| Tire type | Highway Touring Tire |
| Price range | $234-$579 |
| Tread Warranty | 70,000 |
| Run-flat | No |
| Vehicles type | SUVs, Crossovers, and Light truck |
| Driving conditions | Dry, Wet, Mud, and Snow |
Table of Contents
An advanced version of an already popular highway all-season tire, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2. the Defender LTX M/S2 is a successor of Michelin Defender LTX M/S. The tire following its predecessor’s footprint has become the best highway all-season tire to drive in 2024, based on driver reviews and retailer suggestions.
The tire improved a lot from its previous tire, it has more durable treadwear, it performs better in dry and wet conditions, and also delivers a more comfortable and heavy-lifting drive. Its off-road capabilities have also improved, making it an overall all-season tire to drive in different conditions, while achieving smooth and comfortable drive.
The tire launched in America in October of 2023, and due to the LTX M/S, this LTX M/S2 only required a little to become the popular tire in the highway tires category.
So, what should you do, should you switch to M/S2 from M/S, or should you get an all-all-terrain tire, instead of this tire? Let’s find that out and more in this detailed review of Michelin Defender LTX M/S2. So without further ado, let’s start with the technology and advancement from its previous model.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 features
The main feature of this all-season tire is that it is driveable on hard snow and extreme off-road conditions, which is very rarely found in all-season tires. Its capability to handle off-road conditions is great, which is why it is a competing tire with all-terrain tires, and due to its comfortable ride, it is compatible with touring tires as well.
With this tire, you will get both, the smooth and luxurious drive of grand touring tires, and a rugged drive of all terrains tires.
Basic features of Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
The tire features EverTread Compound 2.0 which makes it durable in rough conditions. The compound is strong enough to handle the damage from unbalanced or unstructured roads and keep the tire contact intact to avoid any uneven wear. This is an advanced technology from what is utilized in LTX M/S, which is why this new tire is more durable than its previous model.
More advanced 3D sipe Technology is utilized on its tread, which keeps the tire moving smoothly and maintains tread cohesion in dry conditions. This technology also helps in achieving stable grip and brakes on slippery wet and snowy conditions.
Tread pattern and design
This is a symmetrical tread pattern tire, which features individual tread blocks on ribs and shoulders. The center and intermediate ribs, with the help of highly dense 3D sipes, improve the tire grip and traction performance in dry, wet, and snowy terrains. With that, the sipes on shoulder blocks, improve tire corners, and the ability to perform under heavy weights.
The open shoulder blocks, and four circumferential groove channels, allow this tire to perform perfectly in wet conditions. The tire never hydroplanes and achieves reliable traction, grip, and brakes in rainy situations.
The optimized ratio and computerized tread patterns also help in achieving a comfortable and noiseless ride, even under heavy weights and high speed. So the advanced tread design and technology, make this tire a versatile performer in different conditions, and a comfortable and smooth tire for all year-round drives.
Assurance and warranty
This Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 comes with a 70K miles treadwear warranty and unlike other tires that stop performing before their warranty, this tire performs even after the 70K miles drive.
The 70K miles warranty is given in case, if you drive harshly on difficult conditions of snow and mud terrains, if you keep good care and maintenance of the tire, the tire will keep on delivering and can make up to 100K miles very easily. The treadwear performance is the best feature of this tire
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 specification
The tire comes with a treadwear rating of 820 which represents its outclass performance when it comes to treadwear. The B and A-rated traction and temperature are also great, considering it is a highway all-season tire.
It has a tread depth of 11”-14”, which is why the tire lasts for many years. It can carry weight from 2402 to 4079 depending on the size. Similarly, the speed ranges from 112mph to 130mph, and the variance in its rating and performance, also makes it an abandoned tire to choose from based on your driving style and preferences.
The durable rubber and assembly have been made in the United States, which is another supporting point why this tire is so durable. With noiseless and comfortable technologies, the tire is overall a fine piece of rubber to drive in different road conditions.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 performance
Although it is not an all-terrain tire, this Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 performs in off-road conditions as well. When it comes to mud and sandy conditions, due to its deep tread blocks and open shoulders, the mud never stuck on its tread, giving smooth and continuous drive in these conditions. Although the drive is not as good as premium off-road tires, it was far better than some so-called all-terrain tires as well.
Similarly, on snow terrain, the drive was not as smooth as winter terrain tires, but there would be no other tire that has this much versatility and performs as well in winter terrains. The tire delivers reliable performance in winter terrains, the tire never loses grip or control, and the response and brakes are always easy to control. Overall from deep to light snow conditions, this tire performs far better than any all-season tire.
When it comes to wet conditions, as we mentioned previously, due to the tread design and groove channels, the tire performs perfectly in wet conditions. The grip, response, brakes, and speed are all just great. The tire performs even with heavy weights and high speed, while also delivering comfortable and quiet rides in the rainy seasons and wet conditions.
This tire shines differently on dry roads and summer seasons. Usually, drivers prefer this tire because of its highway drives, and this tire is no doubt the best performer on dry highways. The comfort, stability, and responsive drive on highways, make it the best tire for SUVs, and light trucks. Overall the tire performance is very exciting in different all-season conditions, and in 2024, there are hardly any competitors to this tire performance.
Why not buy Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
If you are looking for a tire that performs perfectly in off-road conditions, and there is no other expectation from the tire, then rather than this Defender LTX M/S2 tire you should better go with off-road tires. Off-road tires are more capable of handling extreme off-road conditions, but they have the cons of early wear, uncomfortable rides, and expensive prices.
Similarly, if you only want to drive in winter terrains, then instead of this tire, you should go with specific winter tires. Winter tires are more supportive of extreme winter terrains and also perform better in light snow and icy conditions.
Final words
As you can see the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 is a perfect tire to drive in 2024. It has been improved a lot in overall drive and become more durable and comfortable to drive on dry highways and in different weather conditions. Its capabilities to adapt to off-road situations are also great, which makes it the overall best tire to drive with light trucks and SUVs.
References
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/michelin-defender-ltx-m-s2
https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tires/michelin-defender-ltx-m-s2
