Head-to-head Updated

Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS vs Michelin CrossClimate 2 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 3 + 32 road tests and 6,409 + 21,600 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate 2 is ahead, 88–78

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Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS
± 5

Tests 76 · 3 tests Owners 82 · 6,409 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 9 in 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test (ice braking)

“I ran the dws on my 700whp corvette ZR1 for 5 years . Never a problem and wear really good . I’ve tracked them in the qtr mile and roll racing . They hooked pretty good ls at the track . Had a 1.60 sixty foot on them”

Michelin CrossClimate 2
Tire BMichelin

CrossClimate 2

All Season

± 4

Tests 87 · 32 tests Owners 87 · 21,600 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 35 in 2023 All Season Tyre 35 Set Shootout (dry braking)

“Installed CrossClimate2 Switched out the OEM tires with a set of CrossClimate on my '23 Grand Cherokee. Loving the increased grip and slightly more aggressive look of these tires. Noise levels did increase a bit for the first few hundred miles but has now improved. There was about a 2 - 3mpg drop after installation. Not sure if it's really the tires or use of Winter gas and drop of temperature right around the same time I got these tires. Overall fully satisfied and would definitely purchase again!”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 80

    Dry

    CrossClimate 2 +15
    95
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSCrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 30 tests7599
    Reviews found online8889

    ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 75.5 + 40% × 87.7 = 80

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 99.1 + 40% × 88.5 = 95

  2. 82

    Wet

    CrossClimate 2 +5
    87
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSCrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 30 tests7583
    Reviews found online9292

    ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 74.9 + 40% × 91.7 = 82

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 83.4 + 40% × 91.8 = 87

  3. 77

    Snow

    CrossClimate 2 +14
    91
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSCrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 26 tests8099
    Reviews found online7278

    ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 80.4 + 40% × 72 = 77

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 98.9 + 40% × 78.4 = 91

  4. 80

    Comfort

    ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS +2
    78
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSCrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 3 tests7565
    Reviews found online8487

    ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 40% × 74.9 + 60% × 83.6 = 80

    CrossClimate 2: 40% × 65.1 + 60% × 86.5 = 78

  5. 75

    Noise

    CrossClimate 2 +5
    80
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSCrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 19 tests7179
    Reviews found online8083

    ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 71.4 + 40% × 79.7 = 75

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 78.6 + 40% × 82.7 = 80

  6. 69

    Treadwear

    CrossClimate 2 +14
    83
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSCrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests≈ 68 (est.)81
    Reviews found online7187

    ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 67.7 (est.) + 40% × 70.8 = 69

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 81.1 + 40% × 87 = 83

    No road tests of treadwear for ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 83

    Handling (owners)

    ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS +1
    82
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSCrossClimate 2
    Reviews found online8382
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    90
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSCrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 22 tests–90
Scores at a glance
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS vs Michelin CrossClimate 2: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryContinental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSMichelin CrossClimate 2
Relative Score 78 88
Dry 80 95
Wet 82 87
Snow 77 91
Comfort 80 78
Noise 75 80
Treadwear 69 83
Handling (owners) 83 82
Efficiency – 90

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS

± 4

CrossClimate 2

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUSCrossClimate 2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 99% #2/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test 100% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #1/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test 98% #4/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 88% #3/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test 70% #7/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 92% #3/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test 92% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #3/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test 93% #5/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 97% #2/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 100% #1/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test 93% #10/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 92% #3/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test 97% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #2/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 99% #2/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test 80% #3/8 · 2025 Teknikens Varld Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #4/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test 98% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #3/5 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test #2/6 2026 Wybór Kierowców Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS

Pros

  • Exceptional wet traction and resistance to hydroplaning
  • Quiet and comfortable ride quality that transforms vehicle dynamics
  • Strong dry grip and responsive, predictable cornering capabilities

Cons

  • Accelerated tread wear and shorter-than-expected lifespan for some drivers
  • Increased road noise and drone developing as the tires wear down
  • Softer sidewalls can result in slightly delayed initial steering response or a 'squishy' feel
All owner themes in the ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS review

Tire B CrossClimate 2

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and traction in snow, slush, and winter weather conditions
  • Strong braking and handling performance on dry and wet pavement
  • Long-lasting tread wear and durability

Cons

  • Higher initial purchase price
  • Slight negative impact on fuel economy / EV range for some drivers
  • Potential for increased road noise or harshness as the tires wear down
All owner themes in the CrossClimate 2 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS

Positive

The community highly regards the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS as an exceptional ultra-high performance all-season tire, frequently praising its superior wet and light snow traction, comfortable ride, and low road noise. While commonly preferred over competitors like Michelin for its value and everyday compliance, some users note trade-offs such as slightly softer sidewalls, minor steering feel loss, initial tread squirm, and occasional balancing or treadwear concerns. Overall, owners enthusiastically recommend it for daily driving, spirited commuting, and versatile year-round capability across a wide range of vehicles.

corvetteforum.com

“I just put them on my 17 Z06. $1190.00 for the set. Huge difference on cold days with regards to traction. I had these on my Chevy SS Sedan for years and loved them. Only complaint is that if the car sits for a couple of weeks you will notice a slight vibration due to low spot until they even out, at least that's what I encountered on the original DSW's. I also noticed since these are not run flats that the bumps are not as harsh, which hopefully will reduce potential rim cracks. That's the hope but with our MI roads it's a never ending battle! Good luck in your decision!”

