46
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
44/100
19 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Bridgestone Turanza EL440 vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — Compared (May 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
95
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
95/100
109 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better treadwear, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 42
Why this score
| Source | Turanza EL440 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 79 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 55 | 94 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 49
Why this score
| Source | Turanza EL440 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 69 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 46 | 91 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 39
Why this score
| Source | Turanza EL440 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 43 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 80 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 52
Why this score
| Source | Turanza EL440 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 69 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 43 | 87 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 56
Why this score
| Source | Turanza EL440 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 60 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 40 | 97 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 46
Why this score
| Source | Turanza EL440 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 51 | 85 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Turanza EL440 | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 46 | 95 |
| Dry | 56 | 98 |
| Wet | 47 | 96 |
| Snow | 43 | 82 |
| Comfort | 44 | 96 |
| Noise | – | 95 |
| Treadwear | 41 | 97 |
| Handling | 51 | 97 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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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Recomputed
Headline score
46
/ 100
Tire A
95
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Turanza EL440 is widely regarded as a disappointing OEM tire, frequently criticized for premature tread wear and escalating road noise as the tires age. While a small minority of users find the dry handling and steering precision acceptable for daily commuting, the prevailing consensus points to poor value, lackluster wet-weather performance, and a short service life that fails to meet expectations for a premium-priced tire.
Pros
- Acceptable steering precision on dry pavement
- Solid construction durability against road hazards like potholes
- Adequate dry-weather grip for conservative, daily commuting
Cons
- Extremely rapid tread wear, often requiring replacement before 30,000 miles
- Significant increase in road noise and cabin drone as the tread wears down
- Poor wet-weather traction and confidence, leading to understeer
- High replacement cost relative to the tire's performance and longevity
Observations
- Owners of Mazda CX-30 and Toyota Camry models frequently report dissatisfaction with the OEM-supplied EL440s, specifically citing premature wear despite regular rotation.
- Users noted that while the tire may feel quiet and comfortable when brand new, these characteristics degrade rapidly within the first 10,000 to 20,000 miles.
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is widely regarded as a premier all-season tire for trucks and SUVs, consistently praised for its exceptional tread longevity and balanced performance across various weather conditions. While the vast majority of users report superior ride comfort, stability, and fuel efficiency, a small minority of owners have noted issues with increased road noise as the tires age or inconsistent traction in specific wet-weather scenarios.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life often exceeding 60,000–80,000 miles
- Strong all-weather traction, particularly in dry and light snow conditions
- Improved fuel efficiency due to low rolling resistance
- High level of ride comfort and stability for heavy vehicles
- Reliable performance that often outperforms original equipment (OE) tires
Cons
- Increased road noise reported by some users as the tire tread wears down
- Higher price point compared to competitors
- Occasional reports of reduced wet-weather grip or traction loss during turns
- Limited off-road capability in mud or deep sand
Observations
- Heavy-duty truck owners (RAM 2500/3500) report high satisfaction with durability, even under heavy usage or towing conditions.
- SUV owners (Expedition, Highlander) frequently cite the tire as a significant upgrade over factory-installed rubber, specifically noting improvements in cabin quietness and fuel economy.
- Users recommend running higher tire pressures (40-45 psi) to optimize performance and handling on certain truck platforms.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Turanza EL440 | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
46
/ 100
Bridgestone
95
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better treadwear, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 41 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 44 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 47 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 51 on handling.
Tire A · Bridgestone Turanza EL440
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Turanza EL440 also compared with
Michelin Defender LTX M/S also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.