Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 2 + 0 road tests and 11,218 + 12 owner reviews. How we score
Defender2 is ahead, 76–66
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Tests 64 · 2 tests Owners 89 · 11,218 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test (noise (tester's mark))
“I just ordered Michelin Defender 2 for our 15 Outback . We've had 2 sets of Yokohama YK-CTX after OEM which only lasted about 20k (first set) and 25k (second set). I've had Michelin Defender (orig) and Michelin Defender2 on our Ford Taurus. Very comfortable and great tread life.”
Tests – · none yet Owners 65 · 12 reviews
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance ComfortDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 73 | ≈ 64 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 59 |
Defender2: 60% × 72.7 + 40% × 91.5 = 80
Assurance ComfortDrive: 60% × 64.3 (est.) + 40% × 59.1 = 62
No road tests of dry for Assurance ComfortDrive. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance ComfortDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 64 | ≈ 70 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 69 |
Defender2: 60% × 64 + 40% × 92.2 = 75
Assurance ComfortDrive: 60% × 69.8 (est.) + 40% × 69 = 69
No road tests of wet for Assurance ComfortDrive. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance ComfortDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 46 | ≈ 70 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 79 | 68 |
Defender2: 60% × 46.2 + 40% × 79.4 = 59
Assurance ComfortDrive: 60% × 69.6 (est.) + 40% × 67.9 = 69
No road tests of snow for Assurance ComfortDrive. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance ComfortDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 73 (est.) | ≈ 67 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 88 | 58 |
Defender2: 40% × 72.6 (est.) + 60% × 87.9 = 82
Assurance ComfortDrive: 40% × 67 (est.) + 60% × 58.4 = 62
No road tests of comfort for Defender2 or Assurance ComfortDrive. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance ComfortDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 73 | ≈ 66 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 87 | 56 |
Defender2: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 86.9 = 79
Assurance ComfortDrive: 60% × 66.5 (est.) + 40% × 56.1 = 62
No road tests of noise for Assurance ComfortDrive. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance ComfortDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 74 (est.) | ≈ 68 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 89 | 71 |
Defender2: 60% × 74.4 (est.) + 40% × 89.1 = 80
Assurance ComfortDrive: 60% × 68.1 (est.) + 40% × 70.9 = 69
No road tests of treadwear for Defender2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
No road tests of treadwear for Assurance ComfortDrive. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance ComfortDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 89 | 63 |
| Category | Michelin Defender2 | Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 66 |
| Dry | 80 | 62 |
| Wet | 75 | 69 |
| Snow | 59 | 69 |
| Comfort | 82 | 62 |
| Noise | 79 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 69 |
| Handling (owners) | 89 | 63 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Defender2
Assurance ComfortDrive
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Community sentiment toward the Michelin Defender2 is strongly positive, with owners widely praising its exceptional tread life, durability, and 80k-mile warranty. Many drivers and EV owners report excellent longevity and efficiency, though some note elevated road noise compared to premium touring tires or question its necessity for low-mileage driving.
“I have put Michelin Defender2 on my Model Y P right when I got it. I have driven 62k miles on them and they have plenty life left. Very impressed with their longevity. I didn't drive the Pilot Sport enough to really be able to compare, but the Defender2 is definitely not a performance tire. Efficiency is pretty amazing. I just drove from Dallas to Orlando and my average was 268 Wh/m going at the speed limit of 65 to 75. Road noise could be better, but part of it is that the Y is so well sound insulated from other noises that tire noise is the loudest thing left. It is far less noisy overall than my Model S was. So it might appear noisier only because the other noises are so reduced.”
“I have them on my 2024 'conventional' Mustang, and really like them.”
“I have Mercedes GLE 350 2018 with Scorpion Verde 255/50/19 R 107H. Drove 45 K miles in 4 years on it and still have 35% left. Got it slightly damaged on the side but still driveable so i am thinking about changing tires. For the same size, what would be better Michelin Defender2 or Primacy Tour A/S? Prefer quiet/smooth ride/noise isolation/safety.Never accelerate too fast/slalom or overusing breaks. Driving in Los Angeles. Max 80 mph/no quick turns. Thought that Primacy Tour A/S should be better for my needs as above, but read bad reviews (very low usable tire mileage ~ 35000 miles, wobbly, bad when raining) vs great for Defender2”
Based on 24 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender2 | B · Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | All-Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 1 | 66 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ | 16″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 11/32″ |
| UTQG | 840 B B | 700 A A |
| Treadwear warranty | 80,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Serrated Black Lettering - Vertical Serrated Band |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 50 - 51 psi |
Michelin Defender2
Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive
Winner: Michelin Defender2 — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive if snow matters most to you. Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 12 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Michelin Defender2 scores 89 vs 63 on handling.
Michelin Defender2 scores 82 vs 62 on comfort.
Michelin Defender2 scores 80 vs 62 on dry.
Michelin Defender2 scores 79 vs 62 on noise.
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Michelin Defender2, 75 vs 69 on our wet score.
Michelin Defender2, 80 vs 62 on our dry score.
Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive, 69 vs 59 on our snow score.
Michelin Defender2, 79 vs 62 on our noise score.
Michelin Defender2, 82 vs 62 on our comfort score.
Michelin Defender2, 80 vs 69 on our treadwear score.
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.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology
