Customer reviews for Michelin Defender2 - 225/50R17 98H Tire forMember photos
FULL SET
I JUST GOT A FULL SET OF TIRES LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. CAN'T REALLY RATE THEM FAIRLY YET. I CAN SAY THAT I AM ENJOYING THEM SO FAR. THEY ARE NOT NOISEY. THEY HAVE A LONGER LIFE THAN THE TIRES THAT CAME WITH MY VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS NEW. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A NICE LONG TREADLIFE WITH THESE TIRES.
Nice tires but not performance oriented enough
Tires ride smoothly and quietly. Was hoping to replace my Michelin Primacy with another set of Michelin Primacy. Old tires had plenty of tread but were getting old (summer only car with low mileage). The Defender do not corner like the Primacy. The Primacy were more performance oriented and you can tell the difference. Unfortunately the Primacy in my tire size is no longer available (225R60/16). I do not drive like a race car driver but when I made a U-turn, you could tell they didn't grip the same. Also when making a left turn with and advanced light, sometimes I can tell my tires are slipping (accelerate a little too hard for the tires). I wish the Primacy were still available in my size.
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.
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.
Amazing Ride Comfort!
I bought these tires 2 weeks ago, took a bit for me to get used to these kinds of tires but I first needed to break them in 1st but once I placed 500 miles into them the driving experience became very different in a good way, compared to my previous tires which were Kumho's. I own a Hyundai Elantra 2019 and when I 1st bought it from the dealership which was a month ago, I noticed the suspension to be a bit stiff on bumpy roads but now with these Michelin Defenders 2 tires the ride comfort changed so much that I feel way more confident in my car over bumpy roads and highway driving. These tires keep my vehicle stable on the road and my vehicle suspension feels more stronger now. Your guy's tires made me love my car even more thank you for creating such an amazing tire I definitely will shop for Michelin tires in the future especially these Defenders #2.
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.
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.
Tires extremely loud
I purchased a set of Defender 2 tires for my Ford Flex 10/9/24. The vehicle is AWD and was aligned shortly thereafter. Since purchased these tires, primarily the rear 2, have been extremely loud. The Defenders I previously had on this vechicle never displayed this obnoxious behavior and I was very satisfied with them. Would not consider purchasing these tires again.
Great Tires
I only use Michelin Tires on both of my vehicles, and have for many years, Michelin Defenders in the summer & Michelin X-Ice in the winter. I have always received great service, traction & ride, and highly recommend Michelin Tires to my Family & anyone who has asked.,
Excellent Tires with Comfortable and Quite Ride
I recently purchased the Michelin Defender 2 tires with tire size of 235/50R17 for my Lexus ES350. My previous tires were Michelin Premier A/S, which it offers very comfortable and quite ride with excellent handling and traction during dry and wet weather conditions. However, the issue was the Premier A/S did not last very long. I only had 25K and all 4 tires went down to 2/32. By doing a lot of research, I found out that the Defender 2 is built on the foundation of the Defender T+H, the Michelin Defender 2 scores top marks in all categories. Plus, it has the identical tread pattern design like Premier A/S which I like it very much. It provided me very comfortable and quite ride with Piano Acoustic Tuning Technology. In addition, the Defender 2 compounds contain EverTread2.0 and MaxTouch2.0 Technology, which Michelin offers 80,000 miles warranty. By knowing Defender 2 is built from Defender T+H and has the same tread design like Premier A/S, I know this is an excellent tire that would give me the most comfortable quite ride while keep me safe on the roads, plus it will last for a long time. I am very happy with the purchase and the choice I made.
Great performance
The factory Yokohama tires on my 2024 Subaru Crosstrek were fair at best. They had a decent ride BUT they did not even make it to 36,000 miles (which is not acceptable!). I bought the Michelin Defender 2 tires and I am exceedingly pleased with the results. The Michelin Defender 2’s (along with a wheel alignment) have made a significant difference in the overall quality and performance of the ride. Tight on the corners and overall smooth and quiet. The Michelin Defender 2’s are noticeably quieter and hug the road smoother. From now on I will only be driving on Michelin tires. Also, they have an 80,000 mile warranty. I drive in all kinds of weather conditions and thus far they have exceeded my expectations in all respects. Great job Michelin you have made a lifetime customer out of me.
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!
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.


