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Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop Winter Response 2 vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — Compared

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

Winter Response 2 leads, 78–76 Narrow edge

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Tire ADunlop

Winter Response 2

Winter

Tests 83 · 1 test Owners 81 · 10 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 9 in 2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test R16 (overall ranking)

Tire BMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

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.

  1. 75

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +1
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Response 2Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online7981
  2. 85

    Wet

    Winter Response 2 +7
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Response 2Defender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)86–
    Reviews found online8481
  3. 81

    Snow

    Winter Response 2 +9
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Response 2Defender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)79–
    Reviews found online8373
  4. 76

    Comfort

    Winter Response 2 +3
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Response 2Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online8276
  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Response 2Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online–74
  6. 71

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +5
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Response 2Defender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)–74
    Reviews found online7578
  7. 82

    Handling

    Winter Response 2 +4
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Response 2Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online8278
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop Winter Response 2Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Relative Score 78 76
Dry 75 76
Wet 85 78
Snow 81 72
Comfort 76 73
Noise – 70
Treadwear 71 76
Handling 82 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.

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Important
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Neutral
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Less important
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Less important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Winter Response 2

Defender LTX M/S

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

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryWinter Response 2Defender LTX M/SΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 78% #3/9 · 2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test R16 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires −5.5 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Winter Response 2

Pros

  • Outstanding grip and confidence in snow and ice
  • Excellent wet weather performance and braking
  • High level of cabin comfort and low noise levels

Cons

  • Faster tread wear reported by some users
  • Slightly noticeable tire roll in fast corners above 50 mph
All owner themes in the Winter Response 2 review

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
All owner themes in the Defender LTX M/S review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Winter Response 2 B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
CategoryWinterAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available15—
Rim diameters14″ – 16″—

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Winter Response 2

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Winner: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better snow, wet and handling. Pick the Michelin Defender LTX M/S if treadwear matters most to you.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 81 vs 72 on snow.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 85 vs 78 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 71 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 82 vs 78 on handling.

Tire A · Dunlop Winter Response 2
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon

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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.

78

Narrow edge

Winter Response 2

Amazon