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.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Michelin Latitude Tour — 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
78
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
75/100
8 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, comfort and treadwear. 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 8
Why this score
| Source | Defender LTX M/S | Latitude Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 92 | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 94 | 91 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Defender LTX M/S | Latitude Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 83 | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 80 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Defender LTX M/S | Latitude Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 94 | 64 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 80 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | Defender LTX M/S | Latitude Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 74 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | Defender LTX M/S | Latitude Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 92 | 78 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 97 | 78 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender LTX M/S leads by 34
Why this score
| Source | Defender LTX M/S | Latitude Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 63 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Defender LTX M/S | Michelin Latitude Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 95 | 78 |
| Dry | 98 | 90 |
| Wet | 96 | 80 |
| Snow | 82 | 78 |
| Comfort | 96 | 75 |
| Noise | 95 | – |
| Treadwear | 97 | 78 |
| Handling | 97 | 63 |
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
95
/ 100
Tire A
78
/ 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 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.
The Michelin Latitude Tour is generally regarded as a long-lasting, quiet, and comfortable tire suitable for highway and light-duty SUV use. While many users praise its longevity and refined road manners, some report inconsistent experiences regarding tread wear, ride stiffness, and handling precision depending on the specific vehicle application.
Pros
- Exceptional tread longevity and durability
- Very low road noise levels
- Smooth and comfortable ride quality
- Reliable grip in dry and wet conditions
Cons
- Stiff ride characteristics, particularly in colder temperatures
- Inconsistent tread wear patterns, including premature flaking
- Limited performance in true winter conditions despite M+S rating
- Narrower visual profile compared to competitors
Observations
- Users on heavier SUVs or vehicles with higher load ratings noted a stiffer, less compliant ride quality.
- Drivers of older vehicles reported that the tire's handling characteristics can be sensitive to road camber, which may be misattributed to vehicle suspension issues.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S | B · Michelin Latitude Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring All Season tire | All Season Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
95
/ 100
Michelin
78
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, comfort 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 97 vs 63 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 75 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 97 vs 78 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 96 vs 80 on wet.
Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Tire B · Michelin Latitude Tour
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin Defender LTX M/S also compared with
Michelin Latitude Tour 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.