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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender vs Michelin Defender T+H — Compared

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

Defender T+H leads, 73–72 Narrow edge

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Tire AMichelin

Defender

Summer Premium Touring tires

Tests – · none yet Owners 75 · 4 reviews

Tire BMichelin

Defender T+H

Premium Touring All Season tire

Tests – · 1 test Owners 71 · 1 review

Category by category

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

  1. 73

    Dry

    Defender +1
    72
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderDefender T+H
    Reviews found online7674
  2. 73

    Wet

    Defender T+H +1
    74
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderDefender T+H
    Reviews found online7475
  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderDefender T+H
    Reviews found online–63
  4. 71

    Comfort

    Defender +1
    70
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderDefender T+H
    Reviews found online7370
  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    68
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderDefender T+H
    Reviews found online–70
  6. 69

    Treadwear

    Defender T+H +4
    73
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderDefender T+H
    Professional tests (TWG score)–75
    Reviews found online7270
  7. 77

    Handling

    Defender +5
    72
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderDefender T+H
    Reviews found online7772
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin DefenderMichelin Defender T+H
Relative Score 72 73
Dry 73 72
Wet 73 74
Snow – 66
Comfort 71 70
Noise – 68
Treadwear 69 73
Handling 77 72

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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Neutral
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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
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Recomputed
Headline score

Defender

Defender T+H

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

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
All owner themes in the Defender review

Tire B Defender T+H

Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender B · Michelin Defender T+H
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresPremium Touring All Season tire
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender

Michelin Defender T+H

Too close to call: Michelin Defender and Michelin Defender T+H are within 2 points overall. Michelin Defender is stronger on handling. Michelin Defender T+H is stronger on treadwear.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender scores 77 vs 72 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender T+H scores 73 vs 69 on treadwear.

Tire A · Michelin Defender
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin Defender T+H
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.

73

Narrow edge

Defender T+H

Amazon