My OEM Dunlops on 19" wheels are just about to the wear bars at 33k, so I'll be replacing them soon. My default choice is get the Defenders, but it seems like most folks brag on them because of how long they last.

The trouble is, I don't really care about that. I'm more interested in sure footedness in the rain, ride and handling on dry roads, and being reasonably quiet. If they accomplish these things for lots of miles, great, but if they don't I'll be less than pleased.

How well do Defenders meet these requirements as they age? I'm hoping to avoid ditching them at 35k - when they still "look" fine - because I've come to hate the way they work. I'm there with the Dunlops, but they are worn out so I don't mind replacing them.

Mark

 

Here is my take on the Defendet LTX M/S 19" not M/S2

Roughly 40k miles usage

Dry
Feel very planted and no issues
Wet
I haven't had any scares so far in S FL with heavy rain, I have no issues doing 70-80 mph in wet weather, grip feel good.
I have had better tires for wet usage, this could also be GX platform issues.
Keep in mind road surface also plays a role in in wet weather
"off road"
Did several trail in Colorado, had to return on Imogene pass as the weather turned into heavy rain and Wranglers turned around, but had no issues with grip on the stones and gravel.
Noise
In beginning they were good, now I would say more noisy than the Dunlops ours came with, but not so the I would change tires already.
Tread wear
So far they wear evenly, I do rotate them, but only every 10k not 5K

For us they are the best option so far for 19'

 

We replaced the Michelin Energy tires on our 2020 ES 300h 235/45-18's with Defender 2's last fall. Like them on the FWD sedan, quiet and smooth in the dry and much better in the rain and snow than the OEM low rolling resistance tires were. Considered the Cross Climates and also Primacy styles but am happy with these.

 

By moving from Dunlops to Defenders you'd be going from the worst tire to the best tire. Period. (LTXs on my GX & brand new Defender 2s on my RX).

 

Defenders are my go-to tire whenever I replace OEMs across multiple vehicle types. The longevity is nice but the traction and solid footing in all but the worst snow/ice conditions is the top.

 

... agree with kgbagent1 ... the as delivered Dunlop's are absolute garbage tires ... steering response and directional stability is abysmal ... like steering on water balloons compared to any other tire ... so anything will be an improvement. I have always literally driven from new delivery to Discount Tire to install real tires ... with Discount Tire crediting $50-75 per tire trade-in for the Dunlop's (or Bridgestone's).

The Michelin Defenders have only one negative ... they look like Soccer Mom tires ... but are the absolute best performing tire for the GX460 ... have had more sets than I can count on GX's and 4-Runners. Longevity = 60,000 to 70,000 miles and sometimes beyond ... are very quiet ... excellent steering response, directional stability, dry traction, wet traction and are actually pretty good in light snow and ice for a non-3-peak rated tire. They also do quite well in light offroad other than mud where the tread loads quickly. Once installed, you will think you are driving a different vehicle ... they are that transformative over the Dunlop's.

The one negative randomly reported issue is dry-rot from UV exposure ... but I attribute that to the fact that these tires last close to forever. I have typically replaced Defenders in the 50,000 to 60,000 mile range where the tires have simply timed out on age, while still having another 10,000-odd miles of tread remaining.

 

Of all of Dunlop's crappy characteristics--and there are many--the loud ride is perhaps the worst part. When I upgraded my 4Runner tires from Dunlops to the now-discontinued Michelin CrossTerrain (Defender predecessor) I could not believe how quiet. I could actually turn the radio down!

 

... given the massive quantity committed, most as delivered (new vehicle) tires are OEM spec for specific characteristics and to save money ... so while they have the same name as the retail version, they are not necessarily the exact same tire.

 

Thanks man!! Exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for.
I didn't mind the Dunlops, other than they seemed to be only good in the rain when new. I ran them at 36-37psi, though, as the doorplate's 32 seemed way too low. No worries about how they look: If I need to gaze at tire ****, I can look at my 4runner's 40" Treps. I'll probably swap mine out at the same time you do, as I hate the last few thousand miles of a tire's "official" life. I just didn't want that to happen at 30k, which is why I started this post. It doesn't seem like that will be a problem.

Maybe it's a GX thing, but I don't find them noisy. Granted, the other vehicles I drive are a PSD Excursion and a doorless jeep, but I also drive my wife's X5 on long trips, and my GX makes less road noise than it does. It does have run-flat's though, which are often noisier than otherwise equivalent go-flats.

Mark

 

... on pressure ... ^ agree with ScaldedDog ... I always run 36-psi versus the 32-psi on the sticker (for P-Rated tires).

 

So you run your Defenders at 36, too? Good to know.

Mark

 

I run 36-38, on the Defenders, pending load and if longer road trip.

 

Had a set of E-Rated Defenders on a GX470 ... ran at 46-psi ... liked the overall handling so much better. For me 32-psi is catering to the marshmallow ride crowd ... an epidural for those that don't want to experience the dynamics of actually driving.

 

i was always question at what ambient is the door jamb sticker on vehicles tested. 32 at 0 could be 34 at 50 or 36 at 80 in select regions.

 

... convention is typically represented as 68-70 F for "cold" tire pressure ... and bump 1-psi for every 10-degrees F above (decrease) or below (increase).