62
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
57/100
14 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Continental CrossContact LX Sport 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.
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 snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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 21
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX Sport | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 94 |
| SimpleTire owners | 94 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX Sport | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 79 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 91 |
| SimpleTire owners | 89 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 30
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX Sport | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 60 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 51 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 92 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX Sport | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | 93 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX Sport | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 89 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 56
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX Sport | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 64 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 39 | 97 |
| SimpleTire owners | 81 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 33
Why this score
| Source | CrossContact LX Sport | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 85 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental CrossContact LX Sport | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 62 | 95 |
| Dry | 77 | 98 |
| Wet | 70 | 96 |
| Snow | 52 | 82 |
| Comfort | 74 | 96 |
| Noise | – | 95 |
| Treadwear | 41 | 97 |
| Handling | 64 | 97 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
62
/ 100
Tire A
95
/ 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 LX Sport receives a polarized reception, characterized by high praise for its dry-road handling and off-road capability, contrasted sharply by widespread frustration regarding premature tread wear. While some users appreciate its quiet ride and versatile performance, a significant portion of owners report unacceptable longevity, often requiring replacement well before the 20,000-mile mark.
Pros
- Strong dry-road handling and steering response
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Effective traction in light off-road and muddy conditions
- Reliable performance in varied seasonal weather for some users
Cons
- Extremely rapid and inconsistent tread wear
- Poor wet-weather performance and susceptibility to aquaplaning
- Lack of a mileage warranty leading to high long-term ownership costs
- Reported structural issues including sidewall cracking and premature rubber degradation
Observations
- Owners of heavier SUVs, such as the Volvo XC90 and Land Rover Discovery Sport, report the most severe tread wear issues, suggesting the tire may struggle with the weight of larger vehicles.
- Performance-oriented SUV drivers, such as those with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, generally appreciate the handling characteristics but note that the tire is not a substitute for dedicated summer or winter rubber.
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 · Continental CrossContact LX Sport | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Ultra High Performance tires | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 32 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 22″ | — |
| Tread depth | 9/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 480 A A | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
62
/ 100
Continental
95
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better treadwear, handling and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 41 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 64 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 82 vs 52 on snow.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 70 on wet.
Tire A · Continental CrossContact LX Sport
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental CrossContact LX Sport 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.