Michelin CrossClimate 2

Michelin is a tire brand that needs no introduction. The French brand has been on the market for well over a century, producing one of the best tires we know and love. 

Among the plethora of tire options are the CrossClimate lineup – an all-season grand touring tire capable of excellent performance.

Despite the number 2 in the name, the CrossClimate 2 is the third generation of the series, and Michelin claims to have improved it.

• Superb aquaplaning resistance
• The shortest braking distances in its class
• Dry and wet performance is exceptional
• Usable even in deeper snow

What are the features of the Michelin CrossClimate 2? 

As an all-season tire, Michelin designed the CrossClimate 2 to be drivable in winter and summer.

To achieve that, the company utilized the Thermal Adaptive rubber compound. It softens up the tire in winter without causing damage to it in the summer. The technology is also responsible for providing excellent grip in wet and dry conditions.

A distinctive feature of the CrossClimate 2 is the tread design. Unlike most all-season tires with circumferential grooves, this one has V-shaped grooves. It should, in theory, and Michelin’s claims, help with aquaplaning resistance and snowy roads. In addition to that, the tread design is also helpful when it comes to high-speed stability.

Speaking of snow, the CrossClimate 2 is rated with M+S (Mud and Snow) and 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake). The result of that should be decent mud and excellent snow performance. When I say excellent, you should be aware that I mean excellent for an all-season tire, but not a replacement for a winter one.

Grand touring tires should be quiet and refined, and Michelin thought about that as well. The PIANO Noise Reduction Tuning technology was used for the CrossClimate 2 to reduce the noise.

How is it over snow?

Just like its predecessors, the CrossClimate 2 is an excellent tire for winter conditions. You won’t find too many grand touring all-season tires that are this capable on snow.

The CrossClimate 2 drives like a champ in light snow conditions thanks to the tread design and rubber compound. To be fair, there are plenty of tires with decent performance in these conditions.

The tire impresses in deeper snow conditions, more than most of its competitors. Rated with 3PMSF means that the snow performance is better than the tires with an M+S rating.

I won’t compare it with a winter tire, as it can’t replace it, but it would get the job done perfectly in many cases.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

The CrossClimate 2 is exceptional on dry tarmac, even for a grand touring tire. Regardless of how much I praise the performance, it still won’t be as good as a high-performance tire.

When you compare the CrossClimate 2 with its predecessors, you will notice some slight improvements. Those improvements come from the rubber compound, which seems to help with the grip. You can go into a corner at a higher speed, and the tire will keep the tire planted. Since it’s not a performance-oriented tire, you will feel that it won’t like it but will comply.

In terms of feel, don’t expect the CrossClimate 2 to offer too much feedback. It’s not too bad, and you won’t feel like the steering wheel is detached, but some enthusiast drives may find it annoying. The responsiveness is good, and the tire feels quite nimble.

Thanks to the excellent traction and grip, the tire has one of the shortest stopping distances in its class, outperforming every other premium grand touring tire.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

On wet and slippery roads, the CrossClimate 2 is surprisingly good, putting itself on top of the class. In these conditions, it performs similarly to the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack or the Pirelli P7 Cinturato all-season II.

The V-shaped tread design seems to be doing its job properly, offering excellent levels of grip even in non-ideal conditions. Despite not having the traditional circumferential grooves, the CrossClimate 2 has excellent aquaplaning resistance. 

I can also praise the grip levels in the corners. They are as impressive as on dry pavement, and you are constantly in control. The tire isn’t twitchy and will give you a safe feeling behind the wheel.

In terms of braking, the CrossClimate 2 takes the lead again with some of the shortest distances in this class.

Is it comfortable and refined?

The previous CrossClimate models were exceptionally comfortable and quiet, and the trend continues with the CrossClimate 2.

Michelin puts extra effort into making its tires comfortable. The CrossClimate 2 has one of the most comfortable rides in this category, successfully smoothing out the road. It swallows larger holes like a champ eliminating most vibrations.

Noise is also very low, which is something you’d want from a grand touring tire. You may hear some tire noise at higher speeds, but it’s not something that will be overwhelming.

e is nothing to complain about, and I can only praise the Destination LE3. There is almost no noise from the tires at city speeds which is surprising considering the class. At higher speeds, there is some noise that can be eliminated as long as your vehicle has good insulation.

I have to give the Destination LE3 thumbs up in this category, as it proved to be an excellent touring tire.

