2013 Sienna FWD - 3 season - Michelin Defender 2?

[Craig in Canada]

Shopping for new tires for a 3rd gen 2013 Sienna LE FWD 235/60R17 "summer use" only - already have dedicated set of winter wheels & tires so winter traction is not a factor in the decision. Currently riding on RT43s from the previous owner.

We've had a few different tires on 2nd and 3rd gen Siennas. Most liked were Michelin Defender T+H on a 2nd gen. I see the T+H has been discontinued in favour of the Defender 2, but the Defender 2 has a "B B" rating, seems frequently offered in only T speed rating not H in the size required and few other things that might be a "downgrade" compared to the previous T+H experience.

There's also the MXV4, supposedly superior, but Tirerack surveys put the Defender 2 ahead in every section.

Personally, I do favour Michelin. My particular life experience has resulted in superior results from Michelin in almost all cases but I realize that doesn't apply to every model and every size or vehicle out there. (The bulk of my personal experience is with PS2, PSS, PS4S - tires in a class where Michelin is a clear winner and not something that's going on a minivan)

Any collective thoughts? Anyone bought Defender 2s and hated them?

 

[LenZee]

On my 2012 Sienna I currently have Goodyear Assurance Weatherready tires in 235/60R18.
Great tires with about 9000 miles on them. So far they are wearing nicely. Not run flat so I carry a spare (AWD).

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Michelin does make an H-rated Defender 2 in your size 235/60-17. It is listed on Blackcircles and 1010

Too bad the Pilot Sport 4 SUV isn't available in your size
The Latitude Sport 3 it replaced was available in your size, and you might be able to find some on eBay. This seller only has 2, not all 4

There's also the Primacy 4 (a grand touring summer tire) or Conti's equivalent PremiumContact 6.

 

[DirectRejection]

I am very happy with Defender 2's on my Corolla Cross. It is a solid all around tire.

 

[dtownfb]

Take a look at Continental TrueContact Tour. I put a set on my 2013 Sienna XLE about 20 months ago. I have been very pleased with this tire. Quiet, good grip (dry, wet and snow) and the van rides smoothly. It's a popular tire with Sienna owners and gets great reviews.

Good luck.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Looks like at some retailers I can also get Premier LTX, which I assume to be an SUV/truck rated tire as opposed to a primarily a car tire. I'm having difficulty finding any good comparisons that aren't just AI-generated drivel online.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Looks like at some retailers I can also get Premier LTX, which I assume to be an SUV/truck rated tire as opposed to a primarily a car tire. I'm having difficulty finding any good comparisons that aren't just AI-generated drivel online.

The Premier LTX only comes with 8.5/32 tread, which is just not enough.

 

[The Critic]

The Premier LTX only comes with 8.5/32 tread, which is just not enough.

Not for certain sizes.

 

[nthach]

Looks like at some retailers I can also get Premier LTX, which I assume to be an SUV/truck rated tire as opposed to a primarily a car tire. I'm having difficulty finding any good comparisons that aren't just AI-generated drivel online.

The Premier LTX is basically the SUV-sized version of the outgoing Premier. Michelin wants to replace those with the CC2s. The Defender 2s don’t rank so great in the rain per TireRack.

 

[Craig in Canada]

The Premier LTX is basically the SUV-sized version of the outgoing Premier. Michelin wants to replace those with the CC2s. The Defender 2s don’t rank so great in the rain per TireRack.

Tirerack rates Defender2 #1 out of 17 in the segment, with a 9.0 "Excellent" in wet grip. Did you mean something else, or am I looking in the wrong place? Defender LTX?

 

[nthach]

Tirerack rates Defender2 #1 out of 17 in the segment, with a 9.0 "Excellent" in wet grip. Did you mean something else, or am I looking in the wrong place? Defender LTX?

View attachment 144280

I’m referring to the Defender 2/X Tour 2, the replacement for the Defender T+H/X Tour T+H.

