Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Yokohama BluEarth 4S AW21
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 80% · 173
- TR Score
- 6.9/10
- Owners say
- 78% · 9
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 finished ahead 4 times and the BluEarth 4S AW21 not once. The CrossClimate 2 had 20.8% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Michelin CrossClimate 2 if you want the strongest all-round all-season-especially for high-mileage driving, mixed weather, motorway use, and maximum safety margin in braking and aquaplaning. Consider the Yokohama BluEarth 4S AW21 mainly if upfront price is the priority and your driving is calmer and more winter-leaning, accepting compromises in dry braking, refinement, and efficiency.
Where the CrossClimate 2 is stronger
- Consistently shorter braking distances (dry and wet) across all shared tests, with double-digit dry-braking advantages
- Strong winter capability overall (frequent wins in snow traction/handling; good ice braking) while remaining competent year-round
- Higher aquaplaning resistance (straight and curved), improving heavy-rain stability and safety margins
Where the BluEarth 4S AW21 is stronger
- Lower purchase price and better price/value metric in the 2024 comparative test (cheaper per 1,000 km)
- Can be competitive in specific handling events (wins in Motor 2025 wet handling and marginally in dry handling)
- Shows winter-event strengths in some tests (ADAC snow braking win; snow-traction win in one 2024 test)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
CrossClimate 2 vs BluEarth 4S AW21 at a glance
| Category | CrossClimate 2 | Gap | BluEarth 4S AW21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won4 shared tests | 4 | 0 | |
| Dry7 measurements | 5 | The CrossClimate 2 stopped 12.3% shorter in the dry (4 tests) | 1 |
| Wet14 measurements | 13 | The CrossClimate 2 stopped 4.4% shorter in the wet (4 tests) | 1 |
| Snow10 measurements | 7 | The CrossClimate 2 lapped the snow handling course 3.5% faster (2 tests) | 2 |
| Ice3 measurements | 2 | 1 | |
| Comfort4 measurements | 4 | The CrossClimate 2 was 2 dB quieter (3 tests) | 0 |
| Value6 measurements | 6 | The CrossClimate 2 had 20.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests) | 0 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The CrossClimate 2 by 2.6 | 6.9/10 |
| Owner rating173 and 9 reviews | 80% | The CrossClimate 2 by 2 points | 78% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 73% | The CrossClimate 2 by 10 points | 63% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | +34.3% | The CrossClimate 2 was dearer in 2 of 2 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 116 | 72 sizes made in both | 104 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 4 tests, 2023 to 2025
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | CrossClimate 2 | Field | BluEarth 4S AW21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Motor All Season Tire Test | P2 of 7 | P6 of 7 | |
| 2024 ADAC All Season Tire Test | P4 of 16 | P14 of 16 | |
| The Best All Season Tires for 2024 | P4 of 7 | P6 of 7 | |
| 2023 All Season Tire 35 Set Shootout | P2 of 35 | P21 of 35 |
Performance profile
13 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
CrossClimate 2
BluEarth 4S AW21
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 85%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 11 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
CrossClimate 2
BluEarth 4S AW21
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
CrossClimate 2
BluEarth 4S AW21
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the CrossClimate 2 80% from 173 reviews and the BluEarth 4S AW21 78% from 9. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | CrossClimate 2 | Gap | BluEarth 4S AW21 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 127 | 12.3% | 145 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 84.8 | 0.1% | 84.85 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 124 | 4.4% | 130 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 135 | 0.5% | 135 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 82 | 0.5% | 81.65 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 12.18 | 0.4% | 12.23 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 51.1 | 7.1% | 47.7 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 10.5 | 16.8% | 9 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 49 | 0.2% | 49 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 6.95 | 2.9% | 7.02 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 51 | 6.2% | 48 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 89.79 | 3.5% | 93.01 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.7% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 1.3 | 6.6% | 1.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 44 | 1% | 45 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 4.97 | 8.6% | 5.44 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 70.8 | 2 dB | 72.77 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 18.3 | 17.8% | 22.3 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 25,976 | 16.2% | 22,534 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 6.92 | 20.8% | 8.75 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.3 | 3.6% | 5.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 52 | 43.5% | 92 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the CrossClimate 2 scores 9.5 and the BluEarth 4S AW21 6.9 out of 10.
| CrossClimate 2 | Category | BluEarth 4S AW21 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | Dry | 28 | ||
| 75 | Wet | 50 | ||
| 82 | Comfort | 4 | ||
| 84 | Value | 14 | ||
| 94 | Snow | 68 | ||
| 47 | Ice | 19 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| CrossClimate 2 | Category | BluEarth 4S AW21 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Dry Grip | 8.6 | ||
| 7.9 | Wet Grip | 8.5 | ||
| 7.6 | Road Feedback | 8 | ||
| 7.5 | Handling | 7.1 | ||
| 8.4 | Wear | 6.2 | ||
| 8.3 | Comfort | 7.6 | ||
| 8.4 | Snow Grip | 8.3 | ||
| 7.5 | Ice Grip | 7.8 | ||
Owners rate the CrossClimate 2 80% from 173 reviews and the BluEarth 4S AW21 78% from 9. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Michelin CrossClimate 2
- 80%from 173 reviews
- 73%would buy again
- 2,411,545 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Michelin CrossClimate 2 highly, most often praising its dependable all-weather grip with standout snow traction and strong dry and wet grip for an all-season tire. Comfort is commonly reported as very good and a sizeable minority also find it quiet, though road noise is a recurring talking point with roughly one in eight owners complaining it can hum or rumble. The main consistent drawback is efficiency: around one in seven owners report noticeably worse fuel economy/EV range (rolling resistance). A smaller but meaningful group also criticise wet handling confidence, particularly when pushed, even though straight-line wet grip and aquaplaning resistance tend to be viewed positively.
- Excellent snow traction and winter security
- Strong dry grip and traction
- Confident wet grip in everyday driving
- Good ride comfort over longer distances
- Noticeable hit to fuel economy/EV range (higher rolling resistance)
- Wet handling can feel nervous or lack confidence when cornering/braking
- Can be louder than expected on certain surfaces or at speed
Summarised by AI from 153 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 173 CrossClimate 2 reviewsAfter 2 hot summers the tires are dangerous on wet and cold,
That was actually very much appreciated since i drive them on a GR Yaris mostly on the weekends in the night on snowfall but normal use would be very very dangerous.
Yokohama BluEarth 4S AW21
- 78%from 9 reviews
- 63%would buy again
- 16,524 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers of the Yokohama BluEarth 4S AW21 report strong wet- and winter-weather confidence with solid dry performance, especially in the first two years. Several note rising noise and harsher ride as the tire ages, with some mentioning surface hardening by year three. A minority report durability issues, while steering feel at low speeds is occasionally odd. Overall sentiment is moderately positive with clear strengths in wet and light-snow grip.
- wet grip
- winter/light-snow traction
- overall handling stability
- initial comfort/low noise (early life)
- increasing road noise and harsher ride with age
- durability/aging concerns (surface hardening, cracking)
Summarised by AI from 7 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 9 BluEarth 4S AW21 reviewsPreviously I drove on Firestone Multiseason 2, which are my point of reference. Unfortunately they have dry rotted prematurely so I have opted to go for a different brand (on a side note the car was stored in harsh conditions so I can understand that that was the main issue).
The Yokohamas seem more winter oriented and they are overall decent, I have not noticed anything unusual, except for the road noise which is a bit of a killer. They legitimately howl like banshees :D I am not going to buy these again mainly because of that.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 116 sizes of the CrossClimate 2 and 104 of the BluEarth 4S AW21, 72 of them made in both.
| Category | CrossClimate 2 | BluEarth 4S AW21 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| Sizes made | 116 sizes, 15 to 22 inch | 104 sizes, 14 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 72 sizes 175/65 R15185/60 R15185/65 R15195/55 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15185/55 R16195/45 R16195/55 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16205/65 R16and 60 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B81%C19% | B91%C9% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C55%B33%D11%A1% | D56%C43%E1% |
| EU label noise | 69-73 dB B78%A22% | 70-73 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 176 of 176 | 115 of 115 |
| On the market since | 2020 | 2018 |
| Replaced | Michelin CrossClimate+ (2017) | - |
| Replaced by | Michelin CrossClimate 3 | Yokohama BluEarth AllSeason 2 |
| Awards | Winner: Best All-Season Tires (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: All-Season SUV Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2024) Winner: All-Season Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2023) Winner: All-Season SUV Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2022) Winner: All-Season Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2022) | Highly Recommended: Best All-Season Tires (DriverReviews, 2024/25) |
| Price in the shared tests | The CrossClimate 2 was the dearer tire in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 34.3% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Michelin's CrossClimate 2 and Yokohama's BluEarth 4S AW21 target the same buyer on paper: a premium-touring, 3PMSF all-season for passenger cars that's meant to cover everything from summer motorway miles to surprise winter mornings. The shared test data, however, shows these two tires execute that brief very differently.
