Tests 79 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 119 reviews
Best test result: #7 of 15 in 2019 Autonavigator Summer Tire Test R16 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin CrossClimate+ vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
CrossClimate+ leads, 77–76 Narrow edge
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.
-
86
Dry
CrossClimate+ +1076Why this score
Source CrossClimate+ Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) 92 – Reviews found online 76 81 -
80
Wet
CrossClimate+ +278Why this score
Source CrossClimate+ Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) 80 – Reviews found online 79 81 -
68
Snow
Defender LTX M/S +472Why this score
Source CrossClimate+ Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) 65 – Reviews found online 72 73 -
73
Comfort
Level73Why this score
Source CrossClimate+ Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) 71 – Reviews found online 76 76 -
67
Noise
Defender LTX M/S +370Why this score
Source CrossClimate+ Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) 63 – Reviews found online 72 74 -
78
Treadwear
CrossClimate+ +276Why this score
Source CrossClimate+ Defender LTX M/S Professional tests (TWG score) 80 74 Reviews found online 75 78 -
73
Handling
Defender LTX M/S +578Why this score
Source CrossClimate+ Defender LTX M/S Reviews found online 73 78
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin CrossClimate+ | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 76 |
| Dry | 86 | 76 |
| Wet | 80 | 78 |
| Snow | 68 | 72 |
| Comfort | 73 | 73 |
| Noise | 67 | 70 |
| Treadwear | 78 | 76 |
| Handling | 73 | 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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
CrossClimate+
76
/ 100
Defender LTX M/S
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.
| Discipline | Category | CrossClimate+ | Defender LTX M/S | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 57% #7/15 · 2019 Autonavigator Summer Tire Test R16 | 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires | −26.2 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A CrossClimate+
Pros
- Excellent traction and confidence in light to moderate snow and ice.
- Strong wet and dry road handling that rivals dedicated summer tires.
- Impressive tread longevity and durability over high mileage.
Cons
- Performance in wet conditions can diminish significantly as the tire wears.
- Increased road noise reported by some users compared to dedicated summer tires.
- Occasional reports of a harsh or 'bouncy' ride on certain vehicle suspensions.
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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin CrossClimate+ | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 63 | — |
| Rim diameters | 13″ – 19″ | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Michelin CrossClimate+
76
/ 100
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Too close to call: Michelin CrossClimate+ and Michelin Defender LTX M/S are within 2 points overall. Michelin CrossClimate+ is stronger on dry. Michelin Defender LTX M/S is stronger on handling, snow and noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 86 vs 76 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 73 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 68 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 70 vs 67 on noise.
Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate+
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.