Tests – · 1 test Owners 78 · 10 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Defender LTX M/S2 is ahead, 81–76
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Tests – · none yet Owners 87 · 3,650 reviews
“Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 I’m looking to getting the Defenders as my next tires. As much as I’d like ATs, the unfortunately reality is that my tundra is a pavement princess/road trip vehicle 99% of the time. It will tow a trailer very rarely, and nothing crazy. Looking at the tire options, it gives me the option between the E1 rated Tires or XL tires. From my understanding the E1 rated tires have a higher payload rating, but at the cost of being heavier/harsher ride. The XL tires are better for normal driving without towing. What is your opinion on the difference and what is the better option? Thank you. Read more”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
76
Dry
Defender LTX M/S2 +682Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S Defender LTX M/S2 Reviews found online 81 91 -
78
Wet
Defender LTX M/S2 +684Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S Defender LTX M/S2 Reviews found online 81 89 -
72
Snow
Level72Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S Defender LTX M/S2 Reviews found online 73 74 -
73
Comfort
Defender LTX M/S2 +578Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S Defender LTX M/S2 Reviews found online 76 87 -
69
Noise
Defender LTX M/S2 +675Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S Defender LTX M/S2 Reviews found online 74 89 -
76
Treadwear
Defender LTX M/S2 +480Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S Defender LTX M/S2 Professional tests (TWG score) 74 – Reviews found online 78 90 -
78
Handling
Defender LTX M/S2 +886Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S Defender LTX M/S2 Reviews found online 78 86
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Defender LTX M/S | Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 81 |
| Dry | 76 | 82 |
| Wet | 78 | 84 |
| Snow | 72 | 72 |
| Comfort | 73 | 78 |
| Noise | 69 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 76 | 80 |
| Handling | 78 | 86 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
Defender LTX M/S
81
/ 100
Defender LTX M/S2
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
Tire B Defender LTX M/S2
Pros
- Exceptionally long tread life and high mileage durability
- Smooth, comfortable, and quiet highway ride quality
- Improved fuel economy and low rolling resistance compared to factory or all-terrain tires
Cons
- High upfront premium price point
- Occasional minor wheel spin or reduced traction on wet surfaces during hard takeoffs
- Treads can pack with snow, making them mediocre in deep winter conditions
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
Community opinion on the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 is overwhelmingly positive, with users frequently praising its smooth and quiet ride, excellent wet and dry traction, and long tread life compared to OEM tires. Many truck and SUV owners choose this highway tire over more aggressive all-terrain options because it handles rain, light off-roading, and even decent amounts of snow well without sacrificing daily driving efficiency and comfort.
r/GXOR
·3 upvotes ·2026-07-03
“Looking for Pics of GXs with Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 TL;DR - Would love to see pics of trucks with the current Defender LTX M/S2, especially on non-OEM wheels. Longer story - Selected my Conti TerrainContact AT as the ideal mild AT - light, quiet, comfy, but with a tougher looking sidewall and just a enough extra traction. Unfortunately, 3 out of 4 cannot be road forced balanced well enough (2 different shops tried) and they have a very pronounced wobble at multiple speeds. I'm thiiiiiis close to admitting to myself I don't offroad enough to justify even a mild AT, and that the new Defender LTX M/S2 is the perfect for me. These tires are VERY well reviewed here and everywhere else, and yes- plenty say they do well in many off-road situations. But pictures are hard to come by! Please post up if you have these on your ride so I can get a sense of how they look, especially if you have 17" wheels or non-OEM sizes. Thanks! Read more”
r/GrandCherokee
·2 upvotes ·2025-09-01
“I had the crossclimate on my Avalon. They were noisy. Don't know if vehicle choice matters. Put the Defender LTX M/S2 on my GC Overland. So far I really like them.”
r/f150
·4 upvotes ·2026-10-03
“If you’re almost entirely highway and the dirt road is the extent of your off-road driving, I’d look at the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2. No real reason to go with an aggressive A/T for that use.”
Top themes
#ride comfort and quietness#wet and snow traction#longevity and tread wear#range and fuel efficiency#highway versus all-terrain use#size and fitment selection
Based on 25 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | — |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
| Tread depth | — | 11 - 14/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 820 B A |
| Sidewall | — | Black Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering |
| Max pressure | — | 50 - 80 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
81
/ 100
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 — better handling, dry and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 86 vs 78 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 82 vs 76 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 84 vs 78 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scores 75 vs 69 on noise.
Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
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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.