Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Nexen N Blue 4Season 2
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 80% · 173
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 78% · 15
In the 8 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 finished ahead 8 times and the N Blue 4Season 2 not once. The CrossClimate 2 had 10.2% lower rolling resistance; the N Blue 4Season 2 stopped 5% shorter on ice.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Michelin CrossClimate 2 if you want the safest, most well-rounded all-season with consistently stronger aquaplaning and snow performance (and typically better efficiency/ADAC wear). Choose the Nexen N'Blue 4Season 2 if purchase price is the main constraint and you prioritize quiet comfort and strong ice braking-accepting that wet/dry handling limits and aquaplaning reserves are usually lower than the Michelin.
Where the CrossClimate 2 is stronger
- Stronger overall safety balance across tests (wins most dry/wet/snow categories; multiple top-2 finishes and a major test win in Auto Bild 2023)
- Clearly better aquaplaning resistance (e.g., straight aquaplaning +5.9% to +15.6% vs Nexen; curved aquaplaning frequently +8% to +32%)
- Better winter performance on snow in most tests (higher traction forces and faster snow handling/slalom; e.g., snow traction +5-9% common)
Where the N Blue 4Season 2 is stronger
- Better value metrics and usually lower purchase-cost burden (wins value in ADAC 2025 and Auto Bild 2023 by large margins)
- Very strong ice braking performance (wins both ADAC ice braking comparisons: 2025 and 2026)
- Often quieter/refined in objective noise readings (wins noise in both ADAC tests and the SUV test; frequently 0.6-2.2 dB advantage)
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 N Blue 4Season 2 at a glance
| Category | CrossClimate 2 | Gap | N Blue 4Season 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won8 shared tests | 8 | 0 | |
| Dry12 measurements | 9 | The CrossClimate 2 stopped 3.8% shorter in the dry (8 tests) | 2 |
| Wet29 measurements | 25 | The CrossClimate 2 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 9.1% higher speed (6 tests) | 2 |
| Snow20 measurements | 19 | The CrossClimate 2 stopped 3.1% shorter on snow (6 tests) | 0 |
| Ice2 measurements | 0 | The N Blue 4Season 2 stopped 5% shorter on ice (2 tests) | 2 |
| Comfort8 measurements | 5 | 3 | |
| Value12 measurements | 10 | The CrossClimate 2 had 10.2% lower rolling resistance (4 tests) | 1 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The CrossClimate 2 by 0.7 | 8.8/10 |
| Owner rating173 and 15 reviews | 80% | The CrossClimate 2 by 2 points | 78% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 73% | The N Blue 4Season 2 by 13 points | 86% |
| Pricein the 4 tests that listed prices | +43.7% | The CrossClimate 2 was dearer in 4 of 4 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 116 | 82 sizes made in both | 118 |
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 8 tests, 2023 to 2026
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 | N Blue 4Season 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ADAC All Season Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P2 of 16 | P9 of 16 | |
| 2025 ADAC All Season Tire Test | P5 of 16 | P11 of 16 | |
| 2024 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tire Test | P6 of 10 | P8 of 10 | |
| 2024 All Season Tire Market Overview | P4 of 37 | P16 of 37 | |
| 2024 Sports Car All Season Tire Test | P2 of 11 | P6 of 11 | |
| 2023 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test | P2 of 9 | P9 of 9 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test | P1 of 16 | P12 of 16 | |
| 2023 All Season Tire 35 Set Shootout | P2 of 35 | P9 of 35 |
Performance profile
18 measurements from the 8 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
CrossClimate 2
N Blue 4Season 2
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 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 6 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
CrossClimate 2
N Blue 4Season 2
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
N Blue 4Season 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the CrossClimate 2 80% from 173 reviews and the N Blue 4Season 2 78% from 15. 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 | N Blue 4Season 2 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 125 | 3.8% | 130 | 7-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 84.3 | 0.4% | 84 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 60.6 | 1.3% | 59.8 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 149 | 3.7% | 156 | 6-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 134 | 0.4% | 134 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 101.6 | 0.9% | 102.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 47 | 1.8% | 46.2 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 14.74 | 0.9% | 14.88 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 49 | 9.1% | 45 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 9.4 | 16.4% | 8.2 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 63 | 3.1% | 65 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 571 | 7.4% | 528 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 51.5 | 8.8% | 56.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 35.5 | 4.6% | 33.9 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.1 | 3.1% | 12.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.9 | 9.2% | 12.7 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 60 | 5% | 57 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 83.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71 | 0.4 dB | 71.42 | 3-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 77.2 | 3.8% | 80.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 30,685 | 0.1% | 31,821 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.28 | 10.2% | 8.12 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.53 | 1.8% | 5.63 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50.5 | 32.3% | 74.5 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 N Blue 4Season 2 8.8 out of 10.
