20" Inch Michelin Defender LTX MS/2 all-season tire replacements for 20" ATs - considerable range improvement impact

[mikehmb]

Some info for those on the fence about going to all-seasons ...

I want to preface this by saying it's very much too early to draw long-term conclusions, but as expected, the Michelins are providing considerably better efficiency than the AT OE tires.

This is not a surprise at all. What -is- surprising is that I kinda like how they look, despite being a long-term AT tire person on all my other trucks.

I was seeing 2.23mi/kWh lifetime on the OE tires. Seeing over 2.9 now, over around 30 miles, though that will reduce considerably over time for sure.

15-min gauge has visibly improved as well. The data shown there doesn't match what's in the net usage stats on trip meter. IMO the graph is more feel-good than reliable.

My guess is that I'm going to land on around 2.5 in mixed driving, and back to 2.75+ on road trips like I had with the OE 21s before I swapped to the 20s. I would consistently see >350 miles in conserve on the highway with the 21s, if the winds weren't crazy.

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[Riviando]

What size tire?

 

[mikehmb]

275/60/20 - 116 XL

 

[zefram47]

275/60/20 - 116 XL

What size were you running for all-terrains, the stock 275/65R20? If so, did you have Rivian re-code for them? The stock 20s are 34" tires and the 21/22s were 33". So if you did have them re-code for the OE 20s, then your numbers are likely optimistic going back to a 33" tire since the system would see ~3% more distance than you actually travelled for the same energy use.

 

[mikehmb]

What size were you running for all-terrains, the stock 275/65R20? If so, did you have Rivian re-code for them? The stock 20s are 34" tires and the 21/22s were 33". So if you did have them re-code for the OE 20s, then your numbers are likely optimistic going back to a 33" tire since the system would see ~3% more distance than you actually travelled for the same energy use.

I'll have the car re-coded next week during a mobile service appt, so all good there. 3% brings me down to 2.8 ... which is still too early to draw conclusions from, but clearly better than 2.2.

Sequence of events:
1) Bought truck with 21" OE. Efficiency then was 2.5ish overall, with a heavy foot. GPS showed speedo was optimistic by 1-2% at the time which changed after SW updates.
2) Swapped out at 7k miles to 20" AT black (OE size - 275/65/20, stock AT tires). Truck was reprogrammed to 20" size, range estimates dropped to expected with AT.
3) 15k miles in, consistent range/efficiency, saw 2.2 for lifetime on ATs. Speedo was accurate per GPS to within 1% over lifetime.
4) Swapped to 275/60/20 Michelins - interested to do a GPS check with these to see how close to 3% off I really am.
5) Mobile service next Tuesday so speedo will be calibrated to stock size (edit: 21" stock size)

 

[ksujeff99]

That’s crazy efficiency, regardless of tire choice on your quad. I’m at 2.2 lifetime, mostly on the factory 21s and since February on Michelin Platinums.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Good to know. I prefer appearance and all around capability of ATs. But if my commute distance changes, will have to seriously consider AS. Hope the promised user-configurable software is out by then.

 

[SamDoe1]

The real question for me is how do they perform in the snow/ice compared to the AT's.

 

[mikehmb]

The real question for me is how do they perform in the snow/ice compared to the AT's.

I had the predecessor to these tires on my MDX 10 years ago, and they were outstanding in snow and ice.

That said, if I lived where packed ice was a problem for a chunk of the winter, I would absolutely go with a dedicated winter tire (not the AT).

 

[SamDoe1]

I had the predecessor to these tires on my MDX 10 years ago, and they were outstanding in snow and ice.

That said, if I lived where packed ice was a problem for a chunk of the winter, I would absolutely go with a dedicated winter tire (not the AT).

I'm in MN so snow/ice is absolutely a thing for almost all of the winter but the factory AT's have actually been really good in the experiences I've had so far. We run Blizzaks on my wife's Subaru (and I've run the same on previous cars I've had too) and they are better than the Pirelli's but not to the point that I'm running out to buy new rims and tires for the winter.

If I'm going to go out and get new wheels, I'm buying a set of 22's and (hopefully) those Michelin PS5S's that are allegedly coming soon and running the 20's with dedicated snows for the winter.

 

[good2go]

Rivian comes with two 20 sire tires.

AT 275/65/20
AS 275/60/20

I have the all season: they say the are winter rated. Check. And they say they are AT, check. Rivian calls them All Season. They are designed for EV.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...3519&cjevent=01c5a8c79c6911ef8120c6390a1cb827

Im interested in getting Goodyears tour version that is also designed for EV.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...3519&cjevent=0fbbdbd49c5511ef82ab00770a1cb829

 

[Dark-Fx]

3) 15k miles in, consistent range/efficiency, saw 2.2 for lifetime on ATs. Speedo was accurate per GPS to within 1% over lifetime.

Lots of people have a tendency to settle into more efficient driving after a while of having fun with their new car. I don't, but a lot do. Hard to make a comparison unless you are deliberately attempting to have similar driving habits and weather as a differential between your swap.

 

[Chinna]

I ordered same model 22inchs tires for LE R1S, waiting for delivery

 

[RoasterX]

@mikehmb how is the road noise on the Michelins? My OE 275x65x20s are killing me with noise after 10k miles. I'm embarrassed to take friends for a ride in the truck with this howl!

 

[jeeden]

I'm in MN so snow/ice is absolutely a thing for almost all of the winter but the factory AT's have actually been really good in the experiences I've had so far. We run Blizzaks on my wife's Subaru (and I've run the same on previous cars I've had too) and they are better than the Pirelli's but not to the point that I'm running out to buy new rims and tires for the winter.

If I'm going to go out and get new wheels, I'm buying a set of 22's and (hopefully) those Michelin PS5S's that are allegedly coming soon and running the 20's with dedicated snows for the winter.

The Defenders are known for being so good in an AS format that they have outperformed many ATs and even some snow tires. Check out youtube (the video is on the forum somewhere too) where a review of the original defenders were tested and really performed well

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