89
/ 100
Objective (60%)
74/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
92/100
19 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental CrossContact LX25 vs Michelin Defender — Compared (September 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
82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental CrossContact LX25 — better wet, comfort and treadwear. Pick the Michelin Defender if dry and handling matter most to you.
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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 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX25 | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 71 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 99 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
CrossContact LX25 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX25 | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 92 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 75 |
| SimpleTire owners | 93 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX25 | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 83 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 86 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
CrossContact LX25 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX25 | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 90 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 97 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 95 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX25 | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 94 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
CrossContact LX25 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX25 | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 89 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX25 | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 88 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental CrossContact LX25 | Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 89 | 82 |
| Dry | 82 | 88 |
| Wet | 92 | 75 |
| Snow | 94 | – |
| Comfort | 94 | 85 |
| Noise | 93 | – |
| Treadwear | 89 | 80 |
| Handling | 85 | 88 |
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
89
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 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 Continental CrossContact LX25 is highly regarded by users for its exceptional ride comfort, low noise levels, and reliable all-season traction. It is frequently cited as a superior replacement for factory-installed tires, offering a balanced performance profile that excels in daily driving conditions across various climates.
Pros
- Exceptional ride comfort and quiet operation
- Significantly improved braking performance
- Predictable and confident handling in light snow and wet conditions
- Strong value proposition compared to premium factory-installed alternatives
Cons
- Tendency to pick up and eject road gravel
- Occasional reports of premature tread wear in specific use cases
- Stiffer sidewall response when encountering sharp road imperfections or deep potholes
Observations
- Luxury SUV owners (Mercedes ML/GLE) report a significant improvement in ride quality and cabin noise when replacing factory run-flat tires with the LX25.
- Users with 19-inch wheel configurations on compact crossovers like the Mazda CX-5 find the tire to be a reliable solution for challenging New England weather conditions.
The Michelin Defender is widely regarded as a comfortable, long-lasting tire that provides a refined driving experience for daily commuting. While users consistently praise its road manners and longevity, some report concerns regarding performance in heavy rain and deep snow conditions.
Pros
- Excellent ride comfort and quiet operation
- Strong tread life and durability over several years
- Reliable grip on dry pavement
- Predictable handling for standard driving conditions
Cons
- Susceptibility to hydroplaning in heavy rain
- Limited traction in deep or severe snow
- Audible squealing during aggressive dry-pavement acceleration
- Handling performance diminishes when pushed to limits
Observations
- Users reported successful long-term usage exceeding 45,000 miles on 195/60R15 sizing.
- Longevity is a standout feature, with some users achieving up to 7 years of service before replacement due to age-related cracking.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental CrossContact LX25 | B · Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Category | — | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 40 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 22″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10 - 12/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 740 A A - B | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
89
/ 100
Continental
82
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Continental CrossContact LX25 — better wet, comfort and treadwear. Pick the Michelin Defender if dry and handling matter most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental CrossContact LX25 scores 92 vs 75 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental CrossContact LX25 scores 94 vs 85 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Continental CrossContact LX25 scores 89 vs 80 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Defender scores 88 vs 82 on dry.
Tire A · Continental CrossContact LX25
Tire B · Michelin Defender
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental CrossContact LX25 also compared with
Michelin Defender 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.