Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Defender2 vs Pirelli Scorpion — Compared

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 + 4 road tests and 11,304 + 1,034 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Defender2 and Scorpion are level at 79.

Add your size for an exact match
/R

Both Amazon links then search this exact size.

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Michelin Defender2
Tire AMichelin

Defender2

All Season

± 6

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))

“Michelin Defender2 LTX M/S are excellent tires IMO. Quiet and good all around. Or the KO3 but there have a more aggressive look.”

Pirelli Scorpion
Tire BPirelli

Scorpion

Summer

± 6

Tests 85 · 4 tests Owners 75 · 1,034 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2024 Summer SUV Tyre Test (noise)

“Just got Pirelli Scorpions 275/60 R20. $200 ea. Good tires. Rode on stock Bridgestones for 2.5 yrs. What a waste of time. They were awful.”

Category by category

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

  1. 80

    Dry

    Scorpion +1
    81
    Why this score
    SourceDefender2Scorpion
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests7385
    Reviews found online9275

    Defender2: 60% × 72.7 + 40% × 91.5 = 80

    Scorpion: 60% × 85.2 + 40% × 74.7 = 81

  2. 75

    Wet

    Scorpion +6
    81
    Why this score
    SourceDefender2Scorpion
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests6484
    Reviews found online9276

    Defender2: 60% × 64 + 40% × 92.4 = 75

    Scorpion: 60% × 84 + 40% × 75.7 = 81

  3. 59

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceDefender2Scorpion
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests46–
    Reviews found online79–

    Defender2: 60% × 46.2 + 40% × 79.3 = 59

  4. 82

    Comfort

    Defender2 +5
    77
    Why this score
    SourceDefender2Scorpion
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 73 (est.)82
    Reviews found online8874

    Defender2: 40% × 72.6 (est.) + 60% × 87.8 = 82

    Scorpion: 40% × 81.7 + 60% × 74.4 = 77

    No road tests of comfort for Defender2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 79

    Noise

    Scorpion +5
    84
    Why this score
    SourceDefender2Scorpion
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7395
    Reviews found online87≈ 66 (est.)

    Defender2: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 87 = 79

    Scorpion: 60% × 95.2 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 84

    No owner ratings of noise for Scorpion. 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.

  6. 80

    Treadwear

    Defender2 +8
    72
    Why this score
    SourceDefender2Scorpion
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 74 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online8976

    Defender2: 60% × 74.4 (est.) + 40% × 89 = 80

    Scorpion: 60% × 69.7 (est.) + 40% × 75.5 = 72

    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 Scorpion. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 89

    Handling (owners)

    Defender2 +16
    73
    Why this score
    SourceDefender2Scorpion
    Reviews found online8973
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    77
    Why this score
    SourceDefender2Scorpion
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests–77
Scores at a glance
Michelin Defender2 vs Pirelli Scorpion: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Defender2Pirelli Scorpion
Relative Score 79 79
Dry 80 81
Wet 75 81
Snow 59 –
Comfort 82 77
Noise 79 84
Treadwear 80 72
Handling (owners) 89 73
Efficiency – 77

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

Weight the categories that matter to you

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.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

Defender2

± 6

Scorpion

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

The professional test results behind the scores

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.

DisciplineCategoryDefender2ScorpionΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 96% #3/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 91% #9/11 · 2024 TireRack All Season and Weather Tyre Test 80% #4/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 84% #3/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 97% #3/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 95% #3/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 98% #5/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #5/7 · Tire Rack Touring All-Season Tire Test (November 2025) 98% #5/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 94% #3/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise (tester's mark) Noise 100% #1/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 80% #2/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test – 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 #3/6 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Defender2

Pros

  • Long-lasting tread life and high mileage capability
  • Confident dry and wet traction with stable handling
  • Quiet and smooth ride quality on specific vehicles and highway surfaces

Cons

  • Stiffer, harder ride compared to original equipment or older models
  • Noticeable road noise and lack of noise absorption on certain pavement types
  • Reduced fuel economy (MPG) reported by multiple users
All owner themes in the Defender2 review

Tire B Scorpion

Pros

  • Excellent ride comfort and quietness
  • Confident grip in both wet and dry conditions
  • Impressive tread wear and longevity compared to stock alternatives

