Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Michelin CrossClimate 2

Name: Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Brand: Hankook
Rating: 75 (72 reviews)

All Season Passenger Car 16 shared tests

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

TR Score: 8.9/10
Owners say: 75% · 72

Head to head 6-9 wins in 16 shared tests, 1 level 2021-2026 · 7 publications

Michelin CrossClimate 2

TR Score: 9.5/10
Owners say: 80% · 173

In the 16 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 finished ahead 9 times and the Kinergy 4S2 6 times, with one level. The Kinergy 4S2 lasted 2.8% longer in the wear tests; the CrossClimate 2 had 12.1% lower rolling resistance.

Data updated October 29, 2026

Which should you buy?

Choose the Michelin CrossClimate 2 if you want class-leading dry braking, stronger snow/ice capability, and consistently lower rolling resistance (best for mixed climates with real winters, high mileage, or efficiency-focused driving). Choose the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if you prioritize wet-road handling/braking confidence, strong aquaplaning resistance, and better overall value for money-especially in rain-heavy regions with only occasional snow.

Where the Kinergy 4S2 is stronger

Wet 41/61 Held 5% more grip in curved aquaplaning (10 tests)

Everything on the Kinergy 4S2

Where the CrossClimate 2 is stronger

Dry 18/28 Stopped 6.4% shorter in the dry (16 tests)
Snow 40/45 Was 8% quicker in the snow traction test (2 tests)
Ice 2/2 Stopped 3.5% shorter on ice (2 tests)
Comfort 10/18 Was 0.5 dB quieter (12 tests)
Value 18/23 Had 12.1% lower rolling resistance (11 tests)

Everything on the CrossClimate 2

The measured tallies (wins out of measurements in the shared tests) come straight from the tables below. The written verdict and bullet points are analysis of those tests and of owner reviews; where they and the figures disagree, the figures are right.

Kinergy 4S2 vs CrossClimate 2 at a glance

Category	Kinergy 4S2	Gap	CrossClimate 2
Shared tests won16 shared tests	6	1 level	9
Dry28 measurements	8	The CrossClimate 2 stopped 6.4% shorter in the dry (16 tests)	18
Wet61 measurements	41	The Kinergy 4S2 held 5% more grip in curved aquaplaning (10 tests)	20
Snow45 measurements	5	The CrossClimate 2 was 8% quicker in the snow traction test (2 tests)	40
Ice2 measurements	0	The CrossClimate 2 stopped 3.5% shorter on ice (2 tests)	2
Comfort18 measurements	6	The CrossClimate 2 was 0.5 dB quieter (12 tests)	10
Value23 measurements	5	The CrossClimate 2 had 12.1% lower rolling resistance (11 tests)	18
Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold	8.9/10	The CrossClimate 2 by 0.6	9.5/10
Owner rating72 and 173 reviews	75%	The CrossClimate 2 by 5 points	80%
Would buy againshare of owners	74%	Too close to call	73%
Pricein the 11 tests that listed prices	Cheaper	The CrossClimate 2 was dearer in 11 of 11	+20.8%
Sizes madeEU label registrations	96	71 sizes made in both	116

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 16 tests, 2021 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	Kinergy 4S2	CrossClimate 2
2026 ADAC All Season Tire Test - 185/65 R15 ADAC · 2026 · 185/65 R15	P5 of 16	P2 of 16
2025 Auto Bild Sports Car All Season Tire Test Auto Bild Sportscars · 2025 · 225/45 R18 · BMW 3 Series	P2 of 10	P4 of 10
2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tire Test Auto Bild · 2025 · 245/45 R18	P6 of 9	P2 of 9
2024 Sport Auto All Season Tire Test Sport Auto · 2024 · 215/40 R18	P2 of 6	P4 of 6
2024 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tire Test Auto Bild Allrad · 2024 · 245/45 R18	P2 of 10	P6 of 10
2024 Minivan / SUV All Season Tire Test Auto Bild Allrad · 2024 · 235/55 R17	P8 of 12	P1 of 12
2024 ADAC All Season Tire Test ADAC · 2024 · 205/55 R16	P3 of 16	P4 of 16
2023 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test Auto Zeitung · 2023 · 215/55 R17	P3 of 9	P2 of 9
2023 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test Auto Bild · 2023 · 225/45 R17	P8 of 16	P1 of 16
2023 All Season Tire 35 Set Shootout Auto Bild · 2023 · 225/45 R17	P13 of 35	P2 of 35
2023 Tire Reviews All Season Tire Test Tire Reviews · 2023 · 195/65 R15 Tire Reviews test	P3 of 10	P1 of 10
2022 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test Auto Bild · 2022 · 195/55 R16	P3 of 15	P9 of 15
2022 All Season Tire Market Overview Auto Bild · 2022 · 195/55 R16	P5 of 35	P3 of 35
2022/23 Tire Reviews All Season Tire Test Tire Reviews · 2022 · 225/45 R17 Tire Reviews test	P1 of 10	P1 of 10
2021 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test Auto Bild · 2021 · 225/50 R17	P3 of 16	P7 of 16
2021 All Season Tire Market Overview Auto Bild · 2021 · 225/50 R17	P4 of 32	P1 of 32

