I looked at tirerack again and the Michelin site, just now.
I would get the Defenders because they are $80 cheaper than the Bridgestone. And I would seriously consider the 175/70-14 size for the (minor) aero benefits of being thinner and the (slight) benefit of being a little taller while still fitting on your stock wheel and still having the same overall tire weight.
NB: revs per mile will change your speedometer and odometer readings if the tires do not offer the stock diameter. Fewer revs per mile will mean your odometer will record fewer miles than you actually traveled and that will effect your perceived FE. I think the 185/65-14 Defender is in a middle-typical range for claimed revs per mile in that size, looking across brands. Perhaps it is close to stock and that's why Michelin recommends it.
I may finally have to get tires for my 1998 Civic really soon, and these are the choices I am thinking of.
Good luck... hope that helps.
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See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.
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