The Heavy-Duty Workhorse: Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2 Review Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Vocheseleon earns from qualifying purchases. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For truck and SUV owners, the "holy grail" of tires is one that can haul a heavy load on Tuesday, survive a gravel worksite on Thursday, and provide a whisper-quiet highway ride for the family road trip on Saturday. The Michelin Defender LTX M/S (and its upgraded successor, the MS2 ) is the industry standard for this exact balance. Why This Specific Spec Matters: LT265/75R16 In the automotive world, the numbers on the sidewall tell the real story. The model we’re discussing today is a Load Range E (10-ply) tire. Here’s why that’s a "value-add" for your rig: Maximum Payload: With a load index of 123/120 , each tire can support up to 3,415 lbs . If you are towing a boat or hauling a camper, you need this reinfo...
The automotive industry has spent decades perfecting a globalized supply chain focused on finding the lowest cost. Today, that playbook is obsolete. Geopolitical risk —specifically the proliferation of tariffs and the escalation of trade wars auto supply chain disputes—has replaced cost optimization with risk mitigation as the number one strategic driver. For consumers, this volatility means the era of stable vehicle pricing is over. Tariffs are not paid by foreign companies; they are taxes ultimately passed down to you, the buyer, increasing the cost of both new and used vehicles. I. The Direct Cost to the Consumer Tariffs are specific taxes on imported goods, and they hit the automotive sector harder than almost any other. The cost impact in 2025 is substantial: High Import Duties: The U.S. continues to impose a $27.5\%$ total tariff on many imported passenger vehicles. More dramatically, punitive tariffs on Chinese-made EVs surged up to $100\%$ . The Price Tag Hike: Anal...