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Michelin Defender tires report

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by GardenWeasel, Apr 9, 2017.

  1. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    I've about 4000 miles on my Michelin Defender tires, Size 195/65x15, and running 39/36 PSI, and find them to be just super smooth and really comfortable tires on this first road trip with these tires for me. My history is Yoko YK580s, GY Fuel Max (sp?), in both H speed rating and the other (S?), along with Ecopia OEM tires. These Michelin tires track straight and no issues. Returning yesterday from Kentucky, I snapped the pix below. I drive with the cruise set on 66. The actual FE was 54.6 mpg with a total of 496 miles and 9.087 gallon 87 octane. :)

    [​IMG]
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks, great report. well done!(y)
     
  3. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Very good but maybe you had a tailwind?
     
  4. ALS

    ALS Active Member

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    Better question should be what brand gasoline were you using on your trip?

    I have set of Defenders on my 2010 and they have worn much better than the OE Yokos and the Michelin Energy A/S's
     
    Starship16 likes this.
  5. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    Shell, 87 octane. I rotate between Shell and Exxon. I will try to take more pix of the FE. Commonly I show 57 - 58 mpg when just cruising around Columbia. This car has always given me exceptional FE, compared to what I read on this site. I'm still happy with the Defenders. :)

     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    great tyres.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    How did I miss this thread? (n)

    Thanks for the review @GardenWeasel.
     
  8. ALS

    ALS Active Member

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    People take gasoline for granted but I've found Top Tier in most cases gives me better fuel mileage. Prius about 5% and the Volvo 960 gets about 9% better fuel mileage on Top Tier over the standard El Cheapo no name branded stations. I run Shell exclusively.

    I like my Defenders. With fuel mileage there is minimal difference from the Energy A/S's, making the Defenders a far better deal.
     
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  9. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    591D96FC-0498-4EAF-B8A8-A61939B39A68.jpeg Quick Followup. I have 11,548 miles on the tires, and find them to be very quiet, and great FE. I’ve dropped my air pressure to 36/34 (cold). This mornings drive to my dealer is shown above. (Replacement front wheel bearings and alignment.). Some of the mileage was from yesterday.
     
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  10. Frost

    Frost Junior Member

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    The Michelin Defenders are great all season tyres. I ran them on my 2005 Echo hatchback (Yaris / Vitz around the world) and they were fantastic. Long tread life, good road manners, pretty decent wet weather and if needed, barely passable in the winter with moderate snow. They also happen to be good on gas as well but from what I understand, not the best but close to it.
     
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  11. fgp

    fgp Active Member

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    i just had a set of defenders put on my 2015 and love them. the rain grooves are very deep and the shoulders are very rugged looking. more impotantly, the ride is smooth with a "feeling" of security. here in daytona when it rains it rains hard and the defenders go through puddles of all sizes without a feeling that they are going to hydroplane at any moment.the cornering is fantastic (for a stock prius). i have noticed no mpg degradation. i also had them on my 2012 plug in where i fell in love with their handling and economy. they replace my "ok"nakook optima tires. although, the michelin a/s may be a tad more efficient i dont think i will go to a different tire than the defenders again (of course, im 74, so i may not ever have to concern my self with that decision in the future).
     
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  12. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    Yep. A new set of these tires could outlast both of us. :ROFLMAO:
     
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  13. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    I bought the Premiers which were only $10 more than the Defenders. Now wish I had got the Defenders.
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm starting to think like that when I buy the Costco-sized disposable razor pack: I tend to use each one for at least 3 months, being a cheapskate.
     
  15. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    Followup with 27,000 miles on the tires and 141,000 miles on the car. Trip is from northern Kentucky to Columbia, SC. Calculated mileage is 55.6. I drive on cruise with speed showing 68 mph. Some secondary roads between Corbin Kentucky and Newport Tennessee.
    0A93F9E6-1EF4-459D-BC86-B3C82EE1CF9E.jpeg
     
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  16. MegaPrius101

    MegaPrius101 Junior Member

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    Speaking of top tier gas, I dont mean to burst anyone’s bubble but I did a comparison of top tier gas between Chevron, Shell, and Costco premium (91) and Costco gave me the best mpg. I was driving on each for about a week.

    I really thought Shell would give me the best. I switched back to 87 regular gas but the 91 gave me better mpg.

    Btw: anyone interested in these tires, simple tire.com is heavily discounting them now.. I may buy them tomorrow (sale lasts until tomorrow I think).
     
  17. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    No Chevron gas around here. I buy 87 octane Costco, BP, or Mobil -- maybe Shell once or twice. Most of our trips are short, so the ICE hardly warms up properly much of the time. The tires are the Kumho TA31 that the dealer (not a Toyota dealer) had put on the trade-in before reselling it.

    I don't recall the mpg we got driving to and from Atlanta last year, but on a recent round trip of a couple of hundred miles (including a little around-town driving), we got 50.8mpg.
     
  18. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    o_O
     
  19. MegaPrius101

    MegaPrius101 Junior Member

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    Just got my Defender T + H installed yesterday and did a nitrogen conversion for all 4 tires this morning at Costco.. I know someone has reported getting 80,000 miles from them.. I hope to join that person as well.

    I’ll post if my mpg improves.

    Car feels so much better with new tires.. I’m probably going to get an alignment as I haven’t in a while (just letting tires wear in a bit).
     
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  20. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    It is BEST to get the alignment with NEW Tires.
    If your alignment is off to the point of wearing the tires, you will be damaging the new tires.
    Then getting an alignment with worn tires may not give you the correct measurement and
    you could have more problems with the car drifting to one side, not because of the alignment,
    but because of the tires.
     
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