Tests – · 1 test Owners 82 · 10 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (tested tread life (miles))
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Nitto NT05 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 0 road tests and 10 + 43 owner reviews. How we score
Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 78–50
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
78
Dry
Defender LTX M/S +1563Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S NT05 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 74 (est.) ≈ 65 (est.) Reviews found online 83 60 Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 74.5 (est.) + 40% × 83.3 = 78
NT05: 60% × 64.7 (est.) + 40% × 60 = 63
No road tests of dry for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
No road tests of dry for NT05. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
-
81
Wet
Defender LTX M/S +3942Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S NT05 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 78 (est.) ≈ 49 (est.) Reviews found online 84 32 Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 78.2 (est.) + 40% × 84.2 = 81
NT05: 60% × 49.2 (est.) + 40% × 31.7 = 42
No road tests of wet for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
No road tests of wet for NT05. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
-
74
Snow
Defender LTX M/S +3836Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S NT05 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 73 (est.) ≈ 50 (est.) Reviews found online 76 15 Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 72.7 (est.) + 40% × 76 = 74
NT05: 60% × 50 (est.) + 40% × 15.2 = 36
No road tests of snow for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).
No road tests of snow for NT05. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).
-
75
Comfort
Defender LTX M/S +2649Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S NT05 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 71 (est.) ≈ 64 (est.) Reviews found online 78 39 Defender LTX M/S: 40% × 70.7 (est.) + 60% × 77.6 = 75
NT05: 40% × 63.6 (est.) + 60% × 38.9 = 49
No road tests of comfort for Defender LTX M/S or NT05. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
-
–
Noise
No comparison62Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S NT05 Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 67 (est.) Reviews found online – 55 NT05: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 55 = 62
No road tests of noise for NT05. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
-
79
Treadwear
Defender LTX M/S +2950Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S NT05 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 75 ≈ 57 (est.) Reviews found online 85 40 Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 75.5 + 40% × 85.1 = 79
NT05: 60% × 56.8 (est.) + 40% × 39.6 = 50
No road tests of treadwear for NT05. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
-
80
Handling (owners)
Defender LTX M/S +2555Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S NT05 Reviews found online 80 55
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Defender LTX M/S | Nitto NT05 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 78 | 50 |
| Dry | 78 | 63 |
| Wet | 81 | 42 |
| Snow | 74 | 36 |
| Comfort | 75 | 49 |
| Noise | – | 62 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 50 |
| Handling (owners) | 80 | 55 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
78
/ 100
Defender LTX M/S
50
/ 100
NT05
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
Tire B NT05
Pros
- Exceptional dry traction and cornering grip
- Predictable and progressive handling limits
- Good value and competitive price point for a performance tire
Cons
- Poor performance and traction in heavy rain or wet conditions
- Can be noisy or develop a whistling sound at highway speeds
- May overheat or struggle under extreme track conditions for prolonged sessions
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S | B · Nitto NT05 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | Summer |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 23 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | — | 7.2/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 200 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
78
/ 100
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
50
/ 100
Nitto NT05
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better wet, snow and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score. Michelin Defender LTX M/S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 10 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 81 vs 42 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 74 vs 36 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 79 vs 50 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 75 vs 49 on comfort.
Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Tire B · Nitto NT05
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Defender LTX M/S or NT05?
Which is better in the wet, Defender LTX M/S or NT05?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 81 vs 42 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Defender LTX M/S or NT05?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 78 vs 63 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Defender LTX M/S or NT05?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 74 vs 36 on our snow score.
Which is more comfortable, Defender LTX M/S or NT05?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 75 vs 49 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Defender LTX M/S or NT05?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 79 vs 50 on our treadwear score.
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.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology