Michelin has many amazing tire products to choose from, and it’s hard to say if one is better than the other. However, it’s essential to find only the best to be working tires for our vehicles. So who wins the contest, Michelin LTX M S2 vs Defender?
In this one, the Defender wins by a landslide. It has better tread life, more sizes to choose from, and does reliably better on snowy roads. However, we shouldn’t stop here as we’ll show you how we made our choice as we delve deeper into the differences between the two.
The Defender LTX M/S is the successor of the LTX MS/2, and Michelin made sure that it’ll have its fair share of advantages from its predecessor. But are the upgrades worth it? Let’s dive in and find out.
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Differences Between the Michelin Defender vs LTX MS2
The differences between these two tires aren’t too noticeable since both perform superbly; they’re all from Michelin, after all. However, if you take a closer look, you’ll see how these tires stand out, especially regarding performance and price.
We tried a comprehensive comparison of what these tires can do and how they’ll fit a type of driver. We also explore the warranty and price of these products for you to make an informed choice on which is more cost-effective.
For this section, we will try pitting the Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs LTX M/S2, for a more accurate comparison, as both of these tires are for SUV and pickup truck use.
1. Features
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
- Equipped with the “EverTread” technology,” which gives it more durability as it’s made with a strong secret compound, it can handle the massive amounts of torque from most modern light trucks.
- Intellisipes for amazing traction in dry and harsh cold weather such as rains and snow, maximizing safety in return.
- Includes comfort control technology, ensuring a smoother and quieter ride, especially when driving on roads and pavement.
- Fitted with Maxtouch construction for eco-friendly and fuel-efficiency purposes, saving 65 gallons of fuel over the tire’s 85,000-mile tread life.
Michelin LTX M/S2
- It’s also equipped with Maxtouch construction, which gives it fuel efficiency and excellent traction on wet and dry roads.
- Lined with a steel belt for durability and to easily handle heavy loads.
- 3-D Active Sipes for evacuating water outward when driving on wet roads.
2. Off-road Performance
When it comes to off-road performance, both tires are well suited for it. Dirt roads shouldn’t be an issue for both of these tires. However, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S, slightly edges the Michelin LTX M/S2 out on all off-road terrains such as dirt, sand, mud, and rock.
This is because of the EverTread compound, which gives it better traction and durability, especially on rocky terrains, which can easily damage tires.
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S
3. Dry Performance
Driving through highways and paved roads is a great way to test these tire juggernauts. However, both of these tires were specialized and built for roads, and both are excellent at doing so, as both are marketed as “highway terrain” tires.
Whether you’re cornering, steering, or testing the traction on both these tires, expect good results. Since most people drive on dry roads, if you’re concerned with performance, it’s safe to say that both are equally great.
Winner: Tie
4. Wet Performance
Since both are all-season tires, wet roads shouldn’t be a problem. Both these tires bite the road with fantastic traction, so you won’t have any issues with skidding or hydroplaning.
But, since the Defender LTX M/S is equipped with IntelliSipe technology which combines 3-D sipe technology from the Michelin LTX M/S2 with a more optimized number of sipes and a more aggressive pattern to expel water—the Defender LTX M/S is slightly better.
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S
5. Snow Performance
Snow is one of the weakest features of these tires. While both are all-seasons tires, none specialize for snow use since they don’t meet severe snow traction requirements. However, we still have to test both tires and pick which is better.
When it comes to snow and icy weather conditions, the EverTread compound from the Defender LTX M/S shines on this one. It gives better traction, tread depth, and durability, which are almost non-existent on the Michelin LTX M/S2.
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S
6. Warranty
Since these tires come from the same company, they have identical warranty options. Which will depend on the user and what warranty type they choose.
- Standard warranty – covers factory defects and if there is a poor performance from the materials of the tires for six (6) years.
- 50,000-mile warranty – includes the standard warranty and a 50,000-mile coverage.
- 70,000-mile warranty – includes the standard warranty but with a 70,000 mileage coverage.
Winner: Tie
7. Cost
When it comes to price, it depends on the size of the tire you’re buying. That’s why results can be inconclusive when comparing prices. As all of these tires can have varying sizes, tread depths, and load limits which affects how much one specific tire costs
Consider the price of a larger tire like the Michelin LTX M/S2 275/55r20, which costs $268.76 at Walmart, compared to a smaller one like the Defender LTX M/S 265/60r18 at $245.99. Since the Defender LTX M/S is smaller, it will naturally be cheaper than the larger LTX M/S2.
Winner: Tie
8. Tire Sizes
Regarding options, the Defender LTX M/S wins by a mile on this one. The LTX M/S2 has limited options regarding tire sizes, which can limit the overall performance of a car owner’s vehicle.
Not only that, but the Defender also has a better combination of tire specifications, such as the Defender LTX M/S 285/45r22, which is excellent for extra loads, or the Defender LTX M/S 275/60r20, which has a large tire size but carries a standard load.
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Pros and Cons
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
- Equipped with EverTread compound, which gives excellent durability, tread life, and traction for all seasons apart from heavy snow.
- IntelliSipe technology gives exceptional handling even when navigating through wet roads.
- Comfort Control technology allows a quieter and smoother ride on paved roads and highways.
- Excellent braking ability
- There are many tire sizes to choose from, with varying tire specifications for each size.
- Fuel-efficient and eco-friendly.
- It can’t handle heavy snow.
- Pricey
Michelin LTX M/S2
- MaxTouch technology provides excellent traction for wet and dry roads.
- 3D Active Sipes for expelling water outward to prevent hydroplaning
- Surrounded by a steel belt for carrying heavy loads.
- Quiet and smooth, allowing a very comfortable ride.
- Brakes at very short distances
- Eco-friendly and fuel-efficient
- Bad on snowy or icy roads.
- Still expensive, even if it has a new predecessor, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What replaced the Michelin Defender LTX?
None. However, the Michelin Defender LTX replaced the Michelin LTX M/S2 and improved on many features such as EverTread technology and IntelliSipe.
Also read: Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs T+H
Is the Michelin Defender discontinued?
No. The Michelin Defender is still available to this day as of August 2022. However, the Michelin LTX M/S 2 that the Michelin Defender replaced is now slowly being phased out by Michelin.
How good is the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
The Michelin Defender is one of the best all-season tires on the market. Very few tires can match its performance on wet and dry roads, the ride quality it gives, and its superb durability attributed to the EverTread compound.
Conclusion
When choosing between both tires, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S wipes the competition with its much newer and better features, giving the Michelin LTX M/S2 a fairly decent upgrade in performance in every category.
However, if Michelin decides to slash the price of the Michelin LTX M/S2, it becomes a reasonably good option for those who want an excellent SUV tire on a budget. Nevertheless, for now, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S wins.
I hope this article has given you an insight into making a more informed choice in choosing the best tire for your SUV, especially between the Michelin LTX M S2 vs Defender.
