Most of the time, the expensive price tag is the dealbreaker when we compare Michelin and Bridgestone tires. That said, there are certain performance nuances that would make you choose one tire over the other.
Hence, we compared the features of Michelin Defender vs Bridgestone Dueler to help you pick the right option.
It turned out that Michelin’s Defender line is more versatile. It serves a wider array of vehicles with a long-lasting life and friendlier cost, while Bridgestone’s Dueler has more tire choices for SUVs, light and medium trucks. It stands out in off-roading and handling light snow.
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| UTQG | Lower | Higher |
| Warranty | Competitive | Stronger |
| Mud and Snow | Stronger | Competitive |
| Price | Expensive | Less Expensive |
Table of Contents
What Are They?
In general, Bridgestone Dueler tires meet the demands of 4WD vehicles for year-round high level traction, excellent driving performance, and comfort in any terrain.
The Dueler products are grouped as follows:
1. Bridgestone H/L Tires (H/L means highway/luxury)
These tires are designed for big-city highways and suburban driving. Popular tire types include the H/L Alenza, H/L Alenza Plus, and H/L 400. Available tire sizes range from 16-22 inches, and their warranty can go as high as 80,00o miles.
- Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus is 10% more fuel efficient than the H/L Alenza because of its reduced rolling resistance.
- The H/L 400 got good reviews in wet conditions and aquaplaning resistance and as an OE fitment for Subaru. However, it suffered poor feedback in other aspects such as treadwear.
Here’s a rundown of their characteristics.
| Specifications | Dueler H/L Alenza | Dueler H/L Alenza Plus | Dueler H/L 400 |
| Tire Type | All season | All Season | All season |
| Usage | Highway and suburban areas | Highway | Highway |
| Fitment | CUV, SUV and light-duty pickup trucks | SUV, CUV and light duty pickup trucks | SUV and 4x4s
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| Tire Size Range | 18-22 in. | 15-22 in. | 18-21 in. |
| Characteristics | Performs on dry road best. High quality overall but falls behind the Alenza Plus slightly. | Excellent on wet and dry roads. Good on snow terrains. | Does okay on dry surfaces but disappoints in off-road and wet performance. |
Bridgestone H/P Sport
These high performance tires are made for sport trucks or SUVs.
It has two versions: H/P Sport and H/P A/S. The former is meant for summer while the latter is designed for all-season driving.
Here’s a quick reference for the two H/P Dueler tires.
| Specifications | Dueler H/P Sport | Dueler H/P Sport AS |
| Tire Type | UHP Summer tire | SUV/CUV Touring All Season |
| Usage | Highway | Highway |
| Fitment | SUV and 4x4s | CUV, SUV, Light and medium truck |
| Tire Size range | 16-21 in. | 17-20 in. |
| Characteristics | Best on dry surfaces, which makes sense, as it’s a summer tire. | Good on wet and dry surfaces, mediocre on snow. |
Bridgestone A/T and H/T tires
Bridgestone A/T tires are meant for all-terrain driving. As for Bridgestone Dueler H/T series, the Bridgestone Dueler H T 685 and HT 684 II were engineered for highway use. These tires offer a warranty of 50,000-60,000 miles.
Notable A/T Dueler tires are the Dueler A/T Revo 3 and A/T RH-S.
Check out the key features of some of these truck tires.
| Specifications | Dueler A/T Revo 3 | Dueler H/T 684 II | Dueler H/T 685 |
| Tire Type | All terrain | All Season | All Season |
| Usage | On and off road | Highway | Highway |
| Fitment | Jeeps, SUVs, CUVs, light and medium trucks | SUVs, light and medium trucks | Full-size pickup trucks, vans, CUVs, and SUVs |
| Tire Size Range | 16-20 in. | 17-22 in. | 16-22 in. |
| Characteristics | Excellent on wet and dry roads, good on snow. | Good in dry conditions but pretty disappointing in other areas. | Highest comfort level out of the three. Excellent on wet, dry, and snow terrains. |
2. Michelin
The Michelin Defender line is arguably the strongest tire family in the Michelin portfolio with its mileage promise of 70,000-80,000 miles.