Cons

  • Average steering feedback and imprecise cornering when pushed
  • Potential for low-speed howling or tread noise
  • Loss of grip reported when starting uphill on wet surfaces
All owner themes in the Scorpion review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin Defender2

Positive

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.

teslamotorsclub.com ·2 upvotes ·2025-03-13

“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.”

macheforum.com ·2025-11-13

“I have them on my 2024 'conventional' Mustang, and really like them.”

mbworld.org

“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”

Top themes
#tread life longevity#80k mileage warranty#EV efficiency and range#road noise trade-off#comparison to CrossClimate2#speed rating fitment issues#ride comfort

Based on 24 community posts

Tire B

Pirelli Scorpion

Mixed

Community sentiment toward Pirelli Scorpion tires is distinctly divided between retail models and factory-installed equipment. Users frequently praise retail variants like the All Season Plus 3 for their smooth ride, quiet cabin experience, improved fuel economy, and capable wet grip. Conversely, OEM versions and certain factory variants draw heavy criticism for fast treadwear, poor winter or wet traction, stiff sidewalls prone to flats, and premature dry rot.

mbworld.org

“Quote: Originally Posted by cbebmb1 I ditched the Pirelli Scorpion run flats on my 2021 GLC 300 the day after I bought it and replaced them with the very same Michelin Defender LTX M/S. A very high rated rated tire with a smooth quiet ride. Yes they are better than the factory Pirelli Scorpions and much better than the CrossClimate2 in regards to NVH. I am hoping the numb steering the Pirellis had on canyons is improved with the Defenders. The Pirellis had an odd sidewall roll over at roughly 7/10th which made the steering response fall off, it was an odd trait. The tread life was over half gone on the Pirellis at 11k miles which is consistent with other comments. I am sure the Defenders will provide 50k+.”

f150gen14.com ·1 upvote ·2025-10-22

“The factory Hankook AT2s have lasted between 24,000 to 36,000 miles on my current and previous trucks. I have always been happy with the AT2s but last time I went with the Hankook AT2 Xtreme and I am very happy with them. The tires weigh a little bit more than AT2 but no changes to MPG worth noting and ride is very similar. They are slightly louder but not a big deal in my opinion. The AT2 Xtreme seem like they will last much longer because the tread is not wearing as much as the AT2s did. I am getting ready to order a 2026 F150 Platinum and I already told the dealer GM, that they will be swapping out the factory tires with AT2 Xtremes and he had no problems with that... I wish I would have done that on previous F150s that I have ordered! I forgot to mention my worst experience with factory tires was an 2012 F150 BAP that had Pirelli scorpion tires and only lasted 18,000 miles. That was very disappointing!”

r/HyundaiSantaFe ·1 upvote ·2026-05-23

“The Pirelli tires are crap. The Pirelli Scorpion tires sidewalls are very firm & stiff and not very elastic. They are not good handling potholes. I replace all my 20 inch Pirelli tires with Falken Pro G6 sport 20 inch tires. Consider getting a different brand on the tire replacement.”

Top themes
#retail vs OEM quality#wet traction and handling#quiet and comfortable ride#tread life and wear#winter and snow capability#fuel economy improvements#sidewall durability issues

Based on 67 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender2 B · Pirelli Scorpion
CategoryAll SeasonSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover—
Sizes available172
Rim diameters18″16″ – 22″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″10/32″
UTQG840 B B—
Treadwear warranty80,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side WallBlackwall
Max pressure50 - 51 psi50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender2

Pirelli Scorpion

Too close to call: Michelin Defender2 and Pirelli Scorpion are within 2 points overall. Michelin Defender2 is stronger on handling, treadwear and comfort. Pirelli Scorpion is stronger on wet and noise.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender2 scores 89 vs 73 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender2 scores 80 vs 72 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Pirelli Scorpion scores 81 vs 75 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Defender2 scores 82 vs 77 on comfort.

Tire A · Michelin Defender2
Tire B · Pirelli Scorpion

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Defender2 or Scorpion?

Which is better in the wet, Defender2 or Scorpion?

Pirelli Scorpion, 81 vs 75 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Defender2 or Scorpion?

Neither, by our numbers: 80 vs 81 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Defender2 or Scorpion?

Pirelli Scorpion, 84 vs 79 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Defender2 or Scorpion?

Michelin Defender2, 82 vs 77 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Defender2 or Scorpion?

Michelin Defender2, 80 vs 72 on our treadwear score.

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.

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