Michelin Defender Tire Reviews – What Needs To Note?

By David Barlow
Last updated: Feb 6, 2023
Michelin Defender review

Those looking for an excellent all season tire should go through this review. As Michelin is a leading brand of the worldwide tire industry, you will definitely be satisfied with their products. 

Michelin’s tires are available for all seasons and possible to provide drivers of family sedans, minivans, coupes, etc. Among them, the Defender is the latest regular tire of Michelin.

Michelin Defender has 2 models: Michelin Defender LTX M/S, an all-season truck tire and the Michelin Defender T + H (Passenger All-season).

In near identical 17-inch tire sizes, the Defender LTX M/S achieves an LT specification and 116 load index while the Defender T + H is rated at just 102. This translates to a load capacity difference of almost 900 lbs. per tire.

Thanks to the combination of Michelin’s IntelliSipe technology and silica tread, Defender’s traction is remarkably boosted. As a result, it enhances the number of sipes and advances braking and handling performance. 

Also, those sipes add extra biting edges so that the tire can get a more excellent grip on snowy or wet roads. 

Even better, the Green X and IntelliSipe technology create a particular action of interlocking. It enables a more rigid tread block and a lower resistance to rolling. Hence, the fuel costs will be saved. 

Another outstanding feature is the polyester cord and the steel belts inside this tire. These components and the MaxTouch construction will go together to strengthen the sturdiness at any speed. 

They also boost the tread life, allowing you to use the tire longer. The tread warranty for this brilliant tire is 90,000 miles.

Pros And Cons

Below are some advantages and disadvantages of Michelin Defender tires. Let’s go through them!

Pros
  • Excellent traction for all seasons
  • Offering comfort and quiet sound when moving
  • Responsive and crisp steering
  • Providing lower resistance of rolling
Cons
  • Not very impressive tread life
  • Need-to-be-advanced performance of cornering

Tire Drive Test

Generally, we have a great impression of this excellent Defender tire. It has appeared with expected features like the brilliant traction suitable for any season in the year. 

Not only that, but it also offers comfort and quiet sound whenever we drive. As we usually drive long distances, this aspect is what we need. 

The steering also attracts our attention when deciding to buy this tire because it is responsive and crisp. It provides a lower resistance to rolling as well, giving smoother rides. 

Besides those positive points, Defender also has a few aspects that are expected to be improved in the future. 

The tread life somehow makes us a little disappointed. It has a tread guarantee of longer than 90,000 miles. But in reality, we find that it has fewer miles than the warranty. 

Despite that, we heard from almost all drivers that they were impressed with the tread wear and satisfied with the warranty.  So, the tread life may need to be advanced more, but it is still acceptable. 

Another element that we are looking for improvement in is the cornering performance. It would be better if the cornering grip can have more impressive performance at higher speeds. 

In summary, this is one of the most impressive all-season tires we have ever used. Despite some small cons, Defender remains a worth buying tire. With all positive things mentioned above, we highly recommend tires from Michelin. 

If you are drivers of minivans, coupes, family sedans, crossovers, etc, this Michelin Defender tire is definitely for you.

Treadlife Warranty:6 Years / 90,000 Miles Half mileage for rear if different size than front
Uniformity Warranty:First 1/32″ of wear
Workmanship & Materials Warranty:6 Years / Free replacement first year, 2/32″ or 25% of wear, then prorated until 2/32″ remaining depth
Manufacturer’s Road Hazard Warranty:None
Manufacturer Special Warranty:60-day satisfaction (1), 3-yr flat changing
Additional Information:(1) Exchange for Michelin, BFGoodrich, or Uniroyal
Defender warranty summary for replacement tires purchased on or after 06/01/19 at Tire Rack

13″14″
175/70R13175/65R14185/70R14
175/70R14195/70R14
185/65R14P 205/70R14
15″16″
185/60R15205/65R15205/55R16225/60R16
185/65R15205/70R15205/60R16225/65R16
195/60R15215/60R15215/60R16235/60R16
195/65R15215/65R15215/65R16235/65R16
205/60R15215/70R15
17″18″
215/55R17225/60R17215/55R18225/55R18
215/60R17225/65R17225/50R18
215/65R17235/50R17
225/50R17235/55R17
225/55R17

Defender prices range approximately from $184.99 – $364.75

Michelin Defender – Compare Prices

We found 6 online tire retailers selling Michelin Defender. Refer to the details below to get the best price:

Michelin Defender
PRICE SOLD BY  
Offers
TireRack
Offers
SimpleTire
$109.99
TireBuyer
Offers
SimpleTire
$110
DiscountTire
Offers
PriorityTire

Defender Ratings By Consumer

Defender Ratings By Consumer

Dry
91%
Wet
91%
Snow
80%
Comfort
95%
Noise
93%
Treadwear
95%

By 11 driver(s)

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  • Avatar

    Timothy Jennings

    Last October, I invested nearly $1,000 in four new Michelin Defenders LTX/MS tires for my 2012 Ford Escape. My wife and I have trusted this brand and series of tire for years on our identical SUVs – always with great results! However, we were surprised by the unsettling changes made to the latest Defender design; they may be quieter at low speeds but accelerate dangerously above 50 mph due to an altered compound that causes erratic squirming when driving fast or making swift lane adjustments around turns. At 75mph plus – it can become a life-threatening situation quite quickly!

