Tests – · 1 test Owners 69 · 5 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
BFGoodrich Advantage Control vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 1 road tests and 5 + 3,699 owner reviews. How we score
Defender LTX M/S2 is ahead, 77–68
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Tests 65 · 1 test Owners 88 · 3,699 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 30 in 2026 Tire Rack All Terrain Tyre Snow Test (snow braking)
“The tires are over inflated for transport. The dealership should set them to the proper PSI during PDI but that's not always the case. I had 55 PSI in mine which explained the rough ride.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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67
Dry
Defender LTX M/S2 +168Why this score
Source Advantage Control Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 67 (est.) 52 Reviews found online 66 92 Advantage Control: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 66.4 = 67
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 52 + 40% × 91.5 = 68
No road tests of dry for Advantage Control. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
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75
Wet
Defender LTX M/S2 +277Why this score
Source Advantage Control Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 74 (est.) 67 Reviews found online 76 92 Advantage Control: 60% × 73.8 (est.) + 40% × 76.2 = 75
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 66.8 + 40% × 91.6 = 77
No road tests of wet for Advantage Control. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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67
Snow
Defender LTX M/S2 +1481Why this score
Source Advantage Control Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 69 (est.) 84 Reviews found online 64 77 Advantage Control: 60% × 68.6 (est.) + 40% × 64.4 = 67
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 84 + 40% × 77 = 81
No road tests of snow for Advantage Control. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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68
Comfort
Defender LTX M/S2 +1482Why this score
Source Advantage Control Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 69 (est.) ≈ 73 (est.) Reviews found online 68 88 Advantage Control: 40% × 68.5 (est.) + 60% × 67.6 = 68
Defender LTX M/S2: 40% × 72.6 (est.) + 60% × 87.6 = 82
No road tests of comfort for Advantage Control. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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65
Noise
Defender LTX M/S2 +1075Why this score
Source Advantage Control Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 63 89 Advantage Control: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 63.2 = 65
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 88.7 = 75
No road tests of noise for Advantage Control or Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
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61
Treadwear
Defender LTX M/S2 +1980Why this score
Source Advantage Control Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 56 ≈ 75 (est.) Reviews found online 69 89 Advantage Control: 60% × 56 + 40% × 68.9 = 61
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 89 = 80
No road tests of treadwear for Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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66
Handling (owners)
Defender LTX M/S2 +2187Why this score
Source Advantage Control Defender LTX M/S2 Reviews found online 66 87
Scores at a glance
| Category | BFGoodrich Advantage Control | Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 77 |
| Dry | 67 | 68 |
| Wet | 75 | 77 |
| Snow | 67 | 81 |
| Comfort | 68 | 82 |
| Noise | 65 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 61 | 80 |
| Handling (owners) | 66 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
68
/ 100
Advantage Control
77
/ 100
Defender LTX M/S2
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | Advantage Control | Defender LTX M/S2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #5/8 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires | #3/30 2026 Tire Rack All Terrain Tyre Snow Test | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Advantage Control
Pros
- Noticeably quieter operation compared to previous high-performance tires
- Even and long-lasting tread wear
- Reliable all-weather and daily-driver performance
Cons
- Dry grip is rated as good rather than great for spirited driving
- Average steering feedback and comfort levels
- Limited grip in more severe snow and ice conditions
Tire B Defender LTX M/S2
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and smooth highway ride
- Outstanding tread life and long-term durability
- Improves fuel economy and lowers rolling resistance
Cons
- High upfront purchase price
- Occasional difficulty with balancing and high-speed vibrations
- Can pick up small rocks and struggles in deep snow compared to dedicated winter tires
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
BFGoodrich Advantage Control
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
The community widely views the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 as an outstanding highway and daily driving tire, praising its smooth ride, low road noise, and reliable wet traction. While considered an ideal replacement for noisy all-terrain or OEM tires, some users question its performance in severe winter or deep mud conditions compared to dedicated off-road tires. A few owners also raised minor concerns regarding warranty differences, balancing, and tread life compared to prior generations.
r/ram_trucks
·4 upvotes ·2025-06-29
“Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 vs Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 for '21 Ram 1500 Limited Unfortunately I'm having to get my 2nd set of tires in 4 years. I had the OEM Goodyear tires the first two times and only got 20-25K miles each time so I'm looking for something better. I usually get my tires from Sam's Club because I've found they give the best value. I wanted to get the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2's at my last need for tires but they cost more than I could afford at the time. I can afford them now but I've also come across these Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3's that are at a better deal and have consistently decent reviews as well that would cost me about $500 less in total. I wanted to see if anyone here has any experience with both sets or has a recommendation between the two tires and if you can provide reasonings why. TIA! Leer más”
r/LexusGX550
·5 upvotes ·2026-09-26
“Tires 24 overtrail+ I'm at 20,000 miles now and need to change the stock tires that come with the overtrail +. I'm just looking for some recommendations, was thinking of getting the Michelin defender ltx m/s2 but wanted to see what other people were using. I do not off-road too much and do a lot of city and highway driving and when reading seems like the Michelin defender kind of fulfills what I need. Also, has anybody gone up a size and tires? I know the stock size is 265/70R18, but I was curious if anybody used a larger tire with the OEM wheels that come with it. I know the 24 is 1 inch shorter than the 25 and 26 so outcomes can be a little different. Appreciate anybody's experience they have dealt with. Thank you”
f150gen14.com
·2 upvotes ·2024-05-02
“I'm likely swapping out the tires that come on my soon-to-be built Lariat when I get it, so I've been doing some research myself. That Conti is a good tire, but I'm not sure I want an AT tire on this one. I'd be more interested in the TerrainContact H/T. But both of them come highly recommended. If I go Michellins, I'm going Defender LTX M/S2. Bit pricey but has really good user reviews overall. On my last F150 (2011 EB FX4) I ran Firestone Destinations and they rode really well, good in the rain, etc, but wore down quick. Then again, I did a lot of towing. The Bridgestone Duelers used to be a great tire but the reviews on these haven't been great lately...not for the price they want.”
Top themes
#highway ride comfort#wet weather traction#low road noise#fuel and range efficiency#light snow performance#all-terrain comparison
Based on 83 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · BFGoodrich Advantage Control | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-Season tire | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 79 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 21″ | 22″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 12/32″ | 11 - 14/32″ |
| UTQG | 600 - 700 B A | 820 B A |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Black Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | 50 - 80 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
68
/ 100
BFGoodrich Advantage Control
77
/ 100
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — better handling, treadwear and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score. BFGoodrich Advantage Control rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 5 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 87 vs 66 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 80 vs 61 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 81 vs 67 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 82 vs 68 on comfort.
Tire A · BFGoodrich Advantage Control
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
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Advantage Control or Defender LTX M/S2?
Which is better in the wet, Advantage Control or Defender LTX M/S2?
Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 77 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Advantage Control or Defender LTX M/S2?
Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 68 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is better in snow, Advantage Control or Defender LTX M/S2?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 81 vs 67 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Advantage Control or Defender LTX M/S2?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 75 vs 65 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Advantage Control or Defender LTX M/S2?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 82 vs 68 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Advantage Control or Defender LTX M/S2?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 80 vs 61 on our treadwear score.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology