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Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Falken EuroWinter HS449 — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–68

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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 BFalken

EuroWinter HS449

Winter

Tests – · none yet Owners 68 · 42 reviews

Best test result: #5 of 42 in 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test (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 +9
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SEuroWinter HS449
    Reviews found online8167
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    76
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SEuroWinter HS449
    Reviews found online8178
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +7
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SEuroWinter HS449
    Reviews found online7362
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    70
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SEuroWinter HS449
    Reviews found online7670
  5. 69

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +8
    61
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SEuroWinter HS449
    Reviews found online7452
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +11
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SEuroWinter HS449
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7865
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +8
    70
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SEuroWinter HS449
    Reviews found online7870
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SFalken EuroWinter HS449
Relative Score 76 68
Dry 76 67
Wet 78 76
Snow 72 65
Comfort 73 70
Noise 69 61
Treadwear 76 65
Handling 78 70

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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Neutral
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Defender LTX M/S

EuroWinter HS449

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/SEuroWinter HS449ΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 20% #5/42 · 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test +63.3 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 EuroWinter HS449

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow, slush, and ice
  • Strong value for money compared to premium brand winter tires
  • Reliable and safe performance on wet and rainy roads with good hydroplaning resistance

Cons

  • Faster tread wear or a softer rubber compound noted by some users
  • Slightly reduced fuel economy or rolling resistance penalty
  • Occasional reports of decreased grip or wheel spin on steep inclines and packed ice for certain 2WD setups
All owner themes in the EuroWinter HS449 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Falken EuroWinter HS449
CategoryAll SeasonWinter
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—6
Rim diameters—16″ – 19″
Tread depth—11/32″
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—44 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Falken EuroWinter HS449

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better treadwear, dry and noise. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 65 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 67 on dry.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 69 vs 61 on noise.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 70 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Falken EuroWinter HS449
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.

76

Leads

Defender LTX M/S

Amazon