Bridgestone Turanza EverDrive vs Michelin Defender 2
- TR Score
- 5.9/10
- Owners say
- -
- TR Score
- 7.0/10
- Owners say
- 92% · 3
The Bridgestone Turanza EverDrive and the Michelin Defender 2 have met in 2 independent tests and the record is level at 1-1. The Turanza EverDrive stopped 17.5% shorter on snow; the Defender 2 stopped 6.5% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pick the Michelin Defender 2 if your priority is everyday on-road safety and feel-shorter wet/dry stops and crisp steering on clear roads. Pick the Bridgestone Turanza EverDrive if you regularly drive in snow/ice or cold climates and want the strongest winter traction in this pair, while accepting longer braking distances on dry/wet asphalt and a firmer ride.
Where the Turanza EverDrive is stronger
- Class-leading winter performance in both tests (e.g., snow braking 14.7 m vs 17.7 m in 2026; 21.123 m vs 25.746 m in 2025, plus better snow traction/handling and ice braking)
- Strong hydroplaning security for a mileage touring tire (2nd in 2026 straight aquaplaning; 64.52 km/h, close to the best)
- Efficiency/value edge in the 2026 data (lower rolling resistance: 8.25 vs 8.71; better value metric: 2.47 vs 2.62 price/1000)
Where the Defender 2 is stronger
- Consistently shorter braking distances on dry and wet roads across both tests (dry: ~6-7% better; wet: ~4-5% better)
- More precise, enjoyable steering character noted by testers (described as the crispest steering in the 2026 group; reactive steering in 2025)
- Best-in-test straight-line aquaplaning resistance in 2026 (66.65 km/h, clear class lead per report)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Turanza EverDrive vs Defender 2 at a glance
| Category | Turanza EverDrive | Gap | Defender 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won2 shared tests | 1 | 1 | |
| Dry6 measurements | 1 | The Defender 2 stopped 6.5% shorter in the dry (2 tests) | 4 |
| Wet6 measurements | 1 | The Defender 2 stopped 4.4% shorter in the wet (2 tests) | 5 |
| Snow4 measurements | 4 | The Turanza EverDrive stopped 17.5% shorter on snow (2 tests) | 0 |
| Ice1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Comfort4 measurements | 2 | 1 | |
| Value1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 5.9/10 | The Defender 2 by 1.1 | 7.0/10 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 2 tests, 2025 to 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 | Turanza EverDrive | Field | Defender 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The BEST High Mileage All Season Tires in 2026 Tested | P4 of 5 | P5 of 5 | |
| Tire Rack Touring All-Season Tire Test (November 2025) | P5 of 6 | P4 of 6 |
Performance profile
5 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Turanza EverDrive
Defender 2
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. The scale stops at 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 12 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Turanza EverDrive
Defender 2
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
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Turanza EverDrive | Gap | Defender 2 | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | 6.5% | 131 | 0-2 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 44.77 | 0.2% | 44.66 | 0-1 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| scored | 2.5% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 0.85 | = | 0.85 | 0-0 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| scored | 3.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 170 | 4.4% | 163 | 0-2 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 43.85 | 0.3% | 43.76 | 1-1 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| scored | 2.5% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 40.1 | 3.3% | 41.4 | 0-1 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 59 | 17.5% | 71 | 2-0 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 3.55 | 23.8% | 4.66 | 1-0 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 57.72 | 5.9% | 61.36 | 1-0 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 52 | 4.9% | 55 | 1-0 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| scored | 3.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| scored | 6.7% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 63.9 | 0.1 dB | 64 | 1-0 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| 8.25 | 5.3% | 8.71 | 1-0 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Turanza EverDrive scores 5.9 and the Defender 2 7 out of 10.
| Turanza EverDrive | Category | Defender 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Dry | 66 | ||
| 24 | Wet | 32 | ||
| 41 | Comfort | 41 | ||
| 67 | Snow | 5 | ||
| 94 | Ice | 83 | ||
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.
