Owners largely agree the Michelin CrossClimate is a strong all-rounder, most often praised for confident dry and wet grip, low noise and reassuring traction in light-to-moderate snow. Longevity is another standout, with many reporting impressively high mileages for an all-season tire, and ride comfort is frequently described as very good. A smaller but noticeable minority (around one in ten) mention compromises such as reduced steering feel, and some also flag it as expensive or not the best for fuel economy.
What owners mention most counted across 134 reviews
I had been quite disappointed with the stodgy handling and poor motorway tracking of my new (2016) BMW 518d Touring. The Beemer was tiring to drive long distances due to constantly having to concentrate on keeping the car in a straight line at high speed. It seemed the car was very sensitive to crosswinds, lorry bow waves and road imperfections. I was very disappojnted as I expected this car to be relaxed and comfortable over long distances. The BMW was fitted at the factory with Michelin Primacy 3's. My last new car in 2014 was a Ford S Max, and that came with Primacy 3's as well. I couldn't wait to get them off.
I had the the BMW four wheel laser tracked, but nothing was amiss. Normally I buy a second set of wheels for winter tires, but this time after having read the rave reviews, I decided to take off the Primacy's and fit Michelin Cross Climate tires.
On my first drive, the BMW felt instantly better. More agile, crisper turn in and improved ride comfort, as well as being quieter than the Primacy's, which had only been on the car for 7000 miles and still looked like new.
The Cross Climates inspire great confidence in very poor weather conditions. I have encountered really foul weather and these Cross Climates have coped brilliantly. Compared to the Primacy 3's which I found prone to aquaplaning, the Cross Climates with their deep and aggressive tread pattern, cut through and disperse road surface water even when it is running across the road like a stream. Because the car handles so much better, I have been able to make better progress on cross country routes, in particular when the weather is bad.
On the motorways the car now drives like a train. Road noise is very suppressed. As yet I have not had any snow to cope with, but I will have a much better chance of getting home with Cross Climate tires fitted, than if I had of left the Primacy's on. Being rear wheel drive, I am sure the BMW would have been a nightmare without a winter type tire in snow and ice. So I will report again when I do encounter any of the white stuff.
In conclusion I recommend these tires as they are not just a jack of all trades with compromises in the summer on dry braking or in the snow, but now rate significantly better than some summer and winter tires in comparative reviews. Buy with confidence.
While I live in the UK I drive over in Europe here and there. My summer's where just not right for winter over there. So decided on The newly released all seasons from Michelin. The tires are a totally different feel in the steering wheel over the energy saving plus. After about 1,000 miles of combined driving I had gotten used to the new feel and the extra grip in rain and snow. I did notice a small trade off in the summer but very marginal and only when I pushed the tires to the absolute limit. Recently I had my car in for a service during a cold spell and was in a car with Bridgestone summer's tires on in -2. And while fun in a courtesy car to leave rubber at every lights because the tires are not gripping it made me realise just how good an investment the tires are when it comes to winter. You really get the best of both worlds with these tires without the hassle of changing.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
I have just today fitted a set of CrossClimate's to my 08 Series 1 BMW (purchased 3 months prior), replacing the previous Kumho run flats which were, quite frankly, awful.
I've only driven these tires for a day but initial feelings are ultimately positive. The car no longer follows the road camber or pulls left/right, plus it feels a lot more stable and planted. The grip on greasy roads despite the tires being scrubbed in was in a different league to the previous (worn) rubber, as you would expect.
I live in the countryside so they'll be used for a mix of country roads and motorway driving (circa 400 miles per week). I've noted from previous reviews that these pick up stones in the tread pattern so will keep an eye out for that.
Average mpg is currently 49.5, mileage 86750. Will update review in 3-6 months, once we are past winter (hopefully).
