Defender 2

Michelin Defender 2: what the numbers tell you

The Defender 2's UTQG treadwear rating of 800 puts it in the long-wear class. Its compound is engineered for life over outright grip, which is appropriate for an everyday touring tire. The 80,000-mile warranty is one of the most concrete data points for a tire. It is the manufacturer's own statement of compound durability under normal use. Warranty replacement is typically prorated, so it will not fully offset the cost of a new tire, but the warranty length is a reasonable expectation of useful tread life.

Cabin noise of 68 dB (EU label) is on the quieter end of the segment. This tire will fade into the background at highway speeds. As a all-season tire built for the touring segment, the Defender 2 is positioned against direct rivals within the same category. Comparing it to a tire in a different category (e.g. summer vs all-season) makes the spec sheet misleading because the design targets are not the same.

Long-wearing all-season touring tire — replaced the Defender T+H. Marketed for 80k-mile life. Compound favors wear over outright grip.

For an apples-to-apples comparison against direct rivals, see the comparison pages linked from this tire's brand index.