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Two of the most reliable tire brands include Michelin and Goodyear, so deciding between them can be difficult for inexperienced tire buyers.

Michelin Defender tires have a longer tread life with better warranty policies than the Goodyear Assurance tires. However, you are getting more reliable all-season winter traction with the Assurance tires. The Defender tires are also more responsive and comfortable when driving on the road.

When it comes to making a tire decision, one of the first things you need to consider is your vehicle type and the type of driving you do. For example, if you drive an SUV in cold weather often you need to shop accordingly. In this guide, you will see an array of options to fit any driving needs.

Both the Assurance and Defender tire collections have been tested and researched by our team of experts. They have completed a field test as well to gauge key performance indicators like braking, acceleration, and traction. Continue reading to see what the best option for you is.  

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Goodyear Assurance Vs Michelin Defender Tires

Both the Goodyear Assurance and Michelin Defender tires are designed for performance as well as safety for drivers. They come with a variety of models for both sedans and trucks with the ability to handle various road conditions such as snow, ice, and rain with ease.

We take a deeper look at both tire types along with key features and best-selling options in each category here in this guide.

Goodyear Assurance Tires

Goodyear Assurance Tires are some of the best tires on the market because they’re made to last, but they also represent everything that Goodyear stands for. From their all-season construction to their touring capabilities, these tires are designed with the greatest performance in mind.

The Assurance tire collection includes a variety of different options with eco-friendly designs, long-lasting tread wear, and extra comfortable driving capabilities. Goodyear is a brand that has been leading the market in tire development for a long time.

Goodyear aims to provide plenty of tire options for every vehicle type and each customer needs special care when they buy them. They offer different warranties depending on the vehicle type and make sure that their customers are satisfied with their purchase decisions.

Dual Aquachannel Grooves

This tire features a dual-channel groove pattern that provides hydroplaning resistance. They are lined throughout the tread and continuous center rib of the tire to act as a flowing channel for water and slush so that driving on slippery surfaces is more accurate.

The Dual Aquachannel Grooves are grooves that are designed to prevent hydroplaning by channeling air away from the contact patch. By reducing the likelihood of hydroplaning, this feature can help drivers drive safer and longer distances with less risk of tire breakdowns or accidents.

Unique Polymer Tread Design

The Goodyear Assurance tires come with a Polymer Tread Design that allows for improved traction and road grip. The improved traction and road-gripping reduce the risk of the tire coming off the ground during braking or acceleration.

The non-traditional tread pattern makes it possible for drivers to have more control over their car with maximum grip and performance. It also ensures that drivers are not sliding off of their tires while driving, which can be associated with loss of control.

This unique technology also reduces road noise and improves traction, making these products perfect for drivers in any weather condition. By maintaining more consistent road contact, the tire will last longer too with minimal wear and tear.

ComfortFlex Technology

The Goodyear Assurance tires feature ComfortFlex Technology, which minimizes road noise and provides a smoother ride. This helps to improve the ride quality in your vehicle while promoting better driving stability.

The Goodyear Assurance is a remarkably comfortable tire, and it does so without compromising performance, fuel economy, or rolling resistance. Beyond just road comfort, this technology creates better tire durability to resist flats and punctures because of the enhanced rubber compounds used.

Michelin Defender Tires

The Michelin Defender tires were created as a response to the increasing number of accidents on roads from reckless drivers. The tires were designed with multiple layers of steel, Kevlar, and carbon fiber to provide protection.

Michelin currently sells two different Defender tire choices to accommodate both sedan vehicles and SUVs or light trucks. These tires are designed to be long-lasting and durable for those who need a tire with some extra protection.

Michelin uses innovative technology and design to maintain its performance and durability even when riding on rough and rugged terrain. They constantly release new features to bring their tire performance to the next level.

IntelliSipe Design

Michelin has introduced its new winter tire, named IntelliSipe Design, which not only reduces hydroplaning but also improves snow and ice traction.