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I'm pleased to give my positive recommendation for Michelin CrossClimate tires, based on a year of driving mixed roads and weather conditions, sometimes with just me in the car; sometimes fully loaded with five people and luggage. First: they are quiet and give a comfortable ride when set to the correct pressures for the car and load. They track straight at high speed on the motorway and do not adversely follow road surface damage. Second: they grip well starting-off, cornering and braking on dry, wet and changing road surfaces (although I have not yet encountered snow since having these tires fitted). They were superb during a torrential rainstorm that was flowing water and mud all over the road. Having seen wet and snow test results and videos on the Tire Reviews website, I feel confident that these Michelins, driven appropriately for poor road conditions, could get the car to my destination and home again safely. Third: they meet my requirements for a year-round tire, with a 3PMSF rating (legally required November to April in central Europe) for cold weather grip that doesn't quit below +7 deg.C, while not wearing out or sliding around on hot summer roads. I don't have space to store an extra set of four tires+wheels that aren't being used during winter or spring-summer-autumn seasons. The only demerit I can give these new Michelins is that my car's average petrol consumption has increased from 7.8l/100km = 36mpgUK on the old tires, to 8.8l/100km = 32mpgUK, while doing the same sort of driving on the same roads.
Finally, these CrossClimate tires do feel different after fitting them on all four wheels of my Kia hatchback: as I turn the steering wheel, lateral force builds as needed to drive around corners, but the response is pleasingly progressive, not instant (like the car was on rails on summer tires). The rubber undoubtedly grips the road and seems affected little when transitioning from dry to wet tarmac, but the different steering feel takes a few miles to get used to. The car has never lost front-wheel-drive traction under power, nor skidded under braking: not in town, not on rural roads, nor on the motorway. Even so, don't drive these tires to track day (you would just wear them out pointlessly and kill their capabilities), nor up seriously snowy mountains (for which you should get full-winter tires), nor in deep mud or gravel (for which you should get full M+S tires).
I am somewhat disappointed in these tires, having previously had Conti Wintercontact TS850 and Nokian Weatherproof under me, these have not showed the same level of wet grip and wear as the Weatherproof.
Tread depth is low from new and this may improve on dry braking and handling at the expense of long life.
Over rated in my view for the most part.
Living in Ireland with a constant threat of rain and low average temp. decided to buy the XL version of it for my Peugeot Partner Van. Got them at a very good price (€70/corner) early summer. What I felt straight away that it provides excellent comfort (in noise particularly). My van is much-much quieter ever since. I have very positive feelings about the tire so far (both in dry and wet). Feedback is good wear is minimal. Looking forward the winter experience (wet, cold and snow).
swapped from Primacy 3 to these, not the same feel compared to Primacy a bit stodgy with little feedback,but solid. On the plus side you do get a good confident feel on very wet roads, they seem to corner better in the wet than the dry! not yet tested on snow.
My only comment is that they are not fuel efficient. On my old tires the Mitchelin Premacy I did a double return trip to Southampton covering nearly 1000 miles. I've just done the same trip on the Cross Climate. The average fuel consumption dropped from 54.5 to 51.2 mpg.. Over the life expectancy this amounts to approx 120 liters or £130.
Have been over all quite happy with the tires except for one fatal flaw. They seem to puncture quite easily, possibly from small rocks/pebbles getting lodged in the tread pattern and then getting pushed through the tire itself.
And once starting to deflate the tire seems to shred on the inside of the sidewall way before it starts giving off any signs of being flat.
Have lost 2 tires in 3 weeks now due to similar puncture where both times the sidewall shredded on the inside and was unusable after.
Die Reifen scheinen JEDEN Kiesel von der Straße aufzusaugen, egal ob auf Asphalt oder Schotter. Einige bleiben im Profil hängen, bis man Spitzengeschwindigkeiten erreicht, und dann… gibt´s einen lauten Knall in der Karosserie.
Andererseits: sehr gut bei trockenem Wetter, außergewöhnlich bei Nässe, komfortabel, niedriger Rollwiderstand, was in geringer Geräuschentwicklung und niedrigem Spritverbrauch resultiert. Ich freue mich schon auf etwas Schnee und Eis.
