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Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Cooper WeatherMaster SA2+ — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–59

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Tire AMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

Tests – · 1 test Owners 79 · 10 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (overall ranking)

Tire BCooper

WeatherMaster SA2+

Touring Winter tire

Tests 59 · 6 tests Owners 61 · 6 reviews

Best test result: #16 of 20 in 2016 AutoBild Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 78

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +23
    55
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWeatherMaster SA2+
    Professional tests (TWG score)–56
    Reviews found online8354
  2. 77

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    74
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWeatherMaster SA2+
    Professional tests (TWG score)–78
    Reviews found online8067
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +15
    57
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWeatherMaster SA2+
    Professional tests (TWG score)–50
    Reviews found online7468
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +6
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWeatherMaster SA2+
    Reviews found online7664
  5. 70

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +9
    61
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWeatherMaster SA2+
    Professional tests (TWG score)–56
    Reviews found online75–
  6. 77

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +23
    54
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWeatherMaster SA2+
    Professional tests (TWG score)7647
    Reviews found online7964
  7. 79

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +30
    49
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SWeatherMaster SA2+
    Reviews found online7949
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SCooper WeatherMaster SA2+
Relative Score 76 59
Dry 78 55
Wet 77 74
Snow 72 57
Comfort 73 67
Noise 70 61
Treadwear 77 54
Handling 79 49

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.

Important
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Neutral
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Less important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Defender LTX M/S

WeatherMaster SA2+

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryDefender LTX M/SWeatherMaster SA2+ΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 6% #16/20 · 2016 AutoBild Winter Tyre Test +77.1 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Defender LTX M/S

Pros

  • Exceptional tread longevity and mileage lifespan
  • Quiet and smooth ride quality at highway speeds
  • Strong year-round traction across dry, wet, and light snow conditions

Cons

  • High upfront purchase price
  • Subpar performance in deep mud, sand, and off-road environments
  • Limited ice and severe winter capability compared to dedicated winter tires
All owner themes in the Defender LTX M/S review

Tire B WeatherMaster SA2+

Pros

  • Exceptional value and reasonable pricing for the performance delivered
  • Great grip and stability in wet and cold conditions
  • High durability offering minimal wear over long distances

Cons

  • Vague road feedback and unsettling handling during fast cornering
  • Average performance in deep snow and on ice
  • Tendency to overheat and lose grip during spirited dry driving
All owner themes in the WeatherMaster SA2+ review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Cooper WeatherMaster SA2+
CategoryAll SeasonTouring Winter tire
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Cooper WeatherMaster SA2+

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, dry and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 79 vs 49 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 55 on dry.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 77 vs 54 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 57 on snow.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Cooper WeatherMaster SA2+
Check price on Amazon

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How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.

76

Leads

Defender LTX M/S

Amazon