It’s official, Hankooks are history!

[Dice Roll]

Believe it or not, dealer was cheaper than Costco for Michelin cross climates! Also found the rattle/flutter deal I’ve complained to them about over the winter. Sway bar end links. They felt it last oil change, but couldn’t find the problem.

Glad to have this done before the road trip. I’ve never liked the wet weather grip of the hankrooks. Trailer towing was bad too. Suffered through a nonrepairable flat, only choice two years ago was to get a new one put on.

They made it 39k miles. Had plenty of life left. They were getting hard and I could tell. Just over 6 years since they were made according to sidewall. I was going to push on until the fall, but we decided to do this trip and seems wiser to get better grip.

I have to say first 20 miles on the cross climates seem to be a harder ride. Small rattles at low speed I didn’t hear before. Time will tell.

Looks like first rain test is in about 20 minutes.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

I've never been a fan of da Kook's....so practically ANY other brand would be better than them for any SUV or similar sized vehicle....

The price-to-performance-to-ride quality equation just isn't there IMHO

Go Michelin, go !

 

[Joenomad]

I ditched the Hankook tires on my 2019 at approximately 35K and replaced with Michelin tires. My 2024 has General grabber and I doubt I will be able to put up with them that long.

 

[Calidad]

My cooks only made it 12,000 miles they were terrible on wet highway and horrific in the snow. On my second set of 3peak BFG Trail Terrains that did 60,000 easy. Great in the snow, great on the highway no complaints.

 

[Dice Roll]

We got on and off hard rain. I barely caught the hard rain, but it rained enough steady for a good test. I’d say the cross climates have pit bull jaw grip compared to the hankrooks. I’ve long braced for a slip going into corners since I felt a few slips the first year. It’s weird to not be concerned, it’ll take awhile to get a feel for how far to push it.

I do hope this is just some break in period for the ride. Maybe they will get more spongy as the weight sits on them or the tread will scrub off a little hard edge. I was going for defender ltx line until about six months ago when I got a good report back from my mom. She’d wanted new tires and was concerned about winter use. I was shocked when she went for the big dollar set. Still she wouldn’t be as picky as I am and notice a ride change.

I’ll say the Goodyear weather ready set on my wife’s car feels excellent still at 6 years. These things do look cooler though.

 

[VBreithaupt]

I saw a big difference in ride from the Hankook to Michelin

 

[mhExped]

I have to +1 the love for the Michelin Cross Climate 2's.

Although I do not have them on my Expedition (disappointingly), I have them on my Honda Pilot and they've been rock solid through everything. I am particularly impressed with their snow-handling. I stuck with them all winter on the Pilot and never missed a dedicated snow tire (nor the cost & hassle of 2x yearly swaps).

I had the opportunity to put the Cross Climates on the Expy this year, but decided to try the Cooper Discoverer Road & Trail AT instead. What a disappointment! They too are a 3-peak rated tire (supposedly), but they slid all over the place this winter.

All-around, the Coopers are definitely better than the factory Hankooks that came with the Expy, but boy do I wish I'd gone with the Cross Climates on the Expy instead of the Coopers. The Coopers fail on the 3-peak rating in my opinion (more like a good all-season in winter), whereas the Michelins rock in all conditions.

 

[GlennSullivan]

When I purchased my 17, I convinced the dealer to swap the Kooks on the new truck with my 4000 mile Michelins on my trade in and he was happy to do it to get brand new tires on the 2014 he was putting on the lot and I was way happy to get my almost new Michelins back.

 

[TheDoug]

This stock hancooked tires are awful... I like the Michelin but they don't have the rim protector on them so I went with the pirreli scorpions. Have been happy.

 

[Dice Roll]

I’ve noticed the ride changes based on speed. I can feel a slight vibration in the seat at certain speeds, not at others. I remember having blizzaks on the back of a mustang that had a weird feel at a very certain speed. These aren’t as pronounced, but I do feel it. Have to see more bad weather to know if I should’ve gone with the ltx line. I’m certain these will kick ass in the snow. I tiptoed through the first winter driving the kids to school and managed to not get in trouble with the stock junk. I held my breath on a few drives.

