Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive vs Michelin Defender 2 – North America’s All-Season Showdown! In the competitive world of North American all-season tires, two titans go head-to-head. The Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive, engineered for plush rides and wet confidence, takes on the Michelin Defender 2 — a mileage king built to go the distance. It’s comfort versus endurance, wet grip versus wear life. Which tire truly rules America’s roads? Let the all-season battle begin!
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Results: Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive vs Michelin Defender 2
Results below were taken from the Tire Rack’s “The Unsung Heroes of the Daily Driver-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 Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive vs Michelin Defender 2 based on the relevant performance category. The Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive 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 mph, the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive stops 6 feet shorter than the Michelin Defender 2 — a 4% improvement in stopping distance. On the wet handling track, the Goodyear completes a lap 1.89 seconds faster than the Michelin, translating to a 5% advantage in lap time. Subjectively, drivers rated the Goodyear higher at 7.4 out of 10, compared to just 6.0 for the Michelin — a 7% better rating.
In conclusion, the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive clearly outperforms the Michelin Defender 2 in wet conditions, offering shorter braking, sharper handling, and a more confident driving experience.
Defender 2 :
- -4% in wet braking
- -7% in wet handling (subj)
- -5% in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
In dry braking from 60 mph, the Michelin Defender 2 stops 4 feet shorter than the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive — a 3% improvement in stopping distance.
Defender 2 :
- +3% in dry braking
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
In terms of noise, comfort, and ride quality, the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive scores slightly higher at 7.6 compared to the Michelin Defender 2’s 7.5 — a negligible 0% advantage.
Defender 2 :
- ~0% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.
Snow
In snow braking and acceleration, the Michelin Defender 2 outperforms the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive by a combined 10.1 feet — an 8% shorter distance. In snow handling, the Michelin completes the lap 2.81 seconds quicker, a 5% faster time. Subjectively, drivers rated the Michelin slightly higher at 4.7 versus Goodyear’s 4.4 — a 1% higher score for the Michelin.
In conclusion, the Michelin Defender 2 delivers stronger snow performance in braking and handling, while Goodyear offers a slightly better feel from behind the wheel.
Defender 2 :
- +8% in Snow Braking & Acceleration
- +1% in Snow handling (subj)
- +5% in Snow handling(lap time)
Ice
In ice braking from 12 to 0 mph, the Michelin Defender 2 stops 8.5 feet shorter than the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive — a 15% improvement. For ice acceleration over 60 feet, the Michelin is also quicker by 0.45 seconds, representing a 7% advantage
Defender 2 :
- +15% in Ice braking
- +7% in Ice acceleration
Mileage
In real-world mileage based on Consumer Reports testing, the Michelin Defender 2 achieved 100,000 miles while the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive reached 75,000 miles. This means the Michelin lasted 25,000 miles longer, about 33% better in actual tested mileage.
Defender 2 :
- +33% in mileage
Price
For tire size 215/55R17, the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive is priced at $190, while the Michelin Defender 2 costs $207 — making the Defender 2 9% more expensive.
Tire size: 215/55R17
- Assurance ComfortDrive : $190
- Defender 2 : $207
Difference: +9% more expensive for Defender 2
Summary
As a tire expert, I’d say the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive offers superior wet grip and a quieter, more comfortable ride, while the Michelin Defender 2 stands out with stronger dry, snow, and ice performance, plus 33% longer mileage. Choose Goodyear for wet comfort, Michelin for all-season durability.
Dr Edwin Pang