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 + 1 road tests and 11,304 + 10 owner reviews. How we score
Defender2 is ahead, 77–62
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Tests 64 · 2 tests Owners 89 · 11,304 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 72 · 1 test Owners 54 · 10 reviews
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Defender2 | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests | 73 | 87 |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 51 |
Defender2: 60% × 72.7 + 40% × 91.5 = 80
Primacy MXM4: 60% × 87.2 + 40% × 51.1 = 73
| Source | Defender2 | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests | 64 | 57 |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 57 |
Defender2: 60% × 64 + 40% × 92.3 = 75
Primacy MXM4: 60% × 56.7 + 40% × 57.1 = 57
| Source | Defender2 | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 46 | ≈ 63 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 79 | 47 |
Defender2: 60% × 46.4 + 40% × 79.3 = 60
Primacy MXM4: 60% × 63.1 (est.) + 40% × 47.3 = 57
No road tests of snow for Primacy MXM4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
| Source | Defender2 | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests | ≈ 72 (est.) | 63 |
| Reviews found online | 88 | 48 |
Defender2: 40% × 72.5 (est.) + 60% × 87.6 = 82
Primacy MXM4: 40% × 63.4 + 60% × 47.5 = 54
No road tests of comfort for Defender2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
| Source | Defender2 | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests | 73 | 81 |
| Reviews found online | 87 | ≈ 66 (est.) |
Defender2: 60% × 73.3 + 40% × 87 = 79
Primacy MXM4: 60% × 81.2 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 75
No owner ratings of noise for Primacy MXM4. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
| Source | Defender2 | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 75 (est.) | ≈ 64 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 89 | 59 |
Defender2: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 89 = 80
Primacy MXM4: 60% × 63.9 (est.) + 40% × 59.3 = 62
No road tests of treadwear for Defender2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Primacy MXM4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
| Source | Defender2 | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 89 | 49 |
| Source | Defender2 | Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests | – | 55 |
| Category | Michelin Defender2 | Michelin Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 62 |
| Dry | 80 | 73 |
| Wet | 75 | 57 |
| Snow | 60 | 57 |
| Comfort | 82 | 54 |
| Noise | 79 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 62 |
| Handling (owners) | 89 | 49 |
| Efficiency | – | 55 |
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.
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Defender2
Primacy MXM4
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | Defender2 | Primacy MXM4 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 91% #9/11 · 2024 TireRack All Season and Weather Tyre Test | 88% #3/3 · 2024 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 84% #3/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 88% #3/3 · 2024 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 81% #10/11 · 2024 TireRack All Season and Weather Tyre Test | 88% #3/3 · 2024 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 94% #3/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 70% #4/3 · 2024 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/10 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | #4/3 2024 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
The community generally views the Michelin Defender2 as a top-tier, long-lasting all-season tire, praised for tread life (60–80k miles reported on Teslas), efficiency, comfort, and its 80k warranty, and it is frequently recommended and cited as top-rated by Consumer Reports. Criticisms are minor and include some road noise, that it is not a performance tire, a speed-rating (H vs V) mounting restriction at Costco, and one report of discomfort from tire off-gassing. Buyers often compare it with the CrossClimate2, Continental LX25, and Primacy Tour, and it is seen as a value pick when rebates or Costco sales apply.
“Swapped the OEM 19s for the 18" TSportLine wheels I had on our 2022 MYP. I installed new Michelin Defender2 tires sized 235/55s last June and they have 9K miles on them and look brand new. The complement the Stealth Gray nicely. I do miss the RED clippers the MYP had. The car was PERFECT at delivery and continues to amaze us with each mile. Just turned 167 miles. HW4 is a game changer.”
“I’m having a set of four 235/65R18 Michelin Defender2’s installed on the Cadillac as I’m typing this post. I’m at America’s Tire. I’m replacing the OEM Michelin Primacy Tour AS tires that only lasted 25,500 miles. I’m hoping that the Defender2’s will last longer, be quieter and smoother riding. We’ll see!”
“So here's the latest on Tires recommendations: (still dithering). Looking for smooth, soft ride, good mileage. I do have a mountain home; use ~30ish days during winter ski season, but mostly highway driving in Southern California ( don't disparage me for being a Californian. I cant stand the people or the government too lol. But it's a beautiful state). 2020 300GLC 4MATIC California car, 235/60 18H rating What will it be...?????? MICHELIN DEFENDER LTX M/S - seems like you guys are in favor. But hard to get. And the size is a 235/60 106T designation. Is the T speed max of 116mph not safe enough when OEM was an H rating 130mph? MICHELIN DEFENDER2. $238. Tire rack MICHELIN CrossClimate2 SUV tire rack $248. - hearing both good and bad. I heard they're soft and mileage tanks. Check out reviews on the Michelin USA official site. Pretty interesting. CONTINENTAL CROSSCONTACT LX25 $222. tire rack high rating? Also just got this from TireRack customer service CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DWS 06 PLUS. $238. Not sure, seems like TR is trying to promote them for Cont.”
Based on 25 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender2 | B · Michelin Primacy MXM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 840 B B | 420 - 500 AA - B A |
| Treadwear warranty | 80,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Michelin Defender2
Michelin Primacy MXM4
Winner: Michelin Defender2 — better handling, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score. Michelin Primacy MXM4 rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 10 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Michelin Defender2 scores 89 vs 49 on handling.
Michelin Defender2 scores 82 vs 54 on comfort.
Michelin Defender2 scores 75 vs 57 on wet.
Michelin Defender2 scores 80 vs 62 on treadwear.
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Michelin Defender2, 75 vs 57 on our wet score.
Michelin Defender2, 80 vs 73 on our dry score.
Michelin Defender2, 60 vs 57 on our snow score.
Michelin Defender2, 79 vs 75 on our noise score.
Michelin Defender2, 82 vs 54 on our comfort score.
Michelin Defender2, 80 vs 62 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
