77
/ 100
Objective (60%)
76/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
72/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Firestone WeatherGrip vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — 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
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, handling and wet. Pick the Firestone WeatherGrip if snow matters most to you.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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 7
Why this score
| Source | WeatherGrip | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 96 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 90 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 94 |
| SimpleTire owners | 94 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | WeatherGrip | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 91 |
| SimpleTire owners | 94 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WeatherGrip leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | WeatherGrip | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 95 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 83 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 99 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | WeatherGrip | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | 92 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | WeatherGrip | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 92 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 57
Why this score
| Source | WeatherGrip | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 79 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 40 | 97 |
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | WeatherGrip | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 85 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone WeatherGrip | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 95 |
| Dry | 91 | 98 |
| Wet | 82 | 96 |
| Snow | 95 | 82 |
| Comfort | 87 | 96 |
| Noise | 92 | 95 |
| Treadwear | 40 | 97 |
| Handling | 73 | 97 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
Tire A
95
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Firestone WeatherGrip is widely regarded as a capable all-weather tire that excels in snow and winter-like conditions, offering a high level of confidence for year-round use. However, users frequently report concerns regarding premature tread wear and elevated road noise, suggesting that while the tire performs well in inclement weather, its longevity may not meet expectations for high-mileage drivers.
Pros
- Excellent traction and confidence in snow and winter conditions
- Reliable performance in varied all-season climates
- High level of ride comfort on uneven road surfaces
Cons
- Significantly faster-than-expected tread wear
- Noticeable road noise during highway and city driving
- Performance in wet conditions is considered average compared to competitors
Observations
- Users on older vehicles, such as a 1999 Honda Accord, noted that the tire's road noise is particularly intrusive in the cabin.
- Drivers of AWD vehicles like the Subaru Forester expressed disappointment that the tire failed to meet its advertised mileage warranty.
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 · Firestone WeatherGrip | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring All Season tire | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 49 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 640 A A | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 65,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Firestone
95
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better treadwear, handling and wet. Pick the Firestone WeatherGrip if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 40 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 73 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 82 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Firestone WeatherGrip scores 95 vs 82 on snow.
Tire A · Firestone WeatherGrip
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Firestone WeatherGrip 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.