV Tire Safety blog post of July 21. Belt/tread separations are a smaller % of the reason for a catastrophic tire failure and you can further decrease the potential of a tire failure by checking for the external signs of an internal structural failure which usually leave visible signs that can be seen with a thorough inspection.

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

Just wondering, Did all you AS owners get a print-out with the individual tire loads or is the idea that AS actually runs all units across a set of scales just a hope?
Also have to wonder what anyone thinks the value is of weighing an empty TT?

With a caveat (I don't know what I don't know):

My trailer has a sticker that says "The factory manufactured weight of this trailer is 6,151 lbs."

Since I have two AC units as an option, I sort of hope this is true, and that they either weighed the trailer, or they have weighed at least one trailer with a set of options like mine.

As to the usefulness, I'm not sure, really. Seems that I would need to pick a tire based on the trailer GVWR / GAWR anyway? In my case, that is 7,600 lbs (per the sticker GVWR) or 3,800 lbs GAWR per axle or 1,900 lbs per tire...correct?

[SSquared]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

Just wondering, Did all you AS owners get a print-out with the individual tire loads or is the idea that AS actually runs all units across a set of scales just a hope?
Also have to wonder what anyone thinks the value is of weighing an empty TT?

I don't think I have a piece of paper with the weight of my 2013 model. But I did take note of a post on Airforums a few months ago, where someone took their trailer to Jackson Center for some mods. The crew at JC gave them the weights after the mods, plus the weights at the time of manufacture. The weights were for each side, not each wheel.

[Jim & Susan]

All these letters and numbers are making me dizzy. But that's sorta my normal state anyway.

Does anybody know what load range this tire equates to? I have Maxxis 8008's on my '73 now and will need to change them out over the winter. Eight years old but low miles. No issues with these tires (yet) but I would LOVE to step up to Michelins.

Jim.

[xrvr]

My maxxis has load range e listed on the side. They also make a load range d in the same tire.

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by Llando88

Seems that I would need to pick a tire based on the trailer GVWR / GAWR anyway? In my case, that is 7,600 lbs (per the sticker GVWR) or 3,800 lbs GAWR per axle or 1,900 lbs per tire...correct?

Yes, in general you should buy tires that will support the trailer's GVWR. A bit of buffer is also important, as at least one wheel will be heavier than the others.

[Jim & Susan]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

All these letters and numbers are making me dizzy. But that's sorta my normal state anyway.

Does anybody know what load range this tire equates to? I have Maxxis 8008's on my '73 now and will need to change them out over the winter. Eight years old but low miles. No issues with these tires (yet) but I would LOVE to step up to Michelins.

Jim.

Crickets so far.......I was curious about the Load Range rating on the new Michelins the OP is talking about. Anybody?

Jim

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Crickets so far.......I was curious about the Load Range rating on the new Michelins the OP is talking about. Anybody?



Jim

I'm not 100% sure but I'd guess a C because their max PSI is 50 and their (derated) capacity is just over 2000#. A D-rated tire is 65 PSI and around 2500#. An E is 80 PSI and upwards of 3000 I believe?

Go gentle if I messed that up 😂

[Jim & Susan]

The internet aliens just ate my response, so let me try again........

[Jim & Susan]

LRC works for me. I have always had great results with Michelins. Looks like they are are in my future once again.

Many thanks to the OP and others who have contributed here.

Jim

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

LRC works for me. I have always had great results with Michelins. Looks like they are are in my future once again.



Many thanks to the OP and others who have contributed here.



Jim

Have you weighed your trailer? I have to assume a 73 27 footer is lighter than my wide body 2012 27 footer. Loaded for camping it's about 6000# on the scales and plenty of room for the lower capacity Michelin (these ones the OP listed have about another 70#s per tire). Even I f your trailer is as heavy as mine, you would have plenty of load capacity.