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Dunlop Grandtrek ST30 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.
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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
Why this score
| Source | Grandtrek ST30 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 78 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 94 |
| SimpleTire owners | 72 | – |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Grandtrek ST30 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 77 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 91 |
| SimpleTire owners | 72 | – |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Grandtrek ST30 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | – |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Grandtrek ST30 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 70 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | 72 | – |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Grandtrek ST30 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 68 | – |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Grandtrek ST30 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 76 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 97 |
| SimpleTire owners | 60 | – |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Grandtrek ST30 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 85 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Grandtrek ST30 | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 70 | 95 |
| Dry | 82 | 98 |
| Wet | 71 | 96 |
| Snow | 61 | 82 |
| Comfort | 71 | 96 |
| Noise | 68 | 95 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 97 |
| Handling | 68 | 97 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Grandtrek ST30 receives highly polarized feedback, often serving as polarizing original equipment on popular SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. While some users praise its dry-road stability, longevity, and value, a significant portion of owners report dissatisfaction regarding wet-weather confidence, excessive road noise, and inconsistent tread wear.
Pros
- Strong dry-pavement grip and straight-line stability
- Competitive price point and value for money
- High mileage potential for some drivers
- Capable performance on light unpaved or rural roads
Cons
- Poor wet-weather performance and susceptibility to aquaplaning
- High levels of road noise on various surfaces
- Inconsistent tread life, with reports of rapid wear
- Lack of confidence in winter conditions, including snow and ice
Observations
- Users of AWD vehicles like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 report highly variable experiences, ranging from excellent longevity to premature wear and poor wet-traction handling.
- The tire is frequently criticized for its lack of winter capability, with many owners noting it is unsuitable for anything beyond light, dry conditions.
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.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Grandtrek ST30 | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Premium Touring tires | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 360 A A | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
Dunlop
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better treadwear, handling and noise. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 68 on treadwear.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 68 on handling.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 95 vs 68 on noise.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 71 on wet.
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.