Michelin Defender 2 vs Dunlop Blue Response AS
Ahead in each discipline
The Michelin Defender 2 and the Dunlop Blue Response AS have met in one independent test so far, and the Blue Response AS finished ahead. The Blue Response AS was stronger in dry, wet, snow, comfort and value.
Performance profile
12 measurements from the one shared test, each tire shown as its share of the better figure.
Where each is furthest ahead
Defender 2
Blue Response AS
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it.
Where each scores higher
Defender 2
Not ahead in any category
Blue Response AS
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tires' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tire that did better.
| Measurement | Defender 2 | Gap | Blue Response AS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Blue Response AS ahead | |||
| Dry Braking ft | 133 | 5.7% | 125 |
| Dry Handling s | 44.66 | 0.3% | 44.53 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | 8.3 | 1.2% | 8.4 |
| Wet Blue Response AS ahead | |||
| Wet Braking ft | 169 | 2.1% | 166 |
| Wet Handling s | 52.17 | 0.6% | 51.87 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | 8.1 | 2.5% | 8.3 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 41.4 | 10.4% | 37.5 |
| Snow Blue Response AS ahead | |||
| Snow Braking ft | 58 | 9.6% | 52 |
| Snow Traction s | 4.66 | 7.3% | 4.32 |
| Comfort Blue Response AS ahead | |||
| Subj. Comfort pts | 9 | 5.6% | 9.5 |
| Noise dB | 64 | 0.5 dB | 63.5 |
| Value Blue Response AS ahead | |||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.71 | 2.2% | 8.52 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared.
Head to head in 1 test in 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Defender 2 | Field | Blue Response AS |
|---|---|---|---|
| The BEST High Mileage All Season Tires in 2026 Tested | P5 of 5 | P2 of 5 |
Defender 2 vs Blue Response AS: your questions
Is the Michelin Defender 2 or the Dunlop Blue Response AS the better tire?
The Michelin Defender 2 and the Dunlop Blue Response AS have met in one independent test so far, and the Blue Response AS finished ahead. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Defender 2 scores 7 and the Blue Response AS 8.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Defender 2 or the Blue Response AS?
The Blue Response AS led 3 of the 4 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The Blue Response AS led 3 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Blue Response AS led 2 of the 2 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Defender 2 92% from 3 reviews; the Blue Response AS has no owner reviews yet.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.