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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender vs Yokohama AVID Ascend — Compared

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

Too close to call: Defender and AVID Ascend are level at 72.

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Tire AMichelin

Defender

Summer Premium Touring tires

Tests – · none yet Owners 75 · 4 reviews

Tire BYokohama

AVID Ascend

Premium Touring All Season tire

Tests – · none yet Owners 72 · 80 reviews

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 +2
    71
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderAVID Ascend
    Reviews found online7674
  2. 73

    Wet

    AVID Ascend +1
    74
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderAVID Ascend
    Reviews found online7475
  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderAVID Ascend
    Reviews found online–63
  4. 71

    Comfort

    Level
    71
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderAVID Ascend
    Reviews found online7373
  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderAVID Ascend
    Reviews found online–73
  6. 69

    Treadwear

    Level
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderAVID Ascend
    Reviews found online7271
  7. 77

    Handling

    Defender +3
    74
    Why this score
    SourceDefenderAVID Ascend
    Reviews found online7774
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin DefenderYokohama AVID Ascend
Relative Score 72 72
Dry 73 71
Wet 73 74
Snow – 65
Comfort 71 71
Noise – 69
Treadwear 69 69
Handling 77 74

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Defender

AVID Ascend

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 AVID Ascend

Pros

  • Exceptionally low road noise and quiet ride
  • High level of ride comfort and shock absorption
  • Strong wet and dry traction, inspiring confidence in heavy rain

Cons

  • Isolated reports of premature tread wear or not meeting expected mileage
  • Slightly spongy initial feel requiring a brief break-in period
  • Occasional minor wheel slip during hard acceleration in wet or dry conditions
All owner themes in the AVID Ascend review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender B · Yokohama AVID Ascend
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresPremium Touring All Season tire
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Tread depth—12/32″
UTQG—740 A A
Treadwear warranty—75,000 mi
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender

Yokohama AVID Ascend

Too close to call: Michelin Defender and Yokohama AVID Ascend are within 2 points overall. Michelin Defender is stronger on handling.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender scores 77 vs 74 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin Defender
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Yokohama AVID Ascend
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

Too close to call

Defender

Amazon