Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport vs Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
- TR Score
- 9.6/10
- Owners say
- 86% · 24
- TR Score
- 9.6/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 73
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport and the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 have met in 6 independent tests and the record is level at 3-3. The CrossClimate 3 Sport had 6.2% lower rolling resistance; the Cinturato All Season SF3 held 14.4% more grip in curved aquaplaning.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 if your priority is maximum safety margin in heavy rain/standing water plus consistently short dry braking and strong wet-cornering control. Choose the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport if you want the more performance-leaning feel with better efficiency and stronger snow traction, and you're willing to accept weaker aquaplaning margins (and, in some tests, higher noise/firmness).
Where the CrossClimate 3 Sport is stronger
- Class-leading rolling resistance across tests (wins 5/6; typically ~5-7% lower than SF3), supporting lower running costs and better EV range
- Very strong winter pull-away: snow traction wins 5/5 where measured, including 2946N vs 2802N in AutoBild 2025 (+5.1%)
- Often superior wet braking (wins 4/6), including a notable 31.82 m vs 33.74 m advantage in the 2026/27 test (~5.7%)
Where the Cinturato All Season SF3 is stronger
- Best-in-comparison dry braking: wins 6/6, typically by ~0.5-3.5% (e.g., 36.8 m vs 38.1 m in Die Reifentester 2026)
- Outstanding aquaplaning resistance: wins 5/5 in both straight and curved aquaplaning where reported (often ~5-8% straight, ~8-17% curved)
- Consistently strong objective wet handling (wins 4/4 where directly measured), with predictable, progressive breakaway noted by testers
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 3 Sport vs Cinturato All Season SF3 at a glance
| Category | CrossClimate 3 Sport | Gap | Cinturato All Season SF3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won6 shared tests | 3 | 3 | |
| Dry14 measurements | 5 | The Cinturato All Season SF3 stopped 1.9% shorter in the dry (6 tests) | 9 |
| Wet26 measurements | 6 | The Cinturato All Season SF3 held 14.4% more grip in curved aquaplaning (5 tests) | 19 |
| Snow19 measurements | 12 | The CrossClimate 3 Sport stopped 2.1% shorter on snow (5 tests) | 6 |
| Comfort8 measurements | 2 | 5 | |
| Value7 measurements | 7 | The CrossClimate 3 Sport had 6.2% lower rolling resistance (5 tests) | 0 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.6/10 | Level | 9.6/10 |
| Owner rating24 and 73 reviews | 86% | The CrossClimate 3 Sport by 2 points | 84% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 86% | The CrossClimate 3 Sport by 6 points | 80% |
| Pricein the 3 tests that listed prices | +17% | The CrossClimate 3 Sport was dearer in 3 of 3 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 63 | 13 sizes made in both | 70 |
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 6 tests, 2025 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 3 Sport | Field | Cinturato All Season SF3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 | P2 of 10 | P3 of 10 | |
| 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 | P3 of 9 | P1 of 9 | |
| 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test | P3 of 5 | P4 of 5 | |
| 2025 AutoBild All Season Tire Test | P3 of 15 | P1 of 15 | |
| 2025 All Season 30 Tire Braking Test | P6 of 30 | P3 of 30 | |
| Michelin CrossClimate 3 and 3 Sport VS Rivals | P1 of 4 | P2 of 4 |
Performance profile
21 measurements from the 6 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
CrossClimate 3 Sport
Cinturato All Season SF3
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 94%: 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 3 Sport
Cinturato All Season SF3
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 3 Sport
Cinturato All Season SF3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the CrossClimate 3 Sport 86% from 24 reviews and the Cinturato All Season SF3 84% from 73. 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 3 Sport | Gap | Cinturato All Season SF3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 124 | 1.9% | 122 | 0-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 85.38 | 0.3% | 85.59 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 62.1 | 0.1% | 62.2 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 130 | 1.2% | 132 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 82.78 | 0.6% | 82.27 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 45 | 2.2% | 46 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 1.7% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 15.64 | 0.9% | 15.46 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50.4 | 6.1% | 53.4 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.9 | 14.4% | 9 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 76 | 2.1% | 78 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.22 | 2% | 4.3 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 565 | 2.8% | 549 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.1 | 0.5% | 72.48 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 33.3 | 1% | 33 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 1.3% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 21.68 | 2.2% | 22.16 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.2 | 2.9% | 12.6 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.2 | = | 13.2 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 5.5% | scored | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 4.9% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69.51 | 0.3 dB | 69.22 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 28,925 | 4.7% | 27,620 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.56 | 6.2% | 8.06 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 912 | 17.4% | 1,104 | 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 3 Sport scores 9.6 and the Cinturato All Season SF3 9.6 out of 10.
