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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Energy Saver vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–68

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Tire AMichelin

Energy Saver

Summer

Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 66 · 137 reviews

Best test result: #5 of 5 in 2010 Auto Bild Eco Tyre Test (overall ranking)

Tire BMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

Tests – · 1 test Owners 78 · 10 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (overall ranking)

Category by category

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

  1. 69

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +7
    76
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy SaverDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)71–
    Reviews found online6681
  2. 68

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +10
    78
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy SaverDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)69–
    Reviews found online6581
  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    72
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy SaverDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online–73
  4. 68

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +5
    73
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy SaverDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online6676
  5. 68

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    70
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy SaverDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)72–
    Reviews found online6274
  6. 71

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +5
    76
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy SaverDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)7374
    Reviews found online6878
  7. 63

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +15
    78
    Why this score
    SourceEnergy SaverDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online6378
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Energy SaverMichelin Defender LTX M/S
Relative Score 68 76
Dry 69 76
Wet 68 78
Snow – 72
Comfort 68 73
Noise 68 70
Treadwear 71 76
Handling 63 78

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

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Energy Saver

Defender LTX M/S

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

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryEnergy SaverDefender LTX M/SΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 20% #5/5 · 2010 Auto Bild Eco Tyre Test 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires −63.3 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Energy Saver

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and long-lasting durability
  • Noticeable improvements in fuel economy and low rolling resistance
  • Low road noise and high levels of driving comfort

Cons

  • Subpar wet-weather grip and traction, especially as the tires age
  • Prone to dry rotting, cracking, and hardening after a few years
  • Poor performance and sliding in cold or winter conditions
All owner themes in the Energy Saver review

Tire B Defender LTX M/S

Pros

  • Exceptional tread longevity and mileage lifespan
  • Quiet and smooth ride quality at highway speeds
  • Strong year-round traction across dry, wet, and light snow conditions

Cons

  • High upfront purchase price
  • Subpar performance in deep mud, sand, and off-road environments
  • Limited ice and severe winter capability compared to dedicated winter tires
All owner themes in the Defender LTX M/S review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Energy Saver B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
CategorySummerAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available4—
Rim diameters15″ – 16″—

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Energy Saver

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.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 63 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 68 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 69 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 73 vs 68 on comfort.

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

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.

76

Leads

Defender LTX M/S

Amazon