So I've always been a Michelin guy and am currently running the Michelin LTX M/S's on my truck. Love this tire and have over 70,000 on them. I was going to get the same thing but read that Michelin has "upgraded" them to the Defender series and some of the reviews are less than flattering. Lots of road noise and a rough ride. Can anyone confirm this to be the case.

Also what tires do you guys currently recommend? These will be almost all highway miles.

 

Well that's interesting. I currently have BFG K0's that need replaced and was considering going with Michelins. Guess I might have to rethink that. I've been very happy with the BFG's but certainly didn't get 70K out of them. I had a set of Nitto Terra Grapplers (LR E) on an F150; they were worthless in wet or snow.
After reviewing the offerings on TireRack, it looks like I'm going to stick with the BFG K0's.

 

Wow, I have not seen hardly a complaint on the new LTX Defender's. I had them in the 295/70/18 size and loved them. Did awesome in the snow too. Once I wear down these snowflake 20's I'm currently running, I will definitely go back to the Defender's. There are quite a few guys on this site running the Defenders', everyone likes them. You won't be disappointed.

 

Well I went with the Michelin after all. The bad reviews I read were actually on Michelin's own website. Hoping it's just people with unrealistic expectations. So far they seem good. I'm going to put about 3,000 miles on them next week so I'll let you know what I think after the trip.

 

I too will be looking at replacing my BFG KO's. I have 40K miles on them, and was planning on replacing them this fall. The tread wear has been very even and I've been happy with the tires, but they are starting to get a little thin, and I'm thinking by the end of camping season this fall I won't have enough tread depth for winter driving next winter.

I'm also wanting more weight capacity than the stock tire size (245/75/17's) has on them currently. I'm within a few hundred pounds of max weight on my rears and want to boost my weight "cushion" on my next set of tires.

My KO's have 3195 lbs capacity each. So I'm looking for a set of tires that have excellent snow/ice performance and higher weight capacity than what I have now. Willing to go up a little in tire size, but not huge, maybe 265's-ish, and I'm staying with the stock 17" rims.

I've "heard" the KO2's have better snow/ice traction than the KO's, but I've not seen them, and don't know their weight capacity.

So,

#1. Weight capacity

#2. Snow/ice performance

#3. Tread wear life

What do you guys recommend. And cost is not really a concern, nor is tire noise. Just #1 and #2 primarily.

 

Well I just got back from a 3,000 mile road trip. All of my concerns were unfounded. I'm not sure if the bad reviews were from a bad lot of tires or what. I didn't notice any increased noise and as far as the ride at one point I found myself doing over 90 mph and didn't realized it until I looked down because the ride was so smooth.

 

The KO2s are better in snow and ice, plus seem a little quieter on the highway, but I think they are rated at the same carrying capacity as the KOs.

 

Just to confirm - you went Michelin LTX or Defender? We need tires as well and have been waffling between the LTX and BFG KO2's as well...

 

When I got my '16 dually I had a set of Michelin Defenders 275-65-20's already waiting in the garage. 6500 miles on them now and couldn't be any happier. They are E rated at 3750 lbs and I run 65 psi in rears and 70 psi up front.

 

Went with the Defender LTX M/S