What owners say
| Turanza EverDrive | Category | Defender 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Dry Grip | 9.3 | ||
| - | Wet Grip | 8.3 | ||
| - | Road Feedback | 8.7 | ||
| - | Handling | 9.3 | ||
| - | Wear | 9 | ||
| - | Comfort | 9.3 | ||
| - | Snow Grip | 9 | ||
| - | Ice Grip | 9 | ||
Owners rate the Defender 2 92% from 3 reviews; the Turanza EverDrive has no owner reviews yet. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Bridgestone Turanza EverDrive
No owner reviews yet. Be the first to review it →
Michelin Defender 2
- 92%from 3 reviews
- 120,120 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Defender 2 reviewsWe own a Dodge Challenger GT AWD. We dive the challenger year round. The OEM tires were Michelins and were touring tires. They were super comfortable and offered great handling. When we went lookng for our next tires we found out that the OEM tires were no longer available. They spec'd the Defender 2 at Costco and we extremely pleased with them. We have summer and winter rims and are so happy with the Defenders that we are buying them again for the summer rims. and they came with a rebate, too! Happy customers! Thanks, Michelin.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | Turanza EverDrive | Defender 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| Replaced | - | Michelin Defender |
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Bridgestone's Turanza EverDrive and Michelin's Defender 2 sit in the same “premium touring all-season” lane, but the shared test data shows they chase that goal with very different priorities. Across two major 215/55R17 comparisons (a 2026 high-mileage all-season test and Tire Rack's Nov 2025 touring all-season test), the Michelin tends to feel sharper and stop shorter on dry and wet pavement, while the Bridgestone leans heavily into cold-weather and light-winter capability.
In other words, this is less a debate about which tire is universally “better,” and more about which set of trade-offs matches your climate and driving style. If your daily reality includes frequent snow or ice, the EverDrive's numbers are hard to ignore; if your priority is confident braking and more precise steering feel on clear, wet roads, the Defender 2 repeatedly lands ahead on the key safety metrics.
Conclusion
On dry and wet pavement-where most touring tires spend most of their lives-the Michelin Defender 2 is the more convincing safety-first option in these shared results. It wins dry braking in both tests (40.4 m vs 42.9 m in 2026; 39.319 m vs 42.367 m in 2025) and wet braking in both tests (51.6 m vs 53.7 m in 2026; 47.549 m vs 49.987 m in 2025). It also brings the “crispest steering” noted in the 2026 report and remains competitive in dry handling, even though that same 2026 test flagged it as the slowest tire on the wet handling lap and prone to understeer when pushed.
The Bridgestone Turanza EverDrive is the climate specialist. It dominates winter metrics in both tests-snow braking (14.7 m vs 17.7 m in 2026; 21.123 m vs 25.746 m in 2025), plus meaningful gains in snow traction/handling and even ice braking in 2025-while also showing strong standing-water security (second-best straight aquaplaning in 2026). The price you pay is clear-road grip and feel: it was last for wet and dry braking in the 2026 group and described as the firmest-riding tire there, even if it can still score well for comfort in the Tire Rack subjective ratings.
Practical takeaway: choose the Defender 2 if you want the shorter stops and more alert on-road character most drivers value day-to-day; choose the EverDrive if you routinely face snow/ice and want an all-season that behaves closer to an “all-weather-light” tire in winter, accepting longer braking distances on warm/wet asphalt.
Turanza EverDrive vs Defender 2: your questions
Is the Bridgestone Turanza EverDrive or the Michelin Defender 2 the better tire?
The Bridgestone Turanza EverDrive and the Michelin Defender 2 have met in 2 independent tests and the record is level at 1-1. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Turanza EverDrive scores 5.9 and the Defender 2 7 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Turanza EverDrive or the Defender 2?
The Defender 2 led 5 of the 6 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.4% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Defender 2 led 4 of the 6 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.5% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Turanza EverDrive led 4 of the 4 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 17.5% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Defender 2 92% from 3 reviews; the Turanza EverDrive has no owner reviews yet.
More comparisons with these tires
vs
Goodyear Assurance MaxLife 2 vs Michelin Defender 2
2-0 in 2 shared tests
vs
Continental TrueContact Tour 54 vs Michelin Defender 2
3-0 in 3 shared tests
vs 
Michelin Defender 2 vs Michelin CrossClimate 2 AW
0-2 in 2 shared tests
vs
Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 vs Michelin Defender 2
2-0 in 2 shared tests
vs
Michelin Primacy Tour AS vs Michelin Defender 2
1-1 in 2 shared tests
vs
Bridgestone WeatherPeak vs Michelin Defender 2
1-1 in 2 shared tests
Every Bridgestone vs Michelin test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →
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.
Discussion