General Grabber HT vs Michelin Defender LTX MS2: The General Grabber HT goes head-to-head with the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 in a classic highway all-season tire battle. On one side, the Grabber HT aims to deliver dependable everyday comfort, solid durability, and strong value for SUVs and light trucks. On the other, the Defender LTX M/S2 carries Michelin’s reputation for long mileage, refined road manners, and premium all-season confidence.
So the big question is simple: can General challenge the Michelin benchmark, or does the Defender LTX M/S2 still rule the HT all-season segment?
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Results: General Grabber HT vs Michelin Defender LTX MS2
Results below were taken from the Tyre Review’s “Best HT All Season Tyres for 2026 Test. A total of 7 tires were tested this time around. The graph below shows the comparison between General Grabber HT vs Michelin Defender LTX MS2 based on the relevant performance category. The General Grabber HT 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%.
The tire size of interest is 265/65 R18 which is a common tire size for Toyota Hillux. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a Ford Raptor.
Wet
In wet braking, the General Grabber HT stopped in 179.6 ft, while the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 needed 195.0 ft, giving the General a strong 15.4 ft advantage, or 8% shorter. Around the wet handling track, the General was also quicker by 1.71 seconds, or 2% faster, while Michelin had a tiny subjective handling edge at 8.3 vs 8.2 points, around 1% better.
In straight aquaplaning, the General reached 56.1 mph, while the Michelin reached 55.7 mph, giving the General a very small 0.4 mph advantage, or about 1% better. Overall, the General Grabber HT is clearly stronger in objective wet performance, especially in braking and handling time, while the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 feels just slightly more confidence-inspiring subjectively.
Michelin Defender LTX MS2 :
- -8% in wet braking
- -2% in wet handling (lap time)
- +1% in wet handling (subj)
- -1% in aquaplaning (straight)
Snow
In snow braking, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 stopped in 59.6 ft, while the General Grabber HT needed 61.7 ft, giving Michelin a 2.1 ft advantage, or about 4% shorter. In snow traction, Michelin was also clearly stronger, accelerating in 3.26 seconds compared to 3.94 seconds for the General, making it 0.68 seconds quicker, or around 21% faster.
Around the snow handling track, the Michelin completed the lap in 87.23 seconds, while the General took 89.44 seconds, giving Michelin a 2.21-second advantage, or about 3% faster. Subjectively, Michelin also scored higher at 8.6 vs 8.3 points, around 2% better, showing stronger driver confidence and control. Overall, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 is the stronger snow tire, with advantages in braking, traction, handling time, and driver feel.
Michelin Defender LTX MS2 :
- +4% in Snow braking
- +21% in Snow traction
- +3% in Snow handling (lap time)
- +2% in Snow handling (subj)
Off-road (Dirt)
In dirt handling, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 completed the lap in 60.65 seconds, while the General Grabber HT took 60.91 seconds, giving Michelin a very small 0.26-second advantage, almost the same at 0%.
Subjectively, Michelin also felt stronger, scoring 8.5 vs 8.2 points, around 4% better, showing better control and confidence on loose surfaces. Overall, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 has the slight edge in dirt performance, mainly through better driver feel rather than a big lap-time gap.
Michelin Defender LTX MS2 :
- 0% in dirt handling
- +4% in dirt handling (subj)
Dry
In dry braking, the General Grabber HT stopped in 130.9 ft, while the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 needed 140.6 ft, giving the General a clear 9.7 ft advantage, or about 7% shorter.
In dry handling, the Michelin was only slightly quicker, completing the lap in 59.3 seconds compared to 59.4 seconds for the General, a tiny 0.1-second advantage, or around 0%. Overall, the General Grabber HT is clearly stronger in dry braking, while the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 has only a marginal edge in dry handling time.
Michelin Defender LTX MS2 :
- -7% in dry braking
- 0% in dry handling (subj)
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
In comfort, the General Grabber HT scored 6.8 points, while the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 scored 6.4 points, giving the General a 0.4-point advantage, or about 2% better. For noise, the General was also quieter at 74.9 dB compared to 75.8 dB for the Michelin, making it 0.9 dB quieter, or around 1% lower.
Overall, the General Grabber HT is the more comfortable and quieter tire, giving it a clear refinement advantage over the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2.
Michelin Defender LTX MS2 :
- -2% in subj comfort
- -1% in noise (+0.6 dB)
Rolling Resistance
In rolling resistance, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 recorded 6.94 N/kN, while the General Grabber HT was higher at 8.43 N/kN, giving Michelin a 1.49 N/kN advantage, or about 21% lower rolling resistance.
Overall, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 is clearly more efficient, which should translate into better fuel economy, while the General Grabber HT gives up some efficiency here.
Michelin Defender LTX MS2 :
- +21% in rolling resistance
Mileage & UTQG ratings
For long-term wear, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 looks stronger on paper with a UTQG treadwear rating of 820 and a 75,000-mile warranty, while the General Grabber HT comes with a 720 treadwear rating and a 70,000-mile warranty. That gives Michelin a 100-point treadwear advantage, or about 14% higher, plus an extra 5,000 miles of warranty coverage, or around 7% longer. Both tires have the same B traction rating, but Michelin also gets a better A temperature rating versus B for the General, further supporting its stronger durability and heat resistance profile.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Grabber HT | All | 720 | B | B |
| Michelin | Defender LTX MS2 | All | 820 | B | A |
Price
In 215/55R17, the General Grabber HT is priced at $208, while the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 costs $279, making the Michelin $71 more expensive, or about 34% higher. Overall, the Defender LTX M/S2 carries a significant price premium, so the Grabber HT clearly has the value advantage.
Tire size: 215/55R17
- Grabber HT : $ 208
- Defender LTX MS2 : $ 279
Difference: +34% more expensive for Defender LTX MS2.
Summary
From a tire expert’s point of view, I would say the General Grabber HT is the smarter value pick. It delivers stronger wet braking, wet handling, dry braking, comfort, lower noise, and a much lower price, making it very convincing for everyday highway use.
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, however, feels like the more premium long-distance tire. It has the advantage in snow traction, snow handling, dirt-road confidence, rolling resistance, UTQG treadwear, and mileage warranty. So overall, I see the Grabber HT as the better value road performer, while the Defender LTX M/S2 is the more efficient, durable, and winter-capable option.
Dr Edwin Pang