 

[LanceExp2025]

Hi TheDoug:
Interesting that you chose Pirelli Scorpions. When we bought our 2012 Expedition EL Limited brand new in Ventura, CA, it came with 20" Pirelli Scorpions from the Ford Factory. They looked great and seemed to ride OK but in the first heavy CA rain storm, they seemed to have a tendency to hydroplane on the freeway if there was 1"-2" of standing water to pass through. They recovered quickly, once out of the standing water area but it gave us an uneasy feeling, a few times. I was also reading the booklets that came in the glove box with the Owner's Manual a few days after we brought it home and there was a booklet on Tire Warranty. It covered many brands Pirelli, Goodyear, Michelin and a few others. I read all their warranties and shocked to see the Pirelli Scorpions were only covered for ANY defect for 6 months and NO Tire Wear warranty at all?? They were the WORST warranty of all the others shown. Very disappointing to read! Never had to test the Pirelli warranty, though. This Expedition was my WIFE'S daily driver car, but I never worried about safety with the Pirelli's.

Most CA weather is dry so we left the Pirelli's on for 26,000 miles. One year (at 26,000 miles) we were taking 2 friends with us to Phoenix, AZ for a NASCAR Race and I decided, only for safeties sake, to put all (4) new 20" Michelin LXT's on. I did this tire change 2 weeks before we left for Phoenix, AZ. I had them put on one Saturday while my wife was out shopping with our daughter. Monday night, when I got home from work, my wife said the Expedition drove so smoothly and it was like it was a totally different (but much better) car. On our drive to Phoenix, the couple that were riding with us said, "this car rides so great that, we are going to have to buy an Expedition!". Which they did a few months later.

Our newly purchased (1 week ago) 2024 Expedition MAX Limited has 22" Pirelli Scorpions on it (again) and I can't wait to change them to Michelins. I am hoping that Michelins will improve the 2024's slightly rough ride.?? Don't know for sure? Lance

 

[East-TN]

Hi TheDoug:
Interesting that you chose Pirelli Scorpions. When we bought our 2012 Expedition EL Limited brand new in Ventura, CA, it came with 20" Pirelli Scorpions from the Ford Factory. They looked great and seemed to ride OK but in the first heavy CA rain storm, they seemed to have a tendency to hydroplane on the freeway if there was 1"-2" of standing water to pass through. They recovered quickly, once out of the standing water area but it gave us an uneasy feeling, a few times. I was also reading the booklets that came in the glove box with the Owner's Manual a few days after we brought it home and there was a booklet on Tire Warranty. It covered many brands Pirelli, Goodyear, Michelin and a few others. I read all their warranties and shocked to see the Pirelli Scorpions were only covered for ANY defect for 6 months and NO Tire Wear warranty at all?? They were the WORST warranty of all the others shown. Very disappointing to read! Never had to test the Pirelli warranty, though. This Expedition was my WIFE'S daily driver car, but I never worried about safety with the Pirelli's.

Most CA weather is dry so we left the Pirelli's on for 26,000 miles. One year (at 26,000 miles) we were taking 2 friends with us to Phoenix, AZ for a NASCAR Race and I decided, only for safeties sake, to put all (4) new 20" Michelin LXT's on. I did this tire change 2 weeks before we left for Phoenix, AZ. I had them put on one Saturday while my wife was out shopping with our daughter. Monday night, when I got home from work, my wife said the Expedition drove so smoothly and it was like it was a totally different (but much better) car. On our drive to Phoenix, the couple that were riding with us said, "this car rides so great that, we are going to have to buy an Expedition!". Which they did a few months later.

Our newly purchased (1 week ago) 2024 Expedition MAX Limited has 22" Pirelli Scorpions on it (again) and I can't wait to change them to Michelins. I am hoping that Michelins will improve the 2024's slightly rough ride.?? Don't know for sure? Lance

Most, if not all, tires will have a tendency to hydroplane in 1"-2" standing water depending on your speed, so this may be a little like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Southpawhd]

FWIW, the General Grabbers on my new 24 Limited are actually pretty decent. I’ve driven in rain and snow and they are at least as good as the Falkens on my 2022 in those conditions.

