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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender T+H vs Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — Compared

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

Defender T+H leads, 72–69 Narrow edge

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Tire AMichelin

Defender T+H

Premium Touring All Season tire

Tests – · 1 test Owners 71 · 1 review

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires (overall ranking)

Tire BBridgestone

Blizzak WS80

Winter Premium Touring tires

Tests – · none yet Owners 70 · 45 reviews

Best test result: #6 of 9 in 2018 Autofil Studless Winter Tire Test R16 (overall ranking)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 72

    Dry

    Defender T+H +7
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HBlizzak WS80
    Reviews found online7464
  2. 74

    Wet

    Defender T+H +2
    72
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HBlizzak WS80
    Reviews found online7572
  3. 66

    Snow

    Blizzak WS80 +10
    76
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HBlizzak WS80
    Reviews found online6481
  4. 70

    Comfort

    Level
    70
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HBlizzak WS80
    Reviews found online7071
  5. 68

    Noise

    Defender T+H +2
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HBlizzak WS80
    Reviews found online7065
  6. 73

    Treadwear

    Defender T+H +8
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HBlizzak WS80
    Professional tests (TWG score)75–
    Reviews found online7065
  7. 72

    Handling

    Defender T+H +3
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HBlizzak WS80
    Reviews found online7269
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender T+HBridgestone Blizzak WS80
Relative Score 72 69
Dry 72 65
Wet 74 72
Snow 66 76
Comfort 70 70
Noise 68 66
Treadwear 73 65
Handling 72 69

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 T+H

Blizzak WS80

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 T+HBlizzak WS80ΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 100% #1/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires 38% #6/9 · 2018 Autofil Studless Winter Tire Test R16 +62.5 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Defender T+H

Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.

Tire B Blizzak WS80

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and grip in deep snow, slush, and ice
  • High confidence and safety during severe winter weather and mountain driving
  • Surprisingly low road noise on dry and wet pavement

Cons

  • Reduced fuel economy / lower gas mileage
  • Slightly squishy handling and reduced braking performance on dry roads
  • May feel less responsive than standard all-season or newer model compounds in non-winter conditions
All owner themes in the Blizzak WS80 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender T+H B · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
CategoryPremium Touring All Season tireWinter Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—21
Rim diameters—15″ – 18″
Tread depth—11/32″
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—44 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender T+H

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80

Winner: Michelin Defender T+H — better treadwear, dry and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 if snow matters most to you.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 76 vs 66 on snow.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender T+H scores 73 vs 65 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender T+H scores 72 vs 65 on dry.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender T+H scores 72 vs 69 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin Defender T+H
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
Check price on Amazon

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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.

72

Narrow edge

Defender T+H

Amazon