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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–55

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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 +19
    57
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPilot HX MXM4
    Reviews found online8151
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +23
    55
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPilot HX MXM4
    Reviews found online8150
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +18
    54
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPilot HX MXM4
    Reviews found online7343
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +11
    62
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPilot HX MXM4
    Reviews found online7654
  5. 70

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +10
    60
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPilot HX MXM4
    Reviews found online7450
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +24
    52
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPilot HX MXM4
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7843
  7. 79

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +31
    48
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPilot HX MXM4
    Reviews found online7948
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SMichelin Pilot HX MXM4
Relative Score 76 55
Dry 76 57
Wet 78 55
Snow 72 54
Comfort 73 62
Noise 70 60
Treadwear 76 52
Handling 79 48

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

Defender LTX M/S

Pilot HX MXM4

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 Pilot HX MXM4

Pros

  • Acceptable tread life for some users under specific driving conditions
  • Generally comfortable ride quality when new
  • Reliable performance for moderate, dry-weather driving

Cons

  • Poor traction and safety concerns on wet surfaces
  • Inadequate performance in winter conditions despite M+S rating
  • Reports of sidewall tearing and tread delamination
All owner themes in the Pilot HX MXM4 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Michelin Pilot HX MXM4
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Michelin Pilot HX MXM4

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, treadwear and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 79 vs 48 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 52 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 55 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 57 on dry.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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Tire B · Michelin Pilot HX MXM4
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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