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Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Winter i*cept RS vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 77–70

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Tire AHankook

Winter i*cept RS

Winter

Tests – · none yet Owners 71 · 6 reviews

Best test result: #9 of 42 in 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test (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. 69

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +7
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RSDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online6981
  2. 71

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +7
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RSDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online7281
  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RSDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online–73
  4. 70

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RSDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online7176
  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RSDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online–74
  6. 70

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +6
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RSDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)–74
    Reviews found online7378
  7. 72

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +6
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RSDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online7278
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Winter i*cept RSMichelin Defender LTX M/S
Relative Score 70 77
Dry 69 76
Wet 71 78
Snow – 72
Comfort 70 73
Noise – 70
Treadwear 70 76
Handling 72 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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

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

Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

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

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Winter i*cept RS

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 i*cept RSDefender LTX M/SΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 11% #9/42 · 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires −72.2 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Winter i*cept RS

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and performance in medium to heavy snow conditions
  • Low rolling resistance contributing to great fuel economy
  • Durable wear rate given the winter conditions

Cons

  • Very soft rubber compound reduces performance and handling on dry, hot roads
  • Less suited for extended high-speed motorway driving
All owner themes in the Winter i*cept RS 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 · Hankook Winter i*cept RS B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
CategoryWinterAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available17—
Rim diameters13″ – 16″—

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Winter i*cept RS

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

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

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 69 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 71 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 70 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 72 on handling.

Tire A · Hankook Winter i*cept RS
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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.

77

Leads

Defender LTX M/S

Amazon