Owners largely agree the Michelin CrossClimate is a strong all-rounder, most often praised for confident dry and wet grip, low noise and reassuring traction in light-to-moderate snow. Longevity is another standout, with many reporting impressively high mileages for an all-season tire, and ride comfort is frequently described as very good. A smaller but noticeable minority (around one in ten) mention compromises such as reduced steering feel, and some also flag it as expensive or not the best for fuel economy.
What owners mention most counted across 132 reviews
Fantastic tires. Great grip wet and dry and transformed my car from hopeless in the snow to awesome. 15000 miles in and heaps of tread left. I am massively impressed - so much so I have just put a full set on my wife's car.
This is my first impression as I drove only around 3000 miles on those tires here in Ireland. My mazda 3 has a firm suspension and those tires soften the ride quite a bit. At beginning it felt strange, you may feel it is too soft, but after a while I just love it. It calms you down and the car feels more like a cruiser, they are also a bit quieter, especially on motorways, very happy with it. Also, as I was changing them just before 'the Best from the East' winter, had a chance to see if they are as good on snow as advertised. I have many years of experience with dedicated winter michelin tires back in Poland, I can honestly say those crossclimates don't disappoint at all. Had no problems starting and breaking on snow and slush. The conclusion is that perhaps those are the best tires for the current climate here in Ireland (and UK), they give the best of both summer and winter tires without the need of changing them every 6 months.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
Member
Subaru
225/55 R17
18,000 miles
Mostly Motorways
Easy Going
I live in the Scottish Highlands, but the majority of my driving is on the UK motorway network - so for me an All Season Tire is the best option, shown by the fact that I missed the snow altogether in the 2016/2017 winter, though I had my Subaru Forester shod with the Cross Climates in preparations for it.
I have found the Cross Climates fine in dry and/or cold conditions, with strangely a feeling of a more secure grip in the wet. However this first winter in the snow (2017/2018), I was desperately disappointed with their performance.
My first experience of All Season tires was when I fitted my Fiat Panda 4 x 4 with Vredestein Quattracs, and I can distinctly remember that it was then that I realised that All Season tires were the way to go (and I'm pretty sure that I have bored a number of people since then singing the praises of the cross breed tire). I took a big step up after the Panda to drive a Subaru Outback, and prior to my first winter I fitted it with Falken Euroalls.
This is the reason I am so disappointed with the Cross Climates, and for this review - because there is no way I can lay the blame of my uncomfortness in the snow on the car.
Even a Subaru critic would find it hard to blame a Subaru in winter conditions, but the fact that I felt so comfortable in my Outback/Falken Euroalls, and so uncomfortable in my Forester/Cross Climates means that I will definitely not be buying these tires in the future.
Which tires do you drive?
Researching the Michelin CrossClimate? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
Years ago I moved to a rural village I was caught out on my way home in unexpected bad snow. I then switched to a AWD car mainly for the reassurance in snow, icy or wet conditions. Last year I made the switch from diesel but because of the lack of choice in petrol AWD I ended up with front wheel drive only. I put on a set of Cross Climate in November and have just been out in the snow for the first time with these tires. Wow- they are amazing. My driveway is covered in sheet ice, so slippery I could barely stand. The car pulled away with no wheel spin at all. In the snow I had complete confidence to stop and start off again on hills, again no wheel spin and the car remained in complete control. I have to do two sudden stops when out of control cars slid out of side roads in front of me unable to stop. Without these tires I would have been hit albeit gently, on both occasions. Quite simply these tires are amazing in the snow and ice and so good in the dry you would not realise that you are not driving summer tires.
As a taxi driver you will soon recoup the extra cost of these tires in no time in the cold snap we are having they have enabled me to keep working in rural Cheshire best thing since sliced tread (bread):-) 5 star
Only had the tires a few months but had all weathers including wet slush, deep standing water ice and snow and I'm really impressed with the forward grip, breaking and comfort of these tires. The handling has been excellent and really surprised how easily I drove through 5-6†of snow . I can't comment of dry hot conditions or on tire wear yet but very happy with the tire so far. If I had to find a negative they lack a little side bite in snow compared to a traditional winter tire.
Been driving Crossclimates 175/65/14 on my Citigo for 6000 miles majorly on the motorways, A roads and B roads. Great grip on both wet and dry, quiet and good fuel economy. Crossclimates definitely can keep you mobile on the roads in the winters. If you do not need to drive to heavy snow covered B road, Crossclimates is one of the best all-season tires you can find.
I've driven on snowy B roads quite a lot this winter. Bear in mind gentle and sensible driving is still required on extremely snowy condition. The grip would be lost immediately if the car cornered too aggressive on snow, however, the grip would be gained again once the car slowed down / traction control kicked in. Bottom line is: Everything was manageable and nowhere near losing control.
Overall I am still very happy with the Crossclimates.
I cant praise these tires enough. They are life savers in wet and snowy conditions. I drive a BMW 5 series rear wheel drive. This is normally leathal in snowy conditions. Using the cross climates I have tacked very steep snowy roads no problem. Wow. Worth forking out for. I paid around £700 for a ser of 4 fitted.
Bought them in September of 2015 and just changed to Crossclimate + (I wanted the new AllSeason Contis, but my tire dealer didn't have them in my dimension so I had to go for the Michelins once again.)
In the first two years they were fine,especially on the wet, on snow (had about 4 days of trying them in those conditions, they were not so good) but then towards 4mm of profile the tire changed drastically for the worse. It became like a plastic tire and quite dangerous.
Hopefully the plus version will be better in this aspect (that's what they promise).
Excellent tires,as a private hire taxi driver and driving a lot of miles safety is paramount and no compromise when it comes to buying tires. Having over many years bought premium brand tires ie continental,Goodyear,Dunlop nothing and I mean nothing comes close to Michelins whether it's summer tires or cross climates for winter use. The Michelins out score the previously mentioned brands as the wear on these tires is fantastic,the Michelins wear evenly across tread and last thousands of miles more. I had cross climates on last winter and although the grip on icy roads far exceeded previous vredestien winter tires there was no snow so I could not comment on performance. Last week we had 5cm of snow and as I was night shift I was mainly driving on virgin snow on main roads and tires were firmly planted on roads at all time and coped easily with hills. Overall these tires have now given me more confidence than ever driving on ice and snow,the front ones have done over 20,000 miles and are nearing winter tread max limit,I will replace them shortly with cross climate+,I would recommend these tires to anyone as they are simply in a league of their own,well done michelin
Excellent grip and I gained 5mpg after switching summer tires for these...
Noticeably more longitudinal grip than just lateral I had before... improved braking accelerating and cornering speeds
