The light truck tire market is complex. Unlike other segments, these tires must provide a good load rating but without neglecting durability, dry performance, and wet performance.
Few commercial tires achieve this goal, and today we will talk about one of them, the Michelin XPS Rib.
So if you are looking for a tire with heavy-duty load capacity, this review may be of interest to you.
Photo credit: wheelandtiredesigns.com
TL;DR: Michelin XPS Rib
Before starting this review, it is a good idea to take a look at the pros and cons of the Michelin XPS Rib.
Michelin XPS Rib
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PROS
- Outstanding durability
- Excellent dry/wet performance
- Unsurpassed overall comfort rating
CONS
- Only available for 16-inch wheels
- Since it is a summer tire, it is not advisable to use it in cold climates
Best For:
Drivers of light trucks and commercial vehicles looking for a durable tire capable of providing a huge load rating
Michelin XPS Rib Performance Ratings
Before analyzing in-depth the performance of the Michelin XPS Rib tire, it is necessary to talk a little about the reliability of its ratings. As a general rule, for a tire’s ratings to be considered fully established, it must have more than 5M reported miles.
That is not the case with the Michelin XPS Rib, as it has only 1.6M reported miles. However, although its figures are prone to change, its ratings are stable enough to conclude its performance in the different categories.
For your convenience, we have provided the following links to facilitate your navigation through these ratings.
- Dry Performance
- Wet Performance
- Comfort Performance
- Treadwear Performance
- Warranty
- Specs & Options
- Reviews
Michelin XPS Rib Dry Performance
|
Dry Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Dry Overall |
9.2 |
|
Cornering Stability |
9.1 |
|
Dry Traction |
9.6 |
|
Steering Response |
9.0 |
The first category we will review is the dry performance of the Michelin XPS Rib. Given that this is a tire aimed primarily at the commercial sector, we are not surprised that its performance is so good. The Michelin XPS Rib provides excellent cornering stability and dry traction, which confirms that it is ideal for light trucks used for transporting goods and passengers.
Michelin XPS Rib Wet Performance
|
Wet Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Wet Overall |
8.4 |
|
Hydroplaning Resistance |
8.6 |
|
Wet Traction |
8.2 |
When analyzing a tire made for freight or passenger cargo, one of the most crucial factors is its ability to cope with adverse weather conditions. In that regard, the Michelin XPS Rib does an excellent job of maintaining wet traction as well as good resistance to hydroplaning.
Michelin XPS Rib Comfort Performance
|
Comfort Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Overall Comfort |
8.8 |
|
Ride Quality |
8.3 |
|
Noise |
9.2 |
It is common for many manufacturers to overlook the importance of the driving experience in this type of tire. That is not the case with Michelin. The XPS Rib provides exceptional ride quality and extremely low noise levels, making this tire an ideal alternative for those who must spend many hours driving on the road.
Michelin XPS Rib Treadwear Performance
|
Treadwear Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Treadwear |
9.6 |
Many consider this to be the most relevant category for light commercial vehicles. And for a good reason. The durability of the tire is closely related to its cost-benefit ratio. In this regard, the Michelin XPS Rib boasts a 9.6 rating, making it one of the best tires in its class.
Michelin XPS Rib Warranty
Treadlife Warranty
6-year warranty or 60,000 miles (whichever occurs first). This warranty is halved when the rear and the front tires are different in size.
Uniformity Warranty
Complaints regarding these tires’ uniformity must be subscribed in the first year of use or the first 2/32″ of wear.
Workmanship / Materials Warranty
Michelin provides an amazing 6-year warranty against defects in workmanship or materials. Moreover, it also offers free tire replacement for the first year, 2/32″ wear, or 25% wear.
Road Hazard Warranty
Sadly, Michelin does not provide this type of warranty for this tire.
Photo credit: walker-tire.com
Manufacturer Special Warranty
This tire comes with a special warranty consisting of 60-day satisfaction (in which you can exchange the tire for a BFGoodrich or Uniroyal equivalent), and a 3-year flat changing service.
Tire Rack Road Hazard Warranty
On top of the tread life warranty offered by Michelin, this tire features Tire Rack’s leading warranty that covers refunds of up to $40 for repairs per tire per occurrence. Moreover, if the tire suffers non-repairable damage within the first 2 years, a refund of the original purchase price or replacement purchase price (whichever is less) will be made.
Michelin’s generous warranty on the XPS Rib completes its profile as one of the best commercial tires currently available on the market.
Michelin XPS Rib Specs & Options
Since the Michelin XPS Rib is an OE tire, its market coverage is limited. In fact, this tire is only available in four sizes for 16-inch wheels, which are LT215/85R16, LT225/75R16, LT235/85R16, and LT245/75R16. If we talk about UTQG, because the Michelin XPS Rib is a light truck tire, these gradings do not apply to it. To learn more about UTQG, you can read our article here.
Although it is only available for 16-inch wheels, the Michelin XPS Rib covers the most common OE sizes, so if you need a new set of tires, it is a good alternative to consider.
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Michelin XPS Rib Reviews
Before analyzing the user reviews, it is appropriate to remember the target audience for these tires. The Michelin XPS Rib is not the typical tire you use on your Ford F-150 or Toyota 4Runner. This is a tire focused on providing an amazing load rating (over 2,600 lbs @ 80 psi) as well as excellent value for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles.
That said, we are happy to see that user reviews of the Michelin XPS Rib are mostly positive. When these tires are used on vehicles such as the Ford F-250, F-350, or Ram 2500, they allow their drivers to load machinery, goods, and tools, knowing that they can drive safely and comfortably for many hours without straining their tires.
All in all, the Michelin XPS Rib is a tire aimed primarily at commercial vehicles and light trucks that meets the expectations of the most demanding drivers.
Quick Recap
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|
Michelin XPS Rib |
|
|---|---|
|
Dry |
9.2 |
|
Wet |
8.4 |
|
Comfort |
8.8 |
|
Treadwear |
9.6 |
End of the Road
Throughout this article, we have seen how the Michelin XPS Rib fulfills its primary mission of providing enormous load capacity while offering excellent wet/dry traction and outstanding durability. If you are looking for a reliable tire for your daily work tasks, then the XPS Rib will not disappoint.