Upgrade Yokohama to Michelin tires?

I have a 2024 Limited with right at 5k miles. I bought this T4R for road trips through the western US and it realistically will seldom, if ever, get further off road than dirt/gravel roads. I am 75, actively retired, live in central Arizona at 4100' so we do get some snow here and plan on keeping this truck until I can no longer drive, for whatever reason.

It came new with Yokohama Geolandar G96B tires. While they fit my needs, I notice the near universal praise here for Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2 tires for my use case. I am ready to do my first 5k mile service 5 tire rotation and am seriously considering going to Discount Tire and trading in the 5 Yokohamas towards 5 new Michelins. I would stay with the 20" stock size.

The Yokohamas will never be worth more than they are now and I find value in the praise for the Michelins considering these could be the last set of tires I may ever need. The cost is not much of a concern. Are the Michelins really the best for my use case or am I crazy even considering this change? Thanks!

 

I have the MS 2s on mine. They are XL load and are noticeably firmer than an SL tire. I like the ride, but I’ve have ongoing trouble with balancing. Crappy stock Dunlop’s never once were imbalanced in 36k miles. If they balanced properly I’d give them an A+.

 

go with SL rating

 

Stock tires should be fine. I used up both the Dunlop Grandteck and the Bridgestone Duellers that are offered on the SR5. Both were servicable and never felt lacking.
I am currently rolling on Pirelli AT tires rated XL as I hope to get onto some dirt, although at 78 years it seems harder and harder to plan get-a- ways.

 

I just called Discount Tire and the Michelin defender in stock 245-60 20 in SL load range were recently discontinued and are only available in XL rating now. I guess I need to research into other sizes...

 

Big Michelin fans here and will replace the Geolanders on our 22 Limited 4WD with those exact LTX you’re considering, when they are ready to be replaced. “When” is the operative word here.

The Geolanders now have 61k miles (we bought the 4Runner new - my wife’s daily driver) and have probably at least another 20k left in them. We rotate every 5k.

Never been a Yoko fan, but the Geolanders have been exceptional. Do what you want, but if it was me, I’d run the OEM Geolanders until they’re worn out.

That said you can’t go wrong with the LTX either. Good luck!

 

Well, it looks like I can only find the Michelin Defenders in the stock 245-60 20 and alternate 275-55 20 in XL range, no SL range. I am going to have reassess my situation.

Worst case, I have no specific issues with the Yokohama tires. Going to 17" wheels and tires is an option, but it is a more expensive solution in search of a problem.

Edit - After more investigation, considering the weight of a 5 gen T4R, the XL load range may be actually more appropriate and the XL range Defender turns out to be 1lb lighter than the SL range Geolandar in the stock 245-60 20 size...

Probably time for a Friday afternoon rum and coke to reconsider my reassessment.

 

I'm a big fan of 17in wheels and tires. Its not an expensive upgrade either. TRD Offroad wheels are very reasonably priced in used market. They are far less weight than 20in wheels. With stock size 265/70R17 tires you have insane amount of tire options. Unlike 20 in you have to settle for tires like non-snow rated Micheline defenders you have a huge range to select all weather tires, All terrain tires, so on and so forth.

Also if you have someone in your house hold who doesn't care about curbs and potholes 17in wheels and tires are miles ahead of 20in minivan options.

Edit -
Just did a search, Dang, there are only 8 snow rated tires available in size 245/60R20 at Discount Tire. Vs 265/70R17 have 71 snow rated tires available.

 

Thanks for that information about snow rated tires! To be fair, in the last 5 years, we have averaged 3-5" of snow here around Sedona. That is not for a single storm, that is for the whole winter. We did have one year when we got about 13" of snow, but that was all melted by the next afternoon. I lived above 7000' in the Colorado Rockies for 50 years (after growing up in Minnesota) so I have pretty good experience with snow rated tires. They certainly have their place, but they are not a priority for my use case here in the Arizona desert, just a factor to consider.

 

I have a set of these on my Taco. They have been great tires……

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-ltx-a-t-2

 

Thank you, but those are not as highly rated and weight 10lb more (each) in SL load range than the Defenders in XL load range for the same tire size.

 

Just my .02 for what it’s worth. I have been using exclusively the old Michelin Defender LTX MS for well over 20 years in all conditions. Best all around tire ever but my last set finally wore out and needed replacement.
Obviously they are no longer available and was forced to replace with the new Defender LTX MS2.
I am having them replaced this week after only 3 weeks. In my opinion they aren’t worthy of the Michelin name. They are now only available in XL load. Very stiff,harsh jarring ride. I have a good tire guy and he could not get them to balance properly,causing an uncomfortable choppy ride.They feel very unsteady in general on the road, especially at speed.
I played with air pressure and could never feel connected to the road,dry or especially wet conditions. We had to make an abrupt lane adjustment on the highway last week and my correction almost caused loss of control. That was the last straw.
I never write emails but felt I had to contact Michelin with feedback on what I think was a horrible decision discontinuing the original LTX MS’s.
Again just my experience and I never thought I would have this impression of Michelin.
My replacements will be here early next week and am trying the relatively new Yokohama Geolandar CV 4S. Fingers crossed but they seem to fit my needs. Good luck, cheers
Edit:TireRack says the Yokohamas are XL also but digging deeper on Yoko’s site they are SL and only 37 lbs.

 

I think the DOT label molded into a tire is definitive. Double check with max tire pressue also on tire.
My Pirelli Scorpion AT+ are in literature as SL. But tire DOT says XL and max 44psi also confirms XL.

