New tires and rims: 17" Method 502 wheels with Michelin Defender 2 tires (235/65x17)

[Tunerman570]

New mod to my Maverick, Method 502 wheels with 235/65x17 with Michelin Defender 2 tires.

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[SuperDave71]

I’ll be needing tires for my hybrid soon, I’d be interested to see how your mileage is affected, please let us know

Dave

 

[Old Fart]

New mod to my Maverick, Method 502 wheels with 235/65x17 with Michelin Defender 2 tires.

I've found the Defender 2's are a bit slippery, swapped out the factory Conti's which really sucked. Treadwear is 840, Traction B, Temperature B it's going to be a good while before I look for something grippier.

 

[White Thunder]

New mod to my Maverick, Method 502 wheels with 235/65x17 with Michelin Defender 2 tires.

I’m sorry, but I think they look kind of small.

 

[Tunerman570]

I’m sorry, but I think they look kind of small.

Just one size larger is all I need for my street truck. I have 37’s on my Gladiator for off road.

 

[Tunerman570]

I’m sorry, but I think they look kind of small.

I've found the Defender 2's are a bit slippery, swapped out the factory Conti's which really sucked. Treadwear is 840, Traction B, Temperature B it's going to be a good while before I look for something grippier.

So far they ride and grip better than the Contis.

 

[Tunerman570]

I’ll be needing tires for my hybrid soon, I’d be interested to see how your mileage is affected, please let us know

Dave

So far the mileage is the same. That’s why I didn’t go any larger.

 

[tom_tucker]

I’ll be needing tires for my hybrid soon, I’d be interested to see how your mileage is affected, please let us know

Dave

I don't drive on the beach, we're in VA and IN, this tire would be overkill. California is way cooler, you need that tire in CA, on any vehicle. I'm sticking with the 2 OEM options and OEM size. Pro Contacts or Mich Primacy. It's tough to believe, but the engineers did think this out. They just put a bulk version instead of a retail tread.

 

[JP4AZ]

So far the mileage is the same. That’s why I didn’t go any larger.

I think your truck looks great and you made a smart choice for wheels and tires.

I went with 235/60/18 on Mach-E wheels. I got lucky enough to snatch the original Defender M/S before they were replaced by Defender 2.

 

[mswillis5]

I am over 10k miles on Defender 2's on my Maverick hybrid. They are significantly better than the Conti's. My wife is also over 10k miles on Defender 2's in her Camry hybrid.

There is no significant MPG difference that I have noticed.

 

[Hankgagnon]

New mod to my Maverick, Method 502 wheels with 235/65x17 with Michelin Defender 2 tires.

They look like factory steel wheels painted black.

 

[LSchicago]

So far the mileage is the same. That’s why I didn’t go any larger.

Not to mention, these are 29" tall. 30" is the tallest that will fit without cutting or a lift kit which would be dumb.

 

[colinl]

I've found the Defender 2's are a bit slippery, swapped out the factory Conti's which really sucked. Treadwear is 840, Traction B, Temperature B it's going to be a good while before I look for something grippier.

that's the interesting thing. on the tirerack, their in-house 10 tire comparison says they wanted more wet grip from the defender 2, but they had stronger language than that on several other tires in the test.

and then, user reviews that have come in since then (TR tested when the defender 2 was very new, and thus little/no user review scores and comments), most reviewers score it high on wet traction.

so, anyway, under what driving conditions do you want more traction? (i.e, 'a bit slippery')

 

[MDmaverick]

Congrats on the new wheels. method makes great wheels.

 

[MDmaverick]

Very

I think your truck looks great and you made a smart choice for wheels and tires.

I went with 235/60/18 on Mach-E wheels. I got lucky enough to snatch the original Defender M/S before they were replaced by Defender 2.

Very Cool, I didn’t think about the Mach E wheels. Any problems with fitment

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