Head-to-head Updated

Firestone MultiSeason Gen 02 vs Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

CrossClimate 2 SUV is ahead, 80–69

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Tire AFirestone

MultiSeason Gen 02

All Season

Tests 65 · 13 tests Owners 73 · 11 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 9 in 2023 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test (wet circle)

Tire BMichelin

CrossClimate 2 SUV

All Season

Tests 86 · 4 tests Owners 78 · 2,551 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2023 SUV All Season Tyre Test (curved aquaplaning)

“We run CC2s on our ‘20 Ascent in central Minnesota and they’ve been excellent in all weather conditions over 40k miles. We occasionally drive gravel roads and they do not pick up noticeable amount in the tread. I ordered them for our Forester at Costco since they are on sale right now. The other tire I considered were the Nokian WRG4s (or now 5 is the new model). I had previously put the WRG3s on the Forester, but they were very loud the last 10k miles.”

Category by category

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

  1. 70

    Dry

    CrossClimate 2 SUV +15
    85
    Why this score
    SourceMultiSeason Gen 02CrossClimate 2 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)6887
    Reviews found online7382
    Dry Braking (% of best)89%100%
    Dry Handling (% of best)90%100%
    Dry (% of best)88%85%
  2. 77

    Wet

    CrossClimate 2 SUV +5
    82
    Why this score
    SourceMultiSeason Gen 02CrossClimate 2 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)7982
    Reviews found online7681
    Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best)60%100%
    Transverse Aquaplaning (% of best)50%87%
    Wet (% of best)77%88%
    Wet Braking (% of best)93%94%
    Wet Circle (% of best)100%97%
    Wet Handling (% of best)97%83%
  3. 71

    Snow

    CrossClimate 2 SUV +16
    87
    Why this score
    SourceMultiSeason Gen 02CrossClimate 2 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)7295
    Reviews found online6977
    Snow Braking (% of best)96%99%
    Snow Handling (% of best)98%100%
    Snow Slalom (% of best)91%100%
    Snow Traction (% of best)97%100%
    Snow (% of best)84%100%
  4. 61

    Comfort

    CrossClimate 2 SUV +22
    83
    Why this score
    SourceMultiSeason Gen 02CrossClimate 2 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)5582
    Reviews found online6983
  5. 64

    Noise

    CrossClimate 2 SUV +11
    75
    Why this score
    SourceMultiSeason Gen 02CrossClimate 2 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)6281
    Exterior Noise (% of best)70%99%
  6. 58

    Treadwear

    CrossClimate 2 SUV +9
    67
    Why this score
    SourceMultiSeason Gen 02CrossClimate 2 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)47–
    Reviews found online7569
  7. 74

    Handling

    CrossClimate 2 SUV +8
    82
    Why this score
    SourceMultiSeason Gen 02CrossClimate 2 SUV
    Reviews found online7482
Scores at a glance
Firestone MultiSeason Gen 02 vs Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryFirestone MultiSeason Gen 02Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV
Relative Score 69 80
Dry 70 85
Wet 77 82
Snow 71 87
Comfort 61 83
Noise 64 75
Treadwear 58 67
Handling 74 82

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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Important
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Neutral
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Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

MultiSeason Gen 02

CrossClimate 2 SUV

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryMultiSeason Gen 02CrossClimate 2 SUVΔBoth?
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 78% #13/16 · 2024 ADAC All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/10 · 2023 SUV All Season Tyre Test −22.2 Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 89% #14/16 · 2021 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2025 Quattroruote All-Season Tire Test R19 −11.3 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 90% #2/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 100% #3/9 · 2024 Motor SUV All Season Tyre Test −9.7 Different tests
Dry Dry 88% #6/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 85% #4/9 · 2025 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ All-Season Tire Test R17 +3.5 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 91% #5/8 · 2024 Motorhome Camper Van All Season Tyre Test 96% #2/9 · 2024 Motor SUV All Season Tyre Test −4.9 Different tests
Exterior Noise Noise 70% #4/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 99% #3/7 · 2025 Quattroruote All-Season Tire Test R19 −28.6 Different tests
Noise Other 96% #7/8 · 2024 Motorhome Camper Van All Season Tyre Test 99% #3/10 · 2023 SUV All Season Tyre Test −2.5 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 10% #10/35 · 2023 All Season Tyre 35 Set Shootout 89% #2/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Allrad SUV All-Season Tire Test R17 −78.9 Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 96% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test 99% #2/9 · 2024 Motor SUV All Season Tyre Test −3.1 Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #10/16 · 2023 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/9 · 2025 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ All-Season Tire Test R17 −1.9 Different tests
Snow Slalom Snow 91% #7/9 · 2023 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/10 · 2023 SUV All Season Tyre Test −8.5 Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 97% #3/16 · 2021 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2025 Quattroruote All-Season Tire Test R19 −2.9 Different tests
Snow Snow 84% #4/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 100% #1/9 · 2025 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ All-Season Tire Test R17 −15.8 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 88% #16/16 · 2023 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/10 · 2023 SUV All Season Tyre Test −12.5 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 58% #7/9 · 2023 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/9 · 2024 Motor SUV All Season Tyre Test −41.7 Different tests
Longitudinal Aquaplaning Wet 60% #6/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 100% #1/7 · 2025 Quattroruote All-Season Tire Test R19 −40.0 Different tests
Transverse Aquaplaning Wet 50% #7/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 87% #3/9 · 2025 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ All-Season Tire Test R17 −36.7 Different tests
Wet Wet 77% #6/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 88% #4/9 · 2025 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ All-Season Tire Test R17 −10.7 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 93% #7/9 · 2023 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test 94% #6/10 · 2023 SUV All Season Tyre Test −1.3 Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 100% #1/9 · 2023 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test 97% #6/7 · 2025 Quattroruote All-Season Tire Test R19 +3.4 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #7/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test 83% #6/9 · 2025 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ All-Season Tire Test R17 +13.6 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A MultiSeason Gen 02

