Larry Zoller
Member
Suggestions needed on OEM tire replacement. And 5 almost new Michelin Cross Terrain 104S tires for sale!!!!! :angry:
I just bought a new 2007 Limited. I had a chance to try out the 4x4 with the Michelin OEM tires for real in snow and ice last week. The tires failed miserably. When I bought the truck I thought the tread on the OEM tires look more like summer touring tires rather than all-season. But I let it go since I figured Michelin and Ford knew what they were doing when they matched the tires to the Sport Trac. Now I know that these OEM Michelin Cross Terrain 104S are a terrible tire for ice and snow.
My wife’s RAV had no problem going up and down our driveway. I had to spin the new Sport Trac tires to make it up. Going down was even worse, the Sport Trac kept sliding even with the brakes applied. I was literally in an uncontrolled nonstop slide down my driveway and heading for my pond. With the brakes still locked and the anti lock braking system working to keep me going straight I turned the wheel as far right as I could. The truck kept going straight since the tires had no grip, but the locked front tires, turned to the extreme right finally had enough rubber to grip the ice and the truck stopped. As I see it the Michelin has so many directional grooves, going in the direction of the tire rotation (highway tires) and almost no cross grooving (winter tires) it can’t get a good grip on ice or snow. These tires are complete mislabel as all season and are unsafe in the snow and ice.
To add to the problem there are very few choices of tires in 235/65r18 size. The Ford dealer has been no help when I told them that these tires are seriously mislabeled as all-season. I can tell that they are aware that the tires are nearly useless in winter but they claim that Ford will not help me replace the tires for something more suitable. The dealer has tried to work out a swap with local tire dealers. But no tire dealers would take the new Michelin Cross Terrain 104S as a trade in.
I’m now in the process of researching what type of tires to replace the OEM tires with. I’ve decided that neither Ford or my dealer is going to do anything and if I want to have a drivable winter truck I’ll have to buy new tires.
PS the Land Rover site gives a warning that the Michelin Cross Terrain 104S is a highway tire and unsuited for winter or off road use.
I just bought a new 2007 Limited. I had a chance to try out the 4x4 with the Michelin OEM tires for real in snow and ice last week. The tires failed miserably. When I bought the truck I thought the tread on the OEM tires look more like summer touring tires rather than all-season. But I let it go since I figured Michelin and Ford knew what they were doing when they matched the tires to the Sport Trac. Now I know that these OEM Michelin Cross Terrain 104S are a terrible tire for ice and snow.
My wife’s RAV had no problem going up and down our driveway. I had to spin the new Sport Trac tires to make it up. Going down was even worse, the Sport Trac kept sliding even with the brakes applied. I was literally in an uncontrolled nonstop slide down my driveway and heading for my pond. With the brakes still locked and the anti lock braking system working to keep me going straight I turned the wheel as far right as I could. The truck kept going straight since the tires had no grip, but the locked front tires, turned to the extreme right finally had enough rubber to grip the ice and the truck stopped. As I see it the Michelin has so many directional grooves, going in the direction of the tire rotation (highway tires) and almost no cross grooving (winter tires) it can’t get a good grip on ice or snow. These tires are complete mislabel as all season and are unsafe in the snow and ice.
To add to the problem there are very few choices of tires in 235/65r18 size. The Ford dealer has been no help when I told them that these tires are seriously mislabeled as all-season. I can tell that they are aware that the tires are nearly useless in winter but they claim that Ford will not help me replace the tires for something more suitable. The dealer has tried to work out a swap with local tire dealers. But no tire dealers would take the new Michelin Cross Terrain 104S as a trade in.
I’m now in the process of researching what type of tires to replace the OEM tires with. I’ve decided that neither Ford or my dealer is going to do anything and if I want to have a drivable winter truck I’ll have to buy new tires.
PS the Land Rover site gives a warning that the Michelin Cross Terrain 104S is a highway tire and unsuited for winter or off road use.
Last edited by a moderator:
