If you would like to get your hands on durable all-season tires, then the Michelin Defender 2 vs Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack should definitely be on your list! These models, developed by the two greatest tire manufacturers, offer everything you look for in a quality tire.
Blackcircles Canada offers a comparison of both tires in order to help you select the perfect model for you and your vehicle.
How do the Michelin Defender 2 vs Bridgestone Turanza Quiettrack compare?
Michelin and Bridgestone are two high-quality tire brands that focus on innovation and often rely on common features. In fact, durability and a quiet and comfortable drive are part of their main priorities.
When it comes to the all-season tire category, you will find –amongst others- the Michelin Defender 2 vs Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack, two tire models that could definitely suit your needs if you are looking for comfort and a long life span.
On the one hand, the Michelin Defender 2 is a new 2022 model that is designed for touring vehicles, crossovers, minivans and small SUVs. For the time being, it is available in 21 different sizes ranging from 16- to 20- inches; new sizes should be made available at the beginning of 2023.
On the other hand, the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is made for the same vehicle categories, but also includes luxury vehicles as well. An interesting fact: the Michelin model is also suited to electric vehicles.
Turanza tire dimensions range from 15- to 20- inches and are offered in a total of 37 different sizes. Just like for the Defender, it only comes in an H speed rating.
Both tires will be suitable for the same types of vehicles, although the Bridgestone offers a few extra size options. In both cases, they focus on superior comfort and durability.
Michelin Defender 2: Specifications
The all-new Michelin Defender 2 tire replaces two older tire models: the Defender LTX and the T+H. It offers new features that allow it to combine the qualities that were offered by both previous tire models, while also providing you with greater durability:
- A more resistant rubber compound called the EverTread 2.0
- Greater sculptural rigidity
- The MaxTouch 2.0 technology
- 3D sipes
How exactly does this new tire manage to offer a longer life span? Resistance to wear is one of the main ingredients in this Michelin recipe, and the new EverTread 2.0 compound is another. In fact, it clearly shows a superior resistance to abrasion and wears down more slowly than the norm!
Another secret ingredient of the extended life span is the increased depth of the tire sculpture. Moreover, it is also more rigid, which allows for it to better adapt to higher torques and heavier loads. Since both of these are features generally found on electric vehicles, it is easy to understand that the Michelin Defender 2 is perfect for these as well!
A greater resistance to wear is also the result of the MaxTouch 2.0 tehcnology. With this innovation, Michelin creates a wider and more even contact surface between the tire and the road. This also helps prevent uneven and premature wear.
Finally, Michelin does not only focus on durability, but also on performance! That is why the technologies used to enhance the tire’s life span also greatly assist with performance, by increasing traction levels as well.
In fact, the 3D SipeLock technology provides you with maximum grip. The groove design also ensures efficient water evacuation.
In short, you can definitely expect performance and durability from this new Michelin Defender tire!
Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack: Specifications
The Bridgestone Turanza Quiettrack tire has been on the market for a little longer; this doesn’t make it any less efficient for today’s reality, quite the contrary! In fact, this excellent Bridgestone tire focuses on a comfortable and quiet drive, and offers the following characteristics:
- 3D ribs with sipes
- Grooves with gripping edges
- The QuietTrack technology
- Open shoulder slots
A quiet driving experience is at the very heart of this Bridgestone tire’s design. The model even wears the name of the technology that makes it unique: QuietTrack. This technology incorporates features like fine in-groove quiet tracks, which work to absorb noise within the tire itself.
The blocks are also designed to reduce airborne noises, while the rounded surfaces optimize noise reduction as well.
Moreover, the grooves also have gripping edges that also improve traction levels on wet surfaces. Sipes are abundant and also work towards optimizing traction.
The tread includes circumferential grooves and open shoulder slots that, together, help evacuate water efficiently for optimal resistance to aquaplaning.
Finally, the full-depth tread design was specially made to remain performant even as the tire wears. This mean you will have a durable tire that remains very efficient even after kilometers of driving.
Choosing between the Michelin Defender 2 and the Bridgestone Turanza Quiettrack
We have seen that both of these tires are an excellent choice. However, how to choose between the Michelin Defender 2 vs Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack?
Since the Turanza has been on the market longer, it has been tested by several independent experts. Let’s first take a look at these results, before comparing it to the Michelin.
In a test completed by TireRack[1] that compares it to other tires of its category, the Bridgestone model stood out for many reasons. Firstly, the driving experience truly made it shine compared to its rivals. This tire offers a very precise response, good direction and optimal balance especially during turns, amongst other things.
Grip levels on wet roads also stood out at the top and made it one of the best models, especially when it came to braking distances. In fact, the grooves on the Turanza are specially designed for efficient water evacuation. Moreover, it is capable of tolerating light snow, which is a quality that should not be overlooked in a country like Canada!¸
Now, although the Defender 2 is still quite recent, experts have still given this Michelin novelty a good look over, especially DrivingPress[2], which doesn’t fail to mention just how excellent this tire is.
And when it comes to noise, it was rated as high as the Bridgestone. The main difference that seems to stand out between both tires, is that the Michelin appears to be slightly less agile than the Bridgestone on wet surfaces. Inversely, however, it is a little more performant than the Turanza on dry roads.
When it comes to life span, both tires are an excellent choice within their tire category. It will thus come as no surprise that the limited warranty on tread life reaches up to 130,000 km for both brands, which constitutes a very competitive coverage!
Let’s also mention the very impressive 90- day satisfaction guarantee with Bridgestone! With Michelin, this satisfaction guarantee is 60- days, though the warranty covers many different things as well.
Comparing treads
The reason why the Michelin tire stands out on dry roads while the bridgestone stands out on wet roads, is because of the differences in the treads.
In fact, the Defender offers a symmetrical tread, which is a design that is mostly known for the comfortable driving experience it offers. The Turanza QuietTrack has an asymmetrical tread, which include grooves that are strategically placed to evacuate water quickly and resist to aquaplaning.
Both treads do include circumferential grooves and a center rib. Both tires also provide you with optimal road handling and offer similar performance levels and several common strengths as well. Although the tread is different, both models are comparable in terms of features and quality.
In short, if you are looking for greater performance on wet roads, you should lean towards the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack. Inversely, if performance on dry roads and a smooth drive is more important to you, then the Michelin Defender 2 is the one for you. In both cases, you can expect great durability and a quiet driving experience!
Purchase your high-quality tires at the most advantageous price with blackcircles. We will ensure that your online tire purchase is easy as pie, and we deliver everywhere in Canada, directly to your home or your favorite auto shop! With blackcircles, finding the perfect tires is child’s play.
[1] https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=283
