Best Michelin Tire For 2004 Limited 2WD

[MikeTEC]

I am planning on replacing the tires on our new to us 2004 Mountaineer Limited 2WD 4.6L, 3.73 axle and towing package. It has 245/65/17 tires. Mostly the wife and I will use the vehicle on the road and it will probably never see off road. Light towing perhaps.

Over the years, I have used several sets of Michelin LTX/MS tires on our other Explorers with outstanding results and was wondering what has been the experience of others with this 3rd generation Explorer and the Michelin LTX/MS? I have used the same tire in "E" rating on our 2002 Diesel truck with sucess also.

Discount Tire lists three other Michelin tires for this model of Explorer and since I have been out of the loop for a while, I am wondering how these tires are holding up compared to the LTX/MS? Is one of them head and shoulders better in terms of comfort and quiet ride?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Mike

 

[gtyates]

We are currently running the LTX M/S on our '04 4x4. Very pleased with this tire on our Explorer!! I should have put it on my Sport Trac, and will next time.

 

[05explorer1974]

I have the LTX MS on my wife's Sport Trac and they are really good tires. I also like the Cross Terrains also. I would have put the LTX's on my Explorer but they did not come in raised white letters so I put on General Grabber HTS and I love that tire.

 

[MikeTEC]

I had originally thought Michelin had discontinued the LTX/MS and replaced it with the LTX/MS2, but apparently it is still available in my size.

Since there has been other Michelin SUV/Truck tires brought out by Michelin over the past four or five years in my size, I just thought one of them might have trumped the time proven LTX/MS tire and tread design for highway driving, traction and ride comfort.

Keep your thoughts coming and recommendations coming. All are appreciated since I will be spending a good amount on Michelins in the next week or so.

Mike

 

[jrford]

i've had 3 set with two sets running right now. Note i live in snow country . . which plays a factor in my choices.

'04 Ex, LTX A/T2, excellent snow traction, great in dirt, rain, etc, some noise, at 50k 50% tread left using 5 tire rotation.
'96 heep, LTX M/S - nice, soft, great rain tire, highway etc, ok in heavy snow. Had LTX A/T prior, over 70k on them and still tread left; great in snow, dirt, rain, less so mud.

There are also Cross Terrains (or was), which people seem to like too. They seem like a combined M/S and A/T crossover?

also to note:
'10 ST - Firestone LE - not bad, great ride, little noisy, great in rain, untested in snow, might be a cheaper alternative?

 

[05explorer1974]

I had originally thought Michelin had discontinued the LTX/MS and replaced it with the LTX/MS2, but apparently it is still available in my size.

Since there has been other Michelin SUV/Truck tires brought out by Michelin over the past four or five years in my size, I just thought one of them might have trumped the time proven LTX/MS tire and tread design for highway driving, traction and ride comfort.

Keep your thoughts coming and recommendations coming. All are appreciated since I will be spending a good amount on Michelins in the next week or so.

Mike

You might be thinking of the AT's which now are the AT2's

 

[MikeTEC]

Anyone ever used the Latitude Tour tire or the Latitude Tour HP?

 

[MikeTEC]

Guess I will settle on the LTX/MS tire since I have had so much good luck with it on other vehicles I own. Hard to beat proven success. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Black_Sport]

I'm way past the date on this thread but I wanted to updated it based on the Latitude Tour HP question.

I have Tour HP's on my 07 right now and it rides extremely smooth. I've kept the tires rotated and 3/4 wore evenly while 1 wore a little faster. Got full life ~55k out of them - will be swapping for A\T here in the next couple months.

 

[mike6348]

Have 20k on latitude tours and am pretty happy with them. Good winter traction and they are wearing very even.

 

[QueenCitySleeper]

i thought tires were tires until I was given set a of Michelins. Now It's Michelins or nothing. I run the m/s 2s. Awesome tire.

 

[IZwack]

i thought tires were tires until I was given set a of Michelins. Now It's Michelins or nothing. I run the m/s 2s. Awesome tire.

x2 - Michelins are what I run on my bus and my Civic.