Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S: Highway all-season tires are a type of tire designed for use on paved roads, including highways, during all seasons of the year. This segmentation is often a good choice for drivers who live in areas with mild to moderate weather conditions, as they offer a balance of performance and versatility. They are generally able to provide good grip on dry, wet, and slushy roads, and can also handle light snow and ice to a certain extent. However, they are not designed to perform as well as dedicated winter tires in severe winter conditions, such as heavy snow and ice.
Being the first test in the segmentation, we will like to bring in 2 of the top guns directly in a head to head battle. First up is Continental’s TerrainContact H/T which was launched in 2019 and has been consistently ranked one of the top highway terrain tires in consumer surveys. Right at the other end, we have Michelin’s Defender LTX M/S which was launched in 2015 and has also gained the trust of consumers with a big loyal following. Without further ado, let’s pair TerrainContact H/T vs Defender LTX M/S in a head to head battle !
Table of Contents
Results
Results below were taken from Tire Rack’s Testing Highway All-Season Tires 2022 test. A total of 4 tires were tested on Tire Rack’s proving ground. The graph below shows the comparison between Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S based on the relevant performance category. The TerrainContact H/T was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
As both tires are classified as an all season tire, Tire Rack will include snow & ice in its testing portfolio. A detailed testing on snow including acceleration, braking & handling will be available after the 2022 winter season. The tire size of interest is a 265/60R18 which is a common tire size for Toyota Hilux 1500 & Ford Ranger. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a powerful 2022 Ford Explorer ST.
Wet
The friction of coefficient of the tire/road dramatically decreases in wet roads compared to dry roads. Hence it is more likely to get into a road accident during wet conditions rather than on a sunny day. It was so important that the EU label has wet braking as one of its three criteria. In regards to wet braking, TerrainContact H/T managed to out brake Defender LTX M/S by 11.1 feet (3.4m) which is a big enough margin not to ignore.
With the advantage gained in wet braking, TerrainContact H/T manage to continue its dominance in wet handling as it finished 1.5 seconds faster per lap time against Defender LTX M/S. For the subjective wet handling rating, TerrainContact H/T fared much better with an overall rating of 7.59/10 compared to 6.59/10 of Defender LTX M/S. Below are some of the feedback from the test driver.
TerrainContact H/T:
Its front-end grip was unquestionable, with neutral handling that would eventually turn into easy to control understeer.
Test driver feedback on TerrainContact H/T
Defender LTX M/S:
The Michelin managed its available traction well, but braking seemed to require earlier application with understeer quickly setting in mid-corner. Unlike the Vredestein’s usable loose rear axle, the Michelin would rotate the back end at more aggressive slip angles, unconducive to forward progress.
Test driver feedback on Defender LTX M/S
Defender LTX M/S:
- -8.3% in wet braking
- -5% in wet handling (subj)
- -3.9%in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
As for dry, safety is usually not an issue as the braking distance is much longer than wet. However this is the default daily usage and the tires have to perform at a very consistent level. While things favored TerrainContact H/T in wet, dry was a mixture of mixed results. TerrainContact H/T managed to brake 5 feet (1.5m) earlier compared to Defender LTX M/S from a speed of 50mph (80km/h) down to 0.
While in dry handling, Defender LTX M/S managed to edge in front of TerrainContact H/T by being 0.16 seconds quicker in lap times. Both tires had the same subjective dry handling evaluation of 7.13/10.
Defender LTX M/S:
- -5.6% in dry braking
- 0% in dry handling (subj)
- +0.5% in dry handling (lap time)
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
Ride comfort, noise & comfort was tested and TerrainContact H/T came out only slightly ahead at 7.67/10 rating compared to the 7.63/10 rating of Defender LTX M/S with noise being the main differences.
Defender LTX M/S:
- -0.2% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality
Snow
When navigating the intricacies of snowy terrains, selecting the right tire can greatly influence one’s driving experience. In comparing the Continental TerrainContact H/T to the Michelin Defender LTX M/S based on their snow performance metrics, a clearer picture emerges.
