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 11,304 + 13 owner reviews. How we score
Defender2 is ahead, 76–67
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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 – · none yet Owners 66 · 13 reviews
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Defender2 | Scorpion AS+ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 73 | ≈ 66 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 62 |
Defender2: 60% × 72.7 + 40% × 91.5 = 80
Scorpion AS+ 3: 60% × 65.5 (est.) + 40% × 62.1 = 64
No road tests of dry for Scorpion AS+ 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
| Source | Defender2 | Scorpion AS+ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 64 | ≈ 72 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 72 |
Defender2: 60% × 64 + 40% × 92.4 = 75
Scorpion AS+ 3: 60% × 71.7 (est.) + 40% × 72.4 = 72
No road tests of wet for Scorpion AS+ 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
| Source | Defender2 | Scorpion AS+ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 46 | ≈ 67 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 79 | 60 |
Defender2: 60% × 46.5 + 40% × 79.3 = 60
Scorpion AS+ 3: 60% × 67.1 (est.) + 40% × 59.9 = 64
No road tests of snow for Scorpion AS+ 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
| Source | Defender2 | Scorpion AS+ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 73 (est.) | ≈ 67 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 88 | 58 |
Defender2: 40% × 72.6 (est.) + 60% × 87.6 = 82
Scorpion AS+ 3: 40% × 66.6 (est.) + 60% × 58.3 = 62
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).
No road tests of comfort for Scorpion AS+ 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
| Source | Defender2 | Scorpion AS+ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 73 | – |
| Reviews found online | 87 | – |
Defender2: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 86.8 = 79
| Source | Defender2 | Scorpion AS+ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 75 (est.) | ≈ 69 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 89 | 73 |
Defender2: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 89 = 80
Scorpion AS+ 3: 60% × 68.9 (est.) + 40% × 73 = 71
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 Scorpion AS+ 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
| Source | Defender2 | Scorpion AS+ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 89 | 59 |
| Category | Michelin Defender2 | Pirelli Scorpion AS+ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 67 |
| Dry | 80 | 64 |
| Wet | 75 | 72 |
| Snow | 60 | 64 |
| Comfort | 82 | 62 |
| Noise | 79 | – |
| Treadwear | 80 | 71 |
| Handling (owners) | 89 | 59 |
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
Scorpion AS+ 3
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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.
“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 25 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender2 | B · Pirelli Scorpion AS+ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | — |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| UTQG | 840 B B | 800 A A |
| Treadwear warranty | 80,000 mi | 70,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 44 - 51 psi |
Michelin Defender2
Pirelli Scorpion AS+ 3
Winner: Michelin Defender2 — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Pirelli Scorpion AS+ 3 if snow matters most to you. Pirelli Scorpion AS+ 3 rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 13 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Michelin Defender2 scores 89 vs 59 on handling.
Michelin Defender2 scores 82 vs 62 on comfort.
Michelin Defender2 scores 80 vs 64 on dry.
Michelin Defender2 scores 80 vs 71 on treadwear.
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Michelin Defender2, 75 vs 72 on our wet score.
Michelin Defender2, 80 vs 64 on our dry score.
Pirelli Scorpion AS+ 3, 64 vs 60 on our snow score.
Michelin Defender2, 82 vs 62 on our comfort score.
Michelin Defender2, 80 vs 71 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
