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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Michelin Primacy MXM4 — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–62

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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

Primacy MXM4

All Season

Tests 69 · 1 test Owners 57 · 10 reviews

Best test result: #4 of 3 in 2024 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 (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

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    72
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPrimacy MXM4
    Professional tests (TWG score)–83
    Reviews found online8157
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +20
    58
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPrimacy MXM4
    Professional tests (TWG score)–56
    Reviews found online8161
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +16
    56
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPrimacy MXM4
    Reviews found online7347
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +13
    60
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPrimacy MXM4
    Professional tests (TWG score)–64
    Reviews found online7653
  5. 69

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPrimacy MXM4
    Professional tests (TWG score)–69
    Reviews found online7458
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +13
    63
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPrimacy MXM4
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7861
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +24
    54
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SPrimacy MXM4
    Reviews found online7854
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SMichelin Primacy MXM4
Relative Score 76 62
Dry 76 72
Wet 78 58
Snow 72 56
Comfort 73 60
Noise 69 65
Treadwear 76 63
Handling 78 54

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

Primacy MXM4

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/SPrimacy MXM4ΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 0% #4/3 · 2024 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 +83.3 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 Primacy MXM4

Pros

  • Exceptional ride comfort and vibration dampening
  • Strong tread life and durability
  • High fuel efficiency

Cons

  • Mediocre dry grip and handling precision
  • Noticeable understeer when cornering
  • Soft sidewalls that lack steering feedback
All owner themes in the Primacy MXM4 review

Specs side by side

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

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Michelin Primacy MXM4

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

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 54 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 58 on wet.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 56 on snow.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 73 vs 60 on comfort.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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Tire B · Michelin Primacy 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