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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Toyo Open Country M/T — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–67

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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 +9
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SOpen Country M/T
    Reviews found online8167
  2. 78

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +8
    70
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SOpen Country M/T
    Reviews found online8170
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    68
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SOpen Country M/T
    Reviews found online7366
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +8
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SOpen Country M/T
    Reviews found online7661
  5. 69

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SOpen Country M/T
    Reviews found online7462
  6. 76

    Treadwear

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

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +15
    63
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SOpen Country M/T
    Reviews found online7863
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SToyo Open Country M/T
Relative Score 76 67
Dry 76 67
Wet 78 70
Snow 72 68
Comfort 73 65
Noise 69 65
Treadwear 76 65
Handling 78 63

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

Open Country M/T

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 Open Country M/T

Pros

  • Exceptional off-road traction in mud, sand, gravel, and snow
  • Surprisingly low road noise and smooth ride quality for a mud-terrain tire
  • Rugged, durable sidewalls with high puncture resistance

Cons

  • High initial purchase price
  • Negative impact on vehicle fuel economy (MPG)
  • Reduced grip or slight slickness on wet pavement or icy roads
All owner themes in the Open Country M/T review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Toyo Open Country M/T
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available—35
Rim diameters—16″ – 24″
Tread depth—18 - 22/32″
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—35 - 80 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Toyo Open Country M/T

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, treadwear and dry. 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 63 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 65 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 67 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 70 on wet.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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Tire B · Toyo Open Country M/T
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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