Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus — 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: #2 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (tested tread life (miles))

Tests – · 1 test Owners 74 · 94 reviews

Best test result: #10 of 18 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Terrain Truck Tires (tested tread life (miles))

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/SScorpion All Terrain Plus
    Reviews found online8174
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +1
    77
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SScorpion All Terrain Plus
    Reviews found online8180
  3. 72

    Snow

    Scorpion All Terrain Plus +1
    73
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SScorpion All Terrain Plus
    Reviews found online7375
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    71
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SScorpion All Terrain Plus
    Reviews found online7673
  5. 70

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SScorpion All Terrain Plus
    Reviews found online7469
  6. 76

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +8
    68
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SScorpion All Terrain Plus
    Professional tests (TWG score)7466
    Reviews found online7870
  7. 78

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    76
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SScorpion All Terrain Plus
    Reviews found online7876
Scores at a glance
Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SPirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus
Relative Score 76 72
Dry 76 72
Wet 78 77
Snow 72 73
Comfort 73 71
Noise 70 67
Treadwear 76 68
Handling 78 76

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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Neutral
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Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score

Defender LTX M/S

Scorpion All Terrain Plus

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/SScorpion All Terrain PlusΔBoth?
Tested Tread Life (Miles) Other 84% #2/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 55% #10/18 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Terrain Truck Tires +29.2 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 24% #14/18 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Terrain Truck Tires +59.8 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 Scorpion All Terrain Plus

Pros

  • Exceptional wet, mud, and winter/snow traction (3-peak mountain snowflake certified)
  • Surprisingly quiet and smooth ride on the highway compared to aggressive competitors
  • Aggressive, attractive sidewall and tread styling that enhances vehicle appearance

Cons

  • Some users reported persistent balancing issues or vibrations at highway speeds
  • A few drivers noted increased road noise or uneven shoulder wear as the tires aged
  • Minor reduction in fuel economy reported by some truck and SUV owners
All owner themes in the Scorpion All Terrain Plus review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus
CategoryAll Season—
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available—29
Rim diameters—16″ – 20″
Tread depth—12 - 16/32″
UTQG—640 A B
Treadwear warranty—50,000 mi
Sidewall—Black Side Wall - Raised White Lettering
Max pressure—44 - 80 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus

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

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 68 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

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

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 70 vs 67 on noise.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Tire B · Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus

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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