 

[East-TN]

I've dumped the Hankooks for the Pirelli Scorpion AS 3+ and couldn't be happier with the purchase.

 

[Dice Roll]

3k update

Tires stick like Elmer’s glue is all over them. My initial impression that they have a bit of rumble remains. Went on 2k mile road trip, I know they have that feel, but I’ve gotten to where I don’t pay attention to it. I’d probably go with the Goodyear weatherready like we have on the wife’s car. They get the job done and are silky smooth. Or I’d go with the defender ltx. Will be years before that comes to pass so for now I rode knowing these have us locked down to the ground.

At times I could be convinced the braking distance is shorter. Would make sense since they grab the road harder. Will be interesting to see the snow performance.

 

[ib_jigged]

Hi TheDoug:
Interesting that you chose Pirelli Scorpions. When we bought our 2012 Expedition EL Limited brand new in Ventura, CA, it came with 20" Pirelli Scorpions from the Ford Factory. They looked great and seemed to ride OK but in the first heavy CA rain storm, they seemed to have a tendency to hydroplane on the freeway if there was 1"-2" of standing water to pass through. They recovered quickly, once out of the standing water area but it gave us an uneasy feeling, a few times. I was also reading the booklets that came in the glove box with the Owner's Manual a few days after we brought it home and there was a booklet on Tire Warranty. It covered many brands Pirelli, Goodyear, Michelin and a few others. I read all their warranties and shocked to see the Pirelli Scorpions were only covered for ANY defect for 6 months and NO Tire Wear warranty at all?? They were the WORST warranty of all the others shown. Very disappointing to read! Never had to test the Pirelli warranty, though. This Expedition was my WIFE'S daily driver car, but I never worried about safety with the Pirelli's.

Most CA weather is dry so we left the Pirelli's on for 26,000 miles. One year (at 26,000 miles) we were taking 2 friends with us to Phoenix, AZ for a NASCAR Race and I decided, only for safeties sake, to put all (4) new 20" Michelin LXT's on. I did this tire change 2 weeks before we left for Phoenix, AZ. I had them put on one Saturday while my wife was out shopping with our daughter. Monday night, when I got home from work, my wife said the Expedition drove so smoothly and it was like it was a totally different (but much better) car. On our drive to Phoenix, the couple that were riding with us said, "this car rides so great that, we are going to have to buy an Expedition!". Which they did a few months later.

Our newly purchased (1 week ago) 2024 Expedition MAX Limited has 22" Pirelli Scorpions on it (again) and I can't wait to change them to Michelins. I am hoping that Michelins will improve the 2024's slightly rough ride.?? Don't know for sure? Lance

He may be referring to the Pirelli Scorpion AS plus 3 tires that are much better than the current Pirelli Verde's coming standard on newer Expeditions. We bought our '24 Stealth late last July with 22" General Grabbers, horrible and vibrated like crazy over 60mph. I went back and forth between the Michelin Defenders and Pirelli Scorpion AS plus 3. Decided on the Pirelli's and after one Northern Minnesota winter under them, I cannot complain one bit. Great tire, smooth ride, and excellent traction in all conditions!

 

[NevadaGeo]

I ditched the Grabbers for Pirelli Scorpion Weathercraft 15,000 miles ago and could not be happier. They are a great road tire and will go offroad on maintained gravel roads just fine, but not an AT tire. I do enjoy going offroad, but more into road trips with the expy than off roading anymore.

 

[Left Coast Geek]

I put Michelin CrossClimate 2's on my wife's Mercedes E350 wagon, and she loves them. fantastic rain traction, even in a torrential downpour. quiet, smooth. her last tires were Pilot AS4, I think... 245/45R17 XL. They don't seem to come in the size that fits my Expedition with 18" wheels but I want A/T tires, anyways.