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.
The Camry is back in action in this premium touring tire test. 9 GTAS tires, 6 of which are 3PMSF and 2 STAS tires, are tested to see how they stack up in this highly competitive and popular category. This test is a spiritual successor to Test 4, which saw 9 other touring tires ranked. The ante has been raised this time around as we combine the results of both tests to help you make the most informed choice.
(538)Tire Category: Standard Touring All-Season
| Best in Category |
| Miles Reported |
| Recommended |
| Treadwear |
|
Michelin Defender2
|
|---|
| 100% |
| 3.5M |
| 8.8 - Excellent |
| 9.1 - Excellent |
|
|
| 9.4 - Excellent |
|
|
| 8.0 - Good |
|
|
| 9.1 - Excellent |
|
|
| 9.3 - Excellent |
The Camry is back in action in this premium touring tire test. 9 GTAS tires, 6 of which are 3PMSF and 2 STAS tires, are tested to see how they stack up in this highly competitive and popular category. This test is a spiritual successor to Test 4, which saw 9 other touring tires ranked. The ante has been raised this time around as we combine the results of both tests to help you make the most informed choice.
Ten touring all-season tires built to handle everyday commuter's 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.
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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