Overall Rating
Michelin CrossClimate2 Tire
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The tire is designed with a unique tread compound that can easily adapt to different weather conditions. This helps to provide extraordinary grip and traction in dry, wet, and snow conditions.
With this tire, your vehicle will definitely remain stable in corners regardless of getting near the traction limit. Guess what! The tire will still be very easy to control.
However, Micheline CrossClimate2 is not the best all-season tire in terms of noise levels. It also has the tendency to struggle on ice and packed snow. Nevertheless, it is quite popular among vehicle owners and a high-selling tire in the market.
Suitable for
Not Suitable for
What Do Users Say About Michelin CrossClimate2 Tire?
Undoubtedly, many users are satisfied with the Michelin CrossClimate2 tire’s performance. They have constantly praised the tire’s dry traction and lateral grip. However, most have not failed to complain about the noise caused by the directional tread pattern.
Other customers have also expressed satisfaction with low rolling resistance and fuel economy. They also lavish appreciation for its long tread life. However, some have expressed dissatisfaction with its braking on ice. Overall, this tire is a master in its class.
Pricing and Availability
At the time of writing this review, the Michelin CrossClimate2 costs around $148 to $415 per tire. However, the price depends on your vehicle type and the tire retailer. Also, you can get CrossClimate2 tires in different sizes.
In addition, the tire’s price may vary based on its availability, location, and seller’s promotion. However, it is vital to note that the larger sizes of CrossClimate2 tires are relatively more expensive than others in its class.
Michelin CrossClimate 2 Tire Specifications
- Category: All-Season
- UTQG: 640 B A
- Maximum Speed: H (130 mph) or V (149 mph)
- Treadwear Warranty: 6 Years/ 60,000 miles
- Workmanship & Materials Warranty: 6 Years / Free replacement first year, 2/32″ or 25% of wear
- Manufacturer’s Road Hazard Warranty: No
- Maximum Inflation Pressure: 51 psi
- Tread Depth: 10/32″
- Rim Width Range: 5.5-11″ (Range is based on different tire sizes)
- Load Range: SL or XL depending on the tire size
- Tire sizes: 90 sizes available from 16″ to 22″ rim diameter
- Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) Rating: Yes
- Mud + Snow (M+S) Rating: Yes
Key Features and Benefits of Michelin CrossClimate2
Some key features of Michelin CrossClimate2 tires are:
- Thermal Adaptive all-season tread compound: This enables the tire to adapt to various temperature levels and road conditions. As a result, it enhances the tire’s performance in different weather conditions.
- V-Formation directional tread design: This helps to optimize water evacuation and enhance snow traction. By this, a driver can enjoy improved handling and stability in wet and snowy road conditions.
- 3D SipeLock technology: The 3D SipeLock technology enhances road grip and traction, especially in harsh weather conditions. This happens by locking the tire’s tread blocks together when necessary.
- 3PMSF rating: The 3PMSF rating reveals the tire’s ability to handle severe winter conditions.
- Comfort Control Technology: This feature reduces vibration, providing a smooth and comfortable ride quality.
- PIANO Noise Reduction Tuning: It helps to tune out airborne noise. This happens as it augments tread element geometry and timing variation.
Michelin CrossClimate2 Review: Detailed Performance Analysis
Treadwear and Tread Life
The Michelin Crossclimate2 features 3D Sipe Lock tech, which interlocks the blocks to improve tread rigidity. This amazing technology helps to provide multiple biting edges, which allow the tread to flex. All of this happens without compromising the stability of the tread block.
With this advanced technology, users enjoy extraordinary traction and grip in various terrains. The tire manufacturing process includes silica, which is a modern fuel-economy tread element. This helps to reduce rolling resistance and extend tread longevity.
The average tread life is about 55,000-65,000 miles based on various customer feedback. Also, the treadwear happens evenly across the tire.
Dry Traction
The Michelin CrossClimate2 features a V-formation directional tread pattern. This design also helps in providing summer performance. That’s why many people think it is a summer all-season tire.
However, the CrossClimate 2 tire’s tread pattern is really something. The tread blocks align well with the fore and aft forces. This makes an uninterrupted block area to improve longitudinal traction.
Meanwhile, the tire’s V Ramp Chamfers help to increase lateral grip by improving the road contact. This further enhances the tire’s dry road performance. The sophisticated technology behind the manufacturing process is superb. That’s why this tire is guaranteed to be delivered any time, any day.