Across four major comparisons (from a 35-tire mega test to ADAC and recent Motor testing), the CrossClimate 2 repeatedly lands near the top of the table (2/7, 4/16, 4/7, 2/35), while the BluEarth 4S AW21 tends to sit in the lower half (6/7, 14/16, 6/7, 21/35). The numbers point to a consistent theme: Michelin delivers broader, more “all-round” performance-especially in braking, aquaplaning resistance, efficiency and comfort-while the Yokohama's main counterpunch is value and occasional winter-event strengths (notably snow braking/traction and a strong ice-braking result in one test).
Conclusion
Looking at patterns across the shared tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is the more complete and consistently safer tire. It dominates the most safety-critical metrics-especially braking-over and over: dry braking advantages of ~11-14% (e.g., 38.9 m vs 43.8 m in Motor 2025; 39.5 m vs 46.1 m in ADAC 2024) and meaningful wet-braking wins as well (e.g., 47.0 m vs 52.4 m in the 35-tire shootout). It also repeatedly resists aquaplaning better (straight aquaplaning +6-8% and curved aquaplaning +14-19% in the 2024 tests), runs quieter (typically ~1-3.5 dB lower), and is substantially more efficient (rolling resistance gaps of ~18-24%). ADAC also highlights a major ownership upside: projected wear/mileage (44,000 km vs 33,900 km) and much lower abrasion.
The Yokohama BluEarth 4S AW21's case is narrower. It can be competitive in certain wet-handling scenarios (it edged Michelin in Motor 2025 wet handling: 74.6 s vs 76.1 s) and it shows flashes in winter (ADAC snow braking win: 10.5 m vs 11.1 m; and a strong snow-traction win in one 2024 test). But these bright spots are offset by recurring weaknesses on dry roads (longer braking, less precise steering feedback noted by ADAC), high noise, and notably poor rolling resistance-issues that hurt both day-to-day refinement and running costs. The practical takeaway: if you want a true “fit-and-forget” all-season with strong cross-conditions safety margins and better long-term ownership metrics, the CrossClimate 2 is the clear pick; the BluEarth 4S AW21 mainly makes sense when purchase price is the priority and your driving is biased toward wintery conditions rather than hot/dry performance.
CrossClimate 2 vs BluEarth 4S AW21: your questions
Is the Michelin CrossClimate 2 or the Yokohama BluEarth 4S AW21 the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 finished ahead 4 times and the BluEarth 4S AW21 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the CrossClimate 2 scores 9.5 and the BluEarth 4S AW21 6.9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the CrossClimate 2 or the BluEarth 4S AW21?
The CrossClimate 2 led 13 of the 14 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.4% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The CrossClimate 2 led 5 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 12.3% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The CrossClimate 2 led 7 of the 10 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it lapped the snow handling course 3.5% faster across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The CrossClimate 2 lasted 16.2% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) and had 20.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.4/10 for the CrossClimate 2 and 6.2/10 for the BluEarth 4S AW21.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The CrossClimate 2 was 2 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.3/10 for the CrossClimate 2 and 7.6/10 for the BluEarth 4S AW21.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the CrossClimate 2 80% from 173 reviews and the BluEarth 4S AW21 78% from 9. 73% of CrossClimate 2 owners would buy it again, against 63% for the BluEarth 4S AW21.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the CrossClimate 2 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 34.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The CrossClimate 2 is made in 116 sizes (15 to 22 inch) and the BluEarth 4S AW21 in 104 (14 to 22 inch). 72 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the CrossClimate 2 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the BluEarth 4S AW21 B and D.
Which is the newer tire?
The CrossClimate 2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2020, the BluEarth 4S AW21 in 2018. The CrossClimate 2 replaced the Michelin CrossClimate+.
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Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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