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Michelin Energy Saver A/S vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — 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 0 + 1 road tests and 10 + 11 owner reviews. How we score

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 79–52

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Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Tire BMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

± 7Provisional

Tests – · 1 test Owners 83 · 11 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (tested tread life (miles))

Category by category

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

  1. 52

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +27
    79
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy Saver A/SDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 58 (est.)≈ 75 (est.)
    Reviews found online4484

    Energy Saver A/S: 60% × 57.9 (est.) + 40% × 43.8 = 52

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 74.8 (est.) + 40% × 84.4 = 79

    No road tests of dry for Energy Saver A/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

    No road tests of dry for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 51

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +31
    82
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy Saver A/SDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 56 (est.)≈ 79 (est.)
    Reviews found online4386

    Energy Saver A/S: 60% × 55.6 (est.) + 40% × 43.2 = 51

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 79 (est.) + 40% × 85.7 = 82

    No road tests of wet for Energy Saver A/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

    No road tests of wet for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 55

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +19
    74
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy Saver A/SDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 62 (est.)≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online4477

    Energy Saver A/S: 60% × 62.1 (est.) + 40% × 43.7 = 55

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 72.5 (est.) + 40% × 76.6 = 74

    No road tests of snow for Energy Saver A/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

    No road tests of snow for Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 52

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +23
    75
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy Saver A/SDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 64 (est.)≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online4578

    Energy Saver A/S: 40% × 63.9 (est.) + 60% × 44.9 = 52

    Defender LTX M/S: 40% × 70.6 (est.) + 60% × 77.7 = 75

    No road tests of comfort for Energy Saver A/S. 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 Defender LTX M/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 53

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +27
    80
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy Saver A/SDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 59 (est.)75
    Reviews found online4586

    Energy Saver A/S: 60% × 58.8 (est.) + 40% × 44.9 = 53

    Defender LTX M/S: 60% × 75.4 + 40% × 86.3 = 80

    No road tests of treadwear for Energy Saver A/S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  6. 45

    Handling (owners)

    Defender LTX M/S +37
    82
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy Saver A/SDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online4582
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Energy Saver A/SMichelin Defender LTX M/S
Relative Score 52 79
Dry 52 79
Wet 51 82
Snow 55 74
Comfort 52 75
Treadwear 53 80
Handling (owners) 45 82

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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Energy Saver A/S

± 7

Defender LTX M/S

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Energy Saver A/S

Pros

  • High fuel economy and rolling efficiency
  • Potential for high mileage in specific driving conditions
  • Reliable dry weather traction for some users

Cons

  • Significant hydroplaning tendencies in wet conditions
  • Inconsistent tread life, with reports of premature wear
  • Excessive road noise and audible squealing during cornering
All owner themes in the Energy Saver A/S review

Tire B Defender LTX M/S

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and long-term durability, often exceeding 60,000 miles
  • Smooth, quiet, and comfortable highway ride quality
  • Strong traction and secure handling in wet, dry, and moderate snow conditions

Cons

  • High initial purchase price compared to competitors
  • Subpar off-road performance, specifically struggling in mud, sand, and loose gravel
  • Limited ice performance compared to dedicated winter tires
All owner themes in the Defender LTX M/S review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Energy Saver A/S B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
UTQG480 A - B A - B720 - 800 B A

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Energy Saver A/S

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score. Michelin Energy Saver A/S rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 10 reviews), so read this result as provisional. Michelin Defender LTX M/S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 11 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 82 vs 45 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 82 vs 51 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 79 vs 52 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 80 vs 53 on treadwear.

Tire A · Michelin Energy Saver A/S
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Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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Energy Saver A/S or Defender LTX M/S?

Which is better in the wet, Energy Saver A/S or Defender LTX M/S?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 82 vs 51 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Energy Saver A/S or Defender LTX M/S?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 79 vs 52 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Energy Saver A/S or Defender LTX M/S?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 74 vs 55 on our snow score.

Which is more comfortable, Energy Saver A/S or Defender LTX M/S?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 75 vs 52 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Energy Saver A/S or Defender LTX M/S?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S, 80 vs 53 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