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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Michelin CrossClimate+ — Compared

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

CrossClimate+ leads, 77–76 Narrow edge

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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 BMichelin

CrossClimate+

All Season

Tests 79 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 119 reviews

Best test result: #7 of 15 in 2019 Autonavigator Summer Tire Test R16 (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

    CrossClimate+ +10
    86
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score)–92
    Reviews found online8176
  2. 78

    Wet

    CrossClimate+ +2
    80
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score)–80
    Reviews found online8179
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    68
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score)–65
    Reviews found online7372
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Level
    73
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score)–71
    Reviews found online7676
  5. 70

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score)–63
    Reviews found online7472
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    CrossClimate+ +2
    78
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score)7480
    Reviews found online7875
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +5
    73
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SCrossClimate+
    Reviews found online7873
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SMichelin CrossClimate+
Relative Score 76 77
Dry 76 86
Wet 78 80
Snow 72 68
Comfort 73 73
Noise 70 67
Treadwear 76 78
Handling 78 73

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

CrossClimate+

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/SCrossClimate+ΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 57% #7/15 · 2019 Autonavigator Summer Tire Test R16 +26.2 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 CrossClimate+

Pros

  • Excellent traction and confidence in light to moderate snow and ice.
  • Strong wet and dry road handling that rivals dedicated summer tires.
  • Impressive tread longevity and durability over high mileage.

Cons

  • Performance in wet conditions can diminish significantly as the tire wears.
  • Increased road noise reported by some users compared to dedicated summer tires.
  • Occasional reports of a harsh or 'bouncy' ride on certain vehicle suspensions.
All owner themes in the CrossClimate+ review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Michelin CrossClimate+
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—63
Rim diameters—13″ – 19″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Michelin CrossClimate+

Too close to call: Michelin Defender LTX M/S and Michelin CrossClimate+ are within 2 points overall. Michelin Defender LTX M/S is stronger on handling, snow and noise. Michelin CrossClimate+ is stronger on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 86 vs 76 on dry.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 73 on handling.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 68 on snow.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 70 vs 67 on noise.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin CrossClimate+
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.

77

Narrow edge

CrossClimate+

Amazon