Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 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 7 + 32 road tests and 49 + 21,600 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate 2 is ahead, 87–79

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Continental WinterContact TS 860
± 5

Tests 79 · 7 tests Owners 79 · 49 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (dry handling)

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)

“Michelin CrossClimate 2 after 31.000 kilometers I have those Michelin CrossClimate 2 (EU version, made in Spain) for 26 months now and 31.000 kilometers on a heavy Mercedes EQE, the rears are still good but the front tyres are starting to give up on the shoulders. Usual tyre pressure is 2.8 bars, there is still some good tread left on the middle of the tyre. Steering feeling on the snow is also not as good as it used to be. Overall very happy with those tyres, I’ll have to decide between the Continental AllSeasonContact 2 or the CrossClimate 3 Sport (sadly the 3 isn’t available in 255/45 R19) to replace them this year. We have the Pirelli Scorpion SF3 on our second car. Given the car and my usage, I give priority to snow braking, rolling resistance, silence and longevity. I lost a bit of range, comfort and steering engagement when I swapped the factory Bridgestone Turanza T005 for the CrossClimate 2, but in general nothing to call-out.”

Category by category

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

  1. 77

    Dry

    CrossClimate 2 +18
    95
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 30 tests7599
    Reviews found online8289

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 74.8 + 40% × 81.5 = 77

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

  2. 88

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 860 +1
    87
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 30 tests8983
    Reviews found online8792

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 89.4 + 40% × 87.1 = 88

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

  3. 76

    Snow

    CrossClimate 2 +15
    91
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 26 tests7899
    Reviews found online7378

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 72.7 = 76

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

  4. 78

    Comfort

    Level
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 3 tests7765
    Reviews found online7987

    WinterContact TS 860: 40% × 77.4 + 60% × 78.8 = 78

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

  5. 74

    Noise

    CrossClimate 2 +6
    80
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 19 tests7879
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)83

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 78.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 74

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

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 74

    Treadwear

    CrossClimate 2 +9
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests7381
    Reviews found online7687

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 72.8 + 40% × 76 = 74

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

  7. 82

    Handling (owners)

    Level
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860CrossClimate 2
    Reviews found online8282
  8. 76

    Efficiency

    CrossClimate 2 +14
    90
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 22 tests7690
Scores at a glance
Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Michelin CrossClimate 2: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860Michelin CrossClimate 2
Relative Score 79 87
Dry 77 95
Wet 88 87
Snow 76 91
Comfort 78 78
Noise 74 80
Treadwear 74 83
Handling (owners) 82 82
Efficiency 76 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 and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
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Neutral
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Important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

WinterContact TS 860

± 4

CrossClimate 2

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.

DisciplineCategoryWinterContact TS 860CrossClimate 2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 94% #11/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #1/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 98% #4/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 60% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 70% #7/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 94% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 93% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 94% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 92% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #4/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 93% #5/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 100% #1/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 93% #6/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test 93% #10/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Ice Handling Snow 100% #1/2 · All Season vs Winter vs Nordic vs Studded Tyres 89% #8/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Ice Traction Snow 86% #8/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test 58% #7/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 99% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 97% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 99% #9/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 100% #1/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 – Different tests
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 90% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/4 · 2023 TUV Report All Season Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 98% #6/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 96% #5/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 90% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 80% #3/8 · 2025 Teknikens Varld Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #2/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 98% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 90% #2/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 95% #4/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 95% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 60% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 55% #12/12 · 2024 Minivan / SUV All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #10/20 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test #3/15 2024 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 70% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 47% #14/15 · 2025 ADAC All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #6/16 2021 ADAC Winter Tire Test R15 #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 WinterContact TS 860

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and safety in wet and slushy conditions
  • Outstanding performance on snow, providing high levels of confidence
  • Remarkably low noise levels and high ride comfort

Cons

  • Performance degradation noted by some users after 3-4 seasons
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to a slight loss of steering precision or 'wobble' in tight corners
  • Tread pattern prone to picking up and throwing stones/sand
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 860 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 WinterContact TS 860

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

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/ecoboostmustang ·2 upvotes ·2025-07-28

“On a 2015 Highlander Hybrid, the CC2 is excellent anti-hydroplaning, wonderful snow and ice handling, both moving and stopping. I am a rideshare driver averaging 200 or so miles per day. The tires are only just now a bit noisier at 78,000 miles. Wear is down to 3/32 and went through a wild, heavy rain storm today with no lack of confidence whatsoever. Only downside is that >80 degrees F and gas mileage goes down by 2 mpg. Love the tires so much that I feel the slight loss during summer is still worth it.”

r/Subaru_Outback ·14 upvotes ·2024-01-17

“My Official review of the Cross Climate 2 tires. I put some new shoes on the Outback after reading some threads on here and decided with my weather here in Missouri the Cross Climate 2s were the best fit. In rain, they are great so no more sliding or hydroplaning what so ever. In snow, they are even more amazing. They grip extremely well. The one downside to them that concerns me, and I didn't think about this when I purchased them, is that fact you can't do a full tire rotation to them like conventional tires as they are directional so you can only do front to back and vise versa. For this reason I am concerned if I will get 60K out of them and avoid the inner/outer wear. Sure you can dismount the tire from the wheel and remount them but I had heard that's bad for them. Overall, they are excellent. If you are concerned about the tire rotation thing, I would say the Michelin Defenders or the Falkan Wildpeaks are probably a better bet. I plan on getting the Falkans next but hopefully that wont be for at least 50K more miles. Read more”

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!”

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 WinterContact TS 860 B · Michelin CrossClimate 2
CategoryWinterAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available4792
Rim diameters13″ – 17″15″ – 21″
Tread depth—9 - 10/32″
UTQG—640 B A
Treadwear warranty—60,000 mi
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—50 - 51 psi
Sizes in common2222

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2 — better dry, snow and efficiency. Where the Continental WinterContact TS 860 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 77 on dry.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 91 vs 76 on snow.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 90 vs 76 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 83 vs 74 on treadwear.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860
Tire B · Michelin CrossClimate 2

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WinterContact TS 860 or CrossClimate 2?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 or CrossClimate 2?

Neither, by our numbers: 88 vs 87 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 95 vs 77 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 91 vs 76 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 80 vs 74 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 or CrossClimate 2?

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

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 83 vs 74 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 90 vs 76 on our efficiency 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