Review - Michelin Defender LTX Platinum Tires - Cyberbeast

[TheEther]

Platinum’s installed yesterday. Instant cushion improvement, of course since they are AS instead of AT.
PSA / Reminder: The wheel covers won’t FIT without wearing. I plastered them on thinking they would work because the first one I installed (see one of the photos) appeared to provide enough space for trial. However, after installing them to the rest of the wheels proved troublesome. So, there’s that. I’ll reinstall my center cap covers next.

Great report than you for sharing! I run without the Aero Covers since day 1 so didnt run into that. The efficiency gain in the tires more than negates the aero covers I think. Never really liked the covers

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[TheEther]

I have read many people recommend these and also the K03 tires. Can anyone comment on how the two compare to a tire rookie?

K03 I think is prob noisier than the LTX and better for off-road than LTX. No direct experience with K03 tho, all my research pointed to K03 being quality but not the luxury component I was looking for, I'm 99% on road. LTX are about longevity and ride (luxury) with a bit of aggressiveness for off-road.

 

[btcrealm]

K03 I think is prob noisier than the LTX and better for off-road than LTX. No direct experience with K03 tho, all my research pointed to K03 being quality but not the luxury component I was looking for, I'm 99% on road. LTX are about longevity and ride (luxury) with a bit of aggressiveness for off-road.

This is all correct. KOs are going to be louder, rougher, less air efficient, and over all more aggressive.
I've run them on many of my rigs and I do love them but I understand the trade offs.
All that said I will not get them for my cyberbeast as the daily driver because I like launching and they will be destroyed by that. They are not made in H rating and are not an appropriate compound for the concept. I got specific off-roading tires for trail runs (still looking for a good 18" beadlock with the 28-18+mm offset).

 

[TheEther]

Interesting! Look at the change in Max Range as reported by the BMS from Tessie the moment I added the Michelin Defender LTX Plat's. A whole section that appeared which wasn't there before (purple area). The scatter chart appears to be trending up (slightly).

 

[Electric Metal]

This is the thread on this Tire I would have liked to have read but not much is out there. A couple kind members here have them and I've enjoyed reading their notes. The AT's were great through the winter for me but they are noisier than I'd like on the interstate. Most of my driving is City/Interstate with only occasional off-road. The Truck is so quiet I wanted more of that. I wanted to soften the ride a little, /possibly/ increase Interstate speed efficiency, reduce the noice considerably and perhaps have a little better traction than the AT's. I decided to give the Michelin Defender LTX Platinums a try on the stock wheels. Over all I like the way they look, still aggressive but with a more traditional sidewall. I've had them mounted since March 4th, they were properly Road Force Balanced by my local tire shop I've had a long relationship with.

Findings after 3 weeks and 725 miles driven on the Michelin Defender LTX Platinums:

1. Right out of the gate they were quieter than the AT's
2. My steering squircle was not centered (ever so slightly left cocked) after getting the vehicle back from the tire shop. They did observe the proper lift points (I printed out the manual page, handed it to them and showed them where to lift). I drove it on the lift myself and put it in Jack Mode. They did NOT attempt to align it on my request. Tesla did align it at the service center and all is well ($295 bucks later).
3. The ride is softer than the AT's
4. When tuning these tires for quietness, Air Pressure matters. They roar at 47 PSI and at 53 PSI but tends to be most quiet dead nuts on 50 PSI. Oddly though, temperature swings affect this tire more than the AT. 47 PSI at 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 53 PSI at 80 degrees Fahrenheit on Blacktop. I haven't tried it at 60PSI like another member here mentioned. The tires still have a little roar / roar/resonance/warble but not as much as the AT's. Something like half the noise of the AT's which is nice, I hear the Tesla motors more with these than I did with the AT's.
5. They don't (at least at this time) seem to have as good of dry traction as the AT. I notice it in hard cornering and Beast Mode launches. Hoping this will improve as they break in a little more, but doubt I'll see much difference. Not a deal breaker but may cost you a Tenth of a second or two on blacktop in a Bestmode lunch.
6. Wet performance seems to be very good.
7. The Michelin's appear to be more energy efficient than the AT's.
8. Stopping seems great, no issues.

I have a Tessie Subscription and posted a few metrics. In this case on the first two images, I've filtered out all city/short trip driving and showing only interstate drives. If you know Tessie better than I do, by all means suggest other metrics:

Michelin Defenders - March 14 below is a 160 mile round trip. FSD most of the drive kept around 73mph

Stock AT Tires - March 3rd below is a 170 mile round trip of interstate, FSD at around 73 mph.

Below is all drive data for the entire month for the last 3 months.

