Michelin Primacy Tour A/S vs Michelin Defender 2 — it’s a clash between comfort and endurance! On one side, the Primacy Tour A/S, Michelin’s premium touring all-season tire built for quiet rides and refined handling. On the other, the Defender 2, engineered for serious longevity and daily driving durability. Two all-season titans, each with a different mission — but which one truly delivers more for your drive? Let’s find out!
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Results: Michelin Primacy Tour A/S vs Michelin Defender 2
Results below were taken from the Tire Rack’s “Premium Touring Tires to Elevating the Journey – 2024” test. A total of 8 tires were tested this time around in Tire Rack’s own proving ground. The graph below shows the comparison between Michelin Primacy Tour A/S vs Michelin Defender 2 based on the relevant performance category. The Primacy Tour A/S was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark. Note that for subjective evaluation, we equate 1 point as 5%. Hence for example if tire A is graded 7 while tire B is graded 6, A is better than B by 5%.
As both tires are categorized as all season tires, Tire Rack has included snow & ice in its testing portfolio. The tire size of interest is 215/55R17 which is a common tire size for Chevrolet Cruze Eco & Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a 2025 Toyota Camry.
Wet
In wet braking from 60 to 0 mph, the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S stops 16 feet shorter than the Defender 2, at 140 feet versus 156 feet — an 10% improvement. On the wet handling lap, the Primacy Tour A/S completes the course 1.32 seconds faster, finishing in 34.03 seconds compared to the Defender 2’s 35.35 seconds — a 4% advantage.
Defender 2 :
- -10% in wet braking
- -4% in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
In dry braking from 60 to 0 mph, the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S stops 6 feet shorter than the Defender 2, with distances of 123 feet versus 129 feet — a 5% improvement.
Defender 2 :
- -5% in dry braking
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
In terms of noise, comfort, and ride quality, the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S scores slightly higher at 7.67 out of 10 compared to the Defender 2’s 7.50 — a 1% improvement in overall ride refinement.
Defender 2 :
- -1% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.
Snow
In snow braking from 25 to 0 mph, the Primacy Tour A/S stops 14.3 feet sooner than the Defender 2 — a 17% improvement. For snow acceleration from 0 to 12 mph, it completes the run 6 feet quicker, at 30.4 feet versus 36.4 feet — a 16% advantage. In subjective snow handling, the Primacy Tour A/S scores slightly higher at 4.75 versus 4.67 — a close to 0% edge. On the snow handling lap, it finishes 1.74 seconds faster than the Defender 2, clocking in at 59.62 seconds versus 61.36 — a 3% gain.
Defender 2 :
- -17% in Snow braking
- -16% in Snow Acceleration
- ~0% in Snow handling (subj)
- -3% in Snow handling(lap time)
Ice
In ice braking from 12 to 0 mph, the Primacy Tour A/S stops 2.4 feet shorter than the Defender 2, at 52.6 feet versus 55.0 feet — a 4% improvement. For ice acceleration over 60 feet, it is slightly quicker by 0.03 seconds, completing the run in 6.14 seconds compared to 6.17 — a close to 0% advantage.
Defender 2 :
- -4% in Ice braking
- ~0% in Ice acceleration
Wear/UTQG rating
The main allure of the Michelin Defender 2 lies in its exceptional mileage potential. It comes with an 80,000-mile warranty, significantly higher than the 55,000-mile coverage offered by the Primacy Tour A/S. This long-lasting durability is further supported by its higher UTQG tread wear rating of 840, compared to the Primacy Tour’s 540 — a 56% difference in projected longevity.
However, this impressive tread life comes with trade-offs. The Defender 2 falls short in wet, snow, and ice performance, and delivers slightly lower comfort levels. It also carries a lower UTQG rating for traction and temperature (B/B vs A/A), reinforcing its focus on endurance over high grip or premium ride feel.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelin | Primacy Tour A/S | All | 540 | A | A |
| Michelin | Defender 2 | All | 840 | B | B |
Price
For tire size 215/55R17, the Michelin Defender 2 is priced at $207, making it 12% cheaper than the Primacy Tour A/S, which costs $232.
Tire size: 215/55R17
- Primacy Tour A/S: $ 232
- Defender 2: $ 207
Difference: +12% more cheaper for Defender 2.
Summary
From my perspective as a tire expert, it’s a clear trade-off between longevity and overall performance. The Michelin Defender 2 stands out with its 80,000-mile warranty and higher UTQG rating, making it ideal for those prioritizing long tread life. However, the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S offers noticeably better performance in wet and dry conditions, as well as superior comfort, snow, and ice traction. If maximum mileage is your main concern, the Defender 2 delivers — but for a more confident and refined driving experience across all conditions, the Primacy Tour A/S is the better choice.
Dr Edwin Pang