Tests – · none yet Owners 76 · 227 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho Road Venture AT52 vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 1 road tests and 227 + 3,699 owner reviews. How we score
Defender LTX M/S2 leads, 77–73 Narrow edge
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Tests 65 · 1 test Owners 88 · 3,699 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 30 in 2026 Tire Rack All Terrain Tyre Snow Test (snow braking)
“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.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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75
Dry
Road Venture AT52 +768Why this score
Source Road Venture AT52 Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 72 (est.) 52 Reviews found online 79 91 Road Venture AT52: 60% × 72.4 (est.) + 40% × 78.8 = 75
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 52 + 40% × 91.3 = 68
No road tests of dry for Road Venture AT52. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
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77
Wet
Level77Why this score
Source Road Venture AT52 Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 76 (est.) 67 Reviews found online 80 92 Road Venture AT52: 60% × 75.7 (est.) + 40% × 79.9 = 77
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 66.8 + 40% × 91.5 = 77
No road tests of wet for Road Venture AT52. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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69
Snow
Defender LTX M/S2 +1281Why this score
Source Road Venture AT52 Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 70 (est.) 84 Reviews found online 68 77 Road Venture AT52: 60% × 69.7 (est.) + 40% × 67.8 = 69
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 84 + 40% × 76.9 = 81
No road tests of snow for Road Venture AT52. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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69
Comfort
Defender LTX M/S2 +1382Why this score
Source Road Venture AT52 Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 69 (est.) ≈ 72 (est.) Reviews found online 70 88 Road Venture AT52: 40% × 68.9 (est.) + 60% × 69.8 = 69
Defender LTX M/S2: 40% × 72.5 (est.) + 60% × 87.6 = 82
No road tests of comfort for Road Venture AT52. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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70
Noise
Defender LTX M/S2 +575Why this score
Source Road Venture AT52 Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 75 89 Road Venture AT52: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 75.3 = 70
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 88.8 = 75
No road tests of noise for Road Venture AT52 or Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
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73
Treadwear
Defender LTX M/S2 +780Why this score
Source Road Venture AT52 Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 71 (est.) ≈ 75 (est.) Reviews found online 78 89 Road Venture AT52: 60% × 70.5 (est.) + 40% × 77.6 = 73
Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 89 = 80
No road tests of treadwear for Road Venture AT52. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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72
Handling (owners)
Defender LTX M/S2 +1587Why this score
Source Road Venture AT52 Defender LTX M/S2 Reviews found online 72 87
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Road Venture AT52 | Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 77 |
| Dry | 75 | 68 |
| Wet | 77 | 77 |
| Snow | 69 | 81 |
| Comfort | 69 | 82 |
| Noise | 70 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 73 | 80 |
| Handling (owners) | 72 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Road Venture AT52
77
/ 100
Defender LTX M/S2
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Road Venture AT52
Pros
- Excellent value and competitive pricing compared to premium brands
- Surprisingly low road noise for an all-terrain tread pattern
- Strong traction in wet, snowy, and wintry conditions (3-peak mountain snowflake rated)
Cons
- Stiffer ride quality or firmer sidewalls reported by some drivers
- Reduced confidence or grip when cornering hard in wet weather
- Increased road noise reported by some users as the tires wear into mid-life
Tire B Defender LTX M/S2
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and smooth highway ride
- Outstanding tread life and long-term durability
- Improves fuel economy and lowers rolling resistance
Cons
- High upfront purchase price
- Occasional difficulty with balancing and high-speed vibrations
- Can pick up small rocks and struggles in deep snow compared to dedicated winter tires
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Kumho Road Venture AT52
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
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.
r/ram_trucks
·4 upvotes ·2025-06-29
“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”
r/Rivian
·30 upvotes ·2023-11-22
“275/50R22 Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 At about 15k miles the front 2 Pirelli Scorpions were pretty much worn out/down to the wear bar. I wanted to try something different and always liked Michelin tires so I went with the Defender LTX M/S2. Replaced the front two. If I like them I'll get another 2 next year and shuffle these to the rears. It seems the truck has had to relearn how to drive after putting new tires on. It's been 5 days and it seems that it's almost back to normal. The steering felt a little too loose is how I'd describe it. Otherwise they feel great and I like how they look. A little more meatier than the Pirellis. I'll be measuring the wear to see how it compares and will post some data in the future.”
r/ToyotaTundra
·2 upvotes ·2026-01-18
“I have the same truck. I love my Defender LTX M/S2 tires. Very good on the rroadand in rain and snow. I haven't towed with them but have had no issues on forest service roads in Washington state. I would definitely get them again.”
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 · Kumho Road Venture AT52 | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-Terrain tire | All Season |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 59 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 22″ | 22″ |
| Tread depth | 13.5/32″ | 11 - 14/32″ |
| UTQG | 680 A A | 820 B A |
| Treadwear warranty | 55,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Black Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 50 - 80 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Kumho Road Venture AT52
77
/ 100
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
Narrow edge: Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — better handling, comfort and snow. Pick the Kumho Road Venture AT52 if dry matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 87 vs 72 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 82 vs 69 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 81 vs 69 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho Road Venture AT52 scores 75 vs 68 on dry.
Tire A · Kumho Road Venture AT52
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
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Road Venture AT52 or Defender LTX M/S2?
Which is better in the wet, Road Venture AT52 or Defender LTX M/S2?
Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 77 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Road Venture AT52 or Defender LTX M/S2?
Kumho Road Venture AT52, 75 vs 68 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Road Venture AT52 or Defender LTX M/S2?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 81 vs 69 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Road Venture AT52 or Defender LTX M/S2?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 75 vs 70 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Road Venture AT52 or Defender LTX M/S2?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 82 vs 69 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Road Venture AT52 or Defender LTX M/S2?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 80 vs 73 on our treadwear score.
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.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology