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Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Continental ContiCrossContact LX 2 — 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 1 + 0 road tests and 11 + 28 owner reviews. How we score

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 79–68

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Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Tire AMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

± 7Provisional

Tests – · 1 test Owners 83 · 11 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (tested tread life (miles))

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 79

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +10
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SContiCrossContact LX 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 75 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online8469

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 74.7 (est.) + 40% × 84.3 = 79

    ContiCrossContact LX 2: 60% × 68.4 (est.) + 40% × 69 = 69

    No road tests of dry for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

    No road tests of dry for ContiCrossContact LX 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 82

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +11
    71
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SContiCrossContact LX 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 79 (est.)≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online8672

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 78.8 (est.) + 40% × 85.6 = 82

    ContiCrossContact LX 2: 60% × 71.2 (est.) + 40% × 71.7 = 71

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

    No road tests of wet for ContiCrossContact LX 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 74

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +13
    61
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SContiCrossContact LX 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 73 (est.)≈ 65 (est.)
    Reviews found online7754

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 72.5 (est.) + 40% × 76.7 = 74

    ContiCrossContact LX 2: 60% × 65.4 (est.) + 40% × 54.4 = 61

    No road tests of snow for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

    No road tests of snow for ContiCrossContact LX 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 75

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +9
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SContiCrossContact LX 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 70 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online7865

    Defender LTX M/S: 40% × 70.5 (est.) + 60% × 77.7 = 75

    ContiCrossContact LX 2: 40% × 67.8 (est.) + 60% × 64.5 = 66

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

  5. 80

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +9
    71
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SContiCrossContact LX 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests75≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online8674

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 75.4 + 40% × 86.4 = 80

    ContiCrossContact LX 2: 60% × 69.4 (est.) + 40% × 74.4 = 71

    No road tests of treadwear for ContiCrossContact LX 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  6. 82

    Handling (owners)

    Defender LTX M/S +13
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SContiCrossContact LX 2
    Reviews found online8269
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SContinental ContiCrossContact LX 2
Relative Score 79 68
Dry 79 69
Wet 82 71
Snow 74 61
Comfort 75 66
Treadwear 80 71
Handling (owners) 82 69

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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Defender LTX M/S

± 8

ContiCrossContact LX 2

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryDefender LTX M/SContiCrossContact LX 2ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #3/13 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires #8/8 2020 ViBilagare SUV Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Defender LTX M/S

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and long-term durability, often exceeding 60,000 miles
  • Smooth, quiet, and comfortable highway ride quality
  • Strong traction and secure handling in wet, dry, and moderate snow conditions

Cons

  • High initial purchase price compared to competitors
  • Subpar off-road performance, specifically struggling in mud, sand, and loose gravel
  • Limited ice performance compared to dedicated winter tires
All owner themes in the Defender LTX M/S review

Tire B ContiCrossContact LX 2

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and long-term durability
  • Strong wet and dry road grip and braking performance
  • Good capability for light off-roading, gravel, and sand

Cons

  • Poor traction and handling in deep snow, ice, or heavy mud
  • Can exhibit loud road noise and a harsh ride on rough or damaged roads
  • Cornering precision can feel reduced at higher speeds
All owner themes in the ContiCrossContact LX 2 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Continental ContiCrossContact LX 2
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available—39
Rim diameters—15″ – 20″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Continental ContiCrossContact LX 2

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better snow, handling and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score. Michelin Defender LTX M/S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 11 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 74 vs 61 on snow.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 82 vs 69 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 82 vs 71 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 79 vs 69 on dry.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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Tire B · Continental ContiCrossContact LX 2
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Defender LTX M/S or ContiCrossContact LX 2?

Which is better in the wet, Defender LTX M/S or ContiCrossContact LX 2?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 82 vs 71 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Defender LTX M/S or ContiCrossContact LX 2?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 79 vs 69 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Defender LTX M/S or ContiCrossContact LX 2?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 74 vs 61 on our snow score.

Which is more comfortable, Defender LTX M/S or ContiCrossContact LX 2?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 75 vs 66 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Defender LTX M/S or ContiCrossContact LX 2?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 80 vs 71 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