The small rubber-tipped protrusions on the tire expand when it moves across snow or compacted ice. They grip the surface much better than a conventional tire tread.

Michelin's IntelliSipe technology is a 3D design that is used in lieu of traditional metal chains on tire rims. This design helps to increase the amount of traction and grip on ice and snow without compromising safety or quality of ride quality.

Green X Technology

The Green X Technology features Michelin’s intelligent transportation system technology that helps manage energy production. This technology increases efficiency by making sure that tread material is always in contact with the road surface.

The Green X Technology also makes use of Michelin's non-slip rubber compound to combine performance with eco-friendly manufacturing. This changes how you drive on different surfaces, giving you optimal performance on smooth roads and rough terrain alike.

Michelin tires are now sporting low-rolling-resistance tires that provide increased fuel efficiency. This design helps drivers save time and money on gas, while also reducing CO2 emissions.

Evertread Compound

The Evertread compound is an advanced tread with a self-cleaning tread life. It has a new steel belt and improved rubber composition, which make it the perfect tire for high-performance driving.

The Evertread compound is also specially designed for handling that provides precise steering, excellent grip on wet or dry roads, and superior stopping power. It can be used for all weather conditions and will provide better handling, increased safety, increased tire life, and improved handling when compared to other compounds on the market.

This feature also has a tread pattern that provides better traction on wet roads and dry roads. It also has an advanced rubber compound that increases the longevity of the tire for high speeds.

Best Goodyear Assurance Tires

Goodyear Assurance tires are known to be durable, safe, and reliable with plenty of features to make driving better. The best-selling options include the Assurance All-Season, Assurance ComfortDrive, and Assurance Fuel Max.

Goodyear Assurance All-Season

The Goodyear Assurance All-Season tire is a versatile tire that can be used on dry roads as well as wet roads. It has a rubber composition that makes it perfect for winter driving and provides improved grip on different surfaces and weather conditions.

This tire has various features that make it appealing to drivers who live in areas with cold winters. These include sipes (grooves) on the treads to reduce pressure loss and improve traction in winter conditions.

The main feature of this product is its advanced sipes technology which provides excellent handling while providing stability in wet or dry conditions. This means that it will be flexible while providing stability when driving in winter conditions while also being capable of handling extreme weather conditions during the summer months.

This tire also uses an optimized tread pattern to target road vibrations so you can experience more road comfort without the problem of cabin noise disrupting your ride. The pattern makes more smooth contact with pavement for balanced driving.

Goodyear makes this tire in sizes between 14-17 inches in rim diameter targeting more sedan drivers with a solid tread life warranty of 65,000 miles.  

Pros

  • Excellent handling and traction on dry pavement
  • Hydroplaning resistance capabilities
  • Winter driving is reliable
  • Extreme road comfort

Cons

  • Tread life wears quicker than expected

Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive

The Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive is an all-season tire that has been specially designed for the winter season. The tires are made with sipes to help them grip and also offer a lot of flexibility and handling.

The tires are made with sipes to help them grip and also offer a lot of flexibility and handling. The Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive is available in plenty of sizes for many drivers.

The ComfortDrive tire is designed to provide enhanced road grip and reduced rolling resistance so drivers can have a smooth ride. Drivers are able to maintain their momentum while driving in order to increase speed and fuel efficiency.

These tires are designed for year-round performance. They feature sipes that help with winter driving and a flexible tread pattern for handling and comfort. It is also highlighted by its long-lasting durability and lower rolling resistance than other brands.

There is an all-season compound and Evolving Traction Grooves that both work in unison to target slippery roads to handle with more accuracy. The contact patch has also been extended to ensure contact with the pavement is more direct and smooth.

Pros

  • Durable internal structure
  • Hydroplaning resistance grooves
  • Optimized tread for more balanced performance
  • The most comfortable and quiet tire you can find

Cons

  • Struggles in heavier snow and off-road

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires are designed for performance and durability in any type of weather. They provide a balanced mix of all-season traction, winter traction, and grip on the road, as well as comfort and handling.

