Michelin defender

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spasm3

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The contipro contacts on the elantra are shot at 23k ( very evenly worn). I'm looking at the Michelin defender. Anyone have experiece with them?
Also, usually its good to let them rebuild the tps. but since its so new and low mileage would i still need to do it?
 
Had them installed on the Jetta in December. They seem to be a good A/S tire. Have been decent on snow and ice. They needed just a few light weights when balanced. Will be interested to see how they wear.
 
Due to the miles/age, I would pass on the TPMS rebuild. No sense in letting someone replace perfectly good OE parts with questionable, generic aftermarket components.

While the Defender is the longest warrantied tire with the proper fitment, I would be tempted to consider the Primacy MXM4 or the new Premier A/S for their performance attributes.
 
I have Defenders on the Audi, about 15k on the set. They have been great for noise and grip in rain, ice and light snow. However, their handling and ride quality tend to leave a little to be desired. Considering that I was looking for tread life the handling and ride trade-off was worth it to me. If I was looking for something sportier I would have gone with the MXM4.

I should also mention that the Defenders have worn very evenly despite the suspension needing some work.
 
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Due to the miles/age, I would pass on the TPMS rebuild. No sense in letting someone replace perfectly good OE parts with questionable, generic aftermarket components.

While the Defender is the longest warrantied tire with the proper fitment, I would be tempted to consider the Primacy MXM4 or the new Premier A/S for their performance attributes.


Premier's at least 3 months away till they hit the shelves.
I never warmed to the MXM4's. Why not MXV4's? Costco's doing $70 off a set again.
I never liked the "Long Life" tire. I'm sick of anything before 50k, Nevermind 80k.
Defender's & Integrity's. I'd pass
MXV4's have made many people happy, Myself included. With a 60k warranty, Why not?
 
I worked for merchants for a while before firestone. We sold a heck of alotta michelin primacys. They last long and ride smooth. I have a new set on my altima and im impressed. I have a bent rim and now i cant even tell.
 
Btw MAKE sure you watch them change the tpms kit. they will charge you for it and not do it because its taboo to brake a sensor. So they usually tell us not to mess with them and just use a new valve core.
 
Running the defenders on a elantra too. No problems. Michelin replaced the hydroedge (Which I have on my civic) with the defender.
 
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defenders are great on smaller fitment tires.
might consider the altimax rt43

They are fairly amazing in the same category as the defender, better everything except treadlife IMO.

That being said I've been happy with the defenders on the 2010 accent.
 
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Originally Posted By: michaelluscher
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Due to the miles/age, I would pass on the TPMS rebuild. No sense in letting someone replace perfectly good OE parts with questionable, generic aftermarket components.

While the Defender is the longest warrantied tire with the proper fitment, I would be tempted to consider the Primacy MXM4 or the new Premier A/S for their performance attributes.


Premier's at least 3 months away till they hit the shelves.
I never warmed to the MXM4's. Why not MXV4's? Costco's doing $70 off a set again.
I never liked the "Long Life" tire. I'm sick of anything before 50k, Nevermind 80k.
Defender's & Integrity's. I'd pass
MXV4's have made many people happy, Myself included. With a 60k warranty, Why not?

I've had both the Primacy MXV4s and the Primacy MXM4 - both are excellent tires. Between the two, the Primacy MXM4 has better steering feel, better handling, and slightly lower rolling resistance (judging from the mpg). Treadwear so far, has been very comparable.
 
Rebuild the TMPS. I put new tires onto my truck; it was 3-4 years old, had 78k on the clock; I'm guessing this was the third time it was getting tires, at least. One of the valve cores was not coming out at all; I think at least one of the nuts holding the stem in place was destroyed also. Most of the o-rings were long gone too (and I had random tire pressure losses). Dealership had just replaced the tires, and I wanted something rated better, otherwise I would not have known; the tire shop I dealt with said they always use anti-sieze and a new o-ring.

If you're getting tires rated for 60k and will be driving on them for a few years, it might pay to have the ring replaced now before it decides to pick up a slow leak.
 
Originally Posted By: Volv04Life
The tpms hex nut has a rubber gasket. It should be replaced anytime you get new tires. Sorry for multiple posts.

This-guy.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: Volv04Life
The tpms hex nut has a rubber gasket. It should be replaced anytime you get new tires. Sorry for multiple posts.


YOu don't have to remove the TPMS sensor from the wheel in order to replace the tire.

At most, you would just unscrew the core from Schrader valve.
 
My car is on its seventh set of tires. I have re-sealed the TPMS each time.

Everything is original and still works well. A small leak due to those seals ageing would annoy the [censored] out of me...
 
I have defenders on the CRV and have been very happy with them. 10,000 miles in and I feel the mileage warranty is about right. Quiet ride, even wear, no MPG issues, great in rain, solid in snow/ice, very nice all season tire. I am partial to Michelin though.

I also have Vrated MXV4s on the sedan, because I like corners
smile.gif
. Not sure I would like the defenders on a sedan with my driving style. The CRV is the wife's and is driven differently even by me. Between MXV4s and MXM4s I went with the V4s based on some characteristic but honestly now I can't remember what it was.

My tire place (Discount Tire) admitted to me that their TPMS "rebuild" simply replaces the o-ring. I let them do it to avoid leaks and because it sounded like they weren't messing too much with the operational end of the sensor. I also got the rebuild for 5 per tire rather than 20 they originally wanted when I laughed at the idea of 20 for an o-ring.
 
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