More Data in the thread below

https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...platinum-tires-cyberbeast.38583/post-30575900

and

https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...m-tires-cyberbeast.38583/page-4#post-30604204

After getting the Falken Wildpeaks AT4’s installed Saturday I am switching over to the Michelins. My experience with the Falkens was downright terrible. Extremely noisy and overall a rough ride. My usual trip to the beach showed a 14% loss in range. The cabin noise was unbearable on the highway and it felt like they were filled with cement. Tried adjusting the pressure to compensate for the heavier sidewall but it still was loud. Falken has a 30 Day trial and I am making good use of it. I have them on my other trucks with no problems but it just isn’t the right fit for Cybertruck IMO.

 

[hemiarch]

After getting the Falken Wildpeaks AT4’s installed Saturday I am switching over to the Michelins. My experience with the Falkens was downright terrible. Extremely noisy and overall a rough ride. My usual trip to the beach showed a 14% loss in range. The cabin noise was unbearable on the highway and it felt like they were filled with cement. Tried adjusting the pressure to compensate for the heavier sidewall but it still was loud. Falken has a 30 Day trial and I am making good use of it. I have them on my other trucks with no problems but it just isn’t the right fit for Cybertruck IMO.

Good to know

 

[Metal Storm]

Great report than you for sharing! I run without the Aero Covers since day 1 so didnt run into that. The efficiency gain in the tires more than negates the aero covers I think. Never really liked the covers

I wonder why one did and the others didnt? The covers are one of the things I love about cybertruck.

 

[TheEther]

I wonder why one did and the others didnt? The covers are one of the things I love about cybertruck.

I think the LTS Plats are a little fatter around the rim than the AT's. Not sure if Rim matters though, I have the AT Rims where some have the AS Rims.

 

[BornToFly]

The wheel covers stick out so far that I'm not sure that they improve range. I think they are ugly, so I have mine sitting in the garage.

 

[BornToFly]

Updated TireRack video on All Season Truck tires:


They don’t include the Platinum tires, but another Defender tire.

Problem is the Dueler LX is different from the Dueler AT TireRack has for the CT. Michelin Defender is also a different version.

 

[TheEther]

Problem is the Dueler LX is different from the Dueler AT TireRack has for the CT. Michelin Defender is also a different version.

Defender Plat is newer, prob why

 

[TexasRaider]

3,000 mile update: Still very satisfied compared to the OE ATs. Solid rain and highway performance.
(No off pavement experience with these tires yet. But will be in a few weeks.)

 

[Electric Metal]

This is the thread on this Tire I would have liked to have read but not much is out there. A couple kind members here have them and I've enjoyed reading their notes. The AT's were great through the winter for me but they are noisier than I'd like on the interstate. Most of my driving is City/Interstate with only occasional off-road. The Truck is so quiet I wanted more of that. I wanted to soften the ride a little, /possibly/ increase Interstate speed efficiency, reduce the noice considerably and perhaps have a little better traction than the AT's. I decided to give the Michelin Defender LTX Platinums a try on the stock wheels. Over all I like the way they look, still aggressive but with a more traditional sidewall. I've had them mounted since March 4th, they were properly Road Force Balanced by my local tire shop I've had a long relationship with.

Findings after 3 weeks and 725 miles driven on the Michelin Defender LTX Platinums:

1. Right out of the gate they were quieter than the AT's
2. My steering squircle was not centered (ever so slightly left cocked) after getting the vehicle back from the tire shop. They did observe the proper lift points (I printed out the manual page, handed it to them and showed them where to lift). I drove it on the lift myself and put it in Jack Mode. They did NOT attempt to align it on my request. Tesla did align it at the service center and all is well ($295 bucks later).
3. The ride is softer than the AT's
4. When tuning these tires for quietness, Air Pressure matters. They roar at 47 PSI and at 53 PSI but tends to be most quiet dead nuts on 50 PSI. Oddly though, temperature swings affect this tire more than the AT. 47 PSI at 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 53 PSI at 80 degrees Fahrenheit on Blacktop. I haven't tried it at 60PSI like another member here mentioned. The tires still have a little roar / roar/resonance/warble but not as much as the AT's. Something like half the noise of the AT's which is nice, I hear the Tesla motors more with these than I did with the AT's.
5. They don't (at least at this time) seem to have as good of dry traction as the AT. I notice it in hard cornering and Beast Mode launches. Hoping this will improve as they break in a little more, but doubt I'll see much difference. Not a deal breaker but may cost you a Tenth of a second or two on blacktop in a Bestmode lunch.
6. Wet performance seems to be very good.
7. The Michelin's appear to be more energy efficient than the AT's.
8. Stopping seems great, no issues.

