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  • GoodyearAssurance Fuel Max
  • GoodyearAssurance Fuel Max
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The Assurance featuring Fuel Max Technology is Goodyear's mid-tier Passenger All-Season tire designed for the drivers of cars, coupes, vans and crossover vehicles looking for affordably priced tires offering long wear, wet traction and low rolling resistance as some of their top priorities. The Assurance Fuel Max is designed to provide year-round confidence in wet, dry and wintry weather conditions, including in light snow, as well as offers lower rolling resistance to enhance vehicle fuel economy over the tire's lifetime.

The Assurance Fuel Max molds a low rolling resistance all-season compound into a tread design featuring distinct zones. Inboard and outboard Dry Tread Zones feature strong shoulder blocks to enhance handling in dry conditions, while a central Wet Tread Zone features Dual Aquachannel grooves that evacuate water to promote traction in wet weather. A virtually continuous notched center rib combined with circumferential shoulder grooves blend dry road stability and even treadwear with traction in snowy conditions. The tire's internal structure features twin steel belts (H-speed rated sizes are reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon belt edge strips) on top of a polyester casing that enhances ride quality.

*Specific sizes featuring Fuel Max Technology are identified as such on the Sizes tab, as well as on the tire's Specs tab.

Tire Rack Test Results Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max

Eco-Focused All-Season Tires: Do They Deliver on the Promise?(03:22)

Tires with an emphasis on low rolling resistance for fuel efficiency are becoming available in sizes to fit a wide variety of mainstream vehicles. One of the most recent is Bridgestone's Ecopia EP422 that employs technologies aimed at reducing fuel consumption and the tire's impact on the environment. But does it perform on the road, too?

Read the Full Test Report

View Snow Traction/Handling Results Video

Ratings Charts & Reviews Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max

Tire Category: Standard Touring All-Season

Consumer Surveys

 
Best in Category
Miles Reported
Recommended
Treadwear
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max
Good
76%
7.7M
4.9 - Fair
7.3 - Good
7.3 Hydroplaning Resistance
7.3 Wet Traction
7.6 - Good
7.3 Corner Stability
8.1 Dry Traction
7.4 Steering Response
5.6 - Fair
6.4 Light Snow Traction
5.5 Deep Snow Traction
5.0 Ice Traction
6.9 - Good
7.2 Ride Quality
6.6 Noise
7.1 - Good

Michelin Defender2 Reviews

Customer feedback data reveals strong performance across all categories for this all-season touring tire. Treadwear receives exceptional praise with frequent 9-10 scores, with many noting long-lasting durability. Comfort stands out for smooth ride quality and low noise levels. Winter traction earns consistent 8-10 ratings, showing reliable capability in light snow and slush. Wet traction impresses with 9-10 scores for grip and hydroplaning resistance. Dry traction receives near-universal acclaim (9-10) for confident handling and stability. High satisfaction is evident, with many customers emphasizing the tire's balanced performance and expressing intent to repurchase. No significant concerns emerge across key metrics.

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Customers Like:

523 reviews mention "Wet Traction"

  • 505 positive
  • 18 negative

Customers overwhelmingly rate the Michelin Defender2's wet traction as excellent, with most scores 9-10. Strong hydroplaning resistance and confident grip in rainy conditions make it a standout all-season performer.

February 03, 2026
4.6 out of 5 Star Rating
4.6 out of 5

...Defender 2 tends to slip a little bit in dry corning traction when going tight corners however wet traction and hydroplaning resistance is greeat I was on a road going 50mph, and out of nowhere the road had about 4 inches of standing water on it and did great i did not feel the car lose traction

Great tire, you get your values worth noise quiet is great, dry traction is nice, Defender 2 tends to slip a little bit in dry corning traction when going tight corners however wet traction and hydrop[laning resistance is greeat I was on a road going 50mph, and out of nowhere the road had about 4 inches of standing water on it and did great i did not feel the car lose traction

Vehicle: 2007 Buick Lucerne CXL V6
Miles Driven on Tires: 4,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: HEMPSTEAD, TX
Driving Style: Average

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February 20, 2026
4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

...In the rain, you wonder what a water hazard is. Haven?t experienced any hydroplaning...

Car was bought at carmax with substantial dry rot on the tires. Did a on best rated for my jeep cherokee. They recommended these and the cross climate. The cross climate were way more money for slightly better conditions. These had an 80,000 mile warranty which was insane. Once I got them, it snowed about 2 weeks later about 10 inches. I drove to work like a boss. I had one unplowed road that slipped me about 1 second and the 4x4 and tires all pulled through and muscled through it. I’ve ran Pirelli Winter tires on a FWD Mazdaspeed3 that handled about the same as these. In the rain, you wonder what a water hazard is. Haven’t experienced any hydroplaning. I’ve driven on very light ice and still haven’t had much of an issue. Done with the weather. I wanna see these in some dry heat! Very low road noise and exceptional handling and bounce resistance. Highly recommend these tires!

