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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender T+H vs Dunlop Sport BluResponse — 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 BDunlop

Sport BluResponse

Summer

Tests 70 · 10 tests Owners 68 · 5,200 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 7 in 2019 Motor NAF/Vi Bilägare Summer Tire Test (Premium) (overall ranking)

“I have been using Dunlop Sport BluResponse on the W203 and the Kia and found them to be reasonably priced and good tyres all around. The W204 is still on Bridgstones, the ride is too harsh but whether that's due to the tyres or the W204 suspension remains to be seen.”

Category by category

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

  1. 72

    Dry

    Sport BluResponse +4
    76
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HSport BluResponse
    Professional tests (TWG score)–78
    Reviews found online7473
  2. 74

    Wet

    Sport BluResponse +1
    75
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HSport BluResponse
    Professional tests (TWG score)–74
    Reviews found online7575
  3. 66

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HSport BluResponse
    Reviews found online64–
  4. 70

    Comfort

    Sport BluResponse +6
    76
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HSport BluResponse
    Professional tests (TWG score)–80
    Reviews found online7071
  5. 68

    Noise

    Defender T+H +8
    60
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HSport BluResponse
    Professional tests (TWG score)–56
    Reviews found online70–
  6. 73

    Treadwear

    Defender T+H +16
    57
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HSport BluResponse
    Professional tests (TWG score)7559
    Reviews found online7053
  7. 72

    Handling

    Defender T+H +3
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDefender T+HSport BluResponse
    Reviews found online7269
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender T+HDunlop Sport BluResponse
Relative Score 72 69
Dry 72 76
Wet 74 75
Snow 66 –
Comfort 70 76
Noise 68 60
Treadwear 73 57
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.

Important
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Important
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Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Defender T+H

Sport BluResponse

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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+HSport BluResponseΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 100% #1/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires 67% #3/7 · 2019 Motor NAF/Vi Bilägare Summer Tire Test (Premium) +33.3 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 Sport BluResponse

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and braking performance in both wet and dry conditions
  • Low road noise and high ride comfort
  • Noticeable improvement in fuel economy/low rolling resistance

Cons

  • Faster-than-expected tread wear for some drivers, particularly on front drive axles
  • Soft sidewalls can cause a slightly spongy feel or tire flex during aggressive cornering
  • Poor performance and loss of traction in snow and freezing temperatures
All owner themes in the Sport BluResponse review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin Defender T+H

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Dunlop Sport BluResponse

Positive

Community sentiment toward the Dunlop Sport BluResponse is consistently positive, with users praising its grip in both dry and wet conditions, longevity, and quiet ride. It is frequently regarded as a well-rounded and reasonably priced tire with attractive specifications, though some users note limited availability in certain regions like the US.

forums.mbclub.co.uk ·2 upvotes ·2018-04-05

“Consider Dunlop Sport Blu Response, I am on my second set with the MB and find them to be excellent with high grip in the dry or wet, quiet and have lasted longer than other premium brands.”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Low tyre noise#Tread longevity#Reasonable pricing#Low rolling resistance#Market availability

Based on 6 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender T+H B · Dunlop Sport BluResponse
CategoryPremium Touring All Season tireSummer
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—28
Rim diameters—14″ – 17″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender T+H

Dunlop Sport BluResponse

Winner: Michelin Defender T+H — better treadwear, noise and handling. Pick the Dunlop Sport BluResponse if comfort and dry matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender T+H scores 73 vs 57 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Defender T+H scores 68 vs 60 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop Sport BluResponse scores 76 vs 70 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop Sport BluResponse scores 76 vs 72 on dry.

Tire A · Michelin Defender T+H
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Dunlop Sport BluResponse
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