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Customer reviews for Michelin Defender2 - 235/50R18 101V Tire for
Michelin Defender2 - 235/50R18 101V Tire
4.7 out of 5 stars
stars
1,053 ratings1,051 reviews
  1. 5 stars84% (889)
  2. 4 stars8% (84)
  3. 3 stars3% (31)
  4. 2 stars2% (20)
  5. 1 star3% (29)

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Showing 31-40 of 1,051 reviews
Jun 12, 2026
Reviewer name: OHDutchman
5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5 stars review

Great Ride & Handling

These tires are a great fit for our 2019 Hyundai Tuscon. Excellent Handling & smooth quiet ride. Experienced a major "cloud burst" downpour on the way home on Loop 270 and the tires channelled the water just fine. Even cornering on tight bank turns, the vehicle handled great.

Review from michelinman.com
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Nov 19, 2023
Reviewer name: Apo
5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5 stars review

Excellent tires!

I got the tires about 3 weeks ago for my Nissan Rogue Sport 2020, and already put almost 1000 miles. They have excellent traction and tread (much better than the Bridgestone that came with the car whe. I bought it). The mileage has improved slightly (I would say between 5 and 10%) and the car handles very well in rain and when turning. I still have not driven in the snow. I read carefully the reviews before buying the tires and feel that some customers left unfair feedback. A lot of people don't inflate their tires properly or service them and they trashed Michelin Defender 2 unfairly. If you don't have tire pressure indicators on your dashboard, roll up your sleeves and check the pressure yourself every few weeks (it's unsafe to drive with under-inflated tires and your fuel consumption will go up). Spend a few dollars and rotate your tires every 10k and get new tire alignment every year - it will extend the longevity of your tires!

Review from michelinman.com
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May 15, 2026
Reviewer name: Stephan
3 out of 5 stars
3 out of 5 stars review

Plush and soft

Those tires are not supporting the character of a BMW. They feel very plush, no feedback from the road, and just way too soft. Will not buy them again. I drove over 4000 miles in long distance rides. When arrived we feel still swimming. I had the suspicion checked, which according to BMW is good.

Review from michelinman.com
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reply from Consumer Care MIC US

Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the Defender 2 tires did not meet your expectations for handling and road feel. The Defender 2 is designed to prioritize comfort, a quiet ride and long-lasting performance, which can result in a softer feel compared to more performance-focused tires. We recommend speaking with your authorized tire dealer about options better suited to your preferences. You may also contact our Consumer Care team at 866-866-6605 (Mon–Fri 8 AM–7 PM EST, Sat 9 AM–1 PM EST) for further assistance.

Jun 11, 2026
Reviewer name: DaSheet
5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5 stars review

Impressive

it's only been a lil over a week. I've been driving a long time. I've owned other tire brands and none can touch these. the first thing i noticed was rolling resistance. these tires seem to glide forever! My gas mileage has gone through the roof! The second was the grip on curves. Chefs kiss. i feel confident that these tires will take my ride to the 100,000 mark easily. Added bonus, where I live heat rules. with Michelin's I don't have to worry about blowouts in 100 degree plus temperatures.

Review from michelinman.com
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Nov 11, 2022
Reviewer name: Eric100
2 out of 5 stars
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.

Jul 5, 2026
Reviewer name: eyedoc2020
4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars review

The jury is still out. I have not put close to end of life wear on these tires.

These are the most expensive tires I have ever purchased. They are performing fine. They have normal traction and drive handling. The jury is out on how well they will last. My hope is that they are worth the expense for extended treadwear. They certainly have an excellent reputation. I expect safe driving and exceptional longevity.

Review from michelinman.com
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Sep 10, 2022
Reviewer name: Joseph
5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5 stars review

Excellent Tires with Great Performance and Quite Ride

After purchasing the Michelin Defender 2 tires for my Lexus ES350, I have decided to get a new set for my RX350 with 245/50R20. The New Defender 2 tires have great handling performance in dry and wet weather conditions, and it also provides very quite and comfortable ride! In addition, it's great to know that the New Defender tires will last for a very long time. I like the new tires very much and very happy with the choice I made.

Review from michelinman.com
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Mar 29, 2024
Reviewer name: Fox
2 out of 5 stars
2 out of 5 stars review

Not What I expected

These are not like the Defender LTX. Disappointed in the ride and look. The side walls look like something you would put on a SUV or Truck that would be trail riding. The side wall is not a smooth design like the LTX. The Defender 2 seem like they are pushing my crossover. In fact I looked at the tire wondering was it one directional. It is not. I would not recommend for small Crossovers. Note: I have Defender LTX on our 4 Runner and FJ Cruiser. The Defender LTX is a 5 Star. The Defender 2 definitely not a 5 Star.

Review from michelinman.com
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reply from Michelin US

Fox, we're sorry to read of your disappointment in the Defender2. Remember, as part of the Michelin Promise Plan, there is a 60 day satisfaction guarantee of this tire. Simply return to the selling retailer for the tires to be swapped out. Give us a call at 866-866-6605 with any questions.

Sep 21, 2023
Reviewer name: Roberto
3 out of 5 stars
3 out of 5 stars review

A mixed bag ...

Put these on my 2019 Honda Accord, 225/50/17. They Mileage actually increased by 1.5mpg, they are quiet, and ride decently. But, they have poor on center feel. The tires wander so much on the highway that it feels like the car is being blown around by wind. The tires are perfectly balanced, the car has perfect alignment, and pressures are right on 32psi. I'm guessing it is tread squirm. Regardless, it is fatiguing to drive due to the constant corrections required. The lane keep and assist feature of my car is MUCH busier trying to keep the car centered. The ride is generally smooth, especially over more rounded bumps. But on square edge, sharper bumps (like 1" high peaked cracks), there is a harsh spike transmitted to the cabin. Super weird. I'm also a little concerned about wet and snow traction in SE Michigan. Interestingly, the same tires on my wife's 17 CRV feel brilliant. We've had 6 sets of Defenders over the years, and they were always a great choice. I'm a former master mechanic, and have never considered returning tires before. I have 1 more week left on the 30 day trial period, and I'm not sure I'm going to keep them. May have to try Pirelli or Continental.

Review from michelinman.com
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reply from Consumer Care MIC US

Roberto, thanks for taking the time to submit a review. We're sorry to hear of your disappointment in the Defender2 tires. As part of the Michelin Promise, we do offer the satisfaction guarantee.

Aug 23, 2023
Reviewer name: Rav4 Prime
1 out of 5 stars
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
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