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Michelin Defender LTX M/S vs Nitto Motivo — Compared

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

Defender LTX M/S is ahead, 76–58

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Tire AMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

Tests – · 1 test Owners 79 · 10 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (tested tread life (miles))

Tire BNitto

Motivo

Summer Touring tires

Tests – · none yet Owners 54 · 52 reviews

Best test result: #4 of 19 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires (tested tread life (miles))

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 +22
    56
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SMotivo
    Reviews found online8349
  2. 77

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +22
    55
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SMotivo
    Reviews found online8051
  3. 72

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +17
    55
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SMotivo
    Reviews found online7444
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +11
    62
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SMotivo
    Reviews found online7656
  5. 70

    Noise

    Defender LTX M/S +8
    62
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SMotivo
    Reviews found online7553
  6. 77

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +11
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SMotivo
    Professional tests (TWG score)76–
    Reviews found online7966
  7. 79

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +25
    54
    Why this score
    SourceDefender LTX M/SMotivo
    Reviews found online7954
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Defender LTX M/SNitto Motivo
Relative Score 76 58
Dry 78 56
Wet 77 55
Snow 72 55
Comfort 73 62
Noise 70 62
Treadwear 77 66
Handling 79 54

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

Defender LTX M/S

Motivo

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/SMotivoΔBoth?
Tested Tread Life (Miles) Other 84% #2/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 80% #4/19 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires +4.2 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires 39% #12/19 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires +44.4 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 Motivo

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and durability
  • Strong dry pavement grip and handling
  • Competitive price-to-performance ratio

Cons

  • Poor traction and grip in snow and ice
  • Noticeable decline in wet weather performance
  • Potential for sidewall instability on specific vehicle platforms
All owner themes in the Motivo review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S B · Nitto Motivo
CategoryAll SeasonSummer Touring tires
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Tread depth—10.3/32″
UTQG—560 A A
Treadwear warranty—60,000 mi
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Nitto Motivo

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, dry and wet. 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 54 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 56 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 77 vs 55 on wet.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 55 on snow.

Tire A · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Nitto Motivo
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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