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))
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Toyo A23 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 1 + 0 road tests and 10 + 11 owner reviews. How we score
Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–56
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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.
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76
Dry
Defender LTX M/S +1858Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S A23 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 73 (est.) ≈ 61 (est.) Reviews found online 81 52 Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 73.2 (est.) + 40% × 81.3 = 76
A23: 60% × 61.4 (est.) + 40% × 51.9 = 58
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 0.40).
No road tests of dry for A23. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).
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78
Wet
Defender LTX M/S +2157Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S A23 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 76 (est.) ≈ 60 (est.) Reviews found online 81 53 Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 75.9 (est.) + 40% × 80.7 = 78
A23: 60% × 60.3 (est.) + 40% × 52.8 = 57
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 0.56).
No road tests of wet for A23. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).
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72
Snow
Defender LTX M/S +1656Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S A23 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 71 (est.) ≈ 62 (est.) Reviews found online 73 48 Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 71 (est.) + 40% × 73.2 = 72
A23: 60% × 62.5 (est.) + 40% × 47.5 = 56
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 0.33).
No road tests of snow for A23. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.33).
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73
Comfort
Defender LTX M/S +1459Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S A23 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 70 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 76 48 Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 70.3 (est.) + 40% × 76.1 = 73
A23: 60% × 65.5 (est.) + 40% × 48.3 = 59
No road tests of comfort for Defender LTX M/S or A23. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
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70
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S A23 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 67 (est.) – Reviews found online 75 – Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 74.7 = 70
No road tests of noise for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
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76
Treadwear
Defender LTX M/S +2254Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S A23 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 74 ≈ 59 (est.) Reviews found online 78 46 Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 74.3 + 40% × 78 = 76
A23: 60% × 59.5 (est.) + 40% × 45.6 = 54
No road tests of treadwear for A23. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).
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79
Handling (owners)
Defender LTX M/S +3049Why this score
Source Defender LTX M/S A23 Reviews found online 79 49
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Defender LTX M/S | Toyo A23 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 56 |
| Dry | 76 | 58 |
| Wet | 78 | 57 |
| Snow | 72 | 56 |
| Comfort | 73 | 59 |
| Noise | 70 | – |
| Treadwear | 76 | 54 |
| Handling (owners) | 79 | 49 |
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
76
/ 100
Defender LTX M/S
56
/ 100
A23
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 A23
Pros
- Solid grip and stability in dry conditions and on the highway
- Capable off-road and in muddy tracks for 4x4 vehicles
- Reasonable comfort and low road noise for some drivers
Cons
- Dangerous and slippery performance on wet surfaces and roundabouts
- Disappointing tread life and rapid wear reported by multiple users
- High road noise noted by some drivers
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S | B · Toyo A23 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | All Season |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
56
/ 100
Toyo A23
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, treadwear and wet. 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. Toyo A23 rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 11 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 79 vs 49 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 54 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 57 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 58 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Tire B · Toyo A23
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Defender LTX M/S or A23?
Which is better in the wet, Defender LTX M/S or A23?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 78 vs 57 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Defender LTX M/S or A23?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 76 vs 58 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Defender LTX M/S or A23?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 72 vs 56 on our snow score.
Which is more comfortable, Defender LTX M/S or A23?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 73 vs 59 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Defender LTX M/S or A23?
Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 76 vs 54 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