mustang6g.com ·2 upvotes ·2024-12-10

“I needed a cold weather solution for my Mach 1 HP with CUP2s so I put Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus tires on a set of the standard Mach 1 wheels and I have been pleasantly surprised by just how capable they are. I usually go Michelin, but decided to try these instead. Amusing amount of grip. Was able to comfortably pull over 1g in straight line braking and in the turns while staying predictable. Kept them on during the summer to see what I thought and although they can't compete with the CUP2s for outright performance, they trump the CUP2s in the rain, and in ride comfort, while providing a staggering amount of performance for an all season alternative. And although they are acceptable, with appropriate driving caution, when a little snow falls and/or when roads ice up a bit, they should not be considered a comprehensive winter tire solution. There are other much better solutions for that like the Bridgestone Blizzak tires.”

swedespeed.com ·2024-10-03

“Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus are THE standard for a reason for high performance all-season tires. They have been the best for years and all other brands are only just now catching up to them. If you don't care as much about performance in dry then yeah the CC2 are a fine choice. Personally I deal with bad winters so I run DWS06 Plus as my summer set and then in the winter I switch to my Vredestein Wintrac Pro XL set on dedicated wheels. I run all-seasons in the summer in case we get some early ice/snow before I've swapped sets but nothing beats dedicated winter tires when you need them. Given, I live on a mountain with steep hills and a dirt road, I regularly deal with snow deep enough to high-center the car. If you don't deal with those conditions you can probably get away with all-seasons okay.”

Top themes
#Wet traction performance#Ride comfort improvement#Light snow capability#Michelin tire comparison#Soft sidewall feel#Road noise levels#Wheel balancing consistency

Based on 138 community posts

Tire B

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Positive

The community overwhelmingly praises the Michelin CrossClimate 2 for its exceptional snow, ice, and wet-weather traction, often describing it as an ideal all-weather tire. While many drivers report a quiet, comfortable ride and solid durability, some users note potential downsides including reduced fuel or battery efficiency, road noise on certain surfaces, and premium pricing. A few commenters also point out that the tire may be overkill for regions without significant winter weather.

r/tires ·14 upvotes ·2024-01-14

“Michelin Cross climate 2 in winter snowstorm 1/2024 review I had these installed on my 2021 Honda CR-V hybrid AWD back in August from the OEM Hancook tires. The road noise went away after driving about 500 miles. These tires are freaking amazing! Large puddle on the road? No hydroplaning. My MPG didn’t suffer that much (about 0.3-0.5 mpg decrease). Recently got hit by the snowstorm in Michigan and it’s nice having the confidence driving in the bad road conditions. On my way home from work, there were so many accidents with cars in ditches and unable to go up a hill. I had to take backroads and I had no problem traversing through the back dirt roads. There was a hill that a lot of cars weren’t able to get up but I just squeezed past them without any issues. I was amazed how great these tires are. So glad I spent the extra money for these - I hope they last a while before I get another set!”

r/VWiD4Owners ·2 upvotes ·2026-09-11

“CC2 is a super safe way to go, I’d just keep on with them if you’re happy so far. Other options probably won’t last as long or have as good traction in the occasional snow/ice. I have a set of 18” wheels so I use 235/60R18 tires and rotate them, live in the northeast, lots of snow in winter. I’ve used Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive, they were great, lasted a bit over 40k miles until they got down to just over 2/16th. I’m on Bridgestone UltraWeather now, feel fantastic so far, slightly better efficiency than WeatherActives, slightly quieter too. They’re basically a next gen version of WeatherPeak but in an XL load rating which the ID.4 specifies.”

r/crv ·53 upvotes ·2023-06-23

“Review of Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires. I recently purchased Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires for my wife’s 2018 CRV EX-L FWD and I have to say they are pretty stellar. Thus far we have put at least 2000 miles on them to include a 14 hour road trip. Excellent traction on wet roads and far superior to the Goodyear Assurance we had before. We have driven through a couple significant downpours and these tires have confidence on wet roads. As for the alleged noise complaints, I think they’re very quiet compared to the old tires. Rolling resistance/ MPG; no changes and I would have happily sacrificed a couple MPG for good traction in FWD vehicle. As for snow, I can’t say and we live in Texas anyway. Price; I spent about $1000 total for four tires and installs at Costco. That was with tax. Overall, I highly recommend these tires thus far.”

Top themes
#Snow and ice traction#Wet handling and hydroplaning#Road noise and comfort#Fuel economy and range#Tread wear and longevity#Premium price point#Directional tread design

Based on 762 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS B · Michelin CrossClimate 2
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available12092
Rim diameters16″ – 22″15″ – 21″
Tread depth10/32″9 - 10/32″
UTQG560 - 740 A - AA A640 B A
Treadwear warranty50,000 mi60,000 mi
SidewallBlack Side WallBlack Side Wall
Max pressure50 - 51 psi50 - 51 psi
Sizes in common4949

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2 — better dry, snow and treadwear. Where the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 95 vs 80 on dry.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 91 vs 77 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 83 vs 69 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 87 vs 82 on wet.

Tire A · Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS
Tire B · Michelin CrossClimate 2

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ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS or CrossClimate 2?

Which is better in the wet, ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 87 vs 82 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 95 vs 80 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 91 vs 77 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 80 vs 75 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS or CrossClimate 2?

Neither, by our numbers: 80 vs 78 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 83 vs 69 on our treadwear score.

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology