THE tire for your SUV
Written: Feb 26 '03 (Updated Jan 03 '06)
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Pros: Great traction, treadwear, handling
Cons: High price (still good value!), maybe a bit more road noise than some
The Bottom Line: Outstanding traction and durability, worth the cost!
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| GR8AV8R's Full Review: Michelin Cross Terrain SUV Truck/SUV Tire |
UPDATE! I've sold the much-loved Lexus, and sadly, the tires went with it. Even though the Lexus was an absolute joy to own, (review at http://www.epinions.com/content_102575672964 ), the tires showed no wear after a few thousand miles of driving. They may outlast the dang SUV, I don't know! Anyway, I cannot recommend these tires strongly enough. Enjoy my original review...
The pitiful factory-supplied tires on my Lexus RX 300 finally wore out, and I was thrilled. I replaced the standard Bridgestones with these tires, and what a difference it has made.
Traction on every surface has dramatically improved, particularly in snow and mud. Dry handling is excellent, and braking is sure. I drive in rainy conditions most of the time (Pacific Northwest), and the wet traction is superb. Given enough standing water, any tire will hydroplane, but these resist it better than anything I've seen. The treadwear rating of 700 is outstanding, and they look good, too. The sidewall is smooth and uncluttered, and easy to keep clean. Tread shoulders are more pronounced than with ride-biased factory tires, but very helpful if you take your vehicle off-pavement as I do. There is a bit more road noise from the more-aggressive tread, a compromise I am willing to accept. They are still quiet tires. I have spoken with other folks who did not notice any increase in road noise...maybe it's just me being picky!
Cost is always an issue with Michelins, but you really do get what you pay for. With expected durability of 60-80,000 miles, it's reasonable to pay more. This tire is a great value! Consider that the factory-supplied Bridgestones lasted for about 30,000 miles, and returned nowhere near the satisfaction of these Michelins.
One note...a friend put these on his full-size pickup, and they did not perform as he'd hoped. These tires are best for small to mid-sized SUV's; If you have a Suburban, Tahoe, Expedition, or the like, I highly recommend the Michelin LTX A/S; a very similar tire with a better load rating. A better choice may be the LTX M/S, a tire I really like...review at
http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-2325-147161E-39F04D33-prod1
Happy motoring!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 142
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Epinions.com ID:
GR8AV8R
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Location: Washington (The State)
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Pilot, daddy, sportsman.
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