Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack vs Michelin Defender 2 — High Mileage Showdown! Both are built for longevity, comfort, and year-round confidence — but only one can dominate the high mileage all-season segment. Will it be Bridgestone’s ultra-quiet touring expert, or Michelin’s mileage king with performance pedigree? Let the battle for all-season supremacy begin!
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Results: Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack 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 Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack vs Michelin Defender 2 based on the relevant performance category. The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack 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/weather 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, the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack stops in 154 feet while the Michelin Defender 2 takes 156 feet — a 2-foot difference, making the Bridgestone quicker by 1%. On the wet handling lap, the QuietTrack finishes in 34.83 seconds, slightly ahead of the Defender 2’s 35.35 seconds, giving Bridgestone a 0.52-second lead or 1% faster. Subjectively, the Turanza QuietTrack also scores higher with a 6.44 rating versus the Defender 2’s 6.00 — a 2% advantage in driver confidence.
In conclusion, while both perform respectably, the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack edges out the Michelin Defender 2 in every wet category with small but consistent gains.
Defender 2 :
- -1% in wet braking
- -2% in wet handling (subj)
- -1% in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
In dry braking, the Michelin Defender 2 stops in just 129 feet, while the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack takes 134 feet — a 5-foot difference, giving the Michelin a clear advantage of 4%.
Defender 2 :
- +4% in dry braking
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
In terms of noise, comfort, and ride quality, the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack scores 7.67 compared to the Michelin Defender 2’s 7.50 — a slight edge of 0.17 points, or 1% higher.
Defender 2 :
- -1% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.
Snow
In snow braking, the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack stops in 70.4 feet, while the Michelin Defender 2 needs 84.5 feet — a difference of 14.1 feet, making the Bridgestone 17% better. For snow acceleration, the QuietTrack again leads, needing only 31.7 feet to reach 12 mph compared to the Defender 2’s 36.4 feet — a 4.7-foot advantage, or 13% quicker. Subjective snow handling also favors the QuietTrack with a 5.50 rating over the Defender 2’s 4.67, giving Bridgestone an 4% edge. In snow handling lap time, the Bridgestone finishes in 57.09 seconds versus Michelin’s 61.36 seconds — 4.27 seconds faster, or 7% quicker.
In conclusion, the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack clearly dominates in snowy conditions, outperforming the Defender 2 across braking, acceleration, handling, and lap times.
Defender 2 :
- -17% in Snow braking
- -13% in Snow Acceleration
- -4% in Snow handling (subj)
- -7% in Snow handling(lap time)
Ice
In ice braking, the Michelin Defender 2 stops in 55 feet, while the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack takes 56.8 feet — a 1.8-foot advantage for Michelin, or 3% shorter. For ice acceleration, the Defender 2 also pulls ahead, reaching speed in 6.17 seconds versus the QuietTrack’s 6.30 seconds — a 0.13-second difference, or 2% quicker.
Defender 2 :
- +3% in Ice braking
- +2% in Ice acceleration
Mileage
Based on actual tested results from Consumer Reports, the Michelin Defender 2 is projected to last 100,000 miles, while the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is expected to reach 70,000 miles — giving the Michelin a 43% longer tread life. If maximum mileage is your top priority, the Defender 2 clearly stands out with its significantly superior durability.
Defender 2 :
- +43% in Mileage
Price
In 225/50R17 size, the Michelin Defender 2 costs $209, while the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is priced at $217 — making the Defender 2 $8 cheaper, or 4% less expensive.
Tire size: 225/50R17
- Turanza QuietTrack: $ 217
- Defender 2: $ 209
Difference: -4% more cheaper for Defender 2.
Summary
As a tire expert, I’d say the Michelin Defender 2 stands out with 43% longer tread life, along with better dry and ice performance, all at 4% lower cost. However, if you prioritize wet grip, a quieter ride, and significantly better snow traction — including 17% shorter snow braking — the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is the one to beat.
Dr Edwin Pang