 

I think kmeeg is right on in that the 3PMS tires are a great option. But the Defenders perform almost or equally as well. My Defenders give about the same traction as the 3PMS CrossClimates on my wife's car and apparently there's a YouTube video showing the Defenders outperforming 3PMS tires. Mine saved me from running into a guy that came sliding down a hill onto the slick rural road I was driving on. If you expect less than 16 inches of snow you'll be fine. Defenders are also my mechanics favorite tire. There are other good tires out there; even if the Defender isn't the very best it's a rock solid choice.

 

In tire size 265/70R17 there is Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady2 that were most likely made after seen the success of Micheline CrossClimate2. I have 2nd hand experience with older WeatherReady tires. But looks like OP doesn't need snow rated tires. In that case Micheline Defender would be the best choice for the pavement imo.

 

Here are my current thoughts about the 20" Michelin Defender XL load rated tires compared to some of the reviews from other owners. My 2024 Limited with Xreas suspension has a different, softer, more compliant ride quality, less stiff, than the other models. The current SL rated Geolandars just seem to wander a little too much with the 4500+lb vehicle weight and the Limited suspension at 75+mph highway speeds (my use case), which seems to be about the weight limit for my truck with SL rated tires. I am thinking that the XL rated Defenders might give a more planted highway handling with a less jarring ride than they might on the other model suspensions. Is this wishful thinking or is the Limited a better suspension platform for XL rated Defenders for my use case of western US road trips?

 

How did the Yoko's work for you last winter?

 

Do not be afraid of the XL rated Michelins. I have them on my OffRoad Premium and they are fantastic tires. The XL in the new version of the Defender MS2's just has a very slightly "beefed up" sidewall resulting in a very slight increase in load index (like 113 on the old version to 116 on new version or something like that). Just barely a change.

I read that they went to XL due to all the new electric/hybrid vehicles getting heavier. But it's not at all like going to an LT tire. The XL's are still much more in the ballpark of a P rated tire.

You may not even notice the XL difference on the 20 inch limited tires. I bet the change for you would be more subtle than on the 17 inch tires on the other trims.

 

I bought the Limited in December and there has been no snow here to drive through since then, only occasionally wet roads.

 

^^^
Understood, but basically you've been through a typical-ish winter for your area. I'm just suggesting you have something of a feel for how the Yoko's do in "weather". I like Yokohama but would not mind having a set of Michelin either. You are right that your current tires are as valuable as they will ever be right now. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

The Yokohamas look to be a similar style to the Michelins. I'm not sure they'd be much of an upgrade.

Do you not plan on driving for more than the next 5-7 years?

 

Hey @FatChance
Can I offer advice
Don’t be pressured away too easily from heavier thicker tires, like XL. You made a great point when you reported that the weight is actually 1lb lighter than the Yoko SL, that’s a positive. I’ve run Load E 10plys for the first time,for 4 years in the pacific north west, my wife and I and folks who’ve driven my 4R would have to disagree with sentiments like this:
“XL load. Very stiff,harsh jarring ride. I have a good tireguy and he could not get them to balanceproperly,causing an uncomfortable choppyride.They feel very unsteady ingeneral onthe road, especially at speed.”

Sure my wheels and tires are different, 17” and tires mickey thompson 285/70, but XL load have been badass in a good way, my thread life has been superb. I’ve never heard a bad review of Michelins, I am interested in them next, and I bet you’d be satisfied with XL 20” Michelins. Mine balanced perfect on the first try at my 4wd shop…but I feel like Discount Tire has been a common denominator among the many tire balance issue threads…I’ll never buy there. Yes, I know not everyone had a problem at discount.
Thanks. My two cents

 

OP is 75 y/o so nothing is guaranteed.
At 65 y/o I believe I have been making some of my last purchases as well. My 4Runner for one.

 

I saw that.

 

Hard to say. I am 75 years old after all. On the day I was born, I was closer in time to the Battle of the Little Bighorn than I am today to the day I was born. But, due to clean living and pure thoughts, I am very active and doing pretty damn well, all things considered. My mother passed last fall at age 103 so I must have at least some good genes.

How long will my 2024 5th Gen 4runner with only 5k miles miles on it last with good maintenance and driven by an old retired guy who doesn't have to commute to work? How long do you plan on living? I plan on living forever, so there is that...

It is hard to predict things, especially the future.

 

103! Wow!

I'm just saying, you could be around for awhile. Tires might not wear down, but can dry rot and need replacing. Those Michelins do have a good reputation for longevity, though.

I still don't know if it's worth taking a loss on the Yokohamas. If you're not satisfied with them, then by all means, go for the Michelins. But, the Yokos look like good tires, and seem to have high ratings.

 

She lived in Minnesota her whole life (where I grew up) so she was from hardy upper Midwest stock!

I bought my 2024 Limited used with 1031 miles in December and the Yokohama tires came on it stock and I will sell them to the tire shop and my 4runner has not really depreciating much at all since I bought it, so I can sort of rationalize that I would not be losing too much on trading them in for what it should have been fitted with from the factory. At any rate, any cost difference is not much of a factor in this decision.

 

Out of all of the tires I've seen Toyota put on 4Runners, those Yokohamas look like some of the best (as a street oriented tire).

But, if you just want Michelins, I won't judge. My Dunlops were gone in 19 days with 1300 miles on them.

 

100%.

 

I put Michelin Defender M/S and it made a huge difference, but we get a lot of snow and ice.

The other tires mentioned here look interesting (especially the LTX 2), but my local Costco doesn't carry them.