The Defender2 is Michelin's Standard Touring All-Season tire built for drivers of coupes, sedans, crossover, SUVs and minivans, looking for a dependable tire with reliable year-round traction. Defender2 tires are built to combine long, durable tread life with capable all-season performance in dry, wet and wintry conditions, even in light snow.
The all-season compound is molded into a symmetric tread design allowing for flexible rotation patterns, helping manage block wear and maintain a smooth, quiet ride. Interconnected tread elements minimize airborne noise and help ensure a stable footprint for predictable handing in dynamic maneuvers. Wide, circumferential grooves provide ample pass-through volume and channel water from generous lateral notches for enhanced hydroplaning resistance. Carefully integrated lateral and longitudinal sipes help provide biting edges and grip on slippery pavement for confidence in inclement weather and wintry roads.
Internal construction of the Defender2 consists of a single-ply casing with a high turn-up ply design to maintain durability while preserving ride comfort. Twin steel belts provide a robust foundation for the tread and are reinforced by a polyamide cap ply for stability at high speeds.
New tires, customer favorites, and former test winners are among the group for 2025’s Test 7, which also sees some manufacturers with multiple tires. Both Bridgestone and Goodyear have two tires in this group, while Continental, Michelin, and Yokohama each have a horse in this race. Who comes out on top and what category will it represent, Standard Touring or Grand Touring All-Season? In the end where will these tires stack up in our ever-growing combined results of tested touring tires? Watch now to find out!
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(1,077)Tire Category: Standard Touring All-Season
| Best in Category |
| Miles Reported |
| Recommended |
| Treadwear |
Michelin Defender2
|
|---|
| 100% |
| 8.1M |
| 8.9 - Excellent |
| 9.2 - Excellent |
|
|
| 9.5 - Excellent |
|
|
| 8.3 - Good |
|
|
| 9.1 - Excellent |
|
|
| 9.4 - Excellent |
Customer feedback data reveals strong performance across key categories for this ultra high performance all-season tire. Dry traction (9-10 scores dominate) receives consistent praise for responsive handling and confident cornering. Wet traction (8-10 range) shows reliable grip with good hydroplaning resistance. Winter capabilities (7-10 snow/ice scores) demonstrate solid all-season versatility, though some note reduced ice traction (6-7 scores). Comfort stands out with 8-10 ratings for smooth ride quality and low noise levels. Treadwear (7-10 range) impresses many drivers given the performance focus, with multiple reports of above-average longevity for the category. The balanced profile makes it a compelling choice for drivers prioritizing year-round capability without sacrificing sporty characteristics.
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New tires, customer favorites, and former test winners are among the group for 2025’s Test 7, which also sees some manufacturers with multiple tires. Both Bridgestone and Goodyear have two tires in this group, while Continental, Michelin, and Yokohama each have a horse in this race. Who comes out on top and what category will it represent, Standard Touring or Grand Touring All-Season? In the end where will these tires stack up in our ever-growing combined results of tested touring tires? Watch now to find out!
Read the Full Test Report
Ultra High Performance All-Season tires are the best of the best when it comes to maximizing warm-weather traction while maintaining four-season usability. In this test, we compare 9 tires from this category to see what stands out and what leaves more to be desired.
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Ten touring all-season tires built to handle everyday commuters’ needs take their turn on a car built to do the same, a 2025 Toyota Camry. Our testing team assesses strengths and tradeoffs and ranks them top-to-bottom to help you determine which is right for you. This updated version includes our 2024 winter testing!
The Michelin Defender2 is a Standard Touring All-Season tire built for drivers of coupes, sedans, crossover, SUVs, and minivans, looking for a dependable tire with reliable year-round traction.
The Michelin Defender2 is the latest entry into the Standard Touring All-Season category, so our team put it up against two other previously tested and highly ranked competitors.
Read the Full Test Report
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