I have gone the LTX M/S route for years as an on pavement choice (original M/S, the M/S2 and now the Defender M/S). However the Duellers are cheaper. Anyone have experiences they wish to share?
255/50-20
255/50-20
Tires. Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Bridgestone Dueller H/L Alenza plus
- Thread starter ktm525
- Start date
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catman
Full Access Member
All I can tell you is that when we bought our 08 RR it had brand new Duelers on them and we took them off within a month. To me the look was a little passé (on a FFRR anyway), to my wife they were not meant to handle spirited driving. I will say they were quiet and comfortable - so if you are a more leisurely driver and do a lot of highway they can be great tires. I would not expect them to have quite the same snow traction as the LTX however.
Ususally those two tires are very close in price, how much of a difference are you finding??
Ususally those two tires are very close in price, how much of a difference are you finding??
The Duellers were abnormally cheap at Costco. I pulled the trigger on the Michelins as I have used lots of LTX M/S on other vehicles and always loved them. The best pavement tire is probably the Premier LTX or the Latitude Tour HP but they start with low tread depth of about 9/32s and then literally melt and are done in 20-30k miles max. Fabulous while they last though . I figure with the Defenders I will lose some ride/handling and gain some toughness and durability. I am not concerned with snow traction as I run a dedicated set of winter tires (Blizzak DMV2) on seperate wheels (old Range Rover 19" wheels).
The Duellers are now made in Mexico vs the USA Michelins so there is that too.
The Duellers are now made in Mexico vs the USA Michelins so there is that too.
My LR4 came with 20" wheels so I have the Michelin Defender LTX and love them. Good handling, quiet, great in rain and decent in soft sand too. (Replaced a set of worn and loud Cooper Zeons)
Our other LR4 has 19" wheels and a set of Michelin Premier LTX tires. The Premiers start with a rather shallow tread depth and wore fast. Still decent in rain but no where near the hydroplaning resistance of the Defenders. Just picked up a set of used 20" LR4 wheels so I can put a set of Defender tires on that LR4 as well. The 19" wheels will become dedicated winter wheels.
Never tried the Bridgestone Alenzas but I can't imagine any tire being as good as what I have experienced with the Michelin Defenders.
Our other LR4 has 19" wheels and a set of Michelin Premier LTX tires. The Premiers start with a rather shallow tread depth and wore fast. Still decent in rain but no where near the hydroplaning resistance of the Defenders. Just picked up a set of used 20" LR4 wheels so I can put a set of Defender tires on that LR4 as well. The 19" wheels will become dedicated winter wheels.
Never tried the Bridgestone Alenzas but I can't imagine any tire being as good as what I have experienced with the Michelin Defenders.
Great tanks for the review. The 20" have Latitude HPs which were replaced by the Premier LTX. Again they started with a shallow tread depth (8-9/32) and wore very fast. At 4/32 they are dicey in heavy rain. Handling/noise was great buit they just melt. The Defenders should handle some light off road better. I have run them on other vehicles just not my Rovers.
I will be looking to purchase new summer tyres this spring and will probably purchase the Bridgestone Dueler Alenza H/L 255 55 R19 111V XL again.
I purchased the previous set July 2012 and probably over the past seven seasons, put 60,000 miles on them. I had no problems with them at all; quiet on the highway and trouble free.
I have Pirelli Ice & Snow 235 65 R18 XL 110H on LR3 SE rims for the winter.
I purchased the previous set July 2012 and probably over the past seven seasons, put 60,000 miles on them. I had no problems with them at all; quiet on the highway and trouble free.
I have Pirelli Ice & Snow 235 65 R18 XL 110H on LR3 SE rims for the winter.
Thanks. I think either choice would have been OK but the Michelins were in stock and probably have the edge off road and in snow ( I run dedicated snows in the winter but the shoulder seasons can surprise).
The Pirelli Ice and Snow were a decent tire in their day (quiet, good handling) and in fact weren't bad in the summer either. I ran a couple sets on my LR3 but they are long gone now. The newer technology winters (Bridgestone DMV2, Hakkas, neew Pirelli Winter) are vastly superior in the nasty stuff.
The Pirelli Ice and Snow were a decent tire in their day (quiet, good handling) and in fact weren't bad in the summer either. I ran a couple sets on my LR3 but they are long gone now. The newer technology winters (Bridgestone DMV2, Hakkas, neew Pirelli Winter) are vastly superior in the nasty stuff.
I am on my 2nd set of Duellers. The last set went 75000 miles. I do mostly highway driving. They are great in rain, snow, mountains, a little off road too. Now Costco will not install them on the LR series because of their lift system, so I bought them from the dealer.
