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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Dunlop Winter Response 2 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Winter Response 2 leads, 78–76 Narrow edge

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Tire AMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

Tests – · 1 test Owners 78 · 10 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (overall ranking)

Tire BDunlop

Winter Response 2

Winter

Tests 83 · 1 test Owners 81 · 10 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 9 in 2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test R16 (overall ranking)

Category by category

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

  1. 76

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +1
    75
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWinter Response 2
    Reviews found online8179
  2. 78

    Wet

    Winter Response 2 +7
    85
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWinter Response 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–86
    Reviews found online8184
  3. 72

    Snow

    Winter Response 2 +9
    81
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWinter Response 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–79
    Reviews found online7383
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Winter Response 2 +3
    76
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWinter Response 2
    Reviews found online7682
  5. 70

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWinter Response 2
    Reviews found online74–
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +5
    71
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWinter Response 2
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7875
  7. 78

    Handling

    Winter Response 2 +4
    82
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWinter Response 2
    Reviews found online7882
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SDunlop Winter Response 2
Relative Score 76 78
Dry 76 75
Wet 78 85
Snow 72 81
Comfort 73 76
Noise 70 –
Treadwear 76 71
Handling 78 82

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.

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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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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Defender LTX M/S

Winter Response 2

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

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.

DisciplineCategoryDefender LTX M/SWinter Response 2ΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 78% #3/9 · 2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test R16 +5.5 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 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
All owner themes in the Defender LTX M/S review

Tire B Winter Response 2

Pros

  • Outstanding grip and confidence in snow and ice
  • Excellent wet weather performance and braking
  • High level of cabin comfort and low noise levels

Cons

  • Faster tread wear reported by some users
  • Slightly noticeable tire roll in fast corners above 50 mph
All owner themes in the Winter Response 2 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Dunlop Winter Response 2
CategoryAll SeasonWinter
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—15
Rim diameters—14″ – 16″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Dunlop Winter Response 2

Winner: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better snow, wet and handling. Pick the Michelin Defender LTX M/S if treadwear matters most to you.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 81 vs 72 on snow.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 85 vs 78 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 71 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 82 vs 78 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Dunlop Winter Response 2
Check price on Amazon

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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.

78

Narrow edge

Winter Response 2

Amazon