Tests – · none yet Owners 53 · 6 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Turanza GR80 vs Michelin Defender — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Defender is ahead, 72–58
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Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
55
Dry
Defender +1873Why this score
Source Turanza GR80 Defender Reviews found online 48 76 -
63
Wet
Defender +1073Why this score
Source Turanza GR80 Defender Reviews found online 61 74 -
65
Comfort
Defender +671Why this score
Source Turanza GR80 Defender Reviews found online 61 73 -
56
Treadwear
Defender +1369Why this score
Source Turanza GR80 Defender Reviews found online 50 72 -
52
Handling
Defender +2577Why this score
Source Turanza GR80 Defender Reviews found online 52 77
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Turanza GR80 | Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 58 | 72 |
| Dry | 55 | 73 |
| Wet | 63 | 73 |
| Comfort | 65 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 56 | 69 |
| Handling | 52 | 77 |
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
58
/ 100
Turanza GR80
72
/ 100
Defender
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Turanza GR80
Pros
- High initial performance satisfaction reported by some users
- Positive overall driving experience for select owners
Cons
- Premature tread wear occurring well before expected service life
- Poor long-term grip performance after two years of use
- Susceptibility to sidewall nicks and air leakage on rough road surfaces
Tire B Defender
Pros
- Excellent ride comfort and quiet operation
- Strong tread life and durability over several years
- Reliable grip on dry pavement
Cons
- Susceptibility to hydroplaning in heavy rain
- Limited traction in deep or severe snow
- Audible squealing during aggressive dry-pavement acceleration
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Turanza GR80 | B · Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
58
/ 100
Bridgestone Turanza GR80
72
/ 100
Michelin Defender
Winner: Michelin Defender — better handling, dry and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender scores 77 vs 52 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Defender scores 73 vs 55 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender scores 69 vs 56 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender scores 73 vs 63 on wet.
Tire A · Bridgestone Turanza GR80
Tire B · Michelin Defender
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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.