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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–62

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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 +16
    60
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAssurance CS Fuel Max
    Reviews found online8156
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +13
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAssurance CS Fuel Max
    Reviews found online8164
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    60
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAssurance CS Fuel Max
    Reviews found online7353
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    61
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAssurance CS Fuel Max
    Reviews found online7653
  5. 70

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +6
    64
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAssurance CS Fuel Max
    Reviews found online7459
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    64
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAssurance CS Fuel Max
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7863
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +19
    59
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SAssurance CS Fuel Max
    Reviews found online7859
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SGoodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max
Relative Score 76 62
Dry 76 60
Wet 78 65
Snow 72 60
Comfort 73 61
Noise 70 64
Treadwear 76 64
Handling 78 59

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Defender LTX M/S

Assurance CS Fuel Max

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 Assurance CS Fuel Max

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life with many users reporting over 50,000 miles
  • Improved fuel economy
  • Consistent and reliable on-road handling

Cons

  • Higher upfront cost compared to competing options
  • Limited availability at some local retailers
  • Primarily optimized for on-road use rather than off-road or severe weather conditions
All owner themes in the Assurance CS Fuel Max review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max
CategoryAll Season—
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Tread depth—10 - 11/32″
UTQG—600 A B
Treadwear warranty—65,000 mi
Sidewall—Vertical Serrated Band
Max pressure—51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, dry and wet. 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 59 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 60 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 65 on wet.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 60 on snow.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max
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