82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
82/100
16 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max vs Michelin Defender T+H — 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
89
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
82/100
Owner ratings
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Defender T+H — better handling, wet and comfort. 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 T+H leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Assurance Fuel Max | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 76 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 95 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Defender T+H leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Assurance Fuel Max | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 73 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Defender T+H leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Assurance Fuel Max | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 56 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Defender T+H leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Assurance Fuel Max | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 69 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Assurance Fuel Max | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 88 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Defender T+H leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Assurance Fuel Max | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 71 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender T+H leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Assurance Fuel Max | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max | Michelin Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 82 | 89 |
| Dry | 88 | 94 |
| Wet | 84 | 91 |
| Snow | 74 | 76 |
| Comfort | 82 | 89 |
| Noise | 87 | 87 |
| Treadwear | 85 | 90 |
| Handling | 70 | 92 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
82
/ 100
Tire A
89
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max is widely regarded as a reliable, long-lasting tire that excels in fuel efficiency and tread longevity. While some users note average performance in terms of grip and noise, the consensus points to it being a highly practical choice for high-mileage commuters and large vehicle owners seeking value over time.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life with many users reporting over 50,000 miles
- Measurable improvements in fuel economy
- Consistent and reliable performance for daily on-road driving
- Good value proposition due to long-term durability
Cons
- Average grip and handling characteristics
- Noise levels can be slightly higher than premium touring alternatives
- Higher initial purchase price compared to some competitors
Observations
- Large SUV and truck owners, such as those driving a Yukon XL, report excellent longevity and suitability for heavy-duty on-road use.
- Users note that the fuel-saving benefits are noticeable even when only installed on the front axle of smaller sedans like the Toyota Corolla.
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max | B · Michelin Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Touring tires | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 7 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 18″ | — |
| Tread depth | 9 - 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 580 - 620 A A - B | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 65,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall - Vertical Serrated Band | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
82
/ 100
Goodyear
89
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender T+H — better handling, wet and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender T+H scores 92 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender T+H scores 91 vs 84 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender T+H scores 89 vs 82 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Defender T+H scores 94 vs 88 on dry.
Tire A · Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max
Tire B · Michelin Defender T+H
More comparisons
Also compared with
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max also compared with
Michelin Defender T+H 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.