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Customer reviews for Michelin Defender2 - 225/50R17 98H Tire for
Michelin Defender2 - 225/50R17 98H Tire
4.7 out of 5 stars
stars914 ratings910 reviews
  1. 5 stars84% (770)
  2. 4 stars8% (74)
  3. 3 stars3% (27)
  4. 2 stars2% (17)
  5. 1 star3% (26)
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Showing 381-390 of 910 reviews
Nov 27, 2024
Up North
3 out of 5 stars review

Traction B???

I bought a set of four of the Defender 2 model earlier this month expecting them to be an improved version of my previous Michelin Defender tires. What I didn’t know until I got home and had a chance to look them over more closely was that the traction rating is “B,” unlike the previous model of tires which were rated “A” for traction. What a disappointment! Why would you have this mediocre traction design to the Defender 2, Michelin? My only other Michelin option for the size I need was the snow tire model, but I wanted year round, all season tires and that left the Defender 2 as the remaining choice. While it’s great to buy tires made in the USA, this traction B rating seems rather bush league coming from such a renowned manufacturer.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?4L4QVIBWA1IX13588724646
reply from Consumer Care MIC US

Up North, The UTQG traction grade is a 40-year-old, locked-wheel wet braking test and is, in our estimation and in the estimation of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, a method that is outdated and inconsistent because all modern vehicles have anti-lock brakes. A braking test based on anti-lock brakes measuring peak adherence rather than slide adherence, which is better suited for today’s vehicle. Michelin has chosen to design tires based on anti-lock braking, not locked-wheel braking. This sometimes produces a lower locked-wheel result, even though our testing and independent testing used in claims show the MICHELIN® Defender®2 tire to have superior wet braking over leading competitors. This question is an excellent one and highlights why regulation needs to be updated and/or eliminated as technology changes and improves. Our testing and independent testing show that consumers will be very pleased with the wet braking performance of the MICHELIN® Defender®2 tire, not only in when the tire is new, but even as it wears.

Apr 26, 2025
505
5 out of 5 stars review

Picked out for Mom

Reviewed everything I could to make sure mom is set up on something safe. Car O.E tires where Continental Contipro Touring. And they were wonderful but seems like these Michelin Defender 2 tired are going to take the Cake! Especially on the roads she's on. They gotta handle well in rain and snow definitely Michelin does both well. Hope the 80k hold up. The Tred is very thick and built well. Good for dirt roads as well. Very responsive on hiway. Thanks Michelin, for keeping mom safe!

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?4L4QVIBWA1IX13588724646
Mar 8, 2025
Danny46
5 out of 5 stars review

Excellent Tires

I bought the tires a day ago. I did not put to many miles on them in one day, but I can already tell that these are excellent tires. Very quiet, great dry grip and great handling and ride comfort. My old tires (the new tires the car came with) were Goodyear Assurance Finesse. They were quiet, but not very grippy and they only lasted 3 years/40,000 miles.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?4L4QVIBWA1IX13588724646
Sep 17, 2024
TSXWAGN
5 out of 5 stars review

2nd set of Defenders--excellent tires

We replaced the Michelin Latitude tires on our 2010 Acura MDX with Defender LTX tires last year and have been pleased with the ride and performance. We just purchased a second set of Defender 2 tires for our 2013 Acura TSX wagon to replace a set of IronMan tires that were failing at 18k miles. What a difference! The improvement in ride quality and fuel economy is noticeable. I drive over 400 miles a week and these tires are rated for 80k miles--I expect to have them for a long time.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?4L4QVIBWA1IX13588724646
Nov 10, 2023
Shrewsburyan
4 out of 5 stars review

Defender is a quality tire for New England conditions

This is my 2nd set of Defender tires. The Defender 1 or original gave me more than 85k safe miles and performed expertly in snow and rain. The Defender 2 allowed my car to hydroplane in a CT flash flood on I-84 at 40 mph. The Defender 1 gave me about 2% better gas mileage.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?4L4QVIBWA1IX13588724646
Jan 6, 2024
Thenepkp
5 out of 5 stars review