Is the Michelin CrossClimate 2 ideal for sporty driving?

 The CrossClimate 2 is not the best for sporty driving, but you may have some fun with it if you want to.

Enthusiast drivers will need to be aware that the muted feedback means that they won’t get a sense of what the front tires are doing. If you’re okay with that, you can play around on a twisty mountain road.

Is it good for off-roading?

No, the CrossClimate 2 is not an off-road tire, and you shouldn’t treat it as such. The M+S rating means that it will have some performance on mud, but it’s not something that most people would use in real life.

Even though you will get some performance on gravel, the tire can get damaged, leading to premature or uneven wear.

Michelin CrossClimate 2 Warranty

You won’t find a perfect tire, and the same goes for the CrossClimate 2. The biggest downside to it is the warranty.

Michelin offers a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is a good and a bad thing. The good thing is that the previous CrossClimate has only a 50,000-mile warranty. The bad thing is that most competitors offer a more extended warranty.

Should I buy the Michelin CrossClimate 2?

If you’re looking at an all-season grand touring tire, I believe that the CrossClimate 2 is one of the best options currently available on the market. The previous generations of the CrossClimate were excellent, but the subtle improvements Michelin made to this one make it even better.

There are hardly any faults with the CrossClimate 2 in terms of performance on dry and wet roads. The levels of grip are phenomenal for a grand touring tire. To get those kinds of properties and usability in all weather conditions, any tire manufacturer needs to make a sacrifice. In grand touring tires, that’s the driving dynamics.

While it is easy to control and relatively responsive, it’s far from a replacement for a performance tire. Add the muted steering feedback, and watch enthusiasts struggle to figure out how to drive it hard. Despite that, the short braking distances and excellent aquaplaning resistance make it an excellent performer.

One area where the CrossClimate 2 really shines is in snowy conditions. Most all-season tires are drivable in light snow, but this one can even work in deeper snow. Thanks to the finely tuned rubber compound, the tire has a decent amount of traction, even on ice.

Comfort and noise are crucial with any grand touring tire, and in the case of the CrossClimate 2, the results weren’t disappointing. The surprisingly comfortable ride, accompanied by low tire noise, is one of the best in the business, with not many tires coming close to it.

The area that some people may not like is the treadwear warranty. With a 60,000-mile warranty, the CrossClimate 2 falls behind its premium rivals. With today’s tire diversity, you may even find some mid-range models with that long warranty.

In general, the CrossClimate 2 is a tire that has almost no faults. It performs exemplary in every condition, is comfortable, and can be a bit sporty if you want to. If you’re okay with the warranty and slightly higher price tag, then it can be an excellent option for you.

Michelin CrossClimate 2 Pricing: Is it worth the money?

Some may disagree, but I think that the CrossClimate 2 is worth the money. The starting price is a bit below $140, and when you look at what you get, it’s not too bad.

It is a tire that offers excellent dry and wet performance while being comfortable and quiet. On top of that, you get the best snow performance out of any all-season grand touring tires on the market.

The two main things that may put people off is the slightly shorter warranty at a higher price.

What Vehicles Will the Michelin CrossClimate 2 Fit?

• Audi A3, A4, Q5
• BMW 3, 5 series
• Ford Focus, Mondeo
• Honda Civic, Accord
• Lexus IS, ES, NX
• Mazda 3, 6
• Mustang GT
• Subaru Legacy
• Toyota Corolla, Camry, CH-R

Tire Sizes for Michelin CrossClimate 2

16″

• 205/55R16 
• 205/60R16
• 205/65R16
• 215/55R16/XL
• 215/60R16

17″

• 215/45R17/XL
• 215/50R17/XL 
• 215/55R17
• 225/45R17
• 225/50R17/XL
• 225/55R17/XL
• 225/60R17
• 225/65R17
• 235/50R17
• 235/60R17
• 235/65R17

18″

• 215/50R18
• 225/45R18/XL
• 225/50R18
• 225/55R18
• 225/60R18
• 235/45R18/XL
• 235/50R18
• 235/55R18
• 235/60R18/XL
• 235/65R18
• 245/45R18/XL
• 245/55R18
• 245/60R18

19″

• 225/55R19
• 235/40R19/XL
• 235/45R19/XL
• 235/50R19/XL
• 235/55R19/XL
• 235/55R19/XL
• 245/45R19/XL
• 245/55R19

20″

• 235/45R20/XL
• 235/55R20
• 245/45R20/XL
• 245/50R20
  

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