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Head-to-head Updated

Continental ContiCrossContact LX 2 vs Michelin Defender — Compared

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

Defender leads, 72–70 Narrow edge

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Tire BMichelin

Defender

Summer Premium Touring tires

Tests – · none yet Owners 75 · 4 reviews

Category by category

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

  1. 69

    Dry

    Defender +4
    73
    Why this score
    SourceContiCrossContact LX 2Defender
    Reviews found online7076
  2. 72

    Wet

    Defender +1
    73
    Why this score
    SourceContiCrossContact LX 2Defender
    Reviews found online7274
  3. 61

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceContiCrossContact LX 2Defender
    Reviews found online55–
  4. 68

    Comfort

    Defender +3
    71
    Why this score
    SourceContiCrossContact LX 2Defender
    Reviews found online6773
  5. 69

    Treadwear

    Level
    69
    Why this score
    SourceContiCrossContact LX 2Defender
    Reviews found online7172
  6. 69

    Handling

    Defender +8
    77
    Why this score
    SourceContiCrossContact LX 2Defender
    Reviews found online6977
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental ContiCrossContact LX 2Michelin Defender
Relative Score 70 72
Dry 69 73
Wet 72 73
Snow 61 –
Comfort 68 71
Treadwear 69 69
Handling 69 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.

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

ContiCrossContact LX 2

Defender

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A ContiCrossContact LX 2

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and long-term durability
  • Strong wet and dry road grip and braking performance
  • Good capability for light off-roading, gravel, and sand

Cons

  • Poor traction and handling in deep snow, ice, or heavy mud
  • Can exhibit loud road noise and a harsh ride on rough or damaged roads
  • Cornering precision can feel reduced at higher speeds
All owner themes in the ContiCrossContact LX 2 review

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
All owner themes in the Defender review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental ContiCrossContact LX 2 B · Michelin Defender
CategoryAll SeasonSummer Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available39—
Rim diameters15″ – 20″—

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental ContiCrossContact LX 2

Michelin Defender

Winner: Michelin Defender — better handling, dry and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender scores 77 vs 69 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender scores 73 vs 69 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Defender scores 71 vs 68 on comfort.

Tire A · Continental ContiCrossContact LX 2
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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.

72

Narrow edge

Defender

Amazon