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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW 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 3 + 0 road tests and 9 + 3,650 owner reviews. How we score

Defender LTX M/S2 leads, 83–81 Narrow edge

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Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW
Tire AMichelin

CrossClimate 2 AW

All Weather

± 5

Tests 85 · 3 tests Owners 79 · 9 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2024 TireRack All Season and Weather Tyre Test (snow braking)

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
Tire BMichelin

Defender LTX M/S2

All-Season tire

± 7

Tests – · none yet Owners 89 · 3,650 reviews

“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.

  1. 84

    Dry

    Level
    84
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2 AWDefender LTX M/S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / – tests87≈ 78 (est.)
    Reviews found online8192

    CrossClimate 2 AW: 60% × 86.7 + 40% × 80.8 = 84

    Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 78.2 (est.) + 40% × 92.1 = 84

    No road tests of dry for Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 79

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S2 +8
    87
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2 AWDefender LTX M/S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / – tests76≈ 83 (est.)
    Reviews found online8493

    CrossClimate 2 AW: 60% × 75.6 + 40% × 83.8 = 79

    Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 83 (est.) + 40% × 92.8 = 87

    No road tests of wet for Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 91

    Snow

    CrossClimate 2 AW +17
    74
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2 AWDefender LTX M/S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / – tests100≈ 73 (est.)
    Reviews found online7776

    CrossClimate 2 AW: 60% × 100 + 40% × 76.5 = 91

    Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 72.8 (est.) + 40% × 76.1 = 74

    No road tests of snow for Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 75

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S2 +7
    82
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2 AWDefender LTX M/S2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 73 (est.)
    Reviews found online7788

    CrossClimate 2 AW: 40% × 70.7 (est.) + 60% × 77.4 = 75

    Defender LTX M/S2: 40% × 72.7 (est.) + 60% × 88.3 = 82

    No road tests of comfort for CrossClimate 2 AW or Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    76
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2 AWDefender LTX M/S2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online–89

    Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 89.3 = 76

    No road tests of noise for Defender LTX M/S2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 73

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S2 +7
    80
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2 AWDefender LTX M/S2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 70 (est.)≈ 74 (est.)
    Reviews found online7789

    CrossClimate 2 AW: 60% × 69.9 (est.) + 40% × 77.1 = 73

    Defender LTX M/S2: 60% × 74 (est.) + 40% × 88.9 = 80

    No road tests of treadwear for CrossClimate 2 AW. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

    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 0.35).

  7. 74

    Handling (owners)

    Defender LTX M/S2 +13
    87
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2 AWDefender LTX M/S2
    Reviews found online7487
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin CrossClimate 2 AWMichelin Defender LTX M/S2
Relative Score 81 83
Dry 84 84
Wet 79 87
Snow 91 74
Comfort 75 82
Noise – 76
Treadwear 73 80
Handling (owners) 74 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

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

CrossClimate 2 AW

± 7

Defender LTX M/S2

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

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A CrossClimate 2 AW

Pros

  • Significant upgrade in wet and snow braking compared to stock or police-issue tires
  • Softer and more comfortable ride quality than performance-oriented alternatives
  • Reliable all-season traction in rain and light-to-moderate snow

Cons

  • Reduced dry cornering grip and handling limits compared to dedicated ultra-high-performance all-season tires
  • Decreased bite in deep snow (over 4 inches) or soft, powdery snow conditions
  • Heavier vehicles may experience increased braking distances or faster tread wear
All owner themes in the CrossClimate 2 AW 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

Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

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.

r/GrandCherokee ·2 upvotes ·2025-09-01

“I had the crossclimate on my Avalon. They were noisy. Don't know if vehicle choice matters. Put the Defender LTX M/S2 on my GC Overland. So far I really like them.”
r/GXOR ·3 upvotes ·2026-07-03

“Looking for Pics of GXs with Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 TL;DR - Would love to see pics of trucks with the current Defender LTX M/S2, especially on non-OEM wheels. Longer story - Selected my Conti TerrainContact AT as the ideal mild AT - light, quiet, comfy, but with a tougher looking sidewall and just a enough extra traction. Unfortunately, 3 out of 4 cannot be road forced balanced well enough (2 different shops tried) and they have a very pronounced wobble at multiple speeds. I'm thiiiiiis close to admitting to myself I don't offroad enough to justify even a mild AT, and that the new Defender LTX M/S2 is the perfect for me. These tires are VERY well reviewed here and everywhere else, and yes- plenty say they do well in many off-road situations. But pictures are hard to come by! Please post up if you have these on your ride so I can get a sense of how they look, especially if you have 17" wheels or non-OEM sizes. Thanks! Read more”
r/RivianR2 ·1 upvote ·2026-09-06

“The Michelin Defender LTX m/s2 is available in 255/60/20 and is a fantastic tire. Not severe snow rated but it has a great reputation for being great in the snow. Lasts forever too.”
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 · Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
CategoryAll WeatherAll-Season tire
Vehicle type—SUV and 4x4
Sizes available301
Rim diameters16″ – 22″22″
Tread depth—11 - 14/32″
UTQG—820 B A
Sidewall—Black Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering
Max pressure—50 - 80 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2

Narrow edge: Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — better handling, wet and comfort. Pick the Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW if snow matters most to you.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW scores 91 vs 74 on snow.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 87 vs 74 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 87 vs 79 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 82 vs 75 on comfort.

Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
Check price on Amazon

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CrossClimate 2 AW or Defender LTX M/S2?

Which is better in the wet, CrossClimate 2 AW or Defender LTX M/S2?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 87 vs 79 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, CrossClimate 2 AW or Defender LTX M/S2?

Neither, by our numbers: 84 vs 84 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, CrossClimate 2 AW or Defender LTX M/S2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW, 91 vs 74 on our snow score.

Which is more comfortable, CrossClimate 2 AW or Defender LTX M/S2?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, 82 vs 75 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, CrossClimate 2 AW 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