I have a Tessie Subscription and posted a few metrics. In this case on the first two images, I've filtered out all city/short trip driving and showing only interstate drives. If you know Tessie better than I do, by all means suggest other metrics:

Michelin Defenders - March 14 below is a 160 mile round trip. FSD most of the drive kept around 73mph

Stock AT Tires - March 3rd below is a 170 mile round trip of interstate, FSD at around 73 mph.

Below is all drive data for the entire month for the last 3 months.

More Data in the thread below

https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...platinum-tires-cyberbeast.38583/post-30575900

and

https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...m-tires-cyberbeast.38583/page-4#post-30604204

Tried out the Falken Wildpeak AT4’s for approximately 1/2 hour and found out they were not the right fit for the truck. So went to the Michelins. WOW! What a difference! Smoothest the truck has ever been. Soft ride, great traction (Wet & Dry), and an overall quiet ride so far both Local and Interstate. Op’s review is spot on. The only two things I noticed was the handling is very touchy, but could be normal coming from a worn out set of OEM AT’S and they seem to pickup rocks in the tread that don’t want to come out unless done manually. On a side note……….my driveway leading to the barn is 3/4” gravel so that doesn’t help the situation. Lastly, I run the covers and there is plenty of space between the tire and the covers.

 

[DittoDan]

Stock AT is Load Index 123, Load Range D1
Defender LTX is Load Index 127, Load Range E1

Since I didn't know what all those ratings meant, I asked Grok:

The forum discussion you mentioned is about comparing the stock all-terrain (AT) tires on the Tesla Cybertruck with the Michelin Defender LTX tires, focusing on two key specifications: Load Index and Load Range. These specs indicate how much weight a tire can carry and its durability under stress, which are critical for a heavy vehicle like the Cybertruck, especially for off-road use, towing, or carrying heavy loads. Here’s a clear explanation:

• Load Index:
  • The Load Index is a number that indicates the maximum weight a tire can support when properly inflated.
  • Stock AT: 123 – This means each tire can handle about 3,415 lbs (1,550 kg).
  • Defender LTX: 127 – This means each tire can support about 3,858 lbs (1,750 kg).
  • A higher Load Index (127 vs. 123) means the Defender LTX can carry more weight, which is useful for heavy loads, towing, or ensuring extra safety margins on a vehicle as heavy as the Cybertruck (roughly 6,000–8,000 lbs depending on the model).
• Load Range:
  • The Load Range indicates the tire’s strength and maximum air pressure, often tied to its ply rating (a measure of the tire’s internal construction).
  • Stock AT: D1 – Load Range D typically means an 8-ply tire with a max pressure around 65 psi. It’s suitable for moderate to heavy-duty use but less robust than higher ranges.
  • Defender LTX: E1 – Load Range E means a 10-ply tire with a higher max pressure, often around 80 psi. This makes it stronger and better suited for demanding conditions like off-roading or heavy towing.
  • The E1 rating suggests the Defender LTX is more durable and can handle tougher conditions or heavier loads compared to the stock AT’s D1 rating.
• Why It Matters:
  
  
  • The Cybertruck is a heavy, high-performance electric truck designed for both on-road and off-road use. Choosing tires with a higher Load Index and Load Range (like the Defender LTX) could provide:
    • Better durability for off-road driving or rough terrain.
    • Increased load capacity for towing or carrying heavy cargo.
    • Improved safety under high stress, as the tires can handle more weight and pressure.
  • However, higher Load Range tires (like E1) might be stiffer, potentially affecting ride comfort or efficiency on smooth roads, and could be more expensive.

I hope this helps....

Dan the Man from Michigan

 

[btcrealm]

Since I didn't know what all those ratings meant, I asked Grok:

The forum discussion you mentioned is about comparing the stock all-terrain (AT) tires on the Tesla Cybertruck with the Michelin Defender LTX tires, focusing on two key specifications: Load Index and Load Range. These specs indicate how much weight a tire can carry and its durability under stress, which are critical for a heavy vehicle like the Cybertruck, especially for off-road use, towing, or carrying heavy loads. Here’s a clear explanation:

The other metric to remember is the speed rating (Grok):
Speed Rating Comparison:

• Stock Cybertruck AT Tire (Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT, 285/65R20): H-rated (130 mph). This aligns with the Cybertruck’s high-performance capabilities, especially for the Dual Motor or Cyberbeast trims, which can exceed 120 mph.
• Michelin Defender LTX Platinum (LT285/60R20): S-rated (112 mph). This is lower than the stock tire’s rating, meaning it’s designed for sustained speeds up to 112 mph, which is still sufficient for most driving scenarios but may limit the Cybertruck’s top-end performance potential.

This matters more for the cyberbeast as it launches and is 132mph limited. I believe the AWD is 112mph limited. Also there is a compound difference so if launching with the Defenders there will likely be more wear than expected.

These links are good:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/speed-rating
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/load-range-load-index

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