Vehicle: 2021 Jeep Cherokee 4X4 Limited
Miles Driven on Tires: 2,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: BRISTOL, RI
Driving Style: Spirited

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219 reviews mention "Winter Traction"

  • 202 positive
  • 17 negative

Customers praise the Defender2's winter traction with most snow/deep snow scores at 9-10 and ice ratings mostly 7-10. While a few report lower ice performance, the majority highlight confident grip in winter conditions, aligning well with its all-season capabilities.

February 20, 2026
4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

...Once I got them, it snowed about 2 weeks later about 10 inches. I drove to work like a boss. I had one unplowed road that slipped me about 1 second and the 4x4 and tires all pulled through and muscled through it...

Car was bought at carmax with substantial dry rot on the tires. Did a on best rated for my jeep cherokee. They recommended these and the cross climate. The cross climate were way more money for slightly better conditions. These had an 80,000 mile warranty which was insane. Once I got them, it snowed about 2 weeks later about 10 inches. I drove to work like a boss. I had one unplowed road that slipped me about 1 second and the 4x4 and tires all pulled through and muscled through it. I’ve ran Pirelli Winter tires on a FWD Mazdaspeed3 that handled about the same as these. In the rain, you wonder what a water hazard is. Haven’t experienced any hydroplaning. I’ve driven on very light ice and still haven’t had much of an issue. Done with the weather. I wanna see these in some dry heat! Very low road noise and exceptional handling and bounce resistance. Highly recommend these tires!

Vehicle: 2021 Jeep Cherokee 4X4 Limited
Miles Driven on Tires: 2,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: BRISTOL, RI
Driving Style: Spirited

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January 06, 2026
(Verified Purchase)
5 out of 5 Star Rating
5 out of 5

...Enjoy the piece of mind that my family is riding on these tires this winter.

Purchased because of ratings and past positive experience with Michelin. Tire rack purchases are always seamless. I had a local shop install the tires. These tires do everything well. It seems like they got gripier in hard cornering after about 5000 miles. Enjoy the piece of mind that my family is riding on these tires this winter.

Vehicle: 2018 Mazda CX-9 AWD Signature
Miles Driven on Tires: 12,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly Highway
Location: HAGERSTOWN, MD
Driving Style: Spirited

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585 reviews mention "Dry Traction"

  • 575 positive
  • 10 negative

Customers overwhelmingly rate dry traction as excellent, with most scoring 9s and 10s. High marks highlight reliable grip and responsive handling in dry conditions, ideal for all-season touring use.

February 03, 2026
4.6 out of 5 Star Rating
4.6 out of 5

...dry traction is nice, Defender 2 tends to slip a little bit in dry corning traction when going tight corners...

Great tire, you get your values worth noise quiet is great, dry traction is nice, Defender 2 tends to slip a little bit in dry corning traction when going tight corners however wet traction and hydrop[laning resistance is greeat I was on a road going 50mph, and out of nowhere the road had about 4 inches of standing water on it and did great i did not feel the car lose traction

Vehicle: 2007 Buick Lucerne CXL V6
Miles Driven on Tires: 4,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: HEMPSTEAD, TX
Driving Style: Average

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585 reviews mention "Ride Quality"

  • 562 positive
  • 23 negative

Customers overwhelmingly praise the Defender2's comfort, with most scoring 9s and 10s for smooth ride quality and low noise levels. A few 7-8 ratings indicate minor variations, but the tire consistently delivers refined all-season comfort that meets or exceeds expectations for touring use.

January 08, 2026
(Verified Purchase)
4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

THE most comfortable and quiet riding tire I've ever purchased(68yrs old). Very responsive.

THE most comfortable and quiet riding tire I’ve ever purchased(68yrs old). Very responsive.

Vehicle: 2020 Kia Sorento FWD EX
Miles Driven on Tires: 5,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly Highway
Location: OSHKOSH, WI
Driving Style: Spirited

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January 01, 2026
4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

...The ride comfort is excellent, and the road noise is incredibly low-perfect for a family van...

I previously drove 65,000 miles on the original Michelin Defender 1, so moving to the Defender 2 was a natural choice for my Sienna.

I am now 23,000 miles into this new set, and I love them just as much, if not more. The ride comfort is excellent, and the road noise is incredibly low—perfect for a family van.

If you are looking for a smooth, quiet ride with lots of miles, this is it.

Vehicle: 2011 Toyota Sienna FWD LE V6
Miles Driven on Tires: 23,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly Highway
Location: MASON, OH
Driving Style: Average

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January 25, 2026
(Verified Purchase)
5 out of 5 Star Rating
5 out of 5

...Ultimately decided on the defender 2 because I really wanted a quiet ride. And the tires are quiet... Took a long drive in -8 deg weather and the ride was smooth and quiet...

