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 tyre 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 tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m 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 tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tyres' 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 tyre that did better.
| Measurement | Defender 2 | Gap | Blue Response AS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Blue Response AS ahead | |||
| Dry Braking m | 40.4 | 5.7% | 38.1 |
| 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 m | 51.6 | 2.1% | 50.5 |
| Wet Handling s | 52.17 | 0.6% | 51.87 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | 8.1 | 2.5% | 8.3 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 66.65 | 10.4% | 60.39 |
| Snow Blue Response AS ahead | |||
| Snow Braking m | 17.7 | 9.6% | 16 |
| 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 tyres shared.
Head to head in 1 test in 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tyres 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 Tyres 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 tyre?
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 Tyre 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 tyre 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 tyres 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 Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.