This tire provides an excellent balance between its superior winter traction and the all-season flexibility needed to prepare for winter driving conditions.

The sipes cut through snow quickly to ensure that your winter driving is safe and comfortable. The comfort levels can be attributed to their air-soft rubber compound which makes them very durable.

Featuring a new tread pattern for improved winter driving, the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max is a flexible and durable all-season tire designed to provide superior handling and comfort in harsh conditions.

Pros

  • Eco-friendly design for better fuel efficiency and low rolling resistance
  • Excellent dry surface traction
  • Short distance braking is above average

Cons

  • Cornering is not as precise as competitors

Best Michelin Defender Tires

Michelin is known for producing high-quality products that last long and provide great performance through multiple use cases. One of the best product lines they offer includes the Michelin Defender tires with both the Defender LTX M/S and Defender T + H ranking atop the list.

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is a tire for SUVs, pickup trucks, crossover vehicles, and light trucks. This tire provides excellent traction in most weather conditions while maintaining the toughness of a thicker tread compound.

The Defender LTX M/S has an aggressive tread design and low rolling resistance. This tire also has superior grip when it comes to providing traction with its grooved design that can be seen in the center of the tread block.

Another important feature used by Michelin is the MaxTouch Construction design that allows the tire to better distribute weight evenly for more direct road contact and comfort. The lower rolling resistance will improve fuel efficiency too.

The Michelin Defender LTX M/S has great traction. It also provides excellent grip in snow, mud, hard surfaces, and during high-speed driving. It can handle a variety of different terrains and one of the most important things to consider is its durability and strength.

The new design features a stronger center rib to provide improved stability during braking and cornering while the renewed pattern offers improved traction on wet surfaces which will reduce noise on dry pavement or ice.

Pros

  • All-season traction with some off-road ability
  • Durable tread with cold weather flexibility
  • Long-lasting tread life

Cons

  • Highly-priced and limited availability to only larger vehicles

Michelin Defender T + H

The Michelin Defender T+H tire has an aggressive tread design that is meant to provide traction, traction across the whole tire, silica tread design that provides good heat resistance and durability.

The Michelin tire is designed to be durable while also providing top-notch performance in all driving conditions. It doesn't matter if it is on dry or wet roads or in short or long drives, it will provide a high level of performance.

These tires are made from strong butyl rubber compounds and high-strength steel wires which make them very durable, able to resist punctures and abrasion. They also get better traction on wet surfaces due to the raised sipes that provide grip on the wet surface.

It features a wide size range, a high-tech rubber compound, and a strong tread life warranty. The Michelin Defender T + H also has excellent traction on wet roads and handles well in all weather conditions.

Michelin tires have been a staple in the automotive industry for many years. The Michelin Defender T tires were designed to provide a premium-quality tire at a more affordable price.

Pros

  • Versatile traction capabilities in wet and dry conditions
  • Solid handling in winter weather
  • Excellent tread life
  • Extreme comfort and minimal road noise

Cons

  • Not the best with short-distance braking

Which Tire Is Best?

While it is difficult to determine which of these two brands is the best, it becomes a little easier to make the determination when you consider the available tires they offer. However, the type of vehicle you drive is most important when deciding.

We would rank the Michelin Defender tires as the better overall tire because both available options provide the best traction, warranty, and durability features. They also serve different vehicle types to accommodate almost every type of driver.

If you are someone who drives an SUV, truck, or crossover you are perfectly suited for the Michelin Defender LTX M/S. It will provide you with plenty of road comfort, durability, and high-quality driving while remaining versatile enough to take you off-road or through winter conditions with ease.

If you drive a smaller sedan vehicle, the Defender T+H will be the best tire for you. It handles with incredible accuracy while providing a long-lasting tread life and sporty driving features that are unmatched by any competing Goodyear Assurance tire.

Goodyear Assurance Vs Michelin Defender Tires

About The Author

Charles Redding

Charles Redding

I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more.

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