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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–64

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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 +12
    64
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWrangler Fortitude HT
    Reviews found online8162
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +14
    64
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWrangler Fortitude HT
    Reviews found online8161
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +6
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWrangler Fortitude HT
    Reviews found online7363
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +7
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWrangler Fortitude HT
    Reviews found online7664
  5. 69

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWrangler Fortitude HT
    Reviews found online7467
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    64
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWrangler Fortitude HT
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7862
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +15
    63
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWrangler Fortitude HT
    Reviews found online7863
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SGoodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT
Relative Score 76 64
Dry 76 64
Wet 78 64
Snow 72 66
Comfort 73 66
Noise 69 67
Treadwear 76 64
Handling 78 63

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

Wrangler Fortitude HT

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 Wrangler Fortitude HT

Pros

  • Excellent tread life and durability
  • Quiet and smooth highway ride quality
  • Improved fuel economy compared to all-terrain alternatives

Cons

  • Poor traction in snow, ice, and heavy rain
  • Inadequate performance for off-road or mud environments
  • Reports of vibration and balancing issues in some units
All owner themes in the Wrangler Fortitude HT review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT
CategoryAll SeasonPremium Touring All Season tire
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available—9
Rim diameters—16″ – 18″
Tread depth—10 - 15/32″
UTQG—680 A B
Sidewall—Black Side Wall - Vertical Serrated Band
Max pressure—50 - 83 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, wet 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 63 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 64 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 64 on dry.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 64 on treadwear.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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Tire B · Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT
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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