Michelin Premier LTX vs Latitude Tour HP: Both these Michelin tires possess proficient traction qualities and are a reliable choice for enjoying long rides. With bulkier shoulders and three continuous ribs, these tires are especially good for the summer season.
Premier LTX provides a satisfactory performance year-long owing to its bulkier tread. Thus, you can get an optimized experience using these on dry or wet pavement. Moreover, its quieter noise profile and extended mileage warranty outranks the competitor.
Examine the treads on these tires closely. They hold the key to knowing which to choose. In fact if you visit my "tread design" page, picking the right tire would never bother you.
Latitude specifies a contemporary look and is designed especially for summer performance. Its characteristic siping pattern and enhanced tread depth proficiently reduce the risk of hydroplaning. Moreover, this tire is quite responsive and has a good ability to manage the steering pressure.
When compared with Premier LTX, Michelin Latitude shows a better grip on the wet path, improved dry handling, enhanced aquaplaning resistivity, and increased fuel efficiency, but it makes louder noise and ranks relatively expensive.
Table of Contents
Side By Side Comparison
Michelin Premier LTX
Michelin Latitude Tour HP
| Latitude HP | Premier LTX | |
| Tire type | Summer tire | All-season |
| Usage | Touring | Touring |
| Three peak mountain snowflake rated (3PMSF) | No | No |
| Tested size | 255/55R18 XL | 255/55R18 XL |
| Tread depth | 9.5/32’’ | 8.5/32’’ |
| Tread width | 9.5’’ | 8.4’’ |
| Section width | 10.4’’ | 10.4’’ |
| Max. inflation pressure | 50 psi | 50 psi |
| Max. load | 2074 Ibs | 2271 Ibs |
| Load speed rating | 109 V | 109V |
Tread Comparison
Premier LTX characterizes a conventional road-tire look having a bulkier tread. It has three ribs in the central portion, alternating with four circumferential grooves. However, its grooves are shallower than its competitor. Sipes marked on the middle rib are slanted, wave-like, and less wide, while sipes on shoulder blocks are prominent and linear. The midrib lacks lateral grooves, while the two side ribs have notch-like incomplete horizontal voids. Resultantly it specifies a higher contact patch than its competitor. Nonetheless, its shoulder blocks are less wide, thus, it has more horizontal grooves among shoulder blocks than the contestant.
Latitude Tour specifies a relatively open tread pattern. Along with four wide circumferential channels, it also has a narrow longitudinal groove running in the center of the tread. It has three circumferential ribs; the middle one is divided into two by the central groove. Also, its tread is comparatively deeper. All of its tread blocks have arc-like, wide, 2D active sipes. Wider sipes and grooves result in a decreased contact patch. However, its shoulder blocks are larger and bulkier, having fewer lateral grooves among the shoulder blocks.
Tire Performance Comparison
| Latitude HP | Premier LTX | |
| Hydroplaning resistance | High | Moderate |
| Rolling resistance | Moderate | High |
| Off roading ability | Moderate | low |
| Durability | Moderate-high | High |
Road Grip Comparison
While rolling on the dry paved surface, Premier shows a better grip taking advantage of its optimized contact patch. While moving on the dry paved surface, Premier offers a better grip taking advantage of its optimized contact patch. However, its wet grip is minimized due to the lack of lateral channels and relatively narrow sipes.
Conversely, Latitude gets a lower score for dry grip as its contact patch is minimized by wide sipes and a small central groove, making the grip of tread on the pavement relatively lesser. However, these narrow spaces provide benefits on a wet road. It resists aquaplaning more efficiently and provides a relatively better grip on a pavement where water is standing.
| Latitude HP | Premier LTX | |
| Dry Grip | Moderate | High |
| Wet Grip | High | Moderate |
Handling Comparison
LTX ranks below the competitor for its ability to manage the steering response on a dry path. This is because its shoulder lugs are smaller and hold on the surface less strongly than the contestant. But a larger number of lateral grooves makes its wet handling proficiency higher in comparison. Due to this feature, its shoulders wipe off the water from the surface and maintain traction while the vehicle turns along a corner.