| CrossClimate 2 | Category | N Blue 4Season 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | Dry | 86 | ||
| 75 | Wet | 51 | ||
| 82 | Comfort | 71 | ||
| 84 | Value | 64 | ||
| 94 | Snow | 47 | ||
| 47 | Ice | 91 | ||
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 | N Blue 4Season 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Dry Grip | 8.1 | ||
| 7.9 | Wet Grip | 7.9 | ||
| 7.6 | Road Feedback | 7.6 | ||
| 7.5 | Handling | 7.7 | ||
| 8.4 | Wear | 8.5 | ||
| 8.3 | Comfort | 8.5 | ||
| 8.4 | Snow Grip | 7.2 | ||
| 7.5 | Ice Grip | 6.4 | ||
Owners rate the CrossClimate 2 80% from 173 reviews and the N Blue 4Season 2 78% from 15. 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.
Nexen N Blue 4Season 2
- 78%from 15 reviews
- 86%would buy again
- 145,500 milesdriven by reviewers
With an 80% average score and 10 of 12 reviews rating it positively, owners generally find the Nexen N Blue 4Season 2 to be a capable all-season option with dependable dry and wet grip, plus reassuring traction in snow for everyday driving. A notable minority mention ice performance, and opinions are mixed here (around a third of owners commenting), with a couple finding it excellent and a similar number reporting it's not as confidence-inspiring as a dedicated winter tire. Comfort and refinement also come through strongly, with several owners describing it as particularly quiet.
- Strong dry grip for an affordable all-season
- Confident wet grip in mixed conditions
- Surprisingly capable traction in snow
- Very low road noise
- Mixed ice grip versus a proper winter tire
- Soft/squishy feel or sidewalls when pushed
Summarised by AI from 12 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 15 N Blue 4Season 2 reviewsIn the meantime, I've driven 32,000 miles (51,000 km) on these tires (see current photos), and I have to say, they're still performing excellently on my car. Summers here are hot, and winters are mild; we rarely get snow, just wet and slushy roads. These all-season tires are the perfect choice for these conditions, eliminating the need for unnecessary tire changes (except for swapping the front tires to the rear and vice versa). And they’re a great fit for my car (Kia Optima K5). The only downside is that at highway speeds, within a certain speed range, a pulsating noise occurs due to the tread pattern, but as soon as the speed goes above or below that range, it goes away. I highly recommend them for everyday driving—I’d buy them again.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 116 sizes of the CrossClimate 2 and 118 of the N Blue 4Season 2, 82 of them made in both.
| Category | CrossClimate 2 | N Blue 4Season 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| Sizes made | 116 sizes, 15 to 22 inch | 118 sizes, 14 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 82 sizes 175/65 R15185/60 R15185/65 R15195/55 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15205/60 R15195/45 R16195/50 R16195/55 R16195/60 R16205/55 R16and 70 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B81%C19% | B86%A14%C1% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C55%B33%D11%A1% | C81%D18%B2% |
| EU label noise | 69-73 dB B78%A22% | 71-73 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 176 of 176 | 200 of 200 |
| On the market since | 2020 | 2022 |
| Replaced | Michelin CrossClimate+ (2017) | - |
| Replaced by | Michelin CrossClimate 3 | - |
| 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) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The CrossClimate 2 was the dearer tire in 4 of the 4 tests that listed prices, by 43.7% 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.
