Tests 74 · 2 tests Owners 72 · 152 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2015 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin CrossClimate vs Michelin Defender T+H — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
CrossClimate leads, 73–72 Narrow edge
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Tests – · 1 test Owners 71 · 1 review
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
CrossClimate +372Why this score
Source CrossClimate Defender T+H Professional tests (TWG score) 77 – Reviews found online 73 74 -
75
Wet
CrossClimate +174Why this score
Source CrossClimate Defender T+H Professional tests (TWG score) 75 – Reviews found online 76 75 -
68
Snow
CrossClimate +266Why this score
Source CrossClimate Defender T+H Professional tests (TWG score) 71 – Reviews found online 64 64 -
72
Comfort
CrossClimate +270Why this score
Source CrossClimate Defender T+H Reviews found online 75 70 -
69
Noise
CrossClimate +168Why this score
Source CrossClimate Defender T+H Professional tests (TWG score) 71 – Reviews found online – 70 -
72
Treadwear
Defender T+H +173Why this score
Source CrossClimate Defender T+H Professional tests (TWG score) 73 75 Reviews found online 71 70 -
72
Handling
Level72Why this score
Source CrossClimate Defender T+H Reviews found online 72 72
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin CrossClimate | Michelin Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 72 |
| Dry | 75 | 72 |
| Wet | 75 | 74 |
| Snow | 68 | 66 |
| Comfort | 72 | 70 |
| Noise | 69 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 73 |
| Handling | 72 | 72 |
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
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Less important
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Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
CrossClimate
72
/ 100
Defender T+H
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 T+H | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/10 · 2015 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires | −50.0 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A CrossClimate
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability
- Strong wet-weather grip and hydroplaning resistance
- Reliable traction in light snow and cold conditions
Cons
- Tendency to pick up and retain small stones in the tread pattern
- Noticeable drop in performance as tread depth decreases
- Potential for reduced fuel economy compared to dedicated summer tires
Tire B Defender T+H
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin CrossClimate | B · Michelin Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Michelin CrossClimate
72
/ 100
Michelin Defender T+H
Too close to call: Michelin CrossClimate and Michelin Defender T+H are within 2 points overall. Michelin CrossClimate is stronger on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin CrossClimate scores 75 vs 72 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate
Tire B · Michelin Defender T+H
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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.