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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Kumho Crugen HT51 — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–71

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Tire AMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

Tests – · 1 test Owners 78 · 10 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (tested tread life (miles))

Tire BKumho

Crugen HT51

All Season

Tests – · 1 test Owners 75 · 164 reviews

Best test result: #5 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (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 +3
    73
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrugen HT51
    Reviews found online8177
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    75
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrugen HT51
    Reviews found online8177
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    70
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrugen HT51
    Reviews found online7370
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    71
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrugen HT51
    Reviews found online7672
  5. 69

    Noise

    Crugen HT51 +2
    71
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrugen HT51
    Reviews found online7478
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    64
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrugen HT51
    Professional tests (TWG score)7458
    Reviews found online7874
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    75
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrugen HT51
    Reviews found online7875
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SKumho Crugen HT51
Relative Score 76 71
Dry 76 73
Wet 78 75
Snow 72 70
Comfort 73 71
Noise 69 71
Treadwear 76 64
Handling 78 75

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

Crugen HT51

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/SCrugen HT51ΔBoth?
Tested Tread Life (Miles) Other 84% #2/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 58% #11/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires +26.3 Same test
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 67% #5/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires +16.7 Same test

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 Crugen HT51

Pros

  • Exceptional value and lower price point compared to premium competitors
  • Smooth, quiet, and comfortable highway ride
  • Strong dry, wet, and winter/snow traction

Cons

  • Slightly vague or 'squishy' steering feel/sidewall stiffness compared to some OEM tires
  • Potential negative impact on fuel economy (decreased MPG for some truck owners)
  • Occasional reports of accelerated shoulder wear or balancing issues
All owner themes in the Crugen HT51 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Kumho Crugen HT51
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available—44
Rim diameters—15″ – 22″
Tread depth—12.5/32″
UTQG—720 A A
Treadwear warranty—70,000 mi
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Kumho Crugen HT51

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better treadwear, dry and wet. 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 64 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 73 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 75 on wet.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 75 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Kumho Crugen HT51
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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