Amazing quiet and comfortable ride with better handling than the original equipment

I am so happy to get four new Michelin Defender 2 tires for my 2018 Toyota Corolla LE. I was considering the Cross Climate 2 but I glad I got the Defenders instead. It rides better than new and the Michelin Primacy MXV4 that came with the car were amazing and lasted 75000 miles and were still legal. The steering response is better than ever and the ride and directional stability are improved and very quiet. I highly recommend these to Corolla owners, because they are a perfect match. They go and go and go just like the Toyota cars

Review from michelinman.com
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May 8, 2024
Christopher
5 out of 5 stars review

Best tire I've ever owned

My 2014 Subaru came with Continental tires that only endured for a little over 15k miles. I immediately put on the Defender tire in 2016. I have been going strong for over eight years and close to 90k miles on them. I'm just about due for my next set and you can rest assured that I'll be getting some Defender 2's.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?4L4QVIBWA1IX13588724646
Mar 10, 2025
Michael D
1 out of 5 stars review

Defender 2's are LOUD, LOUD tires

I wish I could give a "0" to the defender 2. I just purchased them last week and they are LOUD. Very, Very LOUD. They are so bad my wife does not want to drive in the Santa Fe with me. If you are smart, please stay away from the Defender 2. Thank you.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?4L4QVIBWA1IX13588724646
reply from Consumer Care MIC US

Michael D, we're sorry to read of your dissatisfaction in the Defender2 tires. We recommend to return to the selling retailer and make them aware. Give us a call if you have further questions. We can be reached at 866-866-6605 8am-5pm EST Mon-Fri.

Oct 1, 2022
Sticks49
4 out of 5 stars review

Michelin Defender 2

Had to buy these Defender 2 tires a few months ago because the Premier LTX D/T tires were supposedly being discontinued. Tires are adequate but not as comfortable of a ride versus the Premier LTX D/T tires. Disappointed in the Defender 2 Traction and Temperature ratings of "B", they should be at least A or better yet AA. I will only buy Michelin tires as long as they have quality tires and strive to improve tire materials and traction control; especially, in wet weather where I live. Unfortunately the YOKOHAMA YK740 GTX were rated better (A traction and A temperature) than the Defender 2 tires ; however, I do not like Yokohama tires. I have not had the Defender 2 tires long enough to rate treadwear; however, I do not expect them to last even 50,000 miles. We shall see!

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?4L4QVIBWA1IX13588724646
reply from Consumer Care MIC US

Sticks49, thanks for taking the time to submit a review on the Defender 2. We understand your concern and wanted to share a bit more information with you. The UTQG traction grade is a 40-year-old, locked-wheel wet braking test and is, in our estimation and in the estimation of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, a method that is outdated and inconsistent because all modern vehicles have anti-lock brakes. A braking test based on anti-lock brakes measuring peak adherence rather than slide adherence, which is better suited for today’s vehicle. Michelin has chosen to design tires based on anti-lock braking, not locked-wheel braking. This sometimes produces a lower locked-wheel result, even though our testing and independent testing used in claims show the MICHELIN® Defender®2 tire to have superior wet braking over leading competitors. This question is an excellent one and highlights why regulation needs to be updated and/or eliminated as technology changes and improves. Our testing and independent testing show that consumers will be very pleased with the wet braking performance of the MICHELIN® Defender®2 tire, not only in when the tire is new, but even as it wears.

Apr 10, 2025
angelcat07
4 out of 5 stars review

Defender 2 is overall good tire

bought defender 2 tires 2 years ago to replace primacy tires and just replaced tires on another vehicle with with defender 2 tires. Have had no trouble with first set although they are a little rougher tire on ride quality. On ice and wet roads they have provided good traction. Quality of tires seems very good Only downside is smoothness of ride is not as comfortable as the primacy tires were. Overall are a strong preforming tire

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?4L4QVIBWA1IX13588724646