tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs General AltiMAX HP — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 77–52

Check price on Amazon · Defender LTX M/S or AltiMAX HP on Amazon
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.

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 BGeneral

AltiMAX HP

Summer

Tests – · none yet Owners 46 · 11 reviews

Best test result: #47 of 54 in 2013 54 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 +22
    54
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAltiMAX HP
    Reviews found online8147
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +21
    57
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAltiMAX HP
    Reviews found online8152
  3. 72

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAltiMAX HP
    Reviews found online73–
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +16
    57
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAltiMAX HP
    Reviews found online7645
  5. 70

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAltiMAX HP
    Reviews found online74–
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +25
    51
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAltiMAX HP
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7842
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +36
    42
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAltiMAX HP
    Reviews found online7842
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SGeneral AltiMAX HP
Relative Score 77 52
Dry 76 54
Wet 78 57
Snow 72 –
Comfort 73 57
Noise 70 –
Treadwear 76 51
Handling 78 42

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

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

Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

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

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Defender LTX M/S

AltiMAX HP

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/SAltiMAX HPΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 2% #47/54 · 2013 54 Tyre Braking Test +81.2 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 AltiMAX HP

Pros

  • Excellent value for the price point
  • Reliable dry road grip and handling
  • Quiet and comfortable ride quality

Cons

  • Fragile sidewalls prone to impact damage
  • Short tread life and rapid wear
  • Inconsistent wet weather performance
All owner themes in the AltiMAX HP review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · General AltiMAX HP
CategoryAll SeasonSummer
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

General AltiMAX HP

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

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 42 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 51 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 54 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 57 on wet.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · General AltiMAX HP
Check price on Amazon

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.

77

Leads

Defender LTX M/S

Amazon