Pros

  • Excellent traction and stability in wet, snowy, and icy conditions
  • Strong tread longevity and durability over high mileage
  • High value-for-money proposition compared to premium competitors

Cons

  • Noticeable road noise, particularly at higher speeds
  • Poor braking performance and safety concerns in high-temperature summer conditions
  • Potential for premature dry rotting or tread degradation in specific climates
All owner themes in the MultiSeason Gen 02 review

Tire B CrossClimate 2 SUV

Pros

  • Exceptional wet, ice, and snow traction that inspires winter-weather driving confidence
  • Significantly improved ride comfort and impact absorption over road imperfections
  • Impressive tread life and durability yielding long-term value

Cons

  • Higher initial purchase price compared to competitors
  • Minor fuel economy or range drop reported by some users, especially on hybrids and EVs
  • Occasional low-pitched or increased road noise at highway speeds (between 50-70 MPH)
All owner themes in the CrossClimate 2 SUV review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Firestone MultiSeason Gen 02

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

Tire B

Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV

Positive

Community sentiment for the Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV is largely positive, with drivers consistently praising its exceptional grip and safety in snow, slush, and heavy rain. The primary trade-offs frequently cited are reduced fuel/range efficiency—particularly noted by EV owners—along with a premium price tag, directional rotation limitations, and mixed opinions on road noise.

chrforums.uk ·2 upvotes ·2024-06-04

“I have the Michelin Cross Climate 2 SUV tyres . The many reviews I read approved of their performance in snowy conditions (if that is an issue where you live) and also their dry condition performance. They supposedly have a decent life span. They felt nicer to drive on than the Primacy tyres . They weren't cheap at about £170 each fitted but will give me some insurance about snowy conditions and will hopefully last until I swap the car in about 3 years.”

r/tires ·3 upvotes ·2026-02-12

“Look at all weather tires (3PMSF rated) instead of a basic all season. Michelin CrossClimate2 is hard to beat for safety and snow grip and they’re not that loud in my experience. I put them on my wife’s Highlander and they’ve been smooth and confident in slush and highway rain. If you want something a little quieter and softer riding, Bridgestone WeatherPeak or Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive are also solid. When I priced 245/50R20 CC2s recently, Costco was around $314 per tire installed $1,256 set before tax during a promo, Tire Rack was about $302 per tire $1,208 before install and Discounted Wheel Warehouse had them closer to $279 per tire $1,116 before install so roughly $140 difference on a set before mounting”

subaruoutback.org ·2 upvotes ·2017-07-20

“I've had great luck with various Michelin tires on my cars and motorcycles over the years. Currently running the CC2s on my Outback , and am extremely happy with the wet grip and quietness. As some have noted, there is a noticeable increase in rolling resistance (causing a 2-3 MPG drop in my case), but for me that's a trade-off I'm willing to make.”

Top themes
#Snow and winter traction#Wet grip and hydroplaning resistance#EV range and fuel efficiency impact#Road noise and ride comfort#High price and premium value#Directional tread rotation limits#Treadwear and longevity

Based on 97 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Firestone MultiSeason Gen 02 B · Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available—35
Rim diameters—17″ – 22″

Which one should you actually buy?

Firestone MultiSeason Gen 02

Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV

Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV — better comfort, snow and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV scores 83 vs 61 on comfort.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV scores 87 vs 71 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV scores 85 vs 70 on dry.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV scores 75 vs 64 on noise.

Tire A · Firestone MultiSeason Gen 02
Tire B · Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV

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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.

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

80

Leads

CrossClimate 2 SUV

Amazon