Performance profile

24 measurements from the 16 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.

Dry BrakingDry Handling (s)Dry Handling (mph)Wet BrakingWet Braking - ConcreteWet Handling (s)Wet Handling (mph)Wet CircleStraight AquaCurved AquaplaningSnow BrakingSnow TractionSnow Traction (lbf)Snow HandlingSnow Handling (mph)Snow SlalomIce BrakingSubj. ComfortNoiseTire WeightWearRolling ResistanceFuel ConsumptionAbrasion (mg/km/t)

Where each is furthest ahead

Kinergy 4S2

CrossClimate 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 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.

DryWetComfortValueSnowIce

Where each scores higher

Kinergy 4S2

CrossClimate 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.

Dry GripWet GripRoad FeedbackHandlingWearComfortSnow GripIce Grip

Where owners rate each higher

Kinergy 4S2

CrossClimate 2

Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.

Owners rate the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72 reviews and the CrossClimate 2 80% from 173. 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

Kinergy 4S2

Gap

CrossClimate 2

Wins

135

6.4%

127

0-16

79.4

0.6%

79.9

2-0

58.8

0.5%

58.5

5-2

scored

5.3%

scored

1-0

145

0.8%

146

11-5

139

3.4%

135

0-2

85.51

1.7%

86.99

3-0

46.8

2.1%

45.8

6-2

scored

6.5%

scored

1-0

14.15

14.46

7-1

50.4

2.5%

51.6

4-9

11.1

10.4

9-1

1.7%

2-11

6.02

5.54

0-2

611

4.3%

639

1-10

85.68

4.6%

81.91

0-3

33.4

1.5%

2-6

scored

5.3%

scored

0-1

12.5

4.7%

13.1

0-1

13.2

14.2

0-6

3.5%

0-2

scored

3.3%

scored

1-1

71.42

0.5 dB

70.97

5-6

6,022

2.9%

5,868

0-3

29,478

2.8%

28,446

4-1

8.38

12.1%

7.36

0-11

5.6

5.49

1-3

23.4

38.9%

14.3

0-1

57.5

12.9%

0-2

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 Kinergy 4S2 scores 8.9 and the CrossClimate 2 9.5 out of 10.

Tire Reviews Score by category

Kinergy 4S2	Category
80	Dry	95
85	Wet	75
43	Comfort	82
42	Value	84
74	Snow	94
25	Ice	47

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

What owners rate

Kinergy 4S2	Category
8.1	Dry Grip	8.6
8	Wet Grip	7.9
7.1	Road Feedback	7.6
7.4	Handling	7.5
7.6	Wear	8.4
7.3	Comfort	8.3
7.5	Snow Grip	8.4
6.5	Ice Grip	7.5

Owners rate the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72 reviews and the CrossClimate 2 80% from 173. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

75%from 72 reviews
74%would buy again
995,659 milesdriven by reviewers

Owners generally rate the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 as a strong all-weather all-rounder, with most praise focused on dependable wet and dry grip (mentioned by around half of reviewers) and reassuring snow traction. Longevity is often reported as good, and a notable minority also highlight the comfortable ride and strong value for money. The most consistent drawback is road noise, raised by over a third of owners, while a smaller group report higher fuel consumption/rolling resistance.

Confident wet grip in cold and rain
Strong dry grip for an all-season tire
Good tread life for year-round use
Surprisingly capable traction in snow
Noticeable road noise or whining at certain speeds
Higher rolling resistance or worse fuel economy
Can feel less predictable at the limit (soft/squealy breakaway)

Summarised by AI from 65 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.

