Skip to Main Content
Sam's Club
Sam's Club
All Departments
All Services
Customer reviews for Michelin Defender2 - 215/65R16 98H Tire for
Michelin Defender2 - 215/65R16 98H Tire
4.7 out of 5 stars
stars
978 ratings973 reviews
  1. 5 stars84% (823)
  2. 4 stars8% (78)
  3. 3 stars3% (29)
  4. 2 stars2% (20)
  5. 1 star3% (28)
Sort by |
Showing 341-350 of 973 reviews
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?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
Feb 23, 2023
Xian
5 out of 5 stars review

Best tires on the market.

I've purchased several tires in the defender range, normally lt or ltx but these are my first defender 2's, I can't tell you how impressed I am. smooth, quiet, and my fuel mileage increased over the stock tires. I like michelens because of the full depth siping, the tiny cuts in the tread where all the traction really comes from.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
Aug 1, 2024
Dennis55
3 out of 5 stars review

Tire Squirm

I bought these tires a month ago and I am not happy with them. They have constant tire squirm at highway speeds. I constantly have to make microadjustments in my steering wheel to keep straight. I dont believe its an alignment issue as it wasnt there before the new tires.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
Jun 7, 2024
Linda52
5 out of 5 stars review

Quiet and Smooth Ride

I purchased these tires for my VW bug. I wanted a quiet tire and a smooth ride as my can is small and if the wrong tire is purchased it can be noisy. These tires are just what I wanted. They are quiet and give a smooth ride. I recommend them highly!

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
Jul 19, 2024
willjax2
5 out of 5 stars review

Smooth ride, great handeling

I purchased a set of these to replace a set of General AltMAX RT 43's. Boy, what a world of difference. Much quieter, and smoother ride. Handeling was noticeably quicker response. These tires really hug the road. Have driven on multiple road surfaces and they grip well in all terrain.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
Aug 23, 2023
Rav4 Prime
1 out of 5 stars review

Defender2 has poor traction

The Defender2 tires were a safety problem for my Rav4 Prime SE. The cars ABS periodically began to engage shortly after the Defender2 was mounted. Reference Michelin case numbers 03727059, 03673882 and others. I cannot recall the ABS ever engaging with the OEM tire (not Michelin) nor since replacing the Defender2 with Michelin Primacy Tour A/S tires. I've now had the Primacy Tour A/S tires mounted for nearly a thousand miles, no ABS engagements or dashboard warnings, I am happy with the Primacy Tour, but the Defender2 seems defective to me. The Defender2 would easily skid on dry roads, hence the ABS, dash lights and warning sounds from the car. First time I have ever used the "Michelin Promise Plan of a 60-day satisfaction guarantee", and am glad Michelin stood behind their product. Note that I did bring the car to a Toyota repair facility, who inspected the car and found it functioning properly. The dealer pointed out the Defender2 only had a B traction rating on the sidewall, suggesting the Defender2 was not a high traction tire and likely the culprit for the ABS activating. Thank you Michelin for standing behind your product and satisfaction guarantee. However, I feel the Defender2 is a bad product, at least for my Rav4 Prime SE. One last note, I tried to contact Michelin after the tires were replaced, to find out if they tested the Defender2 tires that came off my car. I was not successful in getting information. If someone at Michelin can contact me with any failure analysis, I would like to learn what was found. I hope the problem was isolated to the tires I had, not to all Defender2 tires

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
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?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
Nov 13, 2023
Carl
2 out of 5 stars review

Don’t expect good MPG

I decided on Defender 2s for my 2017 Acura TLX V6. I live in Florida but occasionally drive north in the winter. The tires are very quiet. The handling of the car is exception. These two aspects get 5 stars. What I have found that my mileage has decreased about 20 to 25%. I need to fill up after 300 miles instead of the 400 miles on the OEM tires.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
reply from Michelin US

Carl, thank you for providing feedback on your experience with Defender2 tires. New tires having full tread depth will have more grip and rolling resistance in comparison to worn tires.  As the new tires wear, the rolling resistance decreases.  Over the life of the tires, all things being equal, the fuel efficiency should improve.

Sep 25, 2023
Bill310
1 out of 5 stars review

Bad Tramlining

I recently purchased these to replace my set of 70,000 mi Energi that came on my car from the OEM. First thoughts of the Defender were good until I had to drive on the highway. The amount of groove wander I have with these tires is alarming. In fact so alarming, I had to stop driving on the highway because I thought a wheel was loose. I took the car to the dealer where they had it for three days trying to figure what I was complaining about. I think they are a good tire just not suited for my Fusion.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
reply from Consumer Care MIC US

Bill310, we're sorry to read that you are dissatisfied with the Defender2. Remember, as part of the Michelin Promise Plan, the tires have a 60 day satisfaction guarantee. Simply return to the selling retailer for the tires to be swapped out. One of our agents will be in touch to discuss options for your vehicle.

Nov 28, 2024
Vietnam Combat Veteran KJ
5 out of 5 stars review

Wow, what a great set of Defender2 tires for snow and ice!

3 weeks before our first Colorado major winter storm, i had a set of Defender2 tires put on. Our first storm, over 5 days, was over 40" of snow, which then turned into several inches of ice. I have a very steep driveway and with my previous tires, I slid at every inch of snow we received (I have a 2023 KIA Sorento 4WD). Not only was I able to drive up my driveway without any trouble, but when I came back, I easily drove down the driveway without the ABS kicking in. These tires are amazing. Please thank the engineers. I have been driving for 64 years and have never had an experience so spectacular. Thank you all!

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045