I purchased a set of highly rated Michelin Defender XT tires from Costco and wanted to make sure to care for them by rotating them correctly so I can get all 90,000 miles out of them. The question was raised, “Are Michelin Defender XT tires directional?” Directional means that you cannot switch a tire from the left side to the right side–the tread is specifically designed to be on a specific side. I called the manufacturer and I wanted to share what I learned…
Are Michelin Defender XT tires directional?
Choosing a Highly Rated Tire (and paying for it)
I needed to put new tires on my 2004 Toyota Sienna because the previous owner didn’t replace the shocks and struts. It took me a while to decide on how much to spend. I decided to put some good ones on it, which Consumer Reports rates very high, the Michelin Defender XT. In my case a 215/65R16 98T. I bought them at Costco and after a $70 rebate they set me back about $600. On the other hand they have a 90,000 mile warranty and I planned to get all 90K out of them.
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| Tire Rotation Procedure for a 2004 Toyota Sienna From The Shop Manual |
Caring For Your Tires Part 1: Time to Rotate
It was time for my oil change, and therefore tire rotation (5,000 miles on my Sienna), so I asked them to rotate them front to back. I have a habit of writing on each of the front tires with a pen, which tire is which, so when I get my car back I know whether they did what I am paying them for. This also helps me to know they rotated them correctly. I write FL on the front left tire and FR on the front right. After my latest oil change I checked and my FL tire was on the rear right. I questioned the technician and he swears that he rotated them front to back but according to my abbreviations, that is not what he did. Now I totally could have mislabeled them–I definitely questioned myself and didn’t feel I could accuse the guy of lying. But if it mattered I want my tires to be on there right because I paid good money for a good tire and wanted to keep them and my family in good shape. So I ended the day a bit unsettled.
Why the Rotation Patter Matters
The reason why I was concerned is because some tires have a pattern that is designed for one side of the vehicle, i.e. the tire is directional. The directionality (may not be a word) of the tire may be so that the grooves on the tire push water a certain direction (or importantly out, towards the outside of the tire) and you want them mounted on the correct side. So I wanted to know for sure so I called Michelin Customer Support at (866) 866-6605 to find out for sure.
Caring For Your Tires Part 2: Front-End Alignment
I have to confess that I expected my alignment to last longer than it did and I discovered that my front tires were wearing unevenly. I didn’t end up getting 90K miles out of this set of tires, but it was my fault. I would recommend having your front end aligned once a year and watch your tires for signs of uneven wear.
There are also other reasons to get a front-end alignment:
- if you replace a tie rod
- if you replace the struts
- If you have any front-end damage that involve the suspension
The Verdict: Michelin Defender XT Tires are NOT Directional
I called and learned that my Defender XT tires are not directional and it doesn’t make a bit of difference if they cross rotated my tires. So now we all know and I can rest assured that my tires will be fine. I just figured I’d share since I googled the question and didn’t find the answer myself. If you have further interest in directional tires you can read an article about directional tires here: Directional Tires Function and Mounting.
All My Toyota Sienna Posts:
- How to Change the Air Conditioner Display on a 2004 Toyota Sienna From Metric to English
- How to Replace the Front Struts on a FWD 2004 Toyota Sienna
- How to Change the Air Filter on a 2004 Toyota Sienna
- 2004 Toyota Sienna XLE DVD Entertainment System Does Not Display Video After Turning Vehicle Back On
- How to Fix Sienna Dome Lights Randomly Coming On And Alarm Going Off
- How to Replace the Rear Liftgate Shocks on a 2004 Toyota Sienna
- How to Change the Cabin Air Filter on a 2004 Toyota Sienna
- How to Program the Door Lock Transmitter on a 2003 Toyota Sienna
- How to Replace the Power Sliding Door Cables on a 2004-2007 Toyota Sienna XLE
- How to Prolong the Life of Your Toyota Sienna Sliding Door Cables
- How to Replace the Stereo on a 2004-2010 Toyota Sienna
- How to Fix The Spring on the Cassette Door on a 2004-2010 Toyota Sienna Stereo
- How to Program a Keyless Entry Remote for a 2004-2010 Toyota Sienna
- How to set the Time/Clock on a 2004-2010 Toyota Sienna
- Horn Won’t Work-How to Troubleshoot The Horn on a 2004-2007 Toyota Sienna
- How to Remove the Front Bumper on a 2004-2007 Toyota Sienna
- How to Replace the Starter on a 2004-2007 Toyota Sienna
- How to Replace the Thermostat on a 2004-2007 Toyota Sienna
- How to Replace the Radiator on a 2004-2007 Toyota Sienna
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Call the 866-866-6605 to verify your tires with your vehicle. Cross rotation pattern LF-RR, RR-RF, RF-LR, LR-LF. Write the new location on each tire before rotating. Stay consistent to get the max life out of your tires. Air pressure checks once a month, rotate tires every 6 months/7500 miles. Vehicle weight distribution and environment air temps contribute to how the tires wear. This example is the Michelin Defender All Season Highway Tire 205/60R15.
Just a thought, instead of writing “R” or “L”, write “D” or “P” for driver and passenger. You are much less likely to mix that up than right or left.
Thanks for sharing, those are better abbreviations for sure.
Thanks very much for posting this info on rotational direction. Greatly appreciated. However, the best of British Luck getting 90K miles out of them unless you intend to run them until the steel belts are worn off the casing. I’ve been using them for 6 years now on a Corolla and a Camry, drive gently, no jack rabbit starts or heavy braking and do well to get 45K miles out of a set. LOVE them though, awesome tires otherwise. MUCH better lasting than the efficiency Michelins and less costly, AND, no noticeable difference in gas mileage. Regularly got 40 MPG with the Corolla and regularly get 37/39 with the Camrey. In Summer of course. Mileage drops in cold weather/snowy conditions to 35.
Yes, I don’t expect to get the full 90K out of them but I like them for the very good stopping distance that Consumer Reports got with them–they blew the competition away. If you are going to haul your family around it is worth paying good money for good tires. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for sharing! What’s weird is that my local Costco always seems to rotate front to back while my local shop does cross rotation. I hope the inconsistency between rotation standards doesn’t hurt tire longevity.
Theoretically, if they are non-directional, it should not matter. I would rotate your tires according to the vehicle manual and you can tell your local shop how you would like your tires rotated, btw. Thanks for leaving the comment!
I also appreciate you posting this.
Man thanks so much! I had the same issue however I was doing it myself and was ready to drive back Costco after a winterchange over. #lovetheinternet