Excellent tires for all seasons, this was my first test as I've always used summer/winter tires on all my cars for more safety and longevity. These tires perform very well on dry roads, in corners whether wet or not, but especially great on snow, whether it's recovery, acceleration, or grip (Summit of the Vosges for example or the Belgian Ardennes). I was very surprised despite all my extensive research on tires with a good price-quality ratio. After 46,000 km, I wouldn't try them again on snow as I've far exceeded the winter wear indicator, but there are still 2mm of tread left for summer.

81% Skoda Skoda Fabia 1.0 Tsi PJ3 DSG 215/45 R17 33,777 miles October 28, 2026

All 72 Kinergy 4S2 reviews

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.

After 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.

70% Toyota GR Yaris 205/50 R17 10,000 miles October 19, 2026

All 173 CrossClimate 2 reviews

Sizes, EU label and lineage

From the EU label registrations for each tire: 96 sizes of the Kinergy 4S2 and 116 of the CrossClimate 2, 71 of them made in both.

Category	Kinergy 4S2	CrossClimate 2
Season	All Season	All Season
Sizes made	96 sizes, 14 to 20 inch	116 sizes, 15 to 22 inch
Made in both	71 sizes 175/65 R15185/60 R15185/65 R15195/55 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15205/60 R15185/50 R16185/55 R16195/45 R16195/50 R16195/55 R16and 59 more
EU label wet grip	B96%C4%	B81%C19%
EU label rolling resistance	C78%D22%B1%	C55%B33%D11%A1%
EU label noise	70-73 dB B100%	69-73 dB B78%A22%
Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes	194 of 194	176 of 176
On the market since	-	2020
Replaced	Hankook Kinergy 4S (2021)	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 11 of the 11 tests that listed prices, by 20.8% 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.

Hankook's Kinergy 4S2 and Michelin's CrossClimate 2 are two of the most popular “premium-touring” all-season tires, but they arrive at the all-season brief from noticeably different directions. Across 16 shared professional tests (spanning small hatchback sizes through to larger SUV/camper fitments), the CrossClimate 2 repeatedly shows its signature strengths in dry braking, winter traction and efficiency, while the Kinergy 4S2 tends to score through balanced real-world handling-especially in the wet-and strong value.

The numbers reveal a fairly consistent trade-off: Michelin is almost untouchable for outright stopping power on dry roads (winning dry braking 16 times out of 16), and it usually brings stronger snow/ice metrics and lower rolling resistance. Hankook fights back with better wet handling and wet braking frequency (11 wet-braking wins vs Michelin's 5), class-leading resistance to curved aquaplaning (9 wins vs 1), and typically a friendlier price/value position-often finishing higher overall than you might expect given its badge.

Key differences

Dry braking is a decisive Michelin advantage: CrossClimate 2 wins 16/16 dry-braking comparisons and is often 5-12% shorter (e.g., Sport Auto 2024: 37.2 m vs 42.2 m).
Wet-road balance often favors Hankook in dynamic tests: Kinergy 4S2 wins wet braking more frequently (11 vs 5) and also leads wet handling/wet circle counts (9 wins each), matching multiple reports that Michelin can understeer or feel less precise in the wet.
Standing and especially curved aquaplaning typically favor Hankook: Kinergy 4S2 dominates curved aquaplaning (9 wins vs 1), and even where Michelin is competitive in straight aquaplaning, Hankook often has higher lateral reserves in deep water.
Winter performance leans Michelin: CrossClimate 2 wins most snow traction and snow handling/slalom metrics (traction 12 vs 1; handling 9 vs 2; slalom 6 vs 0), with several tests describing it as a near “winter-tire-like” all-season.
Efficiency/running costs skew Michelin on energy, Hankook on purchase price: Michelin wins rolling resistance 11 vs 0 and often shows lower fuel use, while Hankook repeatedly wins on price/value (price wins 5 vs 0; value wins 3 vs 0).
Wear/longevity is mixed but often slightly Hankook on predicted mileage, while Michelin can show lower abrasion: ADAC-style projections frequently favor Hankook (e.g., 51,500 km vs 44,000 km in ADAC 2024), yet Michelin sometimes posts lower abrasion figures (e.g., ADAC 2026: 48 vs 59 mg/km/t), indicating different wear behaviors depending on test method and duty cycle.