| CrossClimate 3 Sport | Category | Cinturato All Season SF3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | Dry | 98 | ||
| 59 | Wet | 99 | ||
| 23 | Comfort | 77 | ||
| - | Value | 51 | ||
| 100 | Snow | 82 | ||
| - | Ice | 60 | ||
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 3 Sport | Category | Cinturato All Season SF3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | Dry Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 9.1 | ||
| 8.7 | Road Feedback | 8.4 | ||
| 8.4 | Handling | 8.4 | ||
| 8.8 | Wear | 7.8 | ||
| 9.2 | Comfort | 7.9 | ||
| 9.4 | Snow Grip | 8.6 | ||
| 9.4 | Ice Grip | 7.8 | ||
Owners rate the CrossClimate 3 Sport 86% from 24 reviews and the Cinturato All Season SF3 84% from 73. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport
- 86%from 24 reviews
- 86%would buy again
- 88,237 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport very highly overall (86.1% average; 18 of 20 positive), most consistently praising how quiet and comfortable it is while still delivering strong, predictable grip in both the dry and the wet. Around half of reviewers mention the low road noise and smooth ride, and many also highlight confident dry performance and wet traction that feels close to a summer UHP tire for everyday driving. Downsides are less common, but around one in seven owners raise faster-than-expected wear, and around one in ten criticise the lack of rim protection.
- Quiet on the road, even at speed
- Smooth, comfortable ride
- Strong, predictable dry grip
- Confident wet grip and traction
- Faster-than-expected tread wear for some owners
- Little to no rim protection / exposed rims
- Steering feel not as sharp for everyone
Summarised by AI from 20 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 24 CrossClimate 3 Sport reviewsFitted on my Golf 7.5 GTI Performance as a replacement for a winter tire (Zagreb, Croatia - there hasn't been much snow in a couple of years, only wet conditions).
So far so good - only down side for now is noise. They are louder than most of the tires I have driven on. Speaking as someone who has Bridgestone Potenza Evo Sport summer time.
Feedback on the steering wheel is good, sharp.Looks good on the car with their sporty side wall.
I will get back on this review after this winter and some snow potential.
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
- 84%from 73 reviews
- 80%would buy again
- 578,592 milesdriven by reviewers
Most owners rate the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 highly, with the bulk of feedback praising its dependable wet and dry grip (mentioned by over half of reviewers) and an easy, confidence-inspiring feel for year-round use. Around a third of owners also highlight strong snow traction for an all-season tire, alongside generally low road noise and good ride comfort. A small minority report vibration/balancing issues, while roughly one in six mention steering feel is a bit soft or less direct than sportier or summer-focused alternatives; aquaplaning feedback is more mixed.
- Strong wet grip and reassuring confidence in the rain
- High dry grip for an all-season tire
- Impressive snow traction for winter days
- Generally low road noise, especially at cruising speeds
- Vibration or balancing/run-out problems reported by some owners
- Steering feel can be a bit soft or less direct than alternatives
- Aquaplaning resistance gets mixed reports in standing water
Summarised by AI from 70 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 73 Cinturato All Season SF3 reviewsGreat tires! In autumn and winter conditions, I found them better than the Continental TS860 in mud and snow, but worse on ice.
In summer, compared with the Continental PremiumContact 6, they offered better aquaplaning resistance, but slightly worse wet grip and overall handling. Lateral stability was by far their weakest point compared with my old Conti.
