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Head-to-head Updated

Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–62

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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.

  1. 60

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +16
    76
    Why this score
    SourceAssurance CS Fuel MaxDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online5681
  2. 65

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +13
    78
    Why this score
    SourceAssurance CS Fuel MaxDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online6481
  3. 60

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    72
    Why this score
    SourceAssurance CS Fuel MaxDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online5373
  4. 61

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    73
    Why this score
    SourceAssurance CS Fuel MaxDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online5376
  5. 64

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +6
    70
    Why this score
    SourceAssurance CS Fuel MaxDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online5974
  6. 64

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    76
    Why this score
    SourceAssurance CS Fuel MaxDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)–74
    Reviews found online6378
  7. 59

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +19
    78
    Why this score
    SourceAssurance CS Fuel MaxDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online5978
Scores at a glance
CategoryGoodyear Assurance CS Fuel MaxMichelin Defender LTX M/S
Relative Score 62 76
Dry 60 76
Wet 65 78
Snow 60 72
Comfort 61 73
Noise 64 70
Treadwear 64 76
Handling 59 78

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

Assurance CS Fuel Max

Defender LTX M/S

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Assurance CS Fuel Max

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life with many users reporting over 50,000 miles
  • Improved fuel economy
  • Consistent and reliable on-road handling

Cons

  • Higher upfront cost compared to competing options
  • Limited availability at some local retailers
  • Primarily optimized for on-road use rather than off-road or severe weather conditions
All owner themes in the Assurance CS Fuel Max 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 · Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Category—All Season
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Tread depth10 - 11/32″—
UTQG600 A B—
Treadwear warranty65,000 mi—
SidewallVertical Serrated Band—
Max pressure51 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, dry and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 59 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 60 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 65 on wet.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 60 on snow.

Tire A · Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max
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.

76

Leads

Defender LTX M/S

Amazon