Tested 13 times by independent publications, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 has taken 1 test wins with an average finish of 5th. Its strongest discipline is Snow Handling, beating 99% of the field across 7 tests; its weakest is Wet Handling, at 18% across 8 tests.
2026 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test P4 of 15
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 finishes fourth and is rated good. It remains one of the strongest all-season tires on snow and good on dry roads, but its wet performance and high running cost hold it back from the top three.
Where the Michelin CrossClimate 3 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking | 11 | P6.8 of 14.1 | 46% | - |
| Dry Handling | 8 | P6.6 of 10.8 | 30% | - |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4 | P6.8 of 8.3 | 23% | - |
| Subj. Fun | 1 | P4 of 4 | 0% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 11 | P9.4 of 14.1 | 24% | - |
| Wet Handling Weak | 8 | P8.6 of 10.8 | 18% | - |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4 | P7 of 8.3 | 20% | - |
| Wet Circle | 6 | P10.5 of 13 | 20% | - |
| Straight Aqua | 8 | P6.4 of 11.4 | 49% | - |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 7 | P8.6 of 11.6 | 25% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking | 8 | P2 of 11.4 | 86% | 3 |
| Snow Traction | 8 | P1.6 of 11.4 | 94% | 5 |
| Snow Handling Strong | 7 | P1.1 of 11.3 | 99% | 6 |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 3 | P1 of 9.7 | 100% | 3 |
| Snow Circle | 2 | P1 of 10.5 | 100% | 2 |
| Snow Slalom | 3 | P1.3 of 13.7 | 98% | 2 |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort | 6 | P2.7 of 10 | 83% | 2 |
| Subj. Noise | 2 | P2 of 6.5 | 88% | 1 |
| Noise | 6 | P5.3 of 13 | 60% | 1 |
| Value | ||||
| Wear | 3 | P5.7 of 13.3 | 64% | - |
| Value | 3 | P10.3 of 13.3 | 28% | - |
| Rolling Resistance | 8 | P4.1 of 11.1 | 69% | - |
| Abrasion | 3 | P2.7 of 13.3 | 88% | 1 |
Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Michelin CrossClimate 3. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
10 shared: 6 ahead, 4 behind
Compare with Turanza All Season 6 |
10 | 6 | 4 | - | 60% |
 Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
10 shared: 1 ahead, 9 behind
Compare with Cinturato All Season SF3 |
10 | 1 | 9 | - | 10% |
 Continental AllSeasonContact 2
9 shared: 3 ahead, 6 behind
Compare with AllSeasonContact 2 |
9 | 3 | 6 | - | 33% |
 Nokian Seasonproof 2
7 shared: 6 ahead, 1 behind
Compare with Seasonproof 2 |
7 | 6 | 1 | - | 86% |
 Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport
7 shared: 0 ahead, 6 behind
Compare with CrossClimate 3 Sport |
7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0% |
 Dunlop All Season 2
5 shared: 5 ahead, 0 behind
|
5 | 5 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Goodyear Vector All Season 4
5 shared: 0 ahead, 5 behind
Compare with Vector All Season 4 |
5 | 0 | 5 | - | 0% |
 Linglong Sport Master 4S
4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind
Compare with Sport Master 4S |
4 | 4 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Toyo Celsius AS2
4 shared: 3 ahead, 1 behind
Compare with Celsius AS2 |
4 | 3 | 1 | - | 75% |
 Kleber Quadraxer 3
4 shared: 3 ahead, 1 behind
|
4 | 3 | 1 | - | 75% |
 Hankook Kinergy 4S2
4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind
Compare with Kinergy 4S2 |
4 | 2 | 2 | - | 50% |
 Ceat 4 SeasonDrive X5
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
 Falken Euroall Season AS220
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
 Laufenn G Fit 4S
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
 Firestone MultiSeason Gen 02
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
 Nexen N Blue 4Season 2
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
 Vredestein Quatrac
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
Compare with Quatrac |
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
 Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.
| Tire | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelin CrossClimate 2 Predecessor | 38 | 8 | 3rd | 70% |
| Michelin CrossClimate 3 This tire | 13 | 1 | 5th | 59% |
Drawn from 13 tests. Updated October 27, 2026.
