79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
73/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
73/100
38 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2 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 wet, handling and comfort. Pick the BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2 if noise matters 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 LTX M/S leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | All Terrain TA KO2 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 81 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 94 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 29
Why this score
| Source | All Terrain TA KO2 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 68 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 90 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 66 | 91 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | All Terrain TA KO2 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 92 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 80 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | All Terrain TA KO2 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 87 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
All Terrain TA KO2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | All Terrain TA KO2 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | All Terrain TA KO2 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 97 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 25
Why this score
| Source | All Terrain TA KO2 | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 85 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2 | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 95 |
| Dry | 82 | 98 |
| Wet | 67 | 96 |
| Snow | 81 | 82 |
| Comfort | 72 | 96 |
| Noise | 100 | 95 |
| Treadwear | 84 | 97 |
| Handling | 72 | 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
79
/ 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 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is widely regarded as a benchmark for off-road durability and rugged versatility, excelling in gravel, sand, and rocky terrain. While users praise its longevity and aggressive aesthetic, there is a consistent consensus regarding its declining performance in wet conditions and increased road noise as the rubber compound hardens over time.
Pros
- Exceptional off-road durability and puncture resistance
- Strong traction in gravel, sand, and rocky terrain
- Long tread life and high mileage capability
- Aggressive, iconic visual appeal
Cons
- Significant loss of wet-weather grip and braking performance
- Increased road noise and harsh ride quality as the tire ages
- Rubber compound tends to harden, negatively impacting cold-weather and wet-surface traction
- Poor performance on ice and hard-packed snow
Observations
- Users with lighter vehicles or vans (e.g., Sprinter) report varying experiences with noise and comfort, often noting that the tire's weight impacts ride quality.
- Owners of heavy-duty 4x4s and trucks frequently highlight the tire's ability to handle high-speed gravel and heavy loads without structural failure.
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 · BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2 | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season All Terrain and Off Road tires | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | — | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 16 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | — |
| Tread depth | 13 - 15/32″ | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 50,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall - Raised White Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 35 - 80 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
79
/ 100
BFGoodrich
95
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better wet, handling and comfort. Pick the BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 72 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 72 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 98 vs 82 on dry.
Tire A · BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
More comparisons
Also compared with
BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2 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.