Michelin Defender 2 vs. Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3: it’s a head-to-head clash in the long-lasting all-season segment! On one side, the Defender 2, Michelin’s endurance king, built for unbeatable mileage and daily comfort. On the other, the P7 AS Plus 3, Pirelli’s precision-crafted touring tire with surprising longevity and refined road manners. Two titans of tread life, one ultimate showdown — which all-season warrior truly goes the distance? Let’s find out!
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Results: Michelin Defender 2 vs Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3
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 Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3 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 from 60 to 0 mph, the Michelin Defender 2 stops 6 feet shorter than the Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3, a 4% improvement. In subjective wet handling, the Pirelli edges ahead with a score of 6.13 versus 6.00, a 1% difference. On the wet handling lap, the Defender 2 is slightly quicker, finishing 0.12 seconds faster than the P7 AS Plus 3, translating to a negligible 0% advantage.
P7 AS Plus 3 :
- -4% in wet braking
- +1% in wet handling (subj)
- ~0% in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
In dry braking from 60 to 0 mph, the Michelin Defender 2 stops 4 feet shorter than the Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3, giving it a 3% advantage.
P7 AS Plus 3 :
- -3% in dry braking
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
In terms of noise, comfort, and ride quality, the Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3 scores 8.08 compared to the Michelin Defender 2’s 7.50, a 0.58-point difference and an 3% improvement in overall refinement.
P7 AS Plus 3 :
- +3% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.
Snow
In snow braking from 25 to 0 mph, the Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3 stops 9.6 feet shorter than the Michelin Defender 2, showing an 11% advantage. For snow acceleration from 0 to 12 mph, the Pirelli again leads by 2.7 feet, or 7% quicker response. Both tires are equal in subjective snow handling with a score of 4.67. On the snow handling lap, the Pirelli completes the course 0.76 seconds faster than the Defender 2, a 1% improvement.
P7 AS Plus 3 :
- +13% in Snow braking
- +8% in Snow Acceleration
- ~0% in Snow handling (subj)
- +1% in Snow handling(lap time)
Ice
In ice braking from 12 to 0 mph, the Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3 stops 2.7 feet shorter than the Michelin Defender 2, a 5% improvement. For ice acceleration over 60 feet, the Pirelli is 0.25 seconds quicker, translating to a 4% advantage.
P7 AS Plus 3 :
- +5% in Ice braking
- +4% in Ice acceleration
Wear/UTQG rating
The Michelin Defender 2 has a higher UTQG treadwear rating of 840 compared to the Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3’s 740, indicating a 14% higher treadwear potential. It also comes with a longer mileage warranty at 80,000 miles, while the Pirelli is rated for only 70,000 miles — a 14% shorter coverage. This reinforces the Defender 2’s focus on longevity.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelin | Defender 2 | All | 840 | B | B |
| Pirelli | P7 AS Plus 3 | All | 740 | A | A |
Price
The Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3 is $42 cheaper than the Michelin Defender 2 in size 215/55R17, making it 25% more affordable.
Tire size: 215/55R17
- Defender 2: $ 207
- P7 AS Plus 3 : $ 165
Difference: -25% more cheaper for P7 AS Plus 3.
Summary
From my perspective as a tire expert, the Michelin Defender 2 excels in wet and dry braking and offers longer mileage, making it perfect for drivers who value long-term durability and consistent performance. Meanwhile, the Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3 impresses with better snow and ice performance, a more refined ride, and a significantly lower price, making it a strong value-driven alternative.
Dr Edwin Pang