Check out the features of the three Defender tires.
| Specifications | Michelin Defender T+ H | Michelin Defender 2 | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
| Type | Standard Touring All-season tire | Standard Touring All-season tire | All-season tire |
| Usage | Highway | Urban roads | Highway |
| Fitment | Coupes, sedans, minivans, and small CUVs | Coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs and minivans | Vans, pickups, SUVs, commercial vehicles, shuttles, cabs, light and heavy trucks |
| Tire Size Range | 15-18 in. | 16-20 in. | 15-22 in. |
| Characteristics | Well-rounded tire. Winter performance is good but pales in comparison to its wet and dry handling. | Exceptional handling, but perhaps not the best choice for wet surfaces. | Well-rounded tire, has a slight edge over the T+H in performance. |
A Related Comparison: Michelin Defender vs LTX M/S 2
Differences: Bridgestone Dueler vs Michelin Defender
1. UTQG (Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature)
Michelin Defender tires displayed a superior UTQG rating. They are more grippy, durable and better at dissipating heat.
As an illustration, the Michelin’s Defender T+H is long-lasting with a treadwear rating of 820 compared to the H/L Alenza Plus’s 800. Both of these scores are the two lines’ highest.
As for temperature and traction, the T+H has ratings of B and A, while the Alenza Plus achieved A for both.
Below are the UTQG scores for other models. Note that we’ve listed the highest ratings only.
- HL Alenza – 700 B A and 600 A A
- HL 400 – 600 B A
- H/P Sport – 300 A A
- H/P Sport AS – 500 A AA
- A/T – 520 B AA and 540 B A
- H/T – 520 B B and 500 B AA
- Defender LTX – 800 A A
- Defender2 – 840 B B (for now, not all sizes of this model have received a rating yet)
As you can see, Michelin generally outperforms Bridgestone when it comes to treadwear. Even if Michelin’s Defender line was compared to the Bridgestone Turanza, the French tire still comes out on top.
As for temperature resistance and traction, it depends on which models you’re comparing, since both tire companies have scores of A and B for these criteria.
2. Warranty
Michelin Defender tires offer support for 70,000-80,000 miles, while Bridgestone Dueler tires promise 40,000-80,000 miles.
However, one tire from the Bridgestone lineup does not offer any warranty. It is the H/P Sport.
3. 3PMSF
Michelin Defender tires do not carry the 3PMSF symbol (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake). Despite that, the Michelin LTX M/S has been proven to be capable of handling light snow.
Similarly, not all Dueler tires have the Alpine or snowflake symbol, but some of them have extra features that aid snow traction. For instance, the AT Revo 3 is touted as the best all-terrain tire for snow because of its good grip, handling, and braking.
The Dueler AT001 is marked with M+S and 3PMSF symbols. This all-terrain and all-season tire is praised for its dry braking in freezing temperatures, plus great traction and handling in mild winter situations.
4. Cost
In general, Michelin is more affordable than Bridgestone when it comes to all-season SUV and truck tires.
For instance, the price of a Michelin Defender T+H tire starts at $137.99 compared to the lowest price of an H/L Alenza Plus tire, which is $229.35. That is almost $91 in savings.
The Bridgestone Dueler LTH and Bridgestone Dueler LX are all-season tires for SUVs and 4x4s that are sold on Discount tire. Both models are $6-45 more expensive than the Michelin Defender LTX M/S.
| Tires | Starting Price Range |
| Michelin Defender tires | $137.99-$248.99 |
| Dueler H/L Tires | $229.35- $300.57 |
| Dueler H/P Tires | $209.45-$298.53 |
| Dueler A/T Tires | $226.99 |
| Dueler H/T Tires | $223.25 -$ $260.86 |
Pros and Cons
Bridgestone’s Lead
- Numerous dedicated tire options (has off-roading tires in the Dueler family)
- Better mud, ice and snow handling
Michelin’s Advantages
- Higher UTQG rating
- Stronger warranty
- Less expensive
FAQs
Which is best, Bridgestone or Michelin?
Bridgestone and Michelin are neck and neck in offering the best tires in every existing category, but Michelin captures the overall driving experience better in most tire comparisons.
For instance, Michelin has more reactive and smoother handling on dry roads, while Bridgestone has more winter tire options that have excellent snow and ice traction, which was later on rivaled by Michelin’s X Ice Snow.
Are Bridgestone and Michelin the same company?
No, they are different entities. Bridgestone is a 91-year-old Japanese company that manufactures auto and truck parts, while Michelin is a 133-year-old French manufacturer that produces tires for space shuttles, aircraft, passenger vehicles, and more.
Conclusion
Whichever you choose between the Michelin Defender vs Bridgestone Dueler, rest assured that you’ll get the best value for your money.
Bridgestone Dueler tires excel in snowy conditions and are competitive in wet and dry roads. However, the Michelin Defender tires are more flexible, durable and practical all-season choices for family cars, crossovers, SUVs and minivans.
If you would like to know more about any other tire, such as the Michelin Primacy SUV, Michelin Crossclimate 2, or Bridgestone Potenza, feel free to tell us.
