73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
69/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
73/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
BFGoodrich Trail Terrain TA vs Michelin Defender — 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
82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Defender — better handling, wet and comfort. Pick the BFGoodrich Trail Terrain TA if treadwear matters most to you.
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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 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Trail Terrain TA | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 74 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 88 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Defender leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Trail Terrain TA | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 60 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 58 | 75 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Trail Terrain TA | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Defender leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Trail Terrain TA | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 83 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 66 | 85 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Trail Terrain TA | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 19 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Trail Terrain TA leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Trail Terrain TA | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 80 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | Trail Terrain TA | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 88 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | BFGoodrich Trail Terrain TA | Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 82 |
| Dry | 80 | 88 |
| Wet | 61 | 75 |
| Snow | 90 | – |
| Comfort | 74 | 85 |
| Noise | 19 | – |
| Treadwear | 85 | 80 |
| Handling | 64 | 88 |
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
73
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 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 BFGoodrich Trail Terrain T/A receives a polarized reception, praised for its aesthetic appeal, impressive snow traction, and quiet highway performance. However, significant concerns regarding wet-weather handling and inconsistent tread longevity suggest that performance may vary considerably based on vehicle weight and driving conditions.
Pros
- Excellent traction and predictability in snow and ice conditions
- Quiet highway ride quality for an all-terrain tire
- Robust sidewall durability against rocky terrain
- Attractive visual design with white lettering options
Cons
- Poor wet-weather performance and traction issues on paved surfaces
- Inconsistent tread life reports ranging from premature wear to high mileage
- Reports of excessive road noise on specific tarmac surfaces
Observations
- Users operating pickup trucks like the Toyota Hilux reported significant traction loss in wet conditions, suggesting potential issues with rear-wheel-drive bias vehicles.
- Hybrid SUV owners, such as those with the RAV4, reported high satisfaction with highway tread longevity and noise levels.
The Michelin Defender is widely regarded as a comfortable, long-lasting tire that provides a refined driving experience for daily commuting. While users consistently praise its road manners and longevity, some report concerns regarding performance in heavy rain and deep snow conditions.
Pros
- Excellent ride comfort and quiet operation
- Strong tread life and durability over several years
- Reliable grip on dry pavement
- Predictable handling for standard driving conditions
Cons
- Susceptibility to hydroplaning in heavy rain
- Limited traction in deep or severe snow
- Audible squealing during aggressive dry-pavement acceleration
- Handling performance diminishes when pushed to limits
Observations
- Users reported successful long-term usage exceeding 45,000 miles on 195/60R15 sizing.
- Longevity is a standout feature, with some users achieving up to 7 years of service before replacement due to age-related cracking.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · BFGoodrich Trail Terrain TA | B · Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season All Terrain and Off Road tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 43 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | — |
| Tread depth | 11 - 13/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 660 A A - B | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
BFGoodrich
82
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender — better handling, wet and comfort. Pick the BFGoodrich Trail Terrain TA if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender scores 88 vs 64 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Defender scores 75 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender scores 85 vs 74 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Defender scores 88 vs 80 on dry.
Tire A · BFGoodrich Trail Terrain TA
Tire B · Michelin Defender
More comparisons
Also compared with
BFGoodrich Trail Terrain TA also compared with
Michelin Defender 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.