This is a classic premium-vs-value all-season matchup: Michelin's CrossClimate 2 (premium-touring) is a long-established benchmark for year-round safety, while Nexen's N'Blue 4Season 2 (touring) targets buyers who want credible winter capability and comfort at a much lower purchase price.
Across eight shared professional tests (from small-car 185/65 R15 up to SUV 245/45 R18), the pattern is consistent: the Michelin tends to win the safety-critical disciplines (especially aquaplaning resistance, wet handling consistency, and snow traction/handling), and it often pairs that with strong efficiency metrics. The Nexen's best arguments are value, generally low noise/comfortable manners, and notably strong ice braking-yet it repeatedly gives away points in wet/dry control and aquaplaning reserves, which is where all-season tires most often get exposed.
Conclusion
On balance, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is the more complete and consistently higher-performing all-season tire. It finishes well ahead overall in the big comparative tests (e.g., ADAC 2026: 2/16 vs 9/16; ADAC 2025: 5/16 vs 11/16; Auto Bild 2023: 1/18 vs 12/18), driven by repeatable advantages in aquaplaning (often +6-16% in straight aquaplaning speed and double-digit gains in curved aquaplaning), snow traction/handling, and typically shorter dry braking (e.g., ADAC 2026: 39.6 m vs 42.6 m). It also frequently looks like the smarter long-term running-cost tire on paper thanks to lower rolling resistance and strong wear projections in ADAC (e.g., +14-17% predicted mileage over Nexen in 2025-2026).
The Nexen N'Blue 4Season 2 makes sense when upfront cost is the priority and your driving is moderate, but the tests repeatedly show it has less headroom in the conditions that matter most for avoidance and emergency braking-particularly wet grip and aquaplaning stability (a theme noted by both ADAC and Auto Bild). Its standout is ice braking (beating Michelin in both ADAC ice tests: 20.5 m vs 21.8 m in 2026; 14.2 m vs 14.8 m in 2025), plus frequent noise wins and strong price-per-performance metrics (e.g., ADAC value: 2.51 vs 3.05; Auto Bild value: 4.6 vs 8.76). The practical takeaway: if you want the most confidence in mixed rain and slush at motorway speeds, the Michelin's safety margin is the easier choice; if you mainly want a quiet, budget-friendly all-season and accept narrower wet/dry limits, the Nexen is the value play.
CrossClimate 2 vs N Blue 4Season 2: your questions
Is the Michelin CrossClimate 2 or the Nexen N Blue 4Season 2 the better tire?
In the 8 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 finished ahead 8 times and the N Blue 4Season 2 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the CrossClimate 2 scores 9.5 and the N Blue 4Season 2 8.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the CrossClimate 2 or the N Blue 4Season 2?
The CrossClimate 2 led 25 of the 29 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 9.1% higher speed across 6 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The CrossClimate 2 led 9 of the 12 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.8% shorter in the dry across 8 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The CrossClimate 2 led 19 of the 20 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.1% shorter on snow across 6 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The CrossClimate 2 had 10.2% lower rolling resistance (4 tests), used 1.8% less fuel (3 tests) and shed 32.3% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.4/10 for the CrossClimate 2 and 8.5/10 for the N Blue 4Season 2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.3/10 for the CrossClimate 2 and 8.5/10 for the N Blue 4Season 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the CrossClimate 2 80% from 173 reviews and the N Blue 4Season 2 78% from 15. 73% of CrossClimate 2 owners would buy it again, against 86% for the N Blue 4Season 2.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the CrossClimate 2 was the dearer tire in 4 of them, by 43.7% 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 N Blue 4Season 2 in 118 (14 to 21 inch). 82 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 N Blue 4Season 2 B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The N Blue 4Season 2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2022, the CrossClimate 2 in 2020. The CrossClimate 2 replaced the Michelin CrossClimate+.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
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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