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Head-to-head Updated

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

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–62

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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 +10
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPremier A/S
    Reviews found online8165
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +9
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPremier A/S
    Reviews found online8169
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +15
    57
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPremier A/S
    Reviews found online7348
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +8
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPremier A/S
    Reviews found online7662
  5. 69

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPremier A/S
    Reviews found online74–
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +25
    51
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPremier A/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7841
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +15
    63
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPremier A/S
    Reviews found online7863
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SMichelin Premier A/S
Relative Score 76 62
Dry 76 66
Wet 78 69
Snow 72 57
Comfort 73 65
Noise 69 –
Treadwear 76 51
Handling 78 63

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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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Defender LTX M/S

Premier A/S

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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 Premier A/S

Pros

  • Comfortable ride quality with effective bump damping
  • Predictable and precise handling in dry conditions
  • Good center-line tracking and steering feedback

Cons

  • Disappointing tread life and premature wear
  • Poor traction and confidence in snow and ice
  • Susceptibility to hydroplaning at highway speeds
All owner themes in the Premier A/S review

Specs side by side

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

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Michelin Premier A/S

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better treadwear, snow and handling. 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 51 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 57 on snow.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 63 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 66 on dry.

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

76

Leads

Defender LTX M/S

Amazon