Across 13 independent results, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 consistently emerges as a snow-focused all-season tire: it repeatedly wins or finishes near the top in objective snow disciplines and is often described by testers as the “snow specialist/king”. It was 1st in snow braking/handling/slalom in the 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV test, took snow traction and snow handling wins in the 2026 Auto Zeitung test (with testers saying it was “in a class of its own on snow”), and won all three objective snow tests in the 2026 Tire Reviews group test. Refinement and running efficiency are the other recurring positives, with frequent praise for comfort and noise (e.g. quietest in Auto Zeitung's pass-by noise test) and solid rolling resistance (top three in Die Reifentester; 2nd of 4 in Tire Reviews' 2025 group test). Overall results reflect that bias: typically mid-to-upper midfield (average placing 5th; often 4th) with one “Highly recommended” award (2026 Auto Zeitung), and a best headline finish of 2nd/8 in Auto Express 2026.
The consistent caveat is wet and warm-road performance versus the class leaders. Wet braking and wet handling are repeatedly below par for a premium tire, sometimes near the back of the field (e.g. 14/17 wet braking and 14/17 wet handling in 2026 Auto Bild; 9/9 wet braking in Die Reifentester; and last in wet braking/handling in Tire Reviews' 2025 four-tire test, where the write-up notes a ~3 m wet braking deficit to the next worst). Dry behavior is generally safe rather than sporty, with several tests flagging understeer and a lack of turn-in bite; this shows in results like 10/10 dry handling in Auto Zeitung 2026 and 9/11 in Tire Reviews 2026. Exceptions exist: it was strong in dry handling in 2026 Auto Bild (3/17, just 0.7% from best) and is occasionally decent in straight-line aquaplaning (e.g. 3/10 in Auto Zeitung), but the overall pattern remains “snow/refinement first, wet pace second”.
highest subjective snow score- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
won all three snow tests, braking, traction and the handling lap- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
was fastest on the handling course, held the most grip in the slalom- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV All Season Tire Test (2026)
the fastest snow handling lap- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
best tire on snow by some distance- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
It won snow braking, traction and handling- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
accelerated on snow faster than even the winter reference tire- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
was second for traction, beating the winter reference in all four snow tests- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV All Season Tire Test (2026)
leading snow braking- Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 (2026)
Best in all three objective snow tests- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
won all three snow tests, braking, traction and the handling lap- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 was the best tire on snow. It stopped shortest by a clear margin- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV All Season Tire Test (2026)
stopped shortest of all nine on snow- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
It is also the most comfortable tire in the test over bumps and expansion joints- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
most comfortable tires in the test- 2026 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test (2026)
It was also comfortable- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
one of the most comfortable- Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 (2026)
best in test for ride comfort- Michelin CrossClimate 3 and 3 Sport VS Rivals (2025)
second only to the Tomket for low rolling resistance- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
its rolling resistance is in the top three- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
reasonable efficiency- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
rolling resistance that is genuinely low for an all season- Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 (2026)
Second in test for rolling resistance- Michelin CrossClimate 3 and 3 Sport VS Rivals (2025)
quietest tire on the pass-by noise test- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
among the quietest- 2026 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test (2026)
one of the quieter tires in the pass-by test- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV All Season Tire Test (2026)
one of the quietest- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
calm, precise responses- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
consistently provided clear feedback to the driver, safely signaling its grip limits well in advance- Michelin CrossClimate 3 & 3 Sport vs Pilot Sport 5 vs Primacy 5 (2025)
had the lowest abrasion and a long predicted tread life- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
very high mileage capability- 2025 AutoBild All Season Tire Test (2025)
set the slowest handling lap- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
slow wet handling and wet circle times- 2026 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test (2026)
the slowest of the road tires around the wet handling lap- Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 (2026)
seventh on the wet circle- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
it recorded the longest wet stopping distance of the nine- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
some of the longest wet braking of the all-season tires- 2026 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test (2026)
Its wet braking was only eighth of the twelve all-season tires- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV All Season Tire Test (2026)
only sixth in wet braking, clearly behind the top three- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
