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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Michelin Defender T+H vs Sumitomo Tour+ LST — 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.

Tire A Michelin

Michelin Defender T+H

Premium Touring All Season tire

Michelin Defender T+H tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
82/100
Owner ratings
Dry
94
Wet
91
Snow
76
Comfort
89
Noise
87
Treadwear
90
Handling
92
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Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Sumitomo

Sumitomo Tour+ LST

Summer Touring tires

Sumitomo Tour+ LST tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
42/100
2 owner reviews
Dry
65
Wet
50
Snow
–
Comfort
50
Noise
–
Treadwear
40
Handling
20
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Michelin Defender T+H — better handling, treadwear and wet. 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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Defender T+H leads by 29
A
94
B
65
Why this score
SourceDefender T+HTour+ LST
Tire Rack owners 92 –
Tyre Reviews owners – 65

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Defender T+H leads by 41
A
91
B
50
Why this score
SourceDefender T+HTour+ LST
Tire Rack owners 88 –
Tyre Reviews owners – 50

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A
76
B
–
Why this score
SourceDefender T+HTour+ LST
Tire Rack owners 73 –

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Defender T+H leads by 39
A
89
B
50
Why this score
SourceDefender T+HTour+ LST
Tire Rack owners 88 –
Tyre Reviews owners – 50

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A
87
B
–

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Defender T+H leads by 50
A
90
B
40
Why this score
SourceDefender T+HTour+ LST
Tire Rack owners 88 –
Tyre Reviews owners – 40

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Defender T+H leads by 72
A
92
B
20
Why this score
SourceDefender T+HTour+ LST
Tyre Reviews owners – 20

Scores at a glance

CategoryMichelin Defender T+HSumitomo Tour+ LST
Relative Score 91 45
Dry 94 65
Wet 91 50
Snow 76 –
Comfort 89 50
Noise 87 –
Treadwear 90 40
Handling 92 20

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.

Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

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.

Tire A Michelin Defender T+H

Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.

Tire B Sumitomo Tour+ LST

The Sumitomo Tour+ LST is perceived as a budget-oriented tire that prioritizes longevity over performance. While it offers improved tread durability compared to premium touring alternatives, users report a noticeable compromise in handling and overall grip.

Pros

  • Improved tread wear longevity
  • Cost-effective replacement option

Cons

  • Significant reduction in grip compared to premium touring tires
  • Compromised handling performance during spirited driving

Observations

  • Users who prioritize tread life over cornering performance may find the trade-off acceptable for daily commuting.
  • The tire is noted to perform poorly for drivers who engage in aggressive cornering.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Defender T+H B · Sumitomo Tour+ LST
CategoryPremium Touring All Season tireSummer Touring tires
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin

Sumitomo

Winner: Michelin Defender T+H — better handling, treadwear and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender T+H scores 92 vs 20 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender T+H scores 90 vs 40 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender T+H scores 91 vs 50 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Defender T+H scores 89 vs 50 on comfort.

Tire A · Michelin Defender T+H
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Tire B · Sumitomo Tour+ LST
Check price on Amazon

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.