 

[Craig in Canada]

I’m referring to the Defender 2/X Tour 2, the replacement for the Defender T+H/X Tour T+H.

OK - that's what I copied from Tirerack's reviews - 9.0 "Excellent". Where did you see poor ratings from TR for wet?

 

[edyvw]

Looks like at some retailers I can also get Premier LTX, which I assume to be an SUV/truck rated tire as opposed to a primarily a car tire. I'm having difficulty finding any good comparisons that aren't just AI-generated drivel online.

I had Premier LTX on X5. It is very good tire. It does start shallow, but it is exceptional in every aspect. Now, I use snow tires, so can’t tell you anything about snow performance.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

OK - that's what I copied from Tirerack's reviews - 9.0 "Excellent". Where did you see poor ratings from TR for wet?

I think it was in the video's when they compared it to other tires. Watch that when you get a chance.

 

[Craig in Canada]

I think it was in the video's when they compared it to other tires. Watch that when you get a chance.

Found it - looks like the little video is in complete disagreement with user reviews/ranking. Neat!

Just taking another look through the playing field again... Wondering on the group's thoughts about the Sienna and making an intentional decision to get a truck/SUV tire instead of passenger car rated - such as getting the Conti LX25 over the Michelin CC2. The winter tires (Hakkas) have been the SUV version and those have had some nice properties compared to the non-SUV version I have been running on my vehicle. Wondering if the same might carry over to all-season/summer.

 

[nthach]

Found it - looks like the little video is in complete disagreement with user reviews/ranking. Neat!

Just taking another look through the playing field again... Wondering on the group's thoughts about the Sienna and making an intentional decision to get a truck/SUV tire instead of passenger car rated - such as getting the Conti LX25 over the Michelin CC2. The winter tires (Hakkas) have been the SUV version and those have had some nice properties compared to the non-SUV version I have been running on my vehicle. Wondering if the same might carry over to all-season/summer.

Minivans are generally hard on their tires. An LT/C-Metric tire(Conti VancoFourSeasons, Michelin Agilis CrossClimate, Hankook Vantra) will buy you more load carrying and durability at the expense of ride quality. A truck tire will ride rougher, I put a set of Defender LTXs on a Lexus RX450h, it made it ride very firm, the current Pirelli Scorpion AS3 Plus(a “truck” sized version of the Cinturato P7 AS3 Plus) rides smooth. Oddly enough, Michelin does make a Defender LTX in a 235/65R16, which is used on the 2005-2009 Honda Odyssey and maybe newer, there also more “truck” tires in that size.

The Sienna is proving to be a popular “overlanding” van despite FWD chops - many are installing AT tires like the Falken Wildpeak AT3s or Yokohama Geolandar ATs on them.

 

[dumkid]

i would get the ltx defenders. my vw jetta has ran normal (passenger car) defenders before, and the ltx (truck tires) defenders lasted way longer.

 

[The Critic]

Found it - looks like the little video is in complete disagreement with user reviews/ranking. Neat!

Just taking another look through the playing field again... Wondering on the group's thoughts about the Sienna and making an intentional decision to get a truck/SUV tire instead of passenger car rated - such as getting the Conti LX25 over the Michelin CC2. The winter tires (Hakkas) have been the SUV version and those have had some nice properties compared to the non-SUV version I have been running on my vehicle. Wondering if the same might carry over to all-season/summer.

Keep in mind that wet traction test results are very dependent on the road type that the test was performed on.

 

[UG_Passat]

Tirerack rates Defender2 #1 out of 17 in the segment, with a 9.0 "Excellent" in wet grip. Did you mean something else, or am I looking in the wrong place? Defender LTX?

View attachment 144280

That #1 out of 17 rating is equivalent to a Consumer Reports rating, as it is an aggregate of results from the customer review surveys, not TireRack's own testing. See below for results and comments from TireRack's testing.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=294