Tests 76 · 1 test Owners 55 · 39 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–63
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Tests – · 1 test Owners 78 · 10 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
71
Dry
Defender LTX M/S +576Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) 78 – Reviews found online 60 81 -
71
Wet
Defender LTX M/S +778Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) 75 – Reviews found online 65 81 -
–
Snow
No comparison72Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Defender LTX M/S Reviews found online – 73 -
60
Comfort
Defender LTX M/S +1373Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Defender LTX M/S Reviews found online 52 76 -
66
Noise
Defender LTX M/S +470Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) 71 – Reviews found online 58 74 -
48
Treadwear
Defender LTX M/S +2876Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) – 74 Reviews found online 36 78 -
61
Handling
Defender LTX M/S +1778Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Defender LTX M/S Reviews found online 61 78
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 63 | 76 |
| Dry | 71 | 76 |
| Wet | 71 | 78 |
| Snow | – | 72 |
| Comfort | 60 | 73 |
| Noise | 66 | 70 |
| Treadwear | 48 | 76 |
| Handling | 61 | 78 |
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
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Important
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Neutral
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
63
/ 100
ContiSportContact 5 SUV
76
/ 100
Defender LTX M/S
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | Defender LTX M/S | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/8 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | #3/13 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A ContiSportContact 5 SUV
Pros
- Impressive wet and dry grip with responsive handling
- Exceptional braking performance in various conditions
- Quiet operation and smooth, comfortable ride quality
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear, with many users needing replacements under 15,000 miles
- High price point relative to the mileage longevity received
- Some complaints regarding road noise as the tires age
Tire B Defender LTX M/S
Pros
- Exceptional tread longevity and mileage lifespan
- Quiet and smooth ride quality at highway speeds
- Strong year-round traction across dry, wet, and light snow conditions
Cons
- High upfront purchase price
- Subpar performance in deep mud, sand, and off-road environments
- Limited ice and severe winter capability compared to dedicated winter tires
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | All Season |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
Which one should you actually buy?
63
/ 100
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
76
/ 100
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better treadwear, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 48 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 61 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 73 vs 60 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 71 on wet.
Tire A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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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.