Conclusion

If your priority is maximum “safety margin” when you hit the brakes-especially on dry roads-the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is the clearer bet. It consistently stops shorter (e.g., ADAC 2026: 39.6 m vs 42.1 m; Sport Auto 2024: 37.2 m vs 42.2 m) and it very often leads on winter traction/handling (snow traction wins 12 vs 1; snow braking wins 11 vs 2). It also tends to run more efficiently (rolling-resistance wins 11 vs 0), which matters for fuel/EV range and long-term running costs-though several reports still flag its wet handling as the “thing that keeps it from winning” as newer competitors have raised wet-grip standards.

The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 is the smarter choice for drivers who see more rain than snow, value confident wet-road behavior, and want strong performance-per-euro. It more often wins wet braking and wet handling disciplines and is frequently stronger when the road is deeply wet (notably curved aquaplaning). It also regularly looks good on longevity/value metrics, with several tests giving it higher predicted mileage (e.g., ADAC 2024: 51,500 km vs 44,000 km; Auto Bild 2023: 60,289 km vs 57,046 km) and consistently lower purchase price/value scores. The practical takeaway: CrossClimate 2 is the “stop-short, winter-strong, efficient” option; Kinergy 4S2 is the “wet-balanced, aquaplaning-resilient, better-value” option.

Kinergy 4S2 vs CrossClimate 2: your questions

Is the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 or the Michelin CrossClimate 2 the better tire?

In the 16 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 finished ahead 9 times and the Kinergy 4S2 6 times, with one level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Kinergy 4S2 scores 8.9 and the CrossClimate 2 9.5 out of 10.

Which is better in the wet, the Kinergy 4S2 or the CrossClimate 2?

The Kinergy 4S2 led 41 of the 61 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 5% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 10 tests.

Which is better in the dry?

The CrossClimate 2 led 18 of the 28 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.4% shorter in the dry across 16 tests.

Which is better in snow?

The CrossClimate 2 led 40 of the 45 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it was 8% quicker in the snow traction test across 2 tests.

Which lasts longer and costs less to run?

The Kinergy 4S2 lasted 2.8% longer in the wear tests (5 tests); the CrossClimate 2 had 12.1% lower rolling resistance (11 tests), used 2% less fuel (4 tests) and shed 12.9% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Kinergy 4S2 and 8.4/10 for the CrossClimate 2.

Which is quieter and more comfortable?

The CrossClimate 2 was 0.5 dB quieter (12 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.3/10 for the Kinergy 4S2 and 8.3/10 for the CrossClimate 2.

What do owners say?

Owners rate the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72 reviews and the CrossClimate 2 80% from 173. 74% of Kinergy 4S2 owners would buy it again, against 73% for the CrossClimate 2.

Which is more expensive?

In the 11 tests that listed prices, the CrossClimate 2 was the dearer tire in 11 of them, by 20.8% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.

Are they available in the same sizes?

The Kinergy 4S2 is made in 96 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the CrossClimate 2 in 116 (15 to 22 inch). 71 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Kinergy 4S2 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the CrossClimate 2 B and C.

More comparisons with these tires

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Hankook iON FlexClimate vs Michelin CrossClimate 2 2-0 in 2 shared tests

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Nexen N Blue 4Season 2 5-1 in 6 shared tests

Continental AllSeasonContact 2 vs Hankook Kinergy 4S2 11-1 in 12 shared tests

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Every Hankook vs Michelin test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →

Discussion

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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.

Our review ethics →

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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Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Michelin CrossClimate 2

Which should you buy?

Where the Kinergy 4S2 is stronger

Where the CrossClimate 2 is stronger

Kinergy 4S2 vs CrossClimate 2 at a glance

Head to head in 16 tests, 2021 to 2026

Performance profile

Every measurement, side by side

Scores beyond the shared tests

What owners say

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Sizes, EU label and lineage

Reading the results

Conclusion

Kinergy 4S2 vs CrossClimate 2: your questions

Is the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 or the Michelin CrossClimate 2 the better tire?

Which is better in the wet, the Kinergy 4S2 or the CrossClimate 2?

Which is better in the dry?

Which is better in snow?

Which lasts longer and costs less to run?

Which is quieter and more comfortable?

What do owners say?

Which is more expensive?

Are they available in the same sizes?

More comparisons with these tires

Discussion

Run either of these?

Where this data comes from

About the TR Score

Who does the testing

My tires

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