Michelin Defender T+H and X-Tour are both all-season tires. While Defender T+H is one of Michelin’s hero products, Michelin X-Tour is exclusive for Costco members. These tires have the exact same design. Well, people are debating whether these tires are the same or not. Let’s find it out!
| Michelin Defender T+H | Michelin X-Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Squishy and snowy regions, smooth and quiet ride | Budget-oriented drivers, 3 season regions (winter excluded) |
| Pros | Insane wet and light snow traction, long-lasting rubber, smooth ride | Satisfying dry and wet traction, long-lasting rubber |
| Cons | Can’t handle severe snow conditions | Slightly noisy, can be blown out due to weaker sidewalls, can’t handle winter at all |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Michelin Defender T+H is a more smooth tire. It produces less road noise than X Tour. Michelin Defender T+H is also a superior pick for better wet and dry ground performance. On the other hand, they’re equally good regarding tread life but their winter performance is limited with light snow. Yet, Michelin X-Tour is a heavier tire. Therefore, it consumes more than Defender T+H.
All-Season Tires Cheat Sheet
My team & I have analyzed 100 different tires and generated this ‘Quick Answer Sheet‘ for those who don’t wanna spend too much time during tire selection.
Before we start, here are the incredibly helpful articles I highly recommend to take a look at;
- How to keep tire noise down:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise - Fuel-Efficiency:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/rolling-resistance - Tire rating charts & reviews
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/rating-chart&reviews - Tire test report
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests
If you’re in a hurry, here are the tires worth every penny;
- Michelin Crossclimate 2 – Best for All-Round & Heavy Snow
- Michelin Primacy Tour A/S – Best All-Round & Moderate Snow
- Nokian WRG4 – Best for Comfort & Heavy Snow
- Nokian WRG4 SUV – Best for Comfort & Heavy Snow
- Bridgestone WeatherPeak – Best for All-Round & Moderate Snow
- Goodyear ComfortDrive – Best All-Round & Light Snow
- BF Goodrich Advantage T/A Sport – Best for Longevity & Light Snow
Depending on your needs, the below article might help;
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-weather-tires-for-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/bridgestone-vs-michelin/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-michelin-tires-for-suv/
I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:
- DiscountTire Deals:
https://www.discounttire.com/promotions - TireRack Deals:
https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers - SimpleTire Deals:
https://simpletire.com/tire-deals
Table of Contents
Are Michelin X Tour and Defender T+H the Same?
Michelin X Tour is the Costco exclusive version of Michelin Defender T+H. Well, they have the same pattern, same warranty, and same wear-out ratings. Yet, I’ve talked with Michelin customer services to sort it out. Here is the answer.
‘The Defender T+H does have a slight difference from the X Tour A/S T + H. The Defender T+H comes with our Comfort Control Technology that helps reduce road noise and vibration.‘
What is the Comfort Control Technology?
Michelin uses this technology to ensure an ultra-high level of tire uniformity. Uniformity is directly related to comfort. Moreover, it has a positive effect on the tire’s acoustic performance.
Which One is Better?
According to Michelin, Defender T+H is a better tire. It’s a smoother one. Well, in my point of view, the real issue isn’t the comfort difference. It’s the availability. It’s almost impossible to find Michelin X Tour in the USA. Even Costco doesn’t supply it anymore. Though, Canadian fellows can reach it out on Michelin website.
Wet Performance Comparison
Well, I’ve mentioned the similarity of these tires. Though, wet performance is also very similar. Let’s say equal. In that case, I will talk about Michelin Defender T+H features.
Michelin Defender has a perfectly okay design to serve on wet surfaces. 4 circumferential grooves and notches on the shoulders can evacuate the water very easily. Well, in that case, compound gets in the game.
I’ve talked about the tech behind the Defender. So, Michelin supports this tech with a softer compound. A softer compound increases its gripping ability.
Michelin Defender is a better tire on wet surfaces due to its softer compound.
Note: Hydroplaning is vital for a safe ride under the pouring rain. However, it might occur even with the best tire. Maybe you can’t prevent it but if you know what it is and how to deal with it, you can easily stay on the safe side.
Here is an extremely efficient guide about ‘How to Deal with Hydroplaning?‘ –> https://www.discounttire.com/learn/hydroplaning
Dry Performance
Dry performance isn’t an issue for premium brand tires. Well, both competitors perform perfectly on dry surfaces. In that case, uniformity is getting in the game again.
Let me explain the importance of uniformity with an example.
Think about the stock tires and original equipment tires(that come under the vehicle from the factory). Original equipment tires always perform better, right? That’s because of uniformity. Vehicle manufacturers ask for more uniform tires from tire manufacturers. They don’t accept under-limit tires. So, the best-made tires always go to vehicle manufacturers. Not, stocks.
Due to better uniformity, Michelin Defender has better cornering stability and steering response.
