Michelin Latitude Sport 3 Tire Review

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About the Michelin Latitude Sport 3

Michelin is renowned for making durable, high-quality tires, which perform excellently in different conditions and terrains. And the Michelin Latitude Sport 3 is no exception.

The Michelin Latitude Sport 3 is an ultra-high performance summer tire, engineered for crossovers, light-duty pickups, and SUVs.

It delivers excellent grip, combined with a sporty, comfortable driving experience, in various conditions and terrains.

And due to its reliability and outstanding performance, the Michelin Latitude Sport 3 has been chosen as part of OEM equipment for various luxury vehicles like the Porsche Macan.

Available in numerous sizes and compatible with a wide range of vehicles, the Michelin Latitude Sport 3 is simply a tire that will not disappoint.

Key Features and Technologies

As noted above, the Michelin Latitude Sport 3 delivers a great all-around performance, whether you are driving on dry roads or wet surfaces.

So, how does it manage to deliver such a reliable performance in mixed terrains and conditions?

Well, just like other Michelin tires, the Latitude Sport 3 has been provisioned with highly useful design features and technologies.

These features and technologies work together to deliver comfortable and safe rides to drivers of light-duty pickups, SUVs and crossovers. Some of its most important design features and technologies include:

Asymmetric Tread Design

The Michelin Latitude Sport 3 sports a unique tread compound, featuring an asymmetric tread design.

This combination helps to significantly improve the tire’s capabilities and performance on both dry and wet surfaces. Also, this tread design promotes uniform tire wear, as well as longevity and durability.

Furthermore, the tire’s asymmetric tread design helps to maintain optimal road contact, thus enhancing steering responsiveness and driving stability.

Overall, the asymmetric tread design delivers enhanced traction, cornering grip as well as braking on wet and dry surfaces. And this explains why you will find this tire as part of OE on various luxury vehicles like Porsche and BMW.

Wide Circumferential Grooves

Apart from the asymmetric tread design, Michelin has also equipped this tire with 3 wide circumferential grooves.

These wide circumferential grooves help to evacuate water from the tire’s surface, thus reducing the risk of hydroplaning. And this results in enhanced traction and confident handling on wet road surfaces.

So, if you are looking for a summer tire that can deliver reliable wet performance, then you can never go wrong with the Michelin Latitude Sport 3.

Variable Thickness Sipes

The Michelin Latitude Sport 3 tread features varied thickness sipes, which help to reduce block deformation, thus improving rolling resistance.

And with the improved rolling resistance, your vehicle will deliver better fuel economy, thus saving you money at the pump.

Michelin Acoustic Technology

Some limited versions of the Latitude Sport 3 have been furnished with Michelin’s exclusive Acoustic Technology.

This technology helps to significantly reduce vibrations as the tire rolls over the road, resulting in an immense reduction in cabin noise.

And with the reduced road noise, you can communicate comfortably with your passengers, without having to shout at each other.

However, even the Latitude Sport 3 models that don’t come with this technology are impressively quiet and smooth, even when you encounter choppy roads.

Dry Performance

Ultra-high performance tires should strive to strike a balance between traction, handling, and ride comfort on dry roads.

Fortunately, the Latitude Sport 3 ticks all those boxes. It delivers excellent grip on dry pavement.

Also, this Michelin ultra-high performance tire provides excellent handling and steering responsiveness in dry roads.

Its cornering is assured, easy and quick, regardless of the road you are driving on. Furthermore, its braking on dry roads is highly responsive and fast.

Also, it's super comfortable and quiet, thus delivering an enjoyable ride. While it may be slightly noisy on extremely bumpy and rough roads, it remains one of the quietest and most comfortable tires in its class.

Wet Performance

The Latitude Sport 3 is equally outstanding when it comes to wet surfaces. It delivers a stable, safe and comfortable ride on wet surfaces.

According to Michelin, this tire’s impressive wet performance can be attributed to its new tread compound, combined with an enhanced void ratio.

And as noted earlier, the Latitude Sport 3 has been outfitted with 3 wide circumferential grooves, which channel water away from its surface, thus helping to prevent hydroplaning while enhancing its traction on wet surfaces.

Overall, the Latitude Sport 3 is a capable and reliable performer in rainy conditions. Grip, traction and braking are exceptional while its steering response and cornering are equally great.

Hence, if you live in an area that experiences rainy conditions frequently, then this tire will serve you well.

The Latitude Sport 3 will deliver superior performance on wet surfaces, without compromising safety or ride quality.

Performance on Ice and Snow

With its outstanding performance on dry roads and wet surfaces, you may expect the Latitude Sport 3 to deliver an equally spectacular performance on ice and snow.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. While it may provide some usable traction on light snow, its performance on deep snow is poor.

And as noted above, the Latitude Sport 3 is mainly a summer tire. Therefore, you shouldn’t expect it to deliver the same standards of performance on ice and snow as a dedicated winter or snow tire.

Its poor performance on deep snow can be attributed to the rubber used for the tread compound.

Considering it’s a summer tire, the rubber used for the tread compound cannot handle winter temperatures.

And as you may expect, it will not provide adequate traction on ice or snow, making it unsafe for use in such conditions.

Furthermore, its tread pattern features a wider surface area, compared to most snow tires. And according to experts, narrow tires tend to provide better traction in snow, than wider tires.