near the back in wet braking- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
It was joint-last on the dry handling track- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
slowest tire around the dry handling course- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
seventh on the dry handling lap- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
in the dry it was safe but understeer-led rather than engaging- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
the slowest around the dry lap- Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 (2026)
it recorded the longest dry braking distance in this test- Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 (2026)
placed last of the four for objective dry braking- Michelin CrossClimate 3 and 3 Sport VS Rivals (2025)
received the lowest wet driving-safety score- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
the wet safety margin is narrower than the price suggests- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
it placed ninth in wet braking and handling, ninth on the wet circle- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
somewhat reduced performance in wet conditions compared to the top wet-weather specialists- 2025 AutoBild All Season Tire Test (2025)
with strong understeer- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
understeer-led dry balance- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
Every tester write-up on the Michelin CrossClimate 3 (10 tests) and 11 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 finishes fourth and is rated good. It remains one of the strongest all-season tires on snow and good on dry roads, but its wet performance and high running cost hold it back from the top three.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 finishes fourth and is rated good. It is the strongest choice for drivers who see a lot of snow, but its wet braking keeps it out of the top three.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 finished fourth and is highly recommended. Its outstanding snow performance and strong environmental results carry it up the order, but its wet grip is well behind the leaders, so it best suits drivers who prioritize winter conditions.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 finished second overall, a fraction of a point behind the winner, as Michelin returned to Auto Express's all-season test after a few years away. It beat the Pirelli in every snow test but finished behind it in all five wet tests, which makes it the pick of this group for drivers who see regular snow.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 finishes eighth and is the snow specialist of this group. It won snow braking, traction and handling, then backed that up with the highest subjective snow score and near-winter levels of longitudinal grip. It was also comfortable and reasonably efficient. The cost of that focus is wet performance: it placed ninth in wet braking and handling, ninth on the wet circle and lacked the bite of the leading tires. In the dry it was safe but understeer-led rather than engaging. For drivers who see regular snow but cannot run a dedicated winter tire, move the snow weighting up and the CrossClimate 3 quickly becomes one of the strongest choices.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 is the tire to buy if your winters are real and your summers are not spent driving hard. It takes the snow tests and the comfort tests outright, but it is the weakest of the premium tires here in the wet and the least engaging in the dry, which makes it a poor match for a hot hatch.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 is the premium all season tire in this range, and its winter ability is the entire point of it. The most useful finding in this test is the asymmetry: this tire is far further ahead of the summer tire in winter conditions than the summer tire is ahead of it in summer conditions. For a driver who wants one set of tires a year and values comfort, efficiency and genuine snow capability over cornering feel, the compromise is smaller than most people assume.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 (standard version) stands out as the snow king of the test, capable of matching even dedicated winter tires in cold conditions. This tire combines exceptional winter performance with very high mileage capability, making it particularly strong in the cost analysis despite its higher purchase price. The remarkable snow performance and longevity make it an excellent choice for drivers in regions with harsh winters. Its only weakness is somewhat reduced performance in wet conditions compared to the top wet-weather specialists.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 positioned itself as the comfort-oriented all-season option. It finished last in all four performance metrics, with the largest deficit being in wet handling, where it was over 12 seconds slower than the leader. While not dynamically focused, the tire was subjectively praised for its predictable and controllable nature. It consistently provided clear feedback to the driver, safely signaling its grip limits well in advance. It was also identified as the most comfortable tire in the test, making it a suitable choice for drivers who prioritize ride quality and predictable safety over outright performance.
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 (Highly Recommended) is the snow and comfort specialist of this test, taking class wins in snow traction, snow handling, the snow circle, ride comfort and cabin noise, and finishing second for rolling resistance. The price for that bias is sharp: it placed last of the four for objective dry braking, dry handling, wet braking and wet handling, with a notable three-meter wet braking deficit to the next-worst tire. It is the right pick for drivers who genuinely need winter capability and prioritize quietness and ride quality, but anyone driving hard in warm or wet conditions should choose the Sport or the SF3 instead.
Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tire Reviews score. All Michelin tires