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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)
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Showing 391-400 of 973 reviews
Nov 11, 2022
Eric100
2 out of 5 stars review

Bumpy ride on smooth roads.

The Defender 2 tires are replacements on my Lexus ES 350. The tires are quiet and handle well but they are very bumpy/rough riding. I've had the tires rebalanced but it didn't fix the bumpy ride. I've driven them about 500 miles so far and I wouldn't recommend these tires due to the ride quality. I'm giving two stars because they are very quiet and handle great.

Review from michelinman.com
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reply from Consumer Care MIC US

Eric100, thanks for taking the time to write a review. We appreciate your feedback. Keep in mind, the Defender2, as well as all Michelin products, have a 60 day satisfaction guarantee as part of the Michelin Promise Plan. Simply return to your retailer for the tires to be swapped out.

Jun 30, 2025
Mike
3 out of 5 stars review

Not like the old Defender tire

I had defender tires on my old vehicle… super quiet and smooth. They made it 110,000 miles.. super happy. So I bought the new defender2 tire. Something has changed in the compound of the defender2 tire. Rides much rougher and and not nearly as quiet as the continental tires that came on my MDX. Decent … but not overwhelmed by these tires.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
Apr 21, 2024
jerii
5 out of 5 stars review

tires

I purchased this set of tires for one of my four Dodge Grand Caravans. I have Micheline tires on all of them both winter and summer tires. I am very satisfied with the performance of all of them. I have used Micheline tires since 2010 on all my vans.

Review from michelinman.com
Helpful?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
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?1AA88BH96CGJ13810614045
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.

Nov 10, 2023
Bigbob203
5 out of 5 stars review

Using Only Michelins

I have used Michelin's on all my vehicles for many years. When I bought my 2014 Durango, it came with another brand. After 20,000 miles or so they were wearing. Michelins have been on it ever since and I not have almost 50,000 on them and not near wear points yet. Great traction in wet weather, low noise, and smooth ride. What not to like.

Review from michelinman.com
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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
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Jun 21, 2024
B Bob
5 out of 5 stars review

A Totally Different Michelin Defender 2 Compared To Defender1

Defender 2's have a smooth ride quality that is very noticeable as compared to regular Defenders. Makes my 97 4Runner have a ride it hasn't had using the original Defender. Very pleased with the looks, ride quality, and performance of the tire. Seems the tread design does not make much noise. My only regret after having tires for eleven weeks! Apparently ran over a piece of 1/2" steel that got inserted into the tire tread. Selling dealer, even with a paid protection plan, plug patched tire with only 1345 miles instead of replacing it? Hope the tire is safe with this repair and doesn't start having issues with belts separating and roaring like a snow tire.

Review from michelinman.com
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Aug 26, 2024
KJM
3 out of 5 stars review

Defender 2 tires

I purchased Defender 2 tires in April 2024 and had my Michelin X-Ice removed from vehicle for the summer months. When I picked up my vehicle from the garage I immediately noticed the ride with my New Defender tires was not as smooth and I had more road noise than with the X-Ice tires. I was surprised by this as I expected the opposite . Aside from the above observations I will say the Defender tires are very responsive to handling & braking

Review from michelinman.com
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Aug 19, 2024
Matthew
5 out of 5 stars review

Excellent handling and quiet

With only 10,500 miles on our 2024 Honda CRV Sport Touring AWD Hybrid, we picked up a nail in a non-repairable spot (I spent 25+ years in automotive repair and tires so I know when I have to replace and not repair). Unfortunately it was going to take about a week to ge the same exact Michelin tire to replace this one, but my daughter has to leave to go back to college in the early morning. The option was to buy another set of tires and keep the 3 good ones. So that is what we did. The Michelin Defender 2 is a great tire with an 80,000 mile life expectancy. It handles well and provides a nice smooth and quiet ride. If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is a noisy ride on my car (looking in the direction of other major tire brands that sponsors variations of auto races and monster trucks). Back to these specific tires though, the handling is great and my daughter that drives this car even mentioned that she likes these tires better than the orignial ones that came on the car. The tires are responsive and flex the way they should to provide a smooth and quiet drive. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for an excellent tire.

Review from michelinman.com
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Mar 9, 2025
KP FSU 77
5 out of 5 stars review

Re-shoe for worn out soles

Great Tire so far. Our 2023 GMC Acadia SLT factory Primacy Tour A/S tires were good but were getting low on tread depth at 40,000 miles. With all the home reconstruction going on in Treasure Island, FL, due to last year's double whammy of a 3' of tidal surge and then Hurricane winds two weeks later, the "balding " tires were getting prone to debris/construction material nails, shards, etc.

Review from michelinman.com
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