Michelin Defender LTX MS/2 or Continental terrain HT?
- Thread starter Anthony
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f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
I have used both. The Continental Terrain HT are top rated on Consumer Reports. Previously the Michelin was. What is strange is the Michelin is not even listed in the last CR test. Not sure why that would be. I truly believe both are excellent and you cannot go wrong with either choice. I have used at least three sets of the Michelin over the years.
I find the Conti last a bit longer, but both wear like iron. I am planning to go back to Michelin just because I can get an addtional 10% rebate along with whatever prevailing cash back they have at time of purchase (through a car club I am a member of)...so I can stack the discounts. I am targeting a Spring purchase, when the next Michelin promotion pops up on TireRack.
I find the Conti last a bit longer, but both wear like iron. I am planning to go back to Michelin just because I can get an addtional 10% rebate along with whatever prevailing cash back they have at time of purchase (through a car club I am a member of)...so I can stack the discounts. I am targeting a Spring purchase, when the next Michelin promotion pops up on TireRack.
What issue do you have with Michelin tires?
I have the Michelins on my 2024 Land Cruiser and am very happy with them. Surprisingly quiet and excellent on the driveway grade in the 2-3" of wet greasy snow we have had so far. I recommend them. Michelin and Conti are usually my go-to's.
Probably getting re-tested.
Those silly A/B/C ratings are comparative within a brand. They are not a valid standard of measurement across all brands. LTX M/S has always gotten great traction on pavement. Can you think of any tires Michelin might make that would push an LTX M/S down to B grade? (For instance, all of Michelin's performance offerings.)
My alignment guy said they were the best tire I could have on the truck.
Michelin haters criticize them for cracking, but the 2020 date code tires on my truck are fine. As are the 2023/2024 date code Michelins on my camper. As are the 2021/2023 Michelins on my commuter. As are the 2024/2025 Michelins on my wife's car.
FWIW, some like the Michelin AT/2 better if it's available in your size. Likely my next set (unless I can justify BFG KO3 or HD-Terrain for traction "needs"). Supposedly the AT/2 lasts even longer than the MS/2.
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Michelin spends the most by $ and % of revenue on R&D. They are typically my go-to.
I have had problems with Michelin cracking in the past and now use Contis on my vehicles. That being said I had the Michelin LTX on my work truck and they were excellent never having a problem. For a truck I would lean Michelin.
That's definitely not how it works.
The traction rating however is antiquated test trailer with locked wheel traction (sliding).
so not 100% relevant to modern vehicles.
I would trust a Tirerack test over the AA, A, B Traction rating
I would buy either of those tires based on Price. If the conti's are significantly cheaper they are also a top tire.
I have had both. Michelins did better for me on wear. The Conti’s would have been spent by 40k but I traded the truck.
I think the Michelins were more responsive for direction control.
I think the Michelins were more responsive for direction control.
Looks like you're right. The treadwear rating is the one that is relative within a brand and thus meaningless across brands.
The traction is a simple straight ahead wet test on a single type of surface, locked. I could care less. I don't do locked braking.
Even so, this outdated list has everybody at A for traction:
But then there's this:
My last set of Michelin tires were Defender, and I was underwhelmed by them. Typical of the Michelin tires that I have had, they performed nice when new, but the second half of their life, they rode rough and started getting noisy. And they wore out very early.
Any more, I find myself selecting Continental tires, and have had good success with them. Different tire, but I had a set of TerrainContact A/T on my wife's Outback, and was very happy with them.
You probably wouldn't go wrong with either one of them, but if it was my truck, they would be getting the Continental TerrainContact H/T tires mounted on it.
Any more, I find myself selecting Continental tires, and have had good success with them. Different tire, but I had a set of TerrainContact A/T on my wife's Outback, and was very happy with them.
You probably wouldn't go wrong with either one of them, but if it was my truck, they would be getting the Continental TerrainContact H/T tires mounted on it.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
I don't think so. It has not changed in three years...I wish they would put them back in their testing.
IMO: UTOG ratings haven't been relevant for decades.
Wet sliding traction is only a small part of traction.
I had some AA traction tires that turned into plastic at about 50f.
I glance at the UTOG ratings but the information is very limited.
I'd rather a Tirerack type test or even a youtube tire tester with blind testing.
Although a highway tread truck/suv tire could be a B compared to a pilot Sport's A rating.
If anything that is more honest than just giving 90% of the tires an A rating..
when you know they are wildly different tires.
Ah ...... Mmmm ...... Not exactly.
All the UTQG tests are the same, and ALL are compared to what's known as an SRTT (Standard Reference Test Tire.) Not only can you compare between brands, you can compare over time.
I go into more detail here: Barry's Tire Tech: UTQG
I don’t hate Michelin if you drive thousands of highway miles they could be a fine choice.
I did this comparison and ended up with the Goodyear Workhorse HT - 3,500 miles on them and I am happy.
I had the Michelin tire prior to the GY.
No way the Michelin is worth this much more on a vehicle that may go 6k a year.
I did this comparison and ended up with the Goodyear Workhorse HT - 3,500 miles on them and I am happy.
I had the Michelin tire prior to the GY.
Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse HT - 265/65R18 114T Tire $744 $186 each
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 - 265/65R18 116T Tire $317 each.
No way the Michelin is worth this much more on a vehicle that may go 6k a year.
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