Tread Life
These tires have the same tread life due to customers. In this particular, Michelin X Tour can last more due to its more durable compound. Yet, it can’t wear as evenly as Michelin Defender T+H.
I’m going to say draw for this section. Both are trustworthy options.
Getting maximum wear life from a tire is related to you as well as your tire,
If you’d like to learn how to get maximum tread life:
Warranty
Michelin offers 80,000 miles treadwear warranty for both products. Though worth reminding, if you’ll buy Michelin X-Tour, you probably contact Cosco or Samclub in case of any treadwear issues.
Michelin’s warranty document: https://www.tirerack.com/images/pdf/warranty/MI0619.pdf
Comfort and Noise Reduction
This section is where these two are separating significantly.
Michelin Defender T+H has the ‘Comfort Control Technology’ that X Tour doesn’t have. This tech makes you feel more comfortable while you’re passing through bumps.
Nor is this all, this tech improves tire rigidity. Tire ribs can move in tandem and that reduces road noise as well as vibration.
Michelin Defender T+H is the far better tire in this section.
A side note here: Even though some tires tend to make noise because of their tread patterns, it’s still possible to keep your tire noise down.
I’m leaving a perfect explanation below from DiscountTire for those who need it;
How to Keep Tire Noise Down? –>
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise
Winter Performance
All-season tires aren’t built to perform in winter conditions. I’m sorry to say that but that’s the fact. Due to their rib-type tread design, they can’t grip enough as well as block design winter tires.
These tires have stiff compounds for winter traction. Though, I don’t recommend using them in severe winter conditions. They are okay on light snow but after 2-3 inches you might have a problem. Here is your solution if you need a solid one!
Specs
| Michelin Defender T+H | Michelin X-Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Touring All-Season | Touring All-Season |
| Vehicle | Passenger Car/Minivan | Passenger Car/Minivan |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 14”, 15”, 16”, 17”, 18” | 15”, 16”, 17” |
| Weight | 16 – 28 lbs | 18 – 25 lbs |
| Made In | United States | United States |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | No | No |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 80,000 Miles | 80,000 Miles (130,000 for Canada) |
| Prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible prices |
Price
The tire market has a dynamic price policy. Hence, in my point of view, sharing tire price is pointless.
Though, I’ve analyzed the top 10 brands of most popular tire brands.
Here are the dealers with a reasonable price range,
TireRack
- Fast and Free shipping
- Usually delivered in 1 day
- Joint venture with DiscountTire(their installers and dealers are on your service)
- Tons of installer options, they also help you to choose the best one
- Mobile installers in many areas, your tires will be replaced while you’re working in the office
- Tire test results and comparisons can be found on the most product page
- 4.6/5 points on Google rate
Michelin Product Line: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/brand.jsp?brand=michelin
DiscountTire
- Biggest dealer in the US. Founded in 1960
- 1000 stores in 35 states. You most probably find one on your parallel street
- Free rotation and balancing
- 5% off for DiscountTire cardholders on online purchase
- Highest rated online tire dealer in Consumer Affairs
- Almost all brands are available
- Delivery takes 2-4 days (30% shorter average waiting time when you book online)
- Frequent discounts and promotions
Michelin Product Line: https://www.discounttire.com/tires/brands/michelin
SimpleTire
- Free shipping
- Delivered in 2 days
- Verified shops near you(for mount and balance)
- Mobile installation option
- 7 million customers since 2021
- 4.7/5 points on Google rate
- Top-notch customer service, you may even request a price match
Michelin Product Line: https://simpletire.com/brands/michelin-tires
While choosing dealers, I especially pay attention to reliability. All of the dealers on this list have 15-20 years of experience in the online tire business. Therefore, I can guarantee a smooth and fast tire buying process.
Conclusion
X Tour and Defender T+H are almost the same tires. Though, Defender T+H is slightly better in every way.
| Michelin Defender T+H | Michelin X-Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Squishy and snowy regions, smooth and quiet ride | Budget-oriented drivers, 3 season regions (winter excluded) |
| Pros | Insane wet and light snow traction, long-lasting rubber, smooth ride | Satisfying dry and wet traction, long-lasting rubber |
| Cons | Can’t handle severe snow conditions | Slightly noisy, can be blown out due to weaker sidewalls, can’t handle winter at all |
Take-Home Points,
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, they might be a better pick for bigger vehicles( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load index and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
A side note here: If you’d like to get local advice and find the best fit for your driving habits, location, and road conditions DiscountTire – Treadwell Tire Guide can give you masterpiece recommendations.
Let’s narrow your choices down,
- If you’re an SUV owner and Michelin lover, I highly recommend checking the ‘Best Michelin Tires for SUV‘ out. You can find masterpiece suggestions that are classified by needs.
- If Michelin tires are too expensive for you, I highly recommend checking the ‘Michelin vs Bridgestone‘ out. You can find affordable options
I hope the article was helpful for anyone debating between these two. If you have any further questions, please leave them below!
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