Michelin Defender 2 review
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The Michelin Defender 2 receives a mix of highly enthusiastic praise and notable criticism regarding ride comfort and noise. While many users commend its dependable traction, confident handling on dry and wet surfaces, and exceptional long-term treadwear longevity, a distinct segment of drivers reports a stiffer ride, unexpected road noise, and a reduction in fuel economy compared to previous models or competing brands.
What owners say
No road-test results yet, so every score here comes from owner reviews on retailer and review sites.
How scores work
- Relative score
- 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, it uses that one.
- Road tests
- 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each score is scaled across every tested tire: the average tire gets 70, the best 100. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
- Owner reviews
- 0–100 from the owner reviews we analysed (5 stars = 100), weighted by how many reviews each site gave us.
- Retailer ratings
- Each site's own average, over all the reviews it lists — usually more than we analysed, so it can differ from our owner score.
By owner reviews
96/100From 8,742 owner reviews analysed; bars are 0–100 (5 stars = 100).
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 8,742 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Michelin Defender 2 receives a mix of highly enthusiastic praise and notable criticism regarding ride comfort and noise. While many users commend its dependable traction, confident handling on dry and wet surfaces, and exceptional long-term treadwear longevity, a distinct segment of drivers reports a stiffer ride, unexpected road noise, and a reduction in fuel economy compared to previous models or competing brands.
Pros
- Outstanding dry and wet traction with confident handling in various weather conditions
- Exceptional treadwear longevity and long-lasting mileage potential
- Firm, stable road feel and planted cornering capabilities
- Noticeably quieter ride on certain vehicles and smooth highway performance
Cons
- Stiffer and harsher ride quality compared to original equipment or previous generations
- Higher than expected road noise and humming on specific highway surfaces
- Occasional complaints regarding reduced fuel economy (MPG)
- Subpar winter weather performance in heavy snow for some drivers, leading many to recommend alternative models like the CrossClimate 2
Worth knowing
- Users driving heavier vehicles like the Honda Odyssey under heavy loads reported excellent stability and performance from the tire.
- Crossover and SUV owners, such as those driving Honda Pilots and Kia Sorentos, noted significant improvements over OEM tires in handling and noise, though some crossover owners in snowy regions desired better winter traction.
Reviews from our readers
Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.
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