Tests – · 1 test Owners 71 · 1 review
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Defender T+H vs Michelin Defender — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Defender T+H leads, 73–72 Narrow edge
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
72
Dry
Defender +173Why this score
Source Defender T+H Defender Reviews found online 74 76 -
74
Wet
Defender T+H +173Why this score
Source Defender T+H Defender Reviews found online 75 74 -
66
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source Defender T+H Defender Reviews found online 63 – -
70
Comfort
Defender +171Why this score
Source Defender T+H Defender Reviews found online 70 73 -
68
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source Defender T+H Defender Reviews found online 70 – -
73
Treadwear
Defender T+H +469Why this score
Source Defender T+H Defender Professional tests (TWG score) 75 – Reviews found online 70 72 -
72
Handling
Defender +577Why this score
Source Defender T+H Defender Reviews found online 72 77
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Defender T+H | Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 72 |
| Dry | 72 | 73 |
| Wet | 74 | 73 |
| Snow | 66 | – |
| Comfort | 70 | 71 |
| Noise | 68 | – |
| Treadwear | 73 | 69 |
| Handling | 72 | 77 |
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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Defender T+H
72
/ 100
Defender
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 T+H
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
Tire B Defender
Pros
- Excellent ride comfort and quiet operation
- Strong tread life and durability over several years
- Reliable grip on dry pavement
Cons
- Susceptibility to hydroplaning in heavy rain
- Limited traction in deep or severe snow
- Audible squealing during aggressive dry-pavement acceleration
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender T+H | B · Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring All Season tire | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Michelin Defender T+H
72
/ 100
Michelin Defender
Too close to call: Michelin Defender T+H and Michelin Defender are within 2 points overall. Michelin Defender T+H is stronger on treadwear. Michelin Defender is stronger on handling.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender scores 77 vs 72 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender T+H scores 73 vs 69 on treadwear.
Tire A · Michelin Defender T+H
Tire B · Michelin Defender
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.