    March 27, 2022

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  • Avatar

    Cristofer

    I recently replaced the tires on my Hyundai Sonata with Michelin Defenders, after having had a positive experience with their brand four years prior. I was delighted to find that they were just as reliable and far exceeded expectations in terms of ride quality – all at an affordable price! After 60,000 miles without any issues or flats throughout those previous four years however; there’s no way I would consider buying another tire brand now.

    July 31, 2021

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  • Avatar

    Dominique

    If you’re in the market for tires that provide superior protection and will last through many years of driving, look no further than these Michelin DEFENDERS. Don’t let their lack of winter use fool you – they are an outstanding choice when it comes to defending against a variety of on-road hazards.

    I personally have put my trust in them after being a longtime customer — take it from me: You won’t regret your investment!

    July 13, 2021

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  • Avatar

    Gilberto

    These tires have been on quite a journey – providing 1,500 miles of superior handling and cornering that are both pleasant to the touch and considerably quieter than stiffer options. As if this weren’t enough, they provide an incredibly comfortable ride whilst still being able to handle any weather conditions with confidence. It’s no wonder I’m so pleased!

    April 13, 2021

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  • Avatar

    Tate

    Getting an incredible ride, regardless of the terrain? Michelin tires are where it’s at. Boasting a remarkable treadwear rating and making for a peaceful drive – these wheels will certainly take you places on whatever surface your journey may bring! Enjoy this superior size range today, with no doubt that their excellence won’t be going anywhere soon.

    December 6, 2020

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  • Avatar

    Ryker

    After thorough research, I chose to invest in a set of high-rated tires. Despite the treacherous winter weather conditions – from snow and ice to greasy slush -these tires have offered me an unparalleled level of safety that is quite simply invaluable. With its superior gripping power on all surfaces, this tire was definitely worth every penny!

    August 1, 2020

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  • Avatar

    Albert

    Taking our annual fall drive to Florida was an incredible experience! The ride felt so gentle, and even when hitting bumps in the road these new Michelin tires made it feel like we were floating.

    Not only that but their excellent quality also improved our vehicle’s average mileage per gallon – carrying heavier items such as animals or suitcases didn’t seem to make a difference. I highly recommend this product, they are amazing!

    July 30, 2020

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  • Avatar

    Keegan

    My winter driving experience changed for the better when I installed my new tires on a cold, snowy day. Although they were slightly noisier and rougher than my old ones in dry conditions, that was nothing compared to how sure-footedly they handled icy roads – with absolutely zero slipping or sliding!

    If you find yourself having to brave snow and slush during your drives, then these tires are certainly worth considering – highly recommended indeed.

    June 5, 2020

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  • Avatar

    Clay

    With the new set of OEM Kumho tires, this car is transformed from a tank to an incredibly quiet and smooth driving experience. It’s no wonder that there has been such great feedback for this model tire – it really adds superior steering control on highways as well as city streets! Though I haven’t tested them yet in terms of tread wear or winter conditions, so far things look very promising indeed. A successful purchase all around!

    May 11, 2020

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    Darren

    Investing in a new set of tires certainly proved to be worthwhile – the considerable decrease in noise was instantly noticeable. I had kept my original tire well maintained with regular rotation, balancing and alignment but it still ended up being noisy and worn prematurely; luckily switching to Michelin Defender solved that problem!

    Not only can I now have conversations without worrying about background disturbance, but Mazda also deserves credit for quickly rectifying any issue by providing excellent customer service at great prices. Kudos to you all for doing such a fantastic job!

    April 14, 2020

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    Kylan

    My 1985 Mercedes Benz was equipped with these tires. They proved to be incredibly reliable during an intense road situation – while stopped, I had to hit the breaks hard a couple of times in order to avoid hitting another car ahead of me; yet despite this, my ride maintained its stellar grip on the pavement! Highly recommended product for peace-of-mind and safety!

    March 10, 2020

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Dry
Wet
Snow
Comfort
Noise
Treadwear

Michelin Defender
PRICESOLD BY
Offers
In Stock
TireRack
Offers
In Stock
SimpleTire
From
$109.99
In Stock
TireBuyer
Offers
In Stock
SimpleTire
From
$110
In Stock
DiscountTire

David Barlow

Automotive Experts at World Tire Review

Hi everyone, I’m David (Tireguy). I believe that finding tires can lead to a lot of confusion and frustration for almost every driver. That’s why I would like to bring my experiences and knowledges to develop World Tire Review blog, it will give people a deeper understanding of what choosing the right tire is really like