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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Michelin X Ice Snow — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S leads, 76–72 Narrow edge

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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

X Ice Snow

Winter

Tests 70 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 19 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 6 in 2020 Teknikens Värld Studless Winter Tire Test R17 (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 +9
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SX Ice Snow
    Professional tests (TWG score)–65
    Reviews found online8170
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +9
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SX Ice Snow
    Professional tests (TWG score)–64
    Reviews found online8177
  3. 72

    Snow

    X Ice Snow +4
    76
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SX Ice Snow
    Professional tests (TWG score)–73
    Reviews found online7380
  4. 73

    Comfort

    X Ice Snow +7
    80
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SX Ice Snow
    Professional tests (TWG score)–82
    Reviews found online7678
  5. 70

    Noise

    X Ice Snow +4
    74
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SX Ice Snow
    Professional tests (TWG score)–80
    Reviews found online74–
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    72
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SX Ice Snow
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7876
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    74
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SX Ice Snow
    Reviews found online7874
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SMichelin X Ice Snow
Relative Score 76 72
Dry 76 67
Wet 78 69
Snow 72 76
Comfort 73 80
Noise 70 74
Treadwear 76 72
Handling 78 74

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.

Important
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Important
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Neutral
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Less important
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Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Defender LTX M/S

X Ice Snow

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/SX Ice SnowΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 80% #2/6 · 2020 Teknikens Värld Studless Winter Tire Test R17 +3.3 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 X Ice Snow

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and lateral grip in deep snow and slush
  • High level of confidence and stability on icy surfaces
  • Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons

Cons

  • Average performance and handling on dry or wet pavement
  • Increased road noise as the tires wear over time
  • Can feel slightly 'twitchy' or less stable at the absolute limit of handling
All owner themes in the X Ice Snow review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Michelin X Ice Snow
CategoryAll SeasonWinter
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—100
Rim diameters—13″ – 21″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Michelin X Ice Snow

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better dry, wet and treadwear. Pick the Michelin X Ice Snow if comfort, snow and noise matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 67 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 69 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin X Ice Snow scores 80 vs 73 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 72 on treadwear.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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

Narrow edge

Defender LTX M/S

Amazon