These were my first all-season tires, a bit of a gamble for me, but overall, I would recommend them. After 40,000 km over two years, they are showing some wear, so I plan to replace them by 50,000 km to stay on the safe side. My original plan was to use them for 40,000–60,000 km and less than four years.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 63 sizes of the CrossClimate 3 Sport and 70 of the Cinturato All Season SF3, 13 of them made in both.
| Category | CrossClimate 3 Sport | Cinturato All Season SF3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| Sizes made | 63 sizes, 18 to 23 inch | 70 sizes, 15 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 13 sizes 225/40 R18235/40 R18245/40 R18245/45 R18225/40 R19235/35 R19245/35 R19245/40 R19255/35 R19255/40 R19255/45 R19245/40 R20and 1 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A100% | A95%B5% |
| EU label rolling resistance | B78%C22% | B64%C36% |
| EU label noise | 72-75 dB B81%A19% | 69-72 dB B95%A5% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 63 of 63 | 73 of 73 |
| On the market since | 2025 | - |
| Replaced | - | Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2 (2020) |
| Awards | Winner: Best All Season Tires (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2025) | Recommended: Best All Season Tires (DriverReviews, 2026/27) |
| Price in the shared tests | The CrossClimate 3 Sport was the dearer tire in 3 of the 3 tests that listed prices, by 17% 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 3 Sport and Pirelli's Cinturato All Season SF3 sit at the sharp end of the all-season segment, but they chase performance from different directions. The Michelin is explicitly an ultra-high-performance (UHP) all-season aimed at drivers who want a more “summer-tire-like” steering response and efficiency without giving up true winter capability. The Pirelli is positioned more as a premium-touring all-season, but the test data shows it behaves unusually sporty-especially in wet handling and aquaplaning resilience.
Across six shared 225/40 R18 tests, the pattern is remarkably consistent: the Pirelli repeatedly dominates dry braking and standing-water safety (straight and curved aquaplaning), while the Michelin repeatedly takes the edge in rolling resistance and frequently in wet braking and snow traction. The result is a close rivalry where the better choice depends less on “which is best” and more on whether your biggest risk is deep water and wet cornering (Pirelli) or stopping power on wet asphalt plus efficiency and snow pull-away (Michelin).
Conclusion
If you drive in very wet climates, see lots of standing water, or simply want the most confidence when the road is saturated, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is the more robust safety pick overall. It wins dry braking in all 6 shared tests, and it's repeatedly the aquaplaning benchmark (typically ~5-8% better in straight aquaplaning and ~8-17% better in curved aquaplaning). It also tends to be quicker in objective wet handling, and in two major group tests it placed 1st overall (1/17 in AutoBild 2025 and 1/9 in Die Reifentester 2026), reflecting how few weak areas it has on typical mixed-weather scorecards.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport makes a stronger case for drivers who value efficiency and winter “go” (traction) while still wanting sharp steering and strong braking security. It consistently leads rolling resistance (5 wins, often ~6% lower), which can translate into real fuel/EV range gains over time, and it repeatedly wins snow traction (5/5 where measured). It also often beats the Pirelli in wet braking (4/6), including a meaningful gap in the 2026/27 test (31.82 m vs 33.74 m, ~5.7%). The trade-offs are that it's regularly behind in aquaplaning margins and can be noisier/firm-riding in some reports-so it's best when your roads are more “wet but not flooded,” or you prioritize efficiency and snow pull-away over ultimate standing-water capacity.
CrossClimate 3 Sport vs Cinturato All Season SF3: your questions
Is the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport or the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 the better tire?
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport and the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 have met in 6 independent tests and the record is level at 3-3. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the CrossClimate 3 Sport scores 9.6 and the Cinturato All Season SF3 9.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the CrossClimate 3 Sport or the Cinturato All Season SF3?
The Cinturato All Season SF3 led 19 of the 26 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 14.4% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 5 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Cinturato All Season SF3 led 9 of the 14 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.9% shorter in the dry across 6 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The CrossClimate 3 Sport led 12 of the 19 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.1% shorter on snow across 5 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The CrossClimate 3 Sport had 6.2% lower rolling resistance (5 tests). Owners rate wear 8.8/10 for the CrossClimate 3 Sport and 7.8/10 for the Cinturato All Season SF3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 9.2/10 for the CrossClimate 3 Sport and 7.9/10 for the Cinturato All Season SF3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the CrossClimate 3 Sport 86% from 24 reviews and the Cinturato All Season SF3 84% from 73. 86% of CrossClimate 3 Sport owners would buy it again, against 80% for the Cinturato All Season SF3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the CrossClimate 3 Sport was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 17% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The CrossClimate 3 Sport is made in 63 sizes (18 to 23 inch) and the Cinturato All Season SF3 in 70 (15 to 20 inch). 13 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the CrossClimate 3 Sport is graded A for wet grip and B for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Cinturato All Season SF3 A and B.
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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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