LOL, well I certainly did not start out for this to be a 3-way tire test, but it ended up that way and I thought I would share my experience.


I'm a big Michelin tire fan and have had dozens of sets. Currently have them on my '66 Shelby GT350, supercharged Viper, my wife's car, etc. The only reason my other toy cars don't wear Michelins is because they sit on original (reproduction) Goodyear Polyglas tires from the 60's. I also had Michelins on both my 2005 Expedition as well as my 2013. I've always considered them the best tire available (especially for the Expedition)..


My 2015 Platinum Expedition came with Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires designated Crossover/SUV/Touring All-Season. While I never really had an issue, they aren't very highly rated and visually I wasn't a fan of the tread design. So, with 20k miles on the car I upgraded last week to the new Michelin Defender LTX M/S, a Highway All-Season tire just now available in my 285-45R-22 size. I IMMEDIATELY noticed a negative change in steering response, wander, slightly more noise and much rougher ride. Wow, how could that be? Looking at the TireRack site I really couldn't compare the new Michelins to other tires because they are not yet rated so I took the leap of faith.


After stewing about my poor (and expensive at about $280 per tire shipped) decision and after further comparison, I ordered a set of the brand new Pirelli Scorpion Verde PLUS tires. Below is the TireRack comparison between the OEM Pirellis and the new PLUS version, and although I realize the ratings are subjective, the new PLUS tires are rated significantly higher than the OEMs. So today, exactly 7 days after mounting the Michelins, I had the new Pirelli PLUS tires mounted. Leaving the dealer, a significant and positive difference. Steering response had returned, harshness gone, a bit quieter, etc. the Expedition just felt lighter on its feet if there is such a thing.


In all fairness to Michelin, they too have another new tire in my size the Premier LTX which like the Pirelli is a Crossover/SUV/Touring All-Season and though I suspect they are a great tire rivaling the Pirelli Plus, because they are not yet rated I wasn't going to take a chance.


Moral of the story, I believe the "performance category" absolutely made a difference in my application. Large SUVs work best with the new Crossover/SUV tires.


I hope this helps, below is the TireRack comparison between the OEM Pirellis and the PLUS version.

 

Good review of the tires and nice stable of cars.

I grew up riding in a 68.5 CJ Mustang. It was my dad's daily driver and when he needed better fuel mileage for commuting he yanked the 428 and set it in the garage and put a 289 in. That still cracks me up.

 

The stock 22" Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires on my expy are terrible in snow and ice as your tirerack screenshot shows. I'm starting my second winter on them and unfortunately they only have 7500 miles on them. Thanks for the info!

 

Well, you could always take them off, sell them on Craigslist of something, and buy the better tires. Or you could have a problem and ...wished... you had. What's the net difference, $4-500? Good luck...

 

My 68.5 car has a neat history, one of the very first CJ cars built, the first owner ordered it through a dealership specifically to race. Zero option, radio delete, 4:30 rear, 4 speed. It was raced from new to 1974 when it was retired from its track duties. All freshly restored. I sent the motor to Survival Motorsports, Barry is probably the very best Ford FE guy in the world. I went back and forth with my goals before sending to him, 400hp-500-600-700-600-500-400. Because it's an early car with a cool history I settled on 450hp real on the dyno, BUT told him that I wanted all the stock parts used, stock iron intake, stock Holley 735, stock single point distributor, stock cast iron exhaust manifolds. Probably left 40hp on the table by dynoing with the stock exhaust manifolds but I wanted it run the way it will be installed in this concours-like car. Barry did it and exceeded my goals while making a big, flat torque curve. Listen to the comment at the very end of the clip. LOL. Go full screen and turn up the volume. Not much by today's standards, but pretty good for a 48 year old car. I've got other stuff if I want to go fast. ;^)

 

How are the tires holding up John?


I am getting ready to order a set of 22's and tires....between the dueler HT and these verde plus's.

 

I had a '10 F150 Platinum with Pirelli Scorpions and a '13 Expedition Limited with the same Pirelli tires. Both sets of tires cracked around the wheel lip area and eventually cracked in the tread between ribs. When I traded the Platinum for the Expedition they docked me for the tires on the trade. The Expedition had the same issue when I traded it in on this '15 Expedition. They mentioned the tire cracks again and I put it to them. I told them to talk to their service manager about the cracks. I took it in for the cracks and he blew me off as no major problem. With that documentation sales had no leg to stand on.

This '15 limited has Hankook tires and we only have 600 miles on it since we purchased it. The jury is still out about the Hankooks. I may sell them and switch to a different tire but it won't be Pirellis.

 

So far so good with the new gen Pirellis. Only had them in a little snow, they seemed to work well.