79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
77/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
General AltiMAX RT vs Michelin Defender — 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
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 comfort, handling and dry. Pick the General AltiMAX RT if treadwear matters most to you.
Read full
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Category breakdown
5 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 5
Why this score
| Source | AltiMAX RT | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 88 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
AltiMAX RT leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | AltiMAX RT | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 75 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Defender leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | AltiMAX RT | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 85 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
AltiMAX RT leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | AltiMAX RT | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 80 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Defender leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | AltiMAX RT | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 88 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | General AltiMAX RT | Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 82 |
| Dry | 83 | 88 |
| Wet | 77 | 75 |
| Comfort | 73 | 85 |
| Treadwear | 83 | 80 |
| Handling | 77 | 88 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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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Recomputed
Headline score
79
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
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 · General AltiMAX RT | B · Michelin Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
79
/ 100
General
82
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Defender — better comfort, handling and dry. Pick the General AltiMAX RT if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Defender scores 85 vs 73 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Defender scores 88 vs 77 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Defender scores 88 vs 83 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
General AltiMAX RT scores 83 vs 80 on treadwear.
Tire A · General AltiMAX RT
Tire B · Michelin Defender
More comparisons
Also compared with
General AltiMAX RT 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.