Tests – · 1 test Owners 71 · 1 review
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Defender T+H vs Michelin Energy Saver — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Defender T+H leads, 72–68 Narrow edge
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Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 66 · 137 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 5 in 2010 Auto Bild Eco Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
72
Dry
Defender T+H +369Why this score
Source Defender T+H Energy Saver Professional tests (TWG score) – 70 Reviews found online 74 66 -
74
Wet
Defender T+H +668Why this score
Source Defender T+H Energy Saver Professional tests (TWG score) – 70 Reviews found online 75 66 -
66
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source Defender T+H Energy Saver Reviews found online 63 – -
70
Comfort
Defender T+H +268Why this score
Source Defender T+H Energy Saver Reviews found online 70 66 -
68
Noise
Level68Why this score
Source Defender T+H Energy Saver Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 Reviews found online 70 62 -
73
Treadwear
Defender T+H +271Why this score
Source Defender T+H Energy Saver Professional tests (TWG score) 75 73 Reviews found online 70 68 -
72
Handling
Defender T+H +963Why this score
Source Defender T+H Energy Saver Reviews found online 72 63
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Defender T+H | Michelin Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 68 |
| Dry | 72 | 69 |
| Wet | 74 | 68 |
| Snow | 66 | – |
| Comfort | 70 | 68 |
| Noise | 68 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 73 | 71 |
| Handling | 72 | 63 |
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
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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
72
/ 100
Defender T+H
68
/ 100
Energy Saver
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.
| Discipline | Category | Defender T+H | Energy Saver | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires | 20% #5/5 · 2010 Auto Bild Eco Tyre Test | +80.0 | 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 Energy Saver
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and long-lasting durability
- Noticeable improvements in fuel economy and low rolling resistance
- Low road noise and high levels of driving comfort
Cons
- Subpar wet-weather grip and traction, especially as the tires age
- Prone to dry rotting, cracking, and hardening after a few years
- Poor performance and sliding in cold or winter conditions
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender T+H | B · Michelin Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring All Season tire | Summer |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 4 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 16″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Michelin Defender T+H
68
/ 100
Michelin Energy Saver
Winner: Michelin Defender T+H — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender T+H scores 72 vs 63 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender T+H scores 74 vs 68 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Defender T+H scores 72 vs 69 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin Defender T+H
Tire B · Michelin Energy Saver
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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.