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Customer reviews for Michelin Defender2 - 215/55R16 97H Tire for
Michelin Defender2 - 215/55R16 97H Tire
4.7 out of 5 stars
stars
975 ratings973 reviews
  1. 5 stars84% (821)
  2. 4 stars8% (78)
  3. 3 stars3% (29)
  4. 2 stars2% (19)
  5. 1 star3% (28)
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Showing 371-380 of 973 reviews
Nov 18, 2024
Joe24
4 out of 5 stars review

Undecided!

Bought my Defender 2 tires today 11/18/2024. Have to say that on the way home on the interstate with some new asphalt and some new pavement I noticed a hum inside the car that was not there before. Was hoping these new tires would be quiet. Maybe they will break in maybe not.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
Aug 25, 2024
Anonymous
4 out of 5 stars review

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.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
May 9, 2024
Harp
3 out of 5 stars review

Not up to my Expectation

I installed these tires on Mazda CX 9 2021, less than a month ago, after reading positive reviews about these tires. Disappointed, brand new tires, thumping noise at 100km/hr plus speed .Tire shop recheked it, balance it again, its better, but not the same smoothness as OEM tires Falken Ziex Ct 50. ires, balanced it again. I won't buy or recommend. Wish, could replace it with continental extreme contact.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
Jun 9, 2024
BC
5 out of 5 stars review

Stability

These tires changed the entire feel of our mini-van. Three years ago we tried to improve the ride when bought another brand. After getting an alignment and front-end work, the car still pulled left and right. With the new Michelins, it no longer pulls, is much quieter, and holds the road regardless of weather. We've decided to keep the car, and always use Michelins.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
Jul 30, 2025
BigRed
5 out of 5 stars review

Defender 2 - Hydro-Plane Defeaters

I had just bought a new set of Defender 2 tires and was on a ride to test them out. My previous tire was the OEM Michelin Primacy Tour A/S with approximately 48,000 miles on a 20 Chevy Blazer RS. The ride was very nice, firm but comfortable. I was, so far, impressed with the handling on a damp road and enjoying the new sneaks. As fate would have it, it began raining buckets and this I thought would separate the wheat from the chaff. I was driving in the granny lane, on a limited access highway at the posted speed limit of 65mph.when a brief but sudden loss of control event occurred called Hydro-Planning.. All of a sudden the car hit a fairly large gutter puddle that caused the vehicle to swerve dramatically. It was a frightening 2 or 3 seconds while feeling powerless other than going for the ride. Steering into the hydro-plane, and to my relief, the Defender 2s quickly took hold of the road and straightened me right out. Having put on about 30 miles on the new Defenders, they really showed me what they are capable of, and I am glad to have them. On this rainy day, the Defender 2s performed excellently.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
Aug 26, 2024
Happy customer.
5 out of 5 stars review

My tire.

I have been driving on michelin tires for 20 years now. I will always be driving on michelin tires. I have been driving now for over 50 years and on many other tire brands as well but michelin tires will always be on my vehicles now. Great company to deal with if you have an issue.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
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?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
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.

Jul 12, 2025
Alex
2 out of 5 stars review

Tires

Got 4 new defender 2 tires 2 days ago thinking they would be quiter than previous tires. Paid much more than previous tires, but NO NO NO, these tires are not quiter. If anything, these tires are more noisier. Guess I was suckered into paying much more for tires that are not as quite as my previous ones.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
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?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
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.

Mar 21, 2024
JJ
3 out of 5 stars review

Harsh ride

These new Defender 2 tires provide a very harsh ride. I feel every little road imperfection. Especially noticeable at very low speeds. Feels like the tire is thumping, as though out of round. They are not. Have had dealer check and redo balance twice, last time on a Hunter Road Force Balancer. Tires and wheels all check out within all vehicle and tire specs. No manufacturing defects were noted (i.e. broken or separated belts, etc.). Tires are structurally sound. Also, alignment is perfect. I've had five sets of the prior version of this tire on different cars, Defender T & H, and was very satisfied with the performance and comfort. Never received the advertised 90K miles on any of those tires - more like 45-50K. But did not care. They gave a good ride. These Defender 2's feel like they are inflated to 50 lb! Very hard ride. But, I'll get used to them I am sure.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?3MD1OTCAR9VA13712871956
reply from Michelin US

JJ, sorry to read of your disappointment in the ride. We have several families of tires that are each optimized to meet specific needs, such as mileage, durability, performance, control and comfort. As a last resort, remember that as part of the Michelin Promise Plan, there is a 60 day satisfaction guarantee. Simply return to the selling retailer for the tires to be swapped out. Contact us at 866-866-6605 with any questions.