Latitude shows more controlled steering responses on dry pavements because its larger shoulder blocks account for enhanced dry grip. So, when you turn about your vehicle and the pressure comes on the shoulders, its big blocks manage the load effectively, resulting in superior performance. However, the number of lateral grooves is decreased due to the larger size of shoulder blocks, making its hydroplaning resistance relatively minor. As a result, its steering response becomes less precise and controlled than its competitor.
| Latitude HP | Premier LTX | |
| Dry Handling | High | Moderate |
| Wet Handling | Moderate | High |
Comparison of Hydroplaning Resistance
Latitude has more capability to prevent aquaplaning on a wet road as its tread is relatively deeper and sipes are relatively wider. When these open voids come in contact with water standing on the road, they smoothly channel it out from the tread, allowing a firm road grip.
In contrast, the premier has comparatively shallow grooves and narrow sipes. Thus, its tread has decreased water holding capacity and wipes off water less efficiently. That is why its competency to resist aquaplaning ranks below the competitor.
Comparison of Rolling Resistance
Premier comes across higher friction as it moves due to its higher contact patch. As more of its surface area comes into contact with the road, more energy is used to roll. Hence, a larger amount of fuel is required to compensate for the hysteresis (energy loss).
On the other side, the high void ratio of the Latitude tread allows it to roll more easily. It faces a little rolling resistance as a minimal area of tread and road is directly connected. Resultantly, its fuel consumption is also lower than its competitor.
Comparison of Noise and comfort
Latitude provides relatively comfortable driving on a wet track owing to superior hydroplaning resistivity. However, driving on these tires is relatively uncomfortable on a dry road, and it also makes louder noise in comparison. High rolling noise is credited to its massive voids because wind particles can easily circulate in its deep grooves.
On the other side, driving on LTX is less comfortable on wet pathways due to minimized hydroplaning resistivity but more comfortable on dry roads as its bulkier tread provides better dry traction. Besides that, it is also a quieter tire whose grooves permit lesser circulation of wind due to its relatively lower void ratio.
| Latitude HP | Premier LTX | |
| Noise | Low- Moderate | Moderate- high |
| Driving comfort on a dry road | Moderate | High |
| Driving comfort on a wet road | High | Moderate |
Durability and treadwear
Latitude has a comparatively lower score for longevity. Its internal construction features a steel structure made of twin belts which is further reinforced by Michelin FAZ (filament at zero degrees) technology. In this mechanism, polyester and nylon/aramid cords are spirally winded together to make tread robust and more responsive. Its sidewalls are also reinforced with polyester cords. However, its UTQG rating is relatively minor. Moreover, Michelin tires also give a shorter mileage warranty for this tire.
On the other side, improved tread composition makes Premier last longer than its competitor. Its internal structure is also built with twin steel belts, but the spirally wrapped polymer also includes a polyamide cord over the polyester casing. Moreover, extreme silica and sunflower oil enhancements are added to its tread compound. This blending makes it chip and wear resistant. This is why its UTQG value is also higher. Plus, it comes with a longer mileage warranty from the manufacturer.
| Latitude HP | Premier LTX | |
| Tread Construction | Michelin FAZ technology | EverTread compound |
| Rim Carcass | Two steel belts | Two steel belts |
| UTQG | 440 A A | 620 A A |
| Treadwear warranty | (H and V speed rating) 6 year/ 55,000 miles (W, Y, Z speed ratings) 6 year/ 45,000 miles | 6 year/ 60,000 miles |
| Uniformity warranty | Up to one year, first 2/32’’ | Up to one year, first 2/32’’ |
| Workmanship warranty | Six year | Six year |
Differences in Cost:
Premier LTX is priced relatively lower than its competitor, yet it offers an optimized dry grip, enhanced resistance against hydroplaning, and lower noise. It is available from $260 to $300.
In contrast, Latitude HP is an expensive tire, but it also provides a safer driving experience on a wet road, presents fully commanded steering responses, and saves fuel due to its rolling efficiency. Its price range spans from $280 to $325.
Quick Summary
Premier LTX is an all-season tire, while Latitude Tour HP is a specialized summer tire.
Premier LTX;
- Provides a better grip on dry road.
- Offer enhanced handling efficiency on wet pavements.
- Produces lesser rolling noise.
Latitude HP;
- Provides a more stable wet grip.
- Permit more responsive steering on dry tracks.
- Prevents aquaplaning more efficiently than the competitor.
- Comes with the benefit of improved fuel efficiency.