In the realm of snow braking, the TerrainContact H/T stands out, needing only 55.40 feet to come to a complete halt. This is significantly shorter than the 61.90 feet required by the Defender LTX M/S. Such differences become paramount when reacting to unexpected scenarios on snowy roads. Acceleration in snow is another crucial aspect. The TerrainContact H/T slightly edges out its competitor here as well, clocking in at 15.10 seconds, just ahead of the Defender LTX M/S’s 15.30 seconds. This marginal difference indicates that the TerrainContact H/T can get vehicles up to speed a tad faster under snowy conditions.
Delving into snow handling, which evaluates the tire’s agility and confidence on snowy tracks, the TerrainContact H/T scores a subjective rating of 7.50 out of 10, indicating a commendable performance. The Defender LTX M/S, on the other hand, secures a score of 6.75 out of 10, suggesting it falls a bit short in comparison. In addition, when considering the snow handling lap times, the TerrainContact H/T finishes its circuit in 52.98 seconds, faster than the Defender LTX M/S which lags behind at 55.41 seconds per lap.
Drawing from these metrics, it’s evident that the Continental TerrainContact H/T is the superior choice for snow conditions. Despite the close competition in certain areas, the TerrainContact H/T consistently delivers better results, making it our recommended pick for those prioritizing snow performance.
Defender LTX M/S:
- -10.5% in snow braking
- -1.3% in snow acceleration
- -3.8% in snow handling (subj)
- -4.4% in snow handling(lap time)
Ice
Navigating icy roads demands a tire that offers exceptional performance, ensuring safety and confidence for the driver. In comparing the ice performance of the Continental TerrainContact H/T and the Michelin Defender LTX M/S, it becomes clear which tire excels in this challenging condition.
Ice braking is a critical metric in assessing a tire’s performance on such slippery surfaces. It signifies the distance a tire needs to bring a vehicle to a complete stop from a speed of 12 mph. The Continental TerrainContact H/T demonstrates superior performance in this area, requiring only 41.50 feet to come to a halt. In contrast, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S needs a slightly longer distance of 45.40 feet. This difference, while it might seem minor, can be crucial in preventing potential accidents on icy roads.
To put it succinctly, for drivers prioritizing optimal safety and control on icy terrains, the Continental TerrainContact H/T proves to be the more reliable choice over the Michelin Defender LTX M/S, particularly in terms of braking efficiency. Making informed decisions based on such performance metrics can ensure a safer and more confident driving experience during the harshest winter conditions.
Defender LTX M/S:
- -8.6% in ice braking
UTQG rating
We have previously shown that UTQG tread wear rating can be a good indication of your expected mileage. Below are the UTQG values of both of the tirelines.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelin | Defender LTX M/S | All | 800 | A | A |
| Continental | TerrainContact H/T | All | 800 | A | B |
The mileage warranty for Defender LTX M/S & TerrainContact H/T is at 70,000 miles This is aligned with the UTQG tread values as both of them have the same 800 value. With both of them having the same mileage warranty and same UTQG tread wear values, we can safely assume their wear performances should be within the test tolerance of each other.
For more in depth information about UTQG, please check out this article here. We even have a free download on the latest UTQG values from the leading tire manufacturers.
Price
Michelin being de-facto tire technology leader, it has priced the Defender LTX M/S $31 dollars more expensive compared to TerrainContact H/T.
Tire size: 265/60R18
Defender LTX M/S:: $266
TerrainContact H/T: $231
Difference: +11% more expensive for Defender LTX M/S.
Summary
Incorporating both snow and ice results into our evaluation, the TerrainContact H/T consistently outperformed its competition across multiple terrains and conditions. Whether mastering the challenges of wet and dry braking or demonstrating superior capability in snow and ice performances, the TerrainContact H/T emerged dominant. While the Defender LTX M/S did have its moment with a commendably quicker dry handling lap time, it wasn’t enough to tip the scales in its favor. We might be missing wear data, but when considering the comprehensive results from other tested performances, it’s evident that the TerrainContact H/T is the undisputed victor in this duel.
Dr Edwin Pang