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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Defender LTX M/S2 is ahead, 81–68

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Tire BMichelin

Defender LTX M/S2

Tests – · none yet Owners 87 · 3,650 reviews

“Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 I’m looking to getting the Defenders as my next tires. As much as I’d like ATs, the unfortunately reality is that my tundra is a pavement princess/road trip vehicle 99% of the time. It will tow a trailer very rarely, and nothing crazy. Looking at the tire options, it gives me the option between the E1 rated Tires or XL tires. From my understanding the E1 rated tires have a higher payload rating, but at the cost of being heavier/harsher ride. The XL tires are better for normal driving without towing. What is your opinion on the difference and what is the better option? Thank you. Read more”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 70

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S2 +12
    82
    Why this score
    SourceAlenza AS UltraDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online7191
  2. 72

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S2 +12
    84
    Why this score
    SourceAlenza AS UltraDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online7389
  3. 70

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S2 +2
    72
    Why this score
    SourceAlenza AS UltraDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online7174
  4. 69

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S2 +9
    78
    Why this score
    SourceAlenza AS UltraDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online6887
  5. 64

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S2 +11
    75
    Why this score
    SourceAlenza AS UltraDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online6089
  6. 62

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S2 +18
    80
    Why this score
    SourceAlenza AS UltraDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online5990
  7. 69

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S2 +17
    86
    Why this score
    SourceAlenza AS UltraDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online6986
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Alenza AS UltraMichelin Defender LTX M/S2
Relative Score 68 81
Dry 70 82
Wet 72 84
Snow 70 72
Comfort 69 78
Noise 64 75
Treadwear 62 80
Handling 69 86

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Alenza AS Ultra

Defender LTX M/S2

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Alenza AS Ultra

Pros

  • Strong traction on both wet and dry road surfaces
  • Improved ride comfort and handling compared to some factory-installed alternatives
  • Capable performance in varied weather conditions for some users

Cons

  • Reports of premature tread wear and short service life
  • Noticeable road noise compared to other premium tires
  • Inconsistent performance in severe winter conditions, particularly on ice and deep snow
All owner themes in the Alenza AS Ultra review

Tire B Defender LTX M/S2

Pros

  • Exceptionally long tread life and high mileage durability
  • Smooth, comfortable, and quiet highway ride quality
  • Improved fuel economy and low rolling resistance compared to factory or all-terrain tires

Cons

  • High upfront premium price point
  • Occasional minor wheel spin or reduced traction on wet surfaces during hard takeoffs
  • Treads can pack with snow, making them mediocre in deep winter conditions
All owner themes in the Defender LTX M/S2 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2

Positive

Community opinion on the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 is overwhelmingly positive, with users frequently praising its longevity, quiet and smooth ride, and excellent wet and dry traction. Many truck and SUV owners choose them over aggressive all-terrain tires because they excel in highway and daily driving while still managing respectable performance in rain and light snow.

r/Rivian ·75 upvotes ·2026-03-09

“Another vote for Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 Put the 275/60/20 LTX M/S2 on the Dune in January. It’s been ridiculously cold for most of that spell. Today is the first warm day in forever and happened to be headed to Rivian SC for a routine service. Decided to track the Efficiency on my 30 mile drive. It’s from NoVa to Gaithersburg, MD so that means town, windy parkway, and Beltway driving. The efficiency was pretty eye popping. Started with a batter around 65. No precondition. Used conserve once I got to highway. Never seen numbers this good. Read more”
r/GrandCherokee ·2 upvotes ·2025-09-01

“I had the crossclimate on my Avalon. They were noisy. Don't know if vehicle choice matters. Put the Defender LTX M/S2 on my GC Overland. So far I really like them.”
r/GXOR ·3 upvotes ·2026-07-03

“Looking for Pics of GXs with Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 TL;DR - Would love to see pics of trucks with the current Defender LTX M/S2, especially on non-OEM wheels. Longer story - Selected my Conti TerrainContact AT as the ideal mild AT - light, quiet, comfy, but with a tougher looking sidewall and just a enough extra traction. Unfortunately, 3 out of 4 cannot be road forced balanced well enough (2 different shops tried) and they have a very pronounced wobble at multiple speeds. I'm thiiiiiis close to admitting to myself I don't offroad enough to justify even a mild AT, and that the new Defender LTX M/S2 is the perfect for me. These tires are VERY well reviewed here and everywhere else, and yes- plenty say they do well in many off-road situations. But pictures are hard to come by! Please post up if you have these on your ride so I can get a sense of how they look, especially if you have 17" wheels or non-OEM sizes. Thanks! Read more”
Top themes
#Range and Efficiency#Longevity and Treadwear#Snow and Winter Traction#Highway Ride Quality#Noise Levels#Load Ratings and Options

Based on 22 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
CategoryAll Season—
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available461
Rim diameters16″ – 22″22″
Tread depth10/32″11 - 14/32″
UTQG800 A A820 B A
Treadwear warranty80,000 mi—
SidewallBlackwallBlack Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering
Max pressure44 psi50 - 80 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — better treadwear, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 80 vs 62 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 86 vs 69 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 82 vs 70 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 84 vs 72 on wet.

Tire A · Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra
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Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
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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.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.

81

Leads

Defender LTX M/S2

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