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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Michelin LTX A/T2 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 1 road tests and 10 + 7 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Defender LTX M/S 78, LTX A/T2 77.

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Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Tire AMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

± 7Provisional

Tests – · 1 test Owners 82 · 10 reviews

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

Michelin LTX A/T2
Tire BMichelin

LTX A/T2

All-Terrain tire

± 7Provisional

Tests – · 1 test Owners 78 · 7 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 18 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Terrain Truck Tires (tested tread life (miles))

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 78

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    75
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SLTX A/T2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 74 (est.)≈ 73 (est.)
    Reviews found online8379

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 74.5 (est.) + 40% × 83.3 = 78

    LTX A/T2: 60% × 72.6 (est.) + 40% × 78.9 = 75

    No road tests of dry for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

    No road tests of dry for LTX A/T2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 81

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    77
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SLTX A/T2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 78 (est.)≈ 76 (est.)
    Reviews found online8480

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 78.2 (est.) + 40% × 84.2 = 81

    LTX A/T2: 60% × 75.6 (est.) + 40% × 79.5 = 77

    No road tests of wet for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

    No road tests of wet for LTX A/T2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 74

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +1
    73
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SLTX A/T2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 73 (est.)≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online7675

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 72.7 (est.) + 40% × 76 = 74

    LTX A/T2: 60% × 72.3 (est.) + 40% × 74.9 = 73

    No road tests of snow for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

    No road tests of snow for LTX A/T2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 75

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    73
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SLTX A/T2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online7875

    Defender LTX M/S: 40% × 70.7 (est.) + 60% × 77.6 = 75

    LTX A/T2: 40% × 70.1 (est.) + 60% × 74.6 = 73

    No road tests of comfort for Defender LTX M/S or LTX A/T2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 79

    Treadwear

    LTX A/T2 +3
    82
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SLTX A/T2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7585
    Reviews found online8578

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 75.5 + 40% × 85.1 = 79

    LTX A/T2: 60% × 85 + 40% × 78.1 = 82

  6. 80

    Handling (owners)

    LTX A/T2 +1
    81
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SLTX A/T2
    Reviews found online8081
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SMichelin LTX A/T2
Relative Score 78 77
Dry 78 75
Wet 81 77
Snow 74 73
Comfort 75 73
Treadwear 79 82
Handling (owners) 80 81

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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Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Defender LTX M/S

± 7

LTX A/T2

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryDefender LTX M/SLTX A/T2ΔHead-to-head
Tested Tread Life (Miles) Treadwear 84% #2/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 100% #1/18 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Terrain Truck Tires – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #3/13 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires #2/18 2022 Consumer Reports All Terrain Truck Tires – 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 LTX A/T2

Pros

  • Exceptional tread longevity and overall durability
  • Reliable wet and dry road traction
  • Improved steering response and ride comfort compared to competitors

Cons

  • Premium price point
  • Performance in deep snow and ice is considered adequate but not class-leading
  • Rubber compounds may become slippery or lose traction as the tire reaches advanced age
All owner themes in the LTX A/T2 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Michelin LTX A/T2
CategoryAll SeasonAll-Terrain tire
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Michelin LTX A/T2

Too close to call: Michelin Defender LTX M/S and Michelin LTX A/T2 are within 2 points overall. Michelin Defender LTX M/S is stronger on wet and dry. Michelin LTX A/T2 is stronger on treadwear. Michelin Defender LTX M/S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 10 reviews), so read this result as provisional. Michelin LTX A/T2 rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 7 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 81 vs 77 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

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

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin LTX A/T2 scores 82 vs 79 on treadwear.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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Tire B · Michelin LTX A/T2
Check price on Amazon

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Defender LTX M/S or LTX A/T2?

Which is better in the wet, Defender LTX M/S or LTX A/T2?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 81 vs 77 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Defender LTX M/S or LTX A/T2?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 78 vs 75 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Defender LTX M/S or LTX A/T2?

Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 73 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Defender LTX M/S or LTX A/T2?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 73 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Defender LTX M/S or LTX A/T2?

Michelin LTX A/T2, 82 vs 79 on our treadwear score.

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.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology