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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Nexen Roadian HTX RH5 — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–64

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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 +14
    62
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SRoadian HTX RH5
    Reviews found online8159
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +12
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SRoadian HTX RH5
    Reviews found online8164
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +9
    63
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SRoadian HTX RH5
    Reviews found online7359
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +11
    62
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SRoadian HTX RH5
    Reviews found online7655
  5. 70

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    68
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SRoadian HTX RH5
    Reviews found online7469
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +11
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SRoadian HTX RH5
    Professional tests (TWG score)74–
    Reviews found online7865
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +19
    59
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SRoadian HTX RH5
    Reviews found online7859
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SNexen Roadian HTX RH5
Relative Score 76 64
Dry 76 62
Wet 78 66
Snow 72 63
Comfort 73 62
Noise 70 68
Treadwear 76 65
Handling 78 59

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

Roadian HTX RH5

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 Roadian HTX RH5

Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Nexen Roadian HTX RH5
CategoryAll Season—
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available—44
Rim diameters—15″ – 22″
Tread depth—11/32″
UTQG—640 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 Roadian HTX RH5

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, dry 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 78 vs 59 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 62 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 66 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 73 vs 62 on comfort.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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Tire B · Nexen Roadian HTX RH5
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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