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Falken WildPeak A/T Trail vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S2 leads, 81–77 Narrow edge

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Tire AFalken

WildPeak A/T Trail

All Season

Tests – · none yet Owners 81 · 1,005 reviews

“2026 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness with new Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail All-Terrain Tires - 225/65R17! My speedometer and odometer readings are pretty much spot-on—maybe about a 1% difference at most. Road noise is the same as stock (if not slightly better), and grip on gravel and loose terrain is easily 30% better. Overall, stepping up to the slightly taller size for that extra ~0.5" of clearance and sidewall cushion was definitely the right move. The ride quality is great. The only thing I can’t comment on yet is tread longevity since I just got them mounted, but I'll check back in with an update down the road!”

Tire BMichelin

Defender LTX M/S2

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

“Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 vs Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 for '21 Ram 1500 Limited Unfortunately I'm having to get my 2nd set of tires in 4 years. I had the OEM Goodyear tires the first two times and only got 20-25K miles each time so I'm looking for something better. I usually get my tires from Sam's Club because I've found they give the best value. I wanted to get the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2's at my last need for tires but they cost more than I could afford at the time. I can afford them now but I've also come across these Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3's that are at a better deal and have consistently decent reviews as well that would cost me about $500 less in total. I wanted to see if anyone here has any experience with both sets or has a recommendation between the two tires and if you can provide reasonings why. TIA! Leer más”

Category by category

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

  1. 78

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S2 +4
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWildPeak A/T TrailDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online8391
  2. 82

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S2 +2
    84
    Why this score
    SourceWildPeak A/T TrailDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online8689
  3. 75

    Snow

    WildPeak A/T Trail +3
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWildPeak A/T TrailDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online7874
  4. 74

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S2 +4
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWildPeak A/T TrailDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online8087
  5. 70

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S2 +6
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWildPeak A/T TrailDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online7589
  6. 74

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S2 +6
    80
    Why this score
    SourceWildPeak A/T TrailDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online8190
  7. 79

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S2 +7
    86
    Why this score
    SourceWildPeak A/T TrailDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online7986
Scores at a glance
CategoryFalken WildPeak A/T TrailMichelin Defender LTX M/S2
Relative Score 77 81
Dry 78 82
Wet 82 84
Snow 75 72
Comfort 74 78
Noise 70 76
Treadwear 74 80
Handling 79 86

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

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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

WildPeak A/T Trail

Defender LTX M/S2

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A WildPeak A/T Trail

Pros

  • Outstanding winter and snow traction, often replacing the need for dedicated snow tires
  • Surprisingly low road noise and comfortable, smooth highway ride for an all-terrain tire
  • Enhanced confidence and durability on light off-road surfaces such as dirt, gravel, and rocky trails

Cons

  • Slight decrease in fuel economy (MPG) reported by some users
  • Minor reduction in high-speed cornering grip or a slightly spongy steering feel on dry pavement compared to standard street tires
  • A few reports of faster-than-expected tread wear or reduced longevity under heavy rough-road usage
All owner themes in the WildPeak A/T Trail 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

Falken WildPeak A/T Trail

Positive

Community opinion on the Falken WildPeak A/T Trail is largely positive, with owners praising its smooth on-road manners, low road noise, and capable traction in snow and light off-road conditions. Drivers consistently highlight its rugged appearance and strong treadwear, viewing it as an ideal balance between standard all-season tires and aggressive all-terrain tires. The primary drawbacks mentioned are a minor fuel economy penalty due to tire weight and isolated cosmetic concerns regarding sidewalls.

mavericktruckclub.com ·1 upvote ·2024-12-31

“I like them a lot. Ever so slightly less smooth ride, but they handle really well on highway, city or gravel roads. And worked just fine in last year's snow. Haven't had snow yet this year, but expect the same. Mine are same size/width as my OEM tires were; mainly for mileage and the not-so-wide width is better in snow.”
r/Subaru_Outback ·4 upvotes ·2026-09-17

“If you get any appreciable amount of snow an all-season no longer cuts it, IMO. You want an all WEATHER tire. The CC2's I see you were considering are in that class. Look for the 3-peak Mountain Snowflake rating. I ran all-season tires on my 2011 Outback for 10 years. When my 2021 needed tires I went with the OTHER often-suggested tire, the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail. Best decision EVER!! They changed the handling of the Outback in the snow considerably for the better but they handle good in the dry still and they're wearing like iron.”
r/crv ·39 upvotes ·2023-04-26

“Wildpeak A/T Trails on my ‘07. Thanks for the tire recs!”
Top themes
#Snow traction#Low road noise#Fuel economy impact#Smooth ride quality#Rugged tire appearance#Light off-road capability#Long tread life

Based on 74 community posts

Tire B

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2

Positive

The community widely views the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 as an outstanding highway and daily driving tire, praising its smooth ride, low road noise, and reliable wet traction. While considered an ideal replacement for noisy all-terrain or OEM tires, some users question its performance in severe winter or deep mud conditions compared to dedicated off-road tires. A few owners also raised minor concerns regarding warranty differences, balancing, and tread life compared to prior generations.

landcruiserforum.com ·5 upvotes ·2024-08-12

“The tires are over inflated for transport. The dealership should set them to the proper PSI during PDI but that's not always the case. I had 55 PSI in mine which explained the rough ride.”
tahoeyukonforum.com ·5 upvotes ·2026-03-06

“Defender LTX M/S2 275/50/22 on Fuel 22’s Coming off the Allenzas the quiet smooth ride is very noticeable. A section of paved road that has roots underneath but not really washboard - on the Allenzas it was noisy and bumpy and with the Defenders it is barely noticeable. They are that good”
bobistheoilguy.com ·5 upvotes ·2025-06-04

“Got them last month. Did road trip to Vegas and back. Astonishing tire. You almost don’t know they are there. They just provide feedback necessary to have good control. No noise, no uncomfortable transfer of impact. Excellent in rain. Went through several downpours. As expected from 12/32 depth and this design, hydroplaning resistance is excellent. But what I pay attention is braking and handling, and they are excellent there. Did by now 3,000mls no any noticeable wear.”
Top themes
#highway ride comfort#wet weather traction#low road noise#fuel and range efficiency#light snow performance#all-terrain comparison

Based on 83 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Falken WildPeak A/T Trail B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
CategoryAll Season—
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available471
Rim diameters15″ – 21″22″
Tread depth11/32″11 - 14/32″
UTQG680 A A820 B A
Treadwear warranty65,000 mi—
SidewallBlackwallBlack Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering
Max pressure51 psi50 - 80 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Falken WildPeak A/T Trail

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — better handling, noise and treadwear. Pick the Falken WildPeak A/T Trail if snow matters most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 86 vs 79 on handling.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 76 vs 70 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 80 vs 74 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 82 vs 78 on dry.

Tire A · Falken WildPeak A/T Trail
Check price on Amazon
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

Narrow edge

Defender LTX M/S2

Amazon