Comparing Michelin Premier A/S Vs Defender T+H
Are you looking for all-season tires that can handle various weather conditions? Want your ride to be free of vibrations and road noise? Can you afford to spend over the odds for the last two qualities? If so, the Michelin Premier A/S and Defender T+H must be on your list.
These all-season tires reinforce Michelin’s stellar reputation with their year-round utility, plush ride quality, and long road life. They also offer short braking distances in wet and mild wintry conditions, so you can count on either to keep you safe on slippery surfaces.
However, as similar as these two tires appear, a few differences still exist. For example, while the Premier A/S is backed to last for up to 60,000 miles, its colleague comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty. Read on to learn how these two tires compare with each other.
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Michelin Defender T+H
The Michelin Defender T+H has been around for over a decade. Initially released in 2012, this all-season tire underwent a revamp five years later that saw it getting an advanced tread compound. Since then, it has been one of its manufacturer’s best-selling A/S tires.
And why shouldn’t it be? After all, I can count on two hands the number of tires that can improve your car’s ride quality while reducing its fuel consumption. Besides that, the Defender T+H is one of the few A/S tires that can keep you safe on light snow and ice.
In contrast to its rivals from other brands, the Defender T+H features an asymmetric tread pattern. This enables it to provide excellent grip on wet surfaces. The asymmetric tread design has also improved this tire’s handling, helping it improve your car’s performance.
Despite the added grip, the Defender T+H won’t wear quickly. How can I be so sure? Because this model comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty. It’s also supplemented by a 6-month workmanship and defects warranty, although that is pretty standard for any tire.
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Michelin Premier A/S
The Michelin Premier A/S rivals the Defender T+H on various counts.
Both provide the kind of wet traction you typically associate with performance tires. Both offer such plush ride quality that your fellow passengers will find it hard to stay awake on long journeys. And both cost so much that their asking prices might drain your wallet.
Turning our attention to what makes the Premier A/S unique, and its silica and sunflower oil tread compound stands out. This compound is why the Premier A/S can be used 365 days a year. Were it not for it, we wouldn’t have recommended this tire for snow driving.
Then comes the EverGrip Technology, which features rain grooves to enhance this tire’s traction on slippery surfaces. In addition, the Premier A/S utilizes expanding grooves to provide long-lasting traction, meaning it won’t slip or skid in its last few days on the road.
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The Main Differences
This section will help you decide whether Michelin Premier A/S or the Defender T+H might prove to be a better fit for your car.
Comparing Off-road Performance
I would never recommend either of these two tires for off-roading.
Neither the Premier A/S nor the Defender T+H feature design elements that can help them navigate tough terrains. Think of cut- and chip-resistant tread compounds, reinforced sidewalls, massive voids between tread blocks, and self-cleaning design elements.
These two premium all-season tires are designed to be driven on paved roads only, a point you’d do well to remember if you don’t want to replace them anytime soon.
Winner: It’s a tie
Comparing On-road Performance
How Do They Perform in Dry Conditions?
The Defender T+H performs slightly better on dry roads.
Thanks to its asymmetric tread pattern (the Premier A/S, in contrast, features the symmetric tread design that is common with all-season tires), the Defender T+H succeeds in offering better handling and steering feedback.
Plus, having driven both these tires, I can confidently say that the Defender T+H will be more responsive to your commands than its colleague. It will also allow for more quick and precise maneuvering, while also giving you the confidence to attack bends at full speed.
Winner: Michelin Defender T+H
How Do They Perform on Wet Roads?
At first, both tires will accelerate, turn, and brake equally well on slippery roads. But fast forward a few years, and the Premier A/S will be much safer to drive in the rain.
That is because it comes with something – Michelin’s EverGrip Technology – that its colleague lacks. Thanks to this technology, this model will continue to provide adequate traction even when its grooves wear down (something the Defender T+H cannot claim to do).
Put another way, the Premier A/S will continue to grip the road (and channel water away) even when its grooves have become shallow. The Defender T+H cannot do that. Its wet traction will decrease as its channels wear down, decreasing this tire’s stopping power.
Winner: Michelin Premier A/S
Are They Good in the Handling Department?
A few differences do exist between the two tires when it comes to handling.
Do you prioritize more precise and responsive handling? If so, the Defender T+H might prove to be a better pick. This model’s asymmetric tread design (which has made it more responsive to your commands and allows for more quick and precise maneuvering) is the reason why.
However, if you don’t want much feedback at the steering, the Premier A/S is worthy of your attention. This tire sacrifices a few points in the handling department to give you a more comfortable ride, making it a better option for drivers who aren’t fond of high-speed chases.
Winner: Michelin Defender T+H
Comparing Snow Performance
The Defender T+H is likely to deliver better snow performance.
Apart from featuring a higher number of sipes (biting edges in its tread), its asymmetric tread pattern enables this model to grip snow and ice better. Also, as you can verify for yourself, this model has a more rigid tread block design, which should make it more stable on snowy roads.
That isn’t to say that the Premier A/S cannot safely carry you in light wintry conditions. This model does provide decent snow traction. However, compared with the Defender T+H, the snow and ice traction of the Premier A/S will always be second best.
Winner: Michelin Defender T+H
Comparing Treadwear and Durability
The Defender T+H may offer a longer treadwear life than the Premier A/S.
What will be the reason for that? Look at both tires’ treadwear warranties. While the Premier A/S comes with a 60,000-mile guarantee, the Defender T+H is backed to last 80,000 miles under normal driving conditions before its replacement gets due.
True, treadwear ratings can’t exactly estimate the real lifespan of a tire. The number of years any tire may last depends on your driving style, the conditions you drive in, and the weather. Still, when the difference in treadwear ratings of two tires is as big as 20,000 miles, it gets hard to ignore.
Winner: Michelin Defender T+H
Comparing on Comfort
While it’s true that not many tires can compete with the Premier A/S in ride quality and comfort, the Defender T+H comes pretty close.
Why am I saying that? Because both tires come with Michelin’s proprietary Comfort Control Technology. This technology utilizes a rubber patch placed inside the tread to absorb road vibrations and deflect road noise. The result? Plush ride quality on the highway.
However, the difference in tread designs may help explain why some drivers think the Premier A/S is more comfortable to drive. A symmetric tread pattern is proven to be better at vibration and noise reduction than an asymmetric tread design, whose main focus is on road grip.
All in all, the Premier A/S may fare slightly better in the comfort department.
Winner: Michelin Premier A/S
Comparing on Price
The Michelin Premier A/S costs more than Defender T+H.
At the time of writing, the former tire’s price begins from $185.99, with some of the bigger sizes costing as much as $287.99. In contrast, the Defender T+H’s best price is $147.99, meaning you can enjoy savings of around $200 on a set of 4.
Winner: Michelin Defender T+H
Michelin Premier A/S Pros and Cons
Pros
- Class-leading and long-lasting wet traction
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride
- Offers excellent lateral grip
Cons
- Average treadwear warranty for an all-season tire
Michelin Defender T+H Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers exceptional grip and handling on dry roads
- Can handle mild wintry conditions with ease
- Backed by an extended treadwear warranty
Cons
- Straight-line tracking could be better
Which Tire Should You Choose?
Go for the Michelin Premier A/S if you are seeking:
- Quiet and comfortable driving experience
- Short braking distances and superior traction on wet roads
- High, long-lasting traction on dry and slippery surfaces
Alternatively, opt for the Defender T+H for:
- Incredibly long tread life
- Decent amount of grip and traction in light snowy conditions
- Dynamic handling and superior response on dry roads