Michelin Defender 2 vs Continental TrueContact Tour 54: It’s the battle of the long-lasting legends! In one corner, the Michelin Defender 2 — a trusted name in all-season endurance. In the other, the all-new 2024 Continental TrueContact Tour 54, charging in with bold claims of exceptional longevity and comfort. Both promise top-tier tread life, but only one can come out on top. Let’s see if Continental’s latest has what it takes to challenge Michelin’s proven champion!
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Results: Michelin Defender 2 vs Continental TrueContact Tour 54
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 Defender 2 vs Continental TrueContact Tour 54 based on the relevant performance category. The Michelin Defender 2 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, the Continental TrueContact Tour 54 stops 3 feet shorter than the Michelin Defender 2, with a distance of 153 feet compared to 156 feet. That’s a 2% improvement in braking distance. On the wet handling track, the Continental also finishes the lap 1.24 seconds faster than the Michelin, clocking in at 34.11 seconds versus 35.35 seconds — a 4% advantage in lap time.
TrueContact Tour 54 :
- +2% in wet braking
- +4% in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
In dry braking, both the Michelin Defender 2 and the Continental TrueContact Tour 54 stop at exactly 129 feet, showing no difference in performance between the two. That means a 0% difference in dry braking distance.
TrueContact Tour 54 :
- 0% in dry braking
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
In terms of noise, comfort, and ride quality, the Continental TrueContact Tour 54 scores slightly higher with a rating of 7.75 out of 10, compared to the Michelin Defender 2’s 7.50. That’s a 0.25 point difference, which translates to a 1% improvement in overall comfort experience.
TrueContact Tour 54 :
- +1% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.
Snow
In snow braking from 25 to 0 mph, the Continental TrueContact Tour 54 stops 11.1 feet shorter than the Michelin Defender 2, with distances of 73.4 feet versus 84.5 feet — a 15% improvement. For snow acceleration from 0 to 12 mph, the Continental is quicker by 4.9 feet, completing it in 31.5 feet compared to the Michelin’s 36.4 feet — a 16% improvement
In subjective snow handling, the Continental scores 5.17 out of 10, slightly ahead of the Michelin’s 4.67, showing a 2% improvement. On the snow handling lap, the Continental completes the course 3.77 seconds faster, finishing in 57.59 seconds versus 61.36 seconds — a 7% quicker lap.
TrueContact Tour 54 :
- +15% in Snow braking
- +16% in Snow Acceleration
- +2% in Snow handling (subj)
- +7% in Snow handling(lap time)
Ice
In ice braking, the Continental TrueContact Tour 54 stops 1.8 feet shorter than the Michelin Defender 2, with braking distances of 53.2 feet versus 55.0 feet — a 3% improvement. For ice acceleration over 60 feet, the Continental is 0.18 seconds quicker, completing it in 5.99 seconds compared to the Michelin’s 6.17 seconds, which translates to a 3% faster acceleration.
TrueContact Tour 54 :
- +3% in Ice braking
- +3% in Ice acceleration
Wear/UTQG rating
Both the Michelin Defender 2 and the Continental TrueContact Tour 54 come with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, showing strong confidence in their longevity. However, while both tires share the same UTQG treadwear rating of 840, the Continental edges ahead in performance categories with higher UTQG traction and temperature grades of A/A compared to the Michelin’s B/B.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental | TrueContact Tour 54 | All | 840 | A | A |
| Michelin | Defender2 | All | 840 | B | B |
Price
In the 215/55R17 size, the Continental TrueContact Tour 54 costs $180, while the Michelin Defender 2 is priced at $207. That makes the Continental 15% cheaper than the Michelin.
Tire size: 215/55R17
- Defender 2: $ 207
- TrueContact Tour 54 : $180
Difference: +15% more cheaper for TrueContact Tour 54.
Summary
From a Tire Expert’s perspective, the Continental TrueContact Tour 54 impresses with stronger wet and snow performance, better comfort, and a more affordable price tag. The Michelin Defender 2 holds its ground with an equal dry braking. Both tires offer the same 80,000-mile warranty and a high treadwear rating, though actual mileage performance hasn’t been independently tested yet.
Dr Edwin Pang