Just bought these tires. Went back and forth trying to decide between the crossclimate2 and defender 2 for my Palisade. Ultimately decided on the defender 2 because I really wanted a quiet ride. And the tires are quiet. Previous to these tires, I thought I had a bad bearing on the back side of my car, but the noise was just worn out tires. When I picked these up, the noise was completely gone. Took a long drive in -8 deg weather and the ride was smooth and quiet. Love these tires so far.

Vehicle: 2022 Hyundai Palisade AWD SEL
Miles Driven on Tires: 100
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: NAPERVILLE, IL
Driving Style: Easy Going

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376 reviews mention "Treadwear"

  • 367 positive
  • 9 negative

Michelin Defender2 receives overwhelmingly positive treadwear ratings, with most customers scoring 9s and 10s. Excellent tread life and durability in all-season conditions, with some 8s indicating strong long-term performance for touring use.

February 19, 2026
(Verified Purchase)
3 out of 5 Star Rating
3 out of 5

...The tread of Defender was durable and wear was excellent. Interestingly, the tires frequently picked up nails, but none ever penetrated fully or caused a loss of air...

I ran a set of Michelin Defender tires on my Corolla for three years in the Northeast after the Michelin Energy Saver A/S were fast worn. On the positive side, I never experienced a flat. The tread of Defender was durable and wear was excellent. Interestingly, the tires frequently picked up nails, but none ever penetrated fully or caused a loss of air.

Highway stability and wet-road performance were reassuring. In rain, they felt planted and predictable. However, winter performance was clearly a weakness. In light snow they slipped easily, and on ice they felt borderline unsafe—although I never actually lost control. Lateral grip was also limited; when pushed through curves at speed, the front end would wash out and understeer sooner than expected.

One major disappointment was sidewall durability. By the third year in the Northeast climate, visible dry rot had developed, which is unacceptable at this price point.

Some reviews praise the Defender for comfort and quietness, but in my experience these were its weakest attributes. Ride quality and cabin noise were inferior to other tires I’ve used including Continental (premium), Toyo (mid-tier), and even Radar (budget).

Michelin’s warranty response (not Tire Rack) was equally disappointing. After contacting them, I was told:
"If the replacement tires are from a brand outside of these three, unfortunately we are unable to offer warranty coverage, as it only applies to our affiliated brands."

Given the cost and the customer service experience, I would not purchase Michelin again.

Vehicle: 2018 Toyota Corolla LE
Miles Driven on Tires: 30,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly City
Location: WATERTOWN, MA
Driving Style: Average

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February 02, 2026
(Verified Purchase)
5 out of 5 Star Rating
5 out of 5

...The tires show almost no wear after a year and about 8,000 miles of city and highway driving...

I got 4 tires, 2 to this spec and 2 to the other spec for my 2021 VW Id.4. The tires show almost no wear after a year and about 8,000 miles of city and highway driving. The noise is not appreciably different from the manufacturer's tires. I read some concerns about decreased distance with a charge with these tires. However, I have not noticed any appreciable difference the distance I get with a charge. I ordered the tires from Tire Rack to be delivered to my local mechanic to put on. The delivery happened as promised. I think I got a great deal! Overall, I'd buy these again.

Vehicle: 2021 Volkswagen ID.4
Miles Driven on Tires: 8,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: ATLANTA, GA
Driving Style: Average

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Consumer Reviews

Media Gallery

Eco-Focused All-Season Tires: Do They Deliver on the Promise? - Winter Update(01:54)

Many passenger and touring all-season tires with an emphasis on low rolling resistance offer very good fuel economy. But the question is, how well do they perform in everyday conditions? Especially in the snow and on the ice. We found out in Sweden when we did some winter testing on these tires.

Read the full test report.

View All Winter Test Results

Eco-Friendly All-Season Tires - How Does Performance Measure Up?(03:56)

Eco-focused tires were initially made in sizes for drivers of hybrid and ultra-efficient vehicles. Today, a growing number are available in a wider variety of sizes in an effort to gain widespread use on more vehicles.

Our tests results show what impact these tires have on fuel economy and how they perform in everyday conditions.

Read the Full Test Report

When Round and Black Becomes Lean and Green(04:18)

Can eco-friendly, low rolling resistance tires make a difference in fuel economy, driving costs and the environment?

Tire Rack arranged to get a small fleet of the 2009 2nd generation Toyota Prius hybrids to test low rolling resistance tires. The Goodyear Integrity O.E. tire was the baseline we compared to other tire choices for the Prius. Tires tested included eco-friendly aftermarket tires for hybrid and fuel-efficient compact cars as well as the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred which prioritizes ride comfort and long wear over fuel efficiency.

Read the Full Test Report

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