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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — Compared

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

Too close to call: Pilot Sport A/S 3 and Defender LTX M/S are level at 76.

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Category by category

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

  1. 78

    Dry

    Pilot Sport A/S 3 +2
    76
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport A/S 3Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online8381
  2. 79

    Wet

    Pilot Sport A/S 3 +1
    78
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport A/S 3Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online8381
  3. 70

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    72
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport A/S 3Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online7073
  4. 71

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +2
    73
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport A/S 3Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online7376
  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    70
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport A/S 3Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online–74
  6. 70

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +6
    76
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport A/S 3Defender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)–74
    Reviews found online7278
  7. 83

    Handling

    Pilot Sport A/S 3 +5
    78
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport A/S 3Defender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online8378
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Pilot Sport A/S 3Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Relative Score 76 76
Dry 78 76
Wet 79 78
Snow 70 72
Comfort 71 73
Noise – 70
Treadwear 70 76
Handling 83 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.

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

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Pilot Sport A/S 3

Defender LTX M/S

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

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Pilot Sport A/S 3

Pros

  • Exceptional grip in both wet and dry weather conditions
  • Outstanding cornering stability and steering responsiveness
  • Stiff sidewalls providing superior handling compared to competitors

Cons

  • Noticeable and bothersome road noise
  • Heavy tire construction
  • Shorter than expected tread life for certain drivers on abrasive surfaces
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport A/S 3 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 Pilot Sport A/S 3 B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available6—
Rim diameters19″ – 20″—

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Too close to call: Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 and Michelin Defender LTX M/S are within 2 points overall. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 is stronger on handling. Michelin Defender LTX M/S is stronger on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 70 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 scores 83 vs 78 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon

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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

Too close to call

Pilot Sport A/S 3

Amazon