Michelin Defender2 review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners
Better than 93% of the all-season tires we score.
Owners 89 · 11,304 reviews analysed Road tests 65 · 2 tests
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Michelin Defender2 has a Relative Score of 77 out of 100 among all-season tires. In 3 road tests with an overall ranking it finished first 0 times and in the top three 1 times. Testers rate it best for noise (73) and weakest for snow (46). 11,304 owner reviews rate it 89 out of 100. 100% would buy it again.
- Weak point: Snow 46 — 11th of 11 (2024 TireRack All Season and Weather tire Test), 6th of 7 (Tire Rack Touring All-Season Tire Test (November 2025))
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
How scores work
- Relative score
- 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
- Road tests
- 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
- Owner reviews
- 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.
By owner reviews
89/100From 11,304 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
65/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 11,304 owner reviews found online.
The Michelin Defender 2 receives a mixed-to-positive response from users, with many praising its exceptional longevity, solid dry-and-wet traction, and confident handling on crossovers and SUVs. However, a notable subset of drivers report disappointment regarding a stiffer ride, unexpected road noise, and lower-than-expected fuel economy or tread wear compared to previous Michelin iterations.
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
- Strong performance under heavy loads for vans and larger vehicles
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
- Inconsistent traction in winter weather and light snow for some drivers
Worth knowing
- Heavier vehicles like the Honda Odyssey and Kia Sorento handled well under heavy loads with the Defender 2.
- Some Crossover and SUV owners in snowy regions felt the tire lacked sufficient winter grip, occasionally switching to specialized tires like the Michelin CrossClimate 2.
3 published test appearances (2 in the score)
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter tire Test · 215/55 R17
2nd of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 3rd of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Ice Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | 3rd of 10 | |
| Ice Traction | 2nd of 10 | |
| Noise (tester's mark) | 1st of 10 | |
| Road Rating (tester's mark) | 3rd of 10 | |
| Snow Handling (tester's mark) | 3rd of 10 | |
| Dry Circle | 2nd of 10 |
Source: Tire Rack
Tire Rack Touring All-Season Tire Test (November 2025) · 215/55R17
4th of 7
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 7 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 7 | |
| Snow Braking | 6th of 7 | |
| Snow Handling | 6th of 7 | |
| Ice Braking | 2nd of 7 | |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | 5th of 7 | |
| Noise (tester's mark) | 2nd of 7 | |
| Road Rating (tester's mark) | 4th of 7 | |
| Dry Circle | 1st of 7 |
Source: Tire Rack
2024 TireRack All Season and Weather tire Test · 215/55 R17
10th of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 7th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 10th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 5th of 11 | |
| Snow Braking | 11th of 11 | |
| Snow Traction | 8th of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 11th of 11 | |
| Ice Braking | 8th of 11 | |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | 9th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | 10th of 11 |
Source: Tire Rack
Michelin Defender2 specs & sizes
Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ |
| UTQG | 840 B B |
| Treadwear warranty | 80,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi |
| Size | Retailer |
|---|---|
| 235/60 R18 | Amazon |
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What owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of the scores above.
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.
From 25 threads and comments.
Reviews from our readers
Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.
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Michelin Defender2 compared
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