So, if you live in an area that experiences true winter conditions, then you should just buy a dedicated winter or snow tire.

Warranties and Guarantees

All Michelin, light truck and passenger replacement tires are covered by several and guarantees. And the same case applies to the Michelin Latitude Sport 3. Some of the available warranties include:

Workmanship and Materials Warranty

Michelin offers to replace your Latitude Sport 3 tire, if it becomes unserviceable, due to workmanship or materials defect.

The coverage extends for 6 years from the date of purchase or during the entirety of the tire’s usable tread, whichever comes first.

The date of purchase refers to the date indicated on your sales invoice. And if your sales invoice is not currently available, then Michelin will use the tire’s date of manufacture, which is usually indicated on its sidewall.

Under this warranty, if your Latitude Sport 3 tire develops a mechanical defect during its first 2/32nd of an inch or within 6 years after purchase, then you are eligible for a replacement.

If the damage occurs within the first 12 months after purchase or when the tire is worn 25% or less of its original tread, then you will get a free replacement, with a new comparable tire from Michelin.

Michelin will also take care of mounting and balancing charges. However, the buyer will be responsible for paying applicable taxes and other service charges.

If the damage occurs after 12 months or the tire original tread is worn more than 25%, then the replacement will be done on a pro-rata basis. And this means you will be responsible for paying part of the replacement cost.

To determine the replacement cost, a Michelin tire retailer will multiply the percentage of the Latitude Sport 3 original usable tread worn by the tire’s current selling price.

For instance, if the percentage of the tire’s original usable tread worn is 50% and the Latitude Sport 3 is currently going for $200, then you will pay $100 and Michelin will pay $100.

Also, you will pay for the tire’s mounting and balancing costs, as well as related service charges and applicable taxes.

Treadwear Warranty

Michelin also backs the Latitude Sport 3 with a 20,000-mile treadwear warranty. Under this warranty, if your Latitude Sport 3 tire wears out uniformly across its surface before attaining the promised mileage, then Michelin will replace it.

There is no free replacement under this warranty. Therefore, the replacement will be done on a pro-rata basis.

Under this arrangement, you will have to cover part of the tire’s replacement cost, depending on the mileage the tire has delivered.

Assuming that your set of Latitude Sport 3 tires wear out uniformly and they have only covered 10,000 miles, then you will have received 50% of the warranted mileage.

Using the same cost of $200 for the tire, then the replacement cost you will pay is $100. You will also pay the tire’s cost of mounting and balancing as well applicable taxes and additional charges, which may arise from the tire’s replacement process.

60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee

The Michelin Latitude Sport 3 also comes with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. Under this guarantee, if you are not 100% satisfied with your set of Latitude Sport 3 tires, then you just need to return them to the dealer who sold you the tires.

Upon returning the tires, you should produce the original sales receipt and the dealer will issue you with a new set of comparable tires.

Michelin Roadside Assistance

Michelin also runs a roadside assistance program for its customers. So, if you buy the Latitude Sport 3, you will be eligible for the company’s roadside assistance program, which offers services like:

• Flat tire change
• Gas, water and oil delivery
• Free towing for up to 150 miles
• Battery jump start
• Lockout service

This service is available 24/7 and runs for 3 years after purchasing a set of new Michelin Latitude Sport 3 tires.

In case you don’t have a spare tire, then your vehicle will be towed for up to 150 miles, to the nearest approved tire retailer. And you don’t have to pay anything.

Michelin Latitude Sport 3 Compatible Vehicles

The Michelin Latitude Sport 3 is compatible with a wide range of light-duty trucks, SUVs and crossovers such as:

• BMW X3 and X5
• Audi Q5 and Q7
• Dodge Dakota, Nitro and Durango
• Buick Enclave
• Ford Flex, F-150 and Escape
• Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, Equinox and Silverado
• GMC Envoy, Terrain and Sierra
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Honda Santa Fe
• Infiniti QX56 and FX35
• Honda Pilot and CR-V
• Lexus LX570, RX350 and RX450H
• Mercury Mountaineer
• Nissan Titan, Murano, Frontier and Armada
•  Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Tundra and Venza
• Mercedes Benz GL450
• Porsche Cayenne
• Volvo XC90

As for the sizes, the Latitude Sport 3 is currently available in approximately 45 sizes, ranging from 17 inches to 21 inches.

Michelin Latitude Sport 3 Price

If you are looking to buy this tire, then you will spend approximately $200 per tire. However, the actual cost will depend on your vehicle’s wheel size as well as where you are buying the tires.

For instance, at Discount Tire, the price ranges between $238 and $417 while on Priority Tire, the price ranges between $238 and $500.

Michelin Latitude Sport 3 Pros

• Impressive wet and dry traction
• Superior cornering grip
• Outstanding steering responsiveness
• Lower rolling resistance

Michelin Latitude Sport 3 Cons

• Shorter tread life

Our Take

The Michelin Latitude Sport 3 is, without a doubt, one of the best ultra-high performance tires that you can buy for your truck, SUV or crossover today. It delivers superb traction on dry and wet surfaces, predictable and well-balanced handling, a smooth and comfortable life, as well as excellent feedback. On the other hand, it doesn’t last as long as some of its competitors do. And this may prove to be a deal-breaker for some drivers.