81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
88/100
16 professional tests
User signal (40%)
82/100
117 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Michelin CrossClimate+ 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 handling, noise and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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 10
Why this score
| Source | CrossClimate+ | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 88 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 94 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | CrossClimate+ | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 91 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | CrossClimate+ | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 70 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 80 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | CrossClimate+ | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 87 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | CrossClimate+ | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 76 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | CrossClimate+ | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 97 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | CrossClimate+ | Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 85 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin CrossClimate+ | Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 95 |
| Dry | 88 | 98 |
| Wet | 85 | 96 |
| Snow | 75 | 82 |
| Comfort | 81 | 96 |
| Noise | 76 | 95 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 97 |
| Handling | 73 | 97 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 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 Michelin CrossClimate+ is widely regarded as a benchmark all-season tire, praised for its exceptional versatility and ability to bridge the gap between summer handling and winter safety. While most users report high levels of confidence in wet, dry, and snowy conditions, a minority of users note a decline in performance as the tread wears down or express dissatisfaction with noise levels and ride harshness on specific vehicle setups.
Pros
- Excellent traction and confidence in light to moderate snow and ice.
- Strong wet and dry road handling that rivals dedicated summer tires.
- Impressive tread longevity and durability over high mileage.
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality for the majority of users.
- Consistent performance across a wide range of temperatures.
Cons
- Performance in wet conditions can diminish significantly as the tire wears.
- Increased road noise reported by some users compared to dedicated summer tires.
- Occasional reports of a harsh or 'bouncy' ride on certain vehicle suspensions.
- Higher price point compared to competitors.
- Some users report a 'spongy' or less precise steering feel during aggressive cornering.
Observations
- Users with heavier diesel vehicles or high-torque setups occasionally report faster tread wear and increased road noise.
- Drivers of lighter vehicles (e.g., small hatchbacks) often report improved steering responsiveness and comfort compared to OEM tires.
- Performance on SUVs and 4x4s is frequently cited as a major upgrade over standard summer tires, particularly for winter mountain driving.
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 · Michelin CrossClimate+ | B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Premium Touring tires | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Michelin
95
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, noise and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 73 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 95 vs 76 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 81 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 85 on wet.
Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate+
Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin CrossClimate+ 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.