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Kumho Crugen HP71 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.
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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 | Crugen HP71 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 89 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 94 |
| SimpleTire owners | 83 | – |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Crugen HP71 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 45 | 91 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Crugen HP71 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 72 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 74 | – |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Crugen HP71 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | 78 | – |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Crugen HP71 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 75 | – |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Crugen HP71 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 76 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 55 | 97 |
| SimpleTire owners | 65 | – |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Crugen HP71 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 85 |
| DriverReviews owners | 76 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Crugen HP71 | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 95 |
| Dry | 82 | 98 |
| Wet | 79 | 96 |
| Snow | 75 | 82 |
| Comfort | 78 | 96 |
| Noise | 75 | 95 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 97 |
| Handling | 70 | 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 Kumho Crugen HP71 presents a polarized user experience, often serving as a budget-friendly alternative to premium OEM tires. While many owners praise its wet-weather traction, quiet ride, and value proposition, a significant segment of users reports severe issues with premature tread wear, road noise, and balancing difficulties.
Pros
- High value-to-price ratio compared to premium brands
- Strong wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality for many users
- Good initial handling and steering response
Cons
- Significant reports of premature tread wear and short lifespan
- Development of excessive road noise or 'howling' over time
- Persistent balancing and vibration issues
- Inconsistent quality control regarding structural integrity
Observations
- Users with heavier SUVs and EVs (e.g., Kia EV6, Mercedes GLE) report faster-than-expected tread degradation.
- Some owners of larger SUVs (e.g., Jeep Grand Cherokee) noted significant difficulty in maintaining proper tire balance.
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.
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Kumho Crugen HP71
Community opinion on the Kumho Crugen HP71 (including its EV variant) is mixed. Many users appreciate its affordability, smooth ride comfort, and quietness when new, particularly as an OEM or budget-friendly alternative. However, a notable number of drivers report rapid tread wear on factory installations, noise issues over rough pavement, and occasional durability concerns with internal acoustic foam separation.
“Yet Another C40 Wheel Downsize Report I decided to join the crowd in downsizing from the factory 20" wheels to 18" Wheels: Voxx Paso Tires: Kumho Crugen EV HP71 (currently on sale for $500 for a set of 4) I was a bit worried about wheel fitment because of the large brake calipers, but they fit without issue, standard install. I've only put about 100 miles on them so far, but the ride is much more comfortable and these new tires are SO much quieter than the old tires that were installed when I bought the vehicle (CPO): Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 I don't have enough data yet to see if this will make a range improvement, but I imagine it will as they're skinnier tires and EV optimized. So far I'm impressed with the Kumho's, especially for the price they're offering. And I think these new wheels look pretty decent! Read more”
“2023 ID4 AWD Pro S Kumho Crugen EV HP71 I replaced the original worn down (and one with a sidewall bump) Pirellis at 33k with the EV version (badges on the sidewall) of the HP71 (direct from dealer). They're more expensive than the non-EV versions and have a lower warranty. So far they're impressive: ride is softer/smoother, quieter, deep treads. Hard to tell if efficiency changed with the winter weather, but we were getting 3mi/kWh on a 34 degree day.”
“Tire wear on original 2024 KUMHO Grugen HP71 EV Full disclosure - I drive like a hyper-miling grandmother, always in ECO mode. Leased this Wind RWD 2 years ago. Original tires read: KUMHO Grugen HP71 EV 235/55 R19 101H Treadwear 500. Traction A Temperature A. Southern California. At 12k miles my tires have 3/32 tread left. These tires if purchased have a 60k or so tread wear warranty - which does not apply to tires "originally equipped". I did not check these tires when car was new. Has anyone experienced this ?”
“Tire troubles - 19" Kumho Crugen HP71 I have a US spec 2022 Wind AWD with 23,000 miles on these Kumho tires. In my less than 9 months of ownership I've had two tires patched from slow leaks and I just had to have the foam lining removed from a tire since it separated from the inner tire wall and created massive vibrations in the steering wheel. With one of the patches my local shop pulled a stone that was less than 1/4" from the tread where it punctured the tire. Yes, it was pointy and sharp but also comically tiny. I'm I just extra special lucky or are others having issues with these tires? I really hope there are more options for our vehicles when it comes time to replace these.”
Based on 30 community posts
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Crugen HP71 | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 56 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 22″ | — |
| Tread depth | 9.9/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 640 A A | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 65,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
Kumho
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 70 on handling.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 95 vs 75 on noise.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 78 on comfort.
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.