What if you could drive with supreme confidence, in all seasons, without compromising comfort or longevity? Meet the Michelin CrossClimate 2, a tire that elegantly fuses performance with durability, designed to tackle both the perfect summer’s day and the harshest winter storm.
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is a highly-rated all-season tire, excelling in both dry and wet conditions, delivering solid winter performance, ensuring comfortable rides, and demonstrating impressive tread wear. Its versatile features and superior engineering make it a reliable choice for a wide range of driving scenarios.
In this article, we delve into a detailed review of the Michelin CrossClimate 2, examining its performance in dry, wet, and winter conditions, analyzing its ride comfort and noise levels, evaluating its tread wear and longevity, and finally, wrapping up with a comprehensive conclusion about its overall merits and potential areas for improvement.
Michelin CrossClimate 2
Customer Rating
Overall Rating
9.1 of 10
Wet Weather
9.4 of 10
Winter Weather
8.8 of 10
Tread Wear
9.1 of 10
Dry Weather
9.4 of 10
Ride Comfort
8.9 of 10
UTQG
Uniform Tire Quality Grade
UTQG Treadwear Rating: 640
UTQG Traction Rating: B
UTQG Temperature Rating: A
Mileage Warranty
6 Years / 60,000 Miles
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Key Performance Metrics
Hydroplaning: 9.4 of 10
Wet Grip: 9.5 of 10
Cornering: 9.3 of 10
Dry Grip: 9.5 of 10
Responsiveness: 9.3 of 10
Mild Snow Grip: 9.2 of 10
Heavy Snow Grip: 8.8 of 10
Ice Grip: 8.5 of 10
Comfort Level: 9.2 of 10
Road Noise: 8.7 of 10
Description & Review
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 stands as a high-performing Grand Touring All-Season tire, versatile enough for a variety of vehicles. This tire assures the driver of an enjoyable ride every day, delivering reliable performance across dry, wet, and light snow conditions.
Constructed with Michelin’s cutting-edge technology, the tire incorporates a unique Thermal Adaptive all-season tread compound, which bolsters its performance in diverse weather scenarios. This is paired with a distinctive V-Formation directional tread design, crafted to maximize traction and stability under various driving conditions.
The CrossClimate 2 also features 3D SipeLock technology embedded into the tread pattern. This innovation improves grip and traction, particularly in challenging weather situations. The tire’s design also includes a grooveless pattern and the Thermal Adaptive Tread compound, ensuring that the tire retains its flexibility even at lower temperatures, thereby boosting snow traction. This combination of features qualifies the CrossClimate 2 for the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, indicating its suitability for severe snow conditions.
Despite its robust all-season performance and 3PMSF rating, it’s crucial to bear in mind that the CrossClimate 2, while superior to many all-season tires in adverse conditions, may not fully match the performance of a specialized winter tire in extreme weather situations. Therefore, drivers encountering severe winter weather may want to consider investing in dedicated winter tires.
Tread Wear and Longevity
A tire’s longevity is a crucial factor when making a purchase decision, and with a tread wear score of 9.1 out of 10, the CrossClimate 2 certainly doesn’t disappoint. This is due to:
- Durable Rubber Compounds: The use of long-lasting materials extends the tire’s life.
- Effective Tread Design: Contributes to the tire’s reliable service for many miles.
Wet Weather Performance
Another standout characteristic of the CrossClimate 2 is its wet weather performance, which earns a score identical to the dry weather performance at 9.4 out of 10. Notable attributes include:
- Superior Hydroplaning Resistance: The innovative tread pattern effectively disperses water away from the tire’s contact patch.
- Excellent Wet Traction: Enhances driver confidence when navigating through rain-soaked roads.
Dry Weather Performance
In terms of dry weather performance, the CrossClimate 2 shines brightly, meriting a remarkable 9.4 out of 10. The features that contribute to this high score are:
- Exceptional Corner Stability: Enabled by advanced tire compounds and tread design, maintaining optimum contact with the road surface.
- Impressive Dry Traction: Displays excellent grip during sudden braking or when navigating around tight bends.
Winter Weather Performance
The CrossClimate 2 boasts a commendable winter weather score of 8.8 out of 10. However, while it excels in light and deep snow traction, there is room for improvement in ice traction.
Ride Comfort and Noise Level
With a ride comfort score of 8.9 out of 10, the CrossClimate 2 expertly balances performance and comfort. Key points to note are:
- Comfort Control Technology: Helps reduce vibrations and road noise, keeping the noise level impressively minimal even at higher speeds.
- Optimized Tire Tread Design: Contributes to overall ride comfort.