Cornering, Handling, and Steering Response
The Michelin CrossClimate2’s steering response is simply exceptional. It is one of the tires offering such a level of responsiveness in its category. Instead of being twitchy, it builds up nicely and feels linear through the corner. This orchestration shows that Michelin is a master in manufacturing exceptional tires.
The tire’s acceleration and braking traction beats whatever its competitors bring to the market. With this tire, you don’t have any problem accelerating out of a corner. Also, the stopping distance is arguably the shortest among other all-season tires in the market.
Users have testified of a boost in confidence when driving with this tire because of its handling capability. Its stability assures you over and over again that your vehicle wheel won’t spin or get stuck.
Lastly, this tire delivers fast lap and light steering when turning corners. Also, its steering is barely noticeable in mid-corner understeer.
Wet Grip and Hydroplaning Resistance
Besides having improved wet-weather grip in rainy conditions, they also reduced the risk of hydroplaning.
The tire is designed with quite steep angles on the tread. They help to channel water away. Driving in heavy rain is never an issue with the CrossClimate2. Its hydroplaning resistance is better than most of its counterparts.
The tire is built with many large sipes in each tread block. These large sipes help to dissipate water. It also comes with a tread compound that is designed to operate well in a wide range of temperature levels. Overall, its wet grip and hydroplaning resistance are intact.
Gas Mileage
The Michelin CrossClimate2 doesn’t belong to the fuel economy tires category. However, most users have expressed satisfaction with its fuel consumption level. I can categorically attribute this to its low rolling resistance.
If you drive an SUV and you want an automatic improvement in its gas mileage, consider switching to the CrossClimate2.
Noise and Comfort
When it has to do with comfort, CrossClimate2’s performance is commendable. The tire is designed to absorb bumps efficiently while delivering a comfortable ride. It’s so interesting that you hardly feel the impact of the road bumps.
Nevertheless, this tire produces a minor tread growl when going over rough terrains. However, the wind and your engine’s noise will swallow up the noise. In addition, due to the tire’s directional tread pattern, the noise is clearer on highways.
Winter Performance (Snow and Ice)
The Michelin CrossClimate2’s winter performance is simply extraordinary. The French tire manufacturer delivered exceptional dry/wet traction alongside the 3PMSF snowflake rating.
The tire’s Thermal Adaptive all-season rubber compound helps to keep it pliable even in freezing conditions. Also, each tread block has hundreds of siping across its length. This includes zig-zag sipes close to the tire’s center. These features help to create additional biting edges that easily trap snow, offering snow-to-snow traction.
When it comes to icy conditions, the CrossClimate 2 tire’s performance is just OK and not very impressive. This is something usual for an all-season tire.
Comparison with Competitor Tires
Michelin CrossClimate2 tires are highly competitive in the market. Due to its wide range of sizes, it offers more compatibility and flexibility for various vehicles than competitors.
However, the tire has a slightly lower mileage warranty than some of its competitors. While it offers around 60,000 miles, the Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3 offers 70,000 miles.
In dry/wet handling and traction, the Michelin CrossClimate2 is one of the best among its competitors. However, it’s not very good in ice grip compared to some of its counterparts. For example, a tire like Bridgestone WeatherPeak excels far better in this area.
Some Notable Alternatives
1st Alternative
Bridgestone WeatherPeak
Bridgestone WeatherPeak offers exceptional wet and winter traction. They are suitable for year-round usage.
Read our full Bridgestone WeatherPeak Review
2nd Alternative
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive
A close competitor to Michelin CrossClimate2 tire in all aspects. Offers excellent all-weather traction and tread life. Its stylish tread pattern looks like a winter tire.
3rd Alternative
General AltiMAX 365 AW
General AltiMAX 365 AW is a budget-friendly alternative and offers strong traction in various weather conditions.
How We Review the Tires?
There is a lot of work behind our detailed tire reviews. We adopt a multi-dimensional approach rather than just a ‘single person experience’. Our reviews are a collective wisdom of many users rather than a single user.
Before reviewing, we undertake extensive market research, meticulously examine the specifications of each tire, and carry out a very thorough analysis of user reviews from top retailers. Finally, our keen tire experts apply their experience and expertise and provide a well-rounded assessment of tires. Read our detailed review process.
