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Topic: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis  (Read 457 times) previous topic - next topic
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Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
I got my TK a few months ago and my wife and I are having lots of fun with it. It came to us with Defenders all way around. The rears are in great shape  and two years old but the fronts are close to six years and one of them has fine cracks so the fronts need to be replaced.

I went to Discount tire today and found out the Defender ($242) is no longer available from Discount but they have the Michelin Agilis ($209). From what I understand the Agilis is Michelin's replacement for the Defender. It seems counter intuitive though that the Agilis is quite a bit less. Maybe because they are harder to find?

Any reason to not mix these Michelin tires? I don't plan on ever rotating the tires.

Thanks  all.
Steve
2003TK
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #1 –
They are similar tires and though I am not a fan of having different rubber on a car or truck it is my understanding that as long as the tires on a given axel have the same dice and  tread pattern you are ok.  So having two Agilis up front should not be an issue.  If however you had an issue with a rear tire I would counsel that you change all four rear tires so they match. 
John
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #2 –
Hi Steve;  I've heard that there are still 'Defender' tires in the pipeline. Even if they were a year or so old, they would be younger than your rear tires. Then in just 3-4 more years you could change out all 7 tires for a complete match. I assume your spare is a Defender, the same age as the tires on the duals?  I would consider rotating the spare to the front, along with a Defender if you can find one, and put an Agilis in as the spare. That presents the downside of having an Agilis side by side with a Defender on a dual. So in an emergency situation you might still need to swap a front tire (Defender) back onto a dual, to put an Agilis on the front with a Defender.  A lot depends on your spare.    RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #3 –
Quote from: John DaCrema  - 
If however you had an issue with a rear tire I would counsel that you change all four rear tires so they match.
John

What is the consequence of having a same size but different brand tire on the rear dually?  Last year, I had a blowout on the outer dually and had the spare (a Michelin Defender) put on.  I was still in the middle of a cross-country trip and felt I needed a spare.  I purchased a Firestore - same size as the Defender.  During a recent cross-country trip I had another blow out on the rear dually and so now the Firestone is there.
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #4 –
Thanks Ron, while I looked at the spare when the unit was purchased I never verified the date of manufacture. It isn't as clear as the front and rear tires.

Dualies: DOT B7JH 015X 2918 - have no idea what B7JH 015X means but they appear to be manufactured in week 29 of '18

Fronts: DOT B3JH 009X 2513 - same comment on the first two sets of numbers but the fronts look to  be manufactured in week 25 of '13 (will be replaced for sure)

Not as clear to me for the spare though:
DOT M3JH AEEX then there are two rows of numbers. Top row is 002603 and bottom row is 00 04602. Also, these two rows of  numbers are preceded by E2.

Any idea of how to decode the spare? BTW it looks brand new.
Steve
2003TK
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #5 –
Quote from: Glenn Lambert  - 
What is the consequence of having a same size but different brand tire on the rear dually?

"Same size" is a relative term, even within a tire brand.  There are actual loaded diameter differences between unmatched tires, and one will be stressed more and run hotter than the other, potentially leading to premature wear or blowouts.

In general, it's recommended to replace both tires on a dual end if you have one that needs to be replaced and the other has more than a few thousand miles on it.  They should also be the same make/model, at least from our experience with diesel pushers, which run higher tire pressures than LDs, but the principle is the same.
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #6 –
. Hi Steve. If that spare is a Michelin LTX M/S LT.... That code AEEX was familiar. They were on my tires that Michelin recalled. About 2013, since the free replacements I got have aged out, right about now, for me.  That B7JH is  the factory they were produced at.
    When I googled that code, I got this:  quote
   "Michelin is issuing the recall because a small number of the tires being recalled experienced tread loss and/or rapid air loss. ... tires. They have E2 in a circle, with 2 rows of numbers in the date section: 04602 above 002603. ... '00 Four Winds 26Q Class C (Ford E350 V10) ..... They were M3JH AEEX and date code of 4411."
  
   That looks like a match to what your spare has. Don't use that tire! You might be able to get some type of compensation, at least a partial credit towards a new tire.  You can't go by tread remaining or good looks to judge a tire. (OK bad things like sidewall cracks count against it)   Your spare should have been surrendered at the time of the recall.   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #7 –
Thanks again Ron!  You described my spare to a T except I don't see a date code. Maybe on the other side of the tire? I'll take it off this next weekend and  take a look.

I guess I might be lucky to get any credit but I'll ask Discount tire about it when I  go in next Monday.
Steve
2003TK
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #8 –
Glenn, have you speculated why you have had two blowouts in the last two years? That seems way to early for a 2017.
Steve
2003TK
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #9 –
Quote from: 73gitane  - 
Glenn, have you speculated why you have had two blowouts in the last two years? That seems way to early for a 2017.

Steve,
Ahhhh..... Er....... Driver error.  The first one was north of New Orleans.  I made a too sharp of a turn at a turnaround and came down on one of those big cement/iron storm drains - the sidewall of the tire blew out.  The second occurence was at a campground on our recent trip.  I was trying to manuveur in position at a dump station between a cement pad and a tree.  I caught the edge of the cement pad.  Road service is great to have!!!!
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #10 –
Quote from: Glenn Lambert  - 
Steve,
Ahhhh..... Er....... Driver error.  The first one was north of New Orleans.  I made a too sharp of a turn at a turnaround and came down on one of those big cement/iron storm drains - the sidewall of the tire blew out.  The second occurence was at a campground on our recent trip.  I was trying to manuveur in position at a dump station between a cement pad and a tree.  I caught the edge of the cement pad.  Road service is great to have!!!!

My mother always said the definition of an expert is someone that has made all the errors ......   personally not an expert yet but getting closer each day.

glen

personal fine art photo stuff
TF Mack | Flickr
It's all good .......
2014 Twin King
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #11 –
Live and learn Glenn :)  When I had my class b I cracked the passenger side fiberglass running board while trying to squeeze between a car a light post in a  parking lot. Only put a couple cracks in it but it bummed me out.

As nimble as the short TK is I'll exercise caution during those low speed maneuvers!
Steve
2003TK
 
Re: Mix of Michelin Defender and Agilis
Reply #12 –
Thought I would follow up on my front tire replacement. I got the Agilis tires and am happy with them. I've only done a short 250 mile road trip so far but couldn't tell any difference in road handling between them and the Defenders up front. Just as smooth as the Defenders.

The ancient spare was replaced by the six year old Defender that had no cracks and is in excellent shape save for age. My plan is to replace the spare before 10 years is out. Probably with one of the rears when it comes time to replace the four in the back.

Ron recently shared this link in another topic discussion but I thought I would repeat it here:

https://www.michelinb2b.com/wps/b2bcontent/PDF/RV_Tires_Brochure.pdf

I thought it was interesting how Michelin acknowledged a certain amount of cracking is OK. My one Defender had minor cracking but with age factored in and the needed spare replacement it was an easy decision to purchase the two new tires.
Steve
2003TK