Michelin Defender LTX M/S Vs. Michelin Latitude Tour HP

Tires are an essential component of your car and bear the weight of the vehicle 24/7! Over 200 people die each year in the United States from tire-related car crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Essentially, their role is to handle the vehicle’s load, absorb shocks from bumps and potholes on the road, provide decent braking and traction — and above all, good steering control for a comfortable ride. 

So it goes without saying that at all times, you need to have adequate tires for a safe and hassle-free driving experience. You also need to make sure you have the right type of tires — meant for your car and ideal for the weather conditions in your region.

Many people prefer to choose an all-season tire, which works well in summers as well as in winters to remain carefree all year long. Considering the many options of tires in the market, it becomes quite challenging to choose what is right for you.

To assist our consumers in making the right decision, we pinned two of the best tires on the market against each other. 

The Michelin Defender LTX M/S Vs. the Michelin Latitude Tour HP — both are known and loved for their exceptional performance, but which one stands out and fares better? Let’s delve in and explore:

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Michelin Defender LTX M/S has been making waves in the tire industry due to its all-season performance, exceptional tread life, and good road grip. 

The tire can be mounted on pickups, vans, commercial vehicles, SUVs, and shuttles for a smooth and comfortable driving experience across the year with adequate traction on wet, dry, and snowy roads.

Product Information

Being a successor to the ever-so-popular LTX M/S2, the LTX M/S has a similar tread pattern with many improvements that lead to slow treadwear. The tire is designed to provide uncompromised performance on trucks that have high torque demands. 

The tread compound uses Michelin’s patented Evertread technology, which makes use of a potent compound that can withstand the toughest of conditions. 

The compound is molded into a symmetrical tread pattern divided into independent tread blocks with 3D sipes – to provide good traction all year – and when the weather turns chilly. 

For short braking distances and resistance to hydroplaning, the Defender LTX M/S features multiple lateral grooves on the outside, four broad circumferential grooves, and open shoulders on the side.

To reduce treadwear and for better traction, the tire’s profile has a Michelin MaxTouch Construction, which allows for all encountered forces to be evenly distributed across the tire and not only the tire’s footprint. Also, to handle massive loads, on the inside, the tire has two steel belts that go through the entire tire area for more durability.

The tire comes in 15 – 22-inch variants, with a T or H speed rating.

Pros

• Good traction all year long 
• Has a strong tread compound 
• Slow treadwear as opposed to its predecessor

Cons

• The tire does not perform well in heavy snow
• Some users feel the tire is a bit pricey 

Shop now at PriorityTire.com

Michelin Latitude Tour HP

For this comparison, the other tire we picked up is the Latitude Tour HP, another excellent all-season tire by the same company. The tire is designed for all kinds of SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks.

It has proven to be so worthy over the years that it is used as a stock tire by many renowned car manufacturers like BMW, Acura, Porsche, and Lexus. 

Let’s explore further and find out what makes this tire great:

Product Information

The revolutionary tread compound of the Michelin Latitude Tour HP is molded into a symmetric tread design that helps in balancing vehicle traction on wet, dry, and slippery roads. 

All thanks to the featured center rib on the tire and uniform shoulder blocks, steering control and stability of the vehicle are outstanding on highways at high speeds. 

Water accumulation in the contact patch does not take place at all. Because all water, mud, and slush are evacuated instantly due to the tire’s broad circumferential grooves. 

The 2D sipes across the tread blocks improve the vehicle’s grip and offer better handling during rain and snow.

To further augment the driving experience and to allow for a sturdy presence on the road, on the inside of the Michelin Latitude Tour HP — there are two steel belts strengthened with Michelin FAZ Technology. 

The technology features aramid/nylon and polyester cords under the tread area, which allows for a good steering response and a stable drive. The sidewalls of the tire are reinforced by a polyester cord, which enhances the ride quality. 

The tire comes in 17 – 21-inch variants, with an H or V speed rating.

Pros

• Excellent performance on dry and wet roads
• A safe driving experience with responsive steering control
• Low rolling resistance which leads to better fuel average
• Makes little to no noise

Cons

• Some users feel the tread life could be better 
• Not the best when it comes to driving in winters

Shop now at PriorityTire.com

Difference Between The Two Tires

Whether you are well-versed with cars or not, Michelin is one brand everyone instantly recognizes. Most car manufacturers today use Michelin as their stock tire for many of their high-end models. 

After going through several tests and customer reviews, we can safely assume that both tires will provide exceptional performance all year. However, there were some key differences we came across between the two tires.

For instance, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S seemed to have a lower rolling resistance as opposed to the Michelin Latitude Tour HP, which allowed for a better fuel average on the former. But we felt that the ride with the Defender was a little noisy — so choose one that best suits your needs. 

In comparison, the Defender stole the show when it comes to traction on wet surfaces and also in the snow. The treadwear on the Defender was better against the Latitude.

You can buy the Defender LTX M/S for $141.00 – $359.00, while the Latitude Tour HP retails for somewhere between ‎$158.00 – $343.00, depending on the variant you choose.

Warranty provided on materials and workmanship on both tires is the same. However, with the Defender LTX M/S, you get a better tread-life warranty – of up to 70,000 miles for T and H speed rating – and 50,000 miles for the R speed rating variant.

Comparison
Aspect	Michelin Defender LTX M/S	Michelin Latitude Tour HP
Diameter	28.5″	28.5″
Width	9″	9″
Rim Size	17″	17″
Weight	29 Lbs	28 Lbs
Revolutions Per Mile	730	729
Maximum Load	1874 Lbs	1874 Lbs
Air Pressure	44 PSI	51 PSI
Tread Depth	10.5/32″	9/32″
Rim Width	6-8″	6-8″

What We Like/What We Didn’t

• Both tires offer a short braking distance on dry roads
• Michelin Defender LTX M/S had a better grip on the road
• The compound used on both tires makes them last longer 
• Hydroplaning resistance was decent on both tires
• The Defender performed well in light snow 
• Both tires did not perform well in heavy snow 
• Tread wear on the Latitude was not as good
• Both tires are a bit expensive against other tire brands 

Conclusion

If your tires have worn out, you need to replace them at the earliest for your safety and of others around you. A good set of tires can make your daily commute easy and protect your vehicle from various car troubles. 

We have highlighted the good and bad of each tire, do your own research and assess what is important for you. If you are serious about your wheels, we suggest you speak to your dealership and also learn about the manufacturer’s preferences on tires. 

After much research and tests on varying road conditions, our pick among the two Michelin tires is – the Defender LTX M/S – owing to its uncompromised performance all year long and better fuel efficiency!