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Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Nexen N'Fera RU5 — 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 BNexen

N'Fera RU5

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Tests – · none yet Owners 73 · 16 reviews

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 +2
    74
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SN'Fera RU5
    Reviews found online8177
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    75
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SN'Fera RU5
    Reviews found online8177
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    60
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SN'Fera RU5
    Reviews found online7354
  4. 73

    Comfort

    N'Fera RU5 +1
    74
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SN'Fera RU5
    Reviews found online7680
  5. 69

    Noise

    Level
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SN'Fera RU5
    Reviews found online7474
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +6
    70
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SN'Fera RU5
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7873
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +1
    77
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SN'Fera RU5
    Reviews found online7877
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SNexen N'Fera RU5
Relative Score 76 72
Dry 76 74
Wet 78 75
Snow 72 60
Comfort 73 74
Noise 69 69
Treadwear 76 70
Handling 78 77

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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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

N'Fera RU5

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 N'Fera RU5

Pros

  • Exceptional value and significantly lower price point compared to major competitor brands
  • Impressive tread life and durability, with some users reporting high mileage and slow wear rates
  • Strong grip and confident handling on both dry and wet roads

Cons

  • Subpar traction and performance in snow and winter conditions, with specific complaints regarding ice and snow handling
  • Noise levels are average, with some users noting they are not exceptionally quiet
  • Mixed reviews on specialized winter-weather safety outside of mild rainy climates
All owner themes in the N'Fera RU5 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Nexen N'Fera RU5
CategoryAll SeasonSummer Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—4
Rim diameters—16″ – 18″
Tread depth—10/32″
UTQG—500 A A
Treadwear warranty—65,000 mi
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Nexen N'Fera RU5

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

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 60 on snow.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 70 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

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

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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Tire B · Nexen N'Fera RU5
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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