Michelin LTX Trail Tires - terrible snow storm experience (25’ ORP Hybrid)

[rosnaby]

Just wanted to give a quick review of how my 25’ ORP hybrid and the Michelin LTX Trail held up (on 18’ trd pro black wheel) in this snowstorm the northeast is getting tonight…. 1500 miles so still brand new tires (got the car in nov)… I was very surprised at how terrible these were in the snow. Like truly bad/not acceptable….I know they aren't triple peak rated (and that actually is quite meaningless as its standard is snow acceleration for that rating/test, not stopping which is what actually matters)… but still you think these would stop a little better, they are straight up not suitable for winter driving in my opinion, Toyota should be ashamed using these….

Still had an absolute blast because this car is a freaking beast (cant say enough really) and the tires get OK traction when u just stay on the gas, but overall I still would not do what i did tonight on the stock tires….another note, found that using 4hi mts “deep snow” setting actually made things harder and it would hamper the throttle response and make it easier to spin out (think it messes with the traction control too) but i was “whipping” it in the sticks of northwest jersey, so i figure that setting is more for responsible driving in snow haha….Probably will not being doing this again until i get some true winters because it was a little too risky looking back from my couch now, had a couple semi close calls….

Being in a suburban area, i figured i can at-least wear these out somewhat before switching to some true winters next year, at which point ill take another whack at a storm and see the difference. I have a feeling it will be truly night and day because i could sense the car had waaayy more in it but was being held back by these tires and me not wanting to ruin 2026 before it starts.

Hopefully someone might benefit from this info before they put their 4runner in a ditch because the stock michelins are that bad. If you want to chew up snow, id switch them immediately. I imagine the stock falkens that come on the non hybrid ORP are equally as bad, as they are also “light” all terrain tires like these michelins, but I cannot fully comment.

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[Wikaa]

Interesting.

 

[spyder40]

My KO2's did better but IMHO the LTX's aren't terrible

 

[127.0.0.1]

ltx trail sucks, not enough sipes. it was meant for mpgs and lighter weight
as an OEM tire. good on dry pavement and dry dirt and dry rocks



defender ltx ms2 is awesome in all conditions
but is a completely different tread concept and
has many deep sipes

 

[rosnaby]

My KO2's did better but IMHO the LTX's aren't terrible

I should’ve specified before (thanks for the add on the ko2 as well) because i agree, they michelin trails’s are not terrible in everyday driving+dirt/gravel road offroading, they get the job done for sure (did a trip in November where i thought they did decent)… i was just shocked at how bad the snow performance was. I guess toyota assumes anyone that lives where it does snow and has a 4runner will get dedicated winters… but for people like me and many others in states where each year it’s debatable if its worth putting winters on (i dont think it snowed at all in Nj the past 2 years where i am), i think its imperative to make a tire switch one of the first things you do, if you want to really go for it in snow at least.

I just have to also imagine toyota can find a better winter “light” all terrain tire, like the ko2’s spyder40 mentioned, because apparently the non hybrid ORP’s come with those… toyota should just use those on the hybrid version as well (or ask your dealer to do the switch themselves before you buy for any prospective buyers)

 

[rosnaby]

ltx trail sucks, not enough sipes. it was meant for mpgs and lighter weight
as an OEM tire. good on dry pavement and dry dirt and dry rocks



defender ltx ms2 is awesome in all conditions
but is a completely different tread concept and
has many deep sipes

You like them more than falken wildpeaks? Seems like thats everyones go to from previous generations and same mentality is sticking with the 6th gen.

 

[Gumpus]

Just wanted to give a quick review of how my 25’ ORP hybrid and the Michelin LTX Trail held up (on 18’ trd pro black wheel) in this snowstorm the northeast is getting tonight…. 1500 miles so still brand new tires (got the car in nov)… I was very surprised at how terrible these were in the snow. Like truly bad/not acceptable….I know they aren't triple peak rated (and that actually is quite meaningless as its standard is snow acceleration for that rating/test, not stopping which is what actually matters)… but still you think these would stop a little better, they are straight up not suitable for winter driving in my opinion, Toyota should be ashamed using these….

Still had an absolute blast because this car is a freaking beast (cant say enough really) and the tires get OK traction when u just stay on the gas, but overall I still would not do what i did tonight on the stock tires….another note, found that using 4hi mts “deep snow” setting actually made things harder and it would hamper the throttle response and make it easier to spin out (think it messes with the traction control too) but i was “whipping” it in the sticks of northwest jersey, so i figure that setting is more for responsible driving in snow haha….Probably will not being doing this again until i get some true winters because it was a little too risky looking back from my couch now, had a couple semi close calls….

Being in a suburban area, i figured i can at-least wear these out somewhat before switching to some true winters next year, at which point ill take another whack at a storm and see the difference. I have a feeling it will be truly night and day because i could sense the car had waaayy more in it but was being held back by these tires and me not wanting to ruin 2026 before it starts.

Hopefully someone might benefit from this info before they put their 4runner in a ditch because the stock michelins are that bad. If you want to chew up snow, id switch them immediately. I imagine the stock falkens that come on the non hybrid ORP are equally as bad, as they are also “light” all terrain tires like these michelins, but I cannot fully comment.

I was curious since I'm very happy with my Michelin Defender M+S so I read some reviews and quickly found others that rate your Trails very poor in winter. The comments remind me of comments for the Dunlops that came on my 5th Gen...they were really scary on ice.

I should have replaced my Dunlops much sooner than I did. I recently bought a Civic Hybrid and it's going to get good tires right away.

 

[rosnaby]

I was curious since I'm very happy with my Michelin Defender M+S so I read some reviews and quickly found others that rate your Trails very poor in winter. The comments remind me of comments for the Dunlops that came on my 5th Gen...they were really scary on ice.

I should have replaced my Dunlops much sooner than I did. I recently bought a Civic Hybrid and it's going to get good tires right away.

Yeah I was hoping to not have to replace at all until they were toast, but going to have to for next winter most likely. Just need to be able to stop such a heavy vehicle better.

I see a lot of good reviews about the defenders like you said, but after this experience with michelin I am kind of sold on trying falkens haha, because i heard their light trail tire is even better in winter than these michelin trails which are of the same “class”… so i can only imagine the at3 or at4…

 

[Mman611]

I put a set of winter tires on and driving around in Friday’s (12/26 in CT) night storm there was zero drama in 4hi. Vehicle did everything well, stopped, turned and accelerated with ease

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