Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV rated
90% while driving a Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 AWD
Driving on
mostly country roads for 2000
spirited miles
TL,DR; Exceptional in snow, great in mud, loud above 50MPH, too soft for high-torque acceleration. Perfect tire for low temperature climates, less so for temperate. These are Volvo-homologated tires, but not EV-specific.
I initially reviewed these tires in September 2022, before the "heavy" (by our standards) snow season experienced over the 2022 UK winter. I said they were soft, likely prone to wear, and probably not great for an EV. I take all that back, with two caveats (different from my first initial review).
The tires, as you'd no doubt expect, excel in the snow. I drove over to Chipping Campden high street in the heaviest snow of the season and drove up that hill like it was a dry summer day. Compacted or fresh snow, the car just carried on. Couldn't be happier. From the review videos we all know this is a snow tire.
Mud is a similar story. I frequently walk my dog in woodland and open country, and parking is rarely paved. I've never been stuck in the mud, even with deep ruts and wet slurry for a surface. The wide gaps in the tire tread find something to catch and just pull on through. I'd be lying if I said I considered anything I do as "off roading" but I wouldn't be put off by a muddy trail or gravel track at this point. The car and the tire seem to be set for adverse conditions.
The two caveats: road noise, and hard acceleration. Above 50MPH there is a constant roar from the tires. It's an EV; I get that there will be more apparent road noise. But there is a lot of it.
Secondly, the front end feels very light under *hard* (maximum) acceleration. I don't remember what the factory-fitted Pirelli's felt like, but it's enough to make me ease off if it's not a dead-straight road. Again, bear in mind this is an EV; 0-60 in well under 5 seconds. It's a rare occurance to push that hard unless you're purposefully pushing the car to the limit. Normal driving the car is comfortable and well planted. Nobody drives TO THE MAX in every day conditions.
I tires for a car I don't own and driving conditions I very rarely encounter. They were the wrong tires for me. If you live somewhere cold, they might be the right tires for you. My next set of tires will certainly be EV-specific.