Pros
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Impressive wet and dry traction
- Good corner stability and steering response
- Decent light snow traction
- Comfortable ride quality
Cons
- Mediocre deep snow and ice traction
- Slightly higher noise level
Michelin CrossClimate 2 Problems
The CrossClimate 2 generally performs exceptionally well in a broad range of conditions, but it’s worth noting that no tire is entirely without its shortcomings. As per the consumer feedback and various tests, there are a few areas where the CrossClimate 2 could be improved:
- Ice Traction: One of the main issues identified by some users relates to the tire’s performance on icy surfaces. While it handles light and deep snow well, earning an 8.8 out of 10, the CrossClimate 2’s ice traction leaves some room for improvement. It can struggle slightly when faced with icy roads, which may limit its effectiveness in extreme winter conditions.
- Performance at High Speeds: Some drivers have reported that although the CrossClimate 2 performs well at moderate speeds, it can exhibit a slight decrease in stability and comfort at higher speeds. This might be a minor concern for drivers who regularly drive on highways or at high speeds.
- Cost: Although the long-term benefits of durability and diverse weather performance may offset the initial investment, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is priced higher than some other all-season tires. Potential buyers should consider the tire’s value proposition in the context of their specific driving conditions and requirements.
It’s important to stress, however, that these issues are relatively minor when viewed against the overall exceptional performance of the CrossClimate 2. Most users report an overwhelmingly positive experience, and the tire consistently earns high ratings in multiple categories, reinforcing Michelin’s reputation for quality and performance.
Michelin CrossClimate 2 Alternatives
While the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is an excellent all-season tire, it’s always helpful to explore alternatives that might better suit your specific needs or budget. Below, we present three viable alternatives based on their customer ratings and performance in various categories.
1. Bridgestone Weatherpeak
The Bridgestone Weatherpeak emerges as a solid alternative, with an overall rating of 8.6 out of 10. Its highlights include:
- Dry and Wet Weather Performance: Scoring 9.2 and 9.3 out of 10 respectively, this tire promises reliable performance in both dry and wet conditions.
- Winter Weather Performance: With a score of 9.1 out of 10, the Weatherpeak offers strong performance in winter conditions, including snow and ice.
- Ride Comfort and Tread Wear: Both categories earn a solid score of 9.0 out of 10, indicating a balance of comfort and durability.
2. Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3
The Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3 is another worthy contender, also boasting an overall rating of 8.6 out of 10. Key points to consider are:
- Dry Weather Performance: This tire excels in dry conditions with a high score of 9.3 out of 10, providing excellent traction and stability.
- Wet Weather and Ride Comfort: The P7 AS Plus 3 receives a 9.1 out of 10 in both categories, ensuring dependable performance on wet roads and a comfortable ride.
- Winter Weather Performance and Tread Wear: These areas see a slight dip, with scores of 8.3 and 9.1 out of 10 respectively, but are still commendable.
3. BFGoodrich Advantage Control
The BFGoodrich Advantage Control is a viable option, particularly for dry conditions, with an overall rating of 8.5 out of 10. Key features include:
- Dry Weather Performance: This tire shines in dry conditions with a score of 9.4 out of 10.
- Wet and Winter Weather Performance: The Advantage Control scores a respectable 8.9 and 8.7 out of 10 respectively, offering solid all-weather capabilities.
- Ride Comfort and Tread Wear: With scores of 8.8 and 8.9 out of 10 respectively, this tire provides a good balance of ride comfort and durability.
All three alternatives present valuable features and strong performance in various conditions, making them worth considering as potential alternatives to the Michelin CrossClimate 2.
Reviews Including This Tire
The following are roundup reviews containing this tire:
- 10 Best All-Season Tires
- 12 Best All-Season Tires For Snow
- 12 Best All-Season Tires For Rain
- 10 Best All-Season Tires For Ride Comfort
- 5 Best Tires For Comfort and Noise
Resources
Below are some links you may find helpful when learning about tires
Final Thoughts
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 emerges as an exceptional all-season tire that consistently delivers high performance in a variety of driving conditions. It shines in both dry and wet weather, with its standout features being remarkable corner stability, impressive dry traction, superior hydroplaning resistance, and excellent wet traction.
The tire’s ability to handle winter weather, specifically snow, is also noteworthy, despite a slight room for improvement in ice traction. Additionally, it offers a comfortable and quiet ride, balancing high-performance attributes with everyday driving comfort. A commendable tread wear rating reinforces the tire’s reputation for longevity, speaking to Michelin’s commitment to creating durable and long-lasting products.
In summary, if you’re in the market for a tire that brings together a range of driving features – from safety in various weather conditions to ride comfort and longevity – the Michelin CrossClimate 2 should be at the top of your consideration list. It encapsulates Michelin’s legacy of excellence, ensuring a reliable and enjoyable driving experience.
