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Michelin Defender tires report

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

  1. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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  2. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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  3. Kurt Weiske

    Kurt Weiske Active Member

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    I loved my defenders - I got about 67,000 miles out of them before chickening out and replacing them. I took about a 2-4 MPG hit for the first 10K miles, then they seemed to catch up. Wet handling was incredible compared to my OEM Bridgestone Ecopias.

    I've got Yokohama Avid Ascends now, they're working out well. And everyone on my block with a compact import has replaced their tires with Avid Ascends.

    One side-effect of hanging out on priuschat.com is that you obsessively check out sidewalls to see what people have bought. Or is that just me?
     
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  4. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    Would you know how much tread was left at 67,000 miles...when replaced?
     
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Don't hide the MPGs you were getting with those tires, post it :LOL:
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Saaay ... there's that Vredestein Quatrac 5 again. I wonder what people are thinking of those now that they've been around a bit longer.

    I thought they were a little too new to gamble on last year, and bought General RT43s instead.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm glad I'm not the only one, lol. Have you noticed with Michelins: the brand is really easy to spot, but the specific tire name is always very low-key; you have to stop, crouch down, look close. Which is a little embarrassing...
     
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  8. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Good stuff. Thx for the info! I'm going to try them on our Elantra GT ( already have Defenders on both Prii ). The Avid Ascends seem to have a cheaper entry point than the Defenders as well. However, I never seem to see them on sale. have you?
     
  9. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    Note this from the 2018 Prime owner manual - if you change the tires, certain death may result (clearly written by the lawyers). :eek:

    Make sure that all tires are of the specified size, brand, tread pattern and total load capacity. In addition, make sure that the tires are inflated to the recommended tire inflation pressure level.

    The ABS, TRAC and VSC systems will not function correctly if different tires are installed on the vehicle.

    Contact your Toyota dealer for further information when replacing tires or wheels.
     
  10. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    I wonder if it’s 2am and AAA puts in a new tire on your prime because let’s just say a razor blade is stuck on the blown tire, we’d have to call Toyota first?
     
  11. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    If you have a Costco membership and you get the Michelins when they have $70 off the set, plus free installation, you may well end up paying less than for the Avid Ascends.
     
  12. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    35,000 miles on my Defenders, and an update to report. Today we went across town for birdseed and other assorted items and when back in the garage I was shocked at my FE as below. No special effort was made, but I am not an aggressive driver.


    4E1621E1-7529-42A3-AC7D-DF47C48D00A8.jpeg
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Are they plain Defender, or Defender T+H? I'm just wondering if they've messed with the rolling resistance, with the new iteration.
     
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  14. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    The plain Defenders.
     
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  15. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    I went with new Defender T+H treadwear 820 last month, and decided to not go w/Defender Green X 480 treadwear. T+H has harder rubber wear obviously and weighs in at 18lbs new. No regrets....yet :LOL:
     
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  16. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    7BDF8D62-E9A2-4F36-B7C2-9A61435FA2E1.jpeg Mine say Green X with a treadwear of 820.
     
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  17. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    If you can find another set of Green X treadwear 820, keep it stashed. I know those have been discontinued, looked everywhere for old new stocks w/no luck. My previous was also Green-X 820, yielded 63-64 mpgs daily for the last 12 months with them. A good thing came to an end last month when they had 1 mm left til wear bar touches the road.
     
    #57 Grit, Jan 1, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2020
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  18. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    Thanks for the info! I just know I’ve never had tires that were so easy to get great FE. And they hardly show wear!
     
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  19. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    After 5,000 miles, the T+H tires finally broke in. Getting mid 60 mpgs on the commutes again, back to 63 mpg per tank also. So yes T+H 820s are equivalent replacement to the discontinuednDefender Green X 820s (y)

    IMG_2688.JPG
    IMG_2689.JPG
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The king is dead, long live the king?

    I was thinking it was the same tire, they just changed the warranty, name, rolling resistance logo. Be nice if they'd be candid though.
     
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