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Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Michelin CrossClimate+ — 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 24 + 13 road tests and 3,649 + 119 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate+ is ahead, 79–70

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Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Tire AHankook

Kinergy 4S2

All Season

± 4

Tests 79 · 24 tests Owners 60 · 3,649 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (curved aquaplaning)

“Softer alternative to HANKOOK KINERGY 4S2? Searching for alternarive to HANKOOK KINERGY 4S2 Good day to you! I recently decided to move to all-season tires. After checking reviews, costs and availability I went for HANKOOK 4S2. But i find them VERY stiff and not comfortable at all. (245 40 18). Would you please recommend an alternative with a softer ride? I am in Europe. Cheers and thank you!”

Michelin CrossClimate+
Tire BMichelin

CrossClimate+

All Season

± 5

Tests 81 · 13 tests Owners 78 · 119 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2019 Summer and All Season Tyre Test (dry handling)

Category by category

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

Key facts

  • In 7 tests that measured dry braking for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 0 and CrossClimate+ won 7 (average 95% vs 99% of the best).
  • In 7 tests that measured wet braking for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 4 and CrossClimate+ won 3 (average 95% vs 94% of the best).
  • In 5 tests that measured dry handling for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 0 and CrossClimate+ won 3 (average 99% vs 100% of the best).
  • In 5 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 5 and CrossClimate+ won 0 (average 97% vs 93% of the best).
  • In 5 tests that measured wet handling for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 3 and CrossClimate+ won 2 (average 99% vs 97% of the best).
  1. 72

    Dry

    CrossClimate+ +15
    87
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 13 tests8394
    Reviews found online5778
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 7 shared tests · wins 0–795%99%
    Dry Braking (cool) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%96%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 0–399%100%
    Dry Handling (cool) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1100%100%

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 82.6 + 40% × 56.5 = 72

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 93.7 + 40% × 78 = 87

  2. 78

    Wet

    CrossClimate+ +3
    81
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 13 tests8781
    Reviews found online6481
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 5–097%93%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 7 shared tests · wins 4–395%94%
    Wet Braking (cool) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–184%95%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 3–299%97%
    Wet Handling (cool) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–196%100%

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 86.6 + 40% × 64.3 = 78

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 80.9 + 40% × 81.3 = 81

  3. 72

    Snow

    Kinergy 4S2 +3
    69
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 9 tests7965
    Reviews found online6173
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 4–195%94%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 4–198%98%
    Snow Traction (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–197%97%

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 79 + 40% × 61.3 = 72

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 65.5 + 40% × 73.2 = 69

  4. 64

    Comfort

    CrossClimate+ +11
    75
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 1 tests7771
    Reviews found online5578

    Kinergy 4S2: 40% × 76.6 + 60% × 54.9 = 64

    CrossClimate+: 40% × 70.9 + 60% × 77.6 = 75

  5. 66

    Noise

    CrossClimate+ +1
    67
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 9 tests6668
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 2–399%99%

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 65.6 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 66

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 67.8 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 67

    No owner ratings of noise for Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate+. 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. 67

    Treadwear

    CrossClimate+ +15
    82
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 3 tests7183
    Reviews found online5980
    Wear (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–363%98%

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 71.5 + 40% × 59.4 = 67

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 83.1 + 40% × 79.5 = 82

  7. 56

    Handling (owners)

    CrossClimate+ +16
    72
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate+
    Reviews found online5672
  8. 54

    Efficiency

    CrossClimate+ +21
    75
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 8 tests5475
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 1–487%90%
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Kinergy 4S2Michelin CrossClimate+
Relative Score 70 79
Dry 72 87
Wet 78 81
Snow 72 69
Comfort 64 75
Noise 66 67
Treadwear 67 82
Handling (owners) 56 72
Efficiency 54 75

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.

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Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

Kinergy 4S2

± 5

CrossClimate+

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.

In the overall rankings of 11 tests that ran both, Hankook Kinergy 4S2 finished ahead 4 times and Michelin CrossClimate+ 7 times.

DisciplineCategoryKinergy 4S2CrossClimate+ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 95% 99% −4.1 0–7 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Dry Braking (cool) Dry 100% 96% +4.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Dry Handling Dry 99% 100% −0.5 0–3 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Dry Handling (cool) Dry 100% 100% −0.1 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 97% 93% +4.4 5–0 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Braking Wet 95% 94% +0.6 4–3 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Braking (cool) Wet 84% 95% −10.9 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Handling Wet 99% 97% +1.3 3–2 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Handling (cool) Wet 96% 100% −4.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Snow Braking Snow 95% 94% +1.9 4–1 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Snow Handling Snow 98% 98% +0.6 4–1 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Snow Traction Snow 97% 97% +0.3 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Noise Noise 99% 99% 0.0 2–3 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wear Treadwear 63% 98% −34.4 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 87% 90% −3.1 1–4 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 88% 68% +20.1 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #13/14 #3/14 – 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Value Cost 72% 84% −12.0 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Overall Ranking Overall #6/9 #4/9 – 4–7 in 11 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Kinergy 4S2

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather grip, braking, and aquaplaning resistance
  • Strong performance and confidence in cold temperatures, light snow, and slush
  • High overall value for money compared to premium tier alternatives

Cons

  • Increased road noise and occasional highway 'whining' or howling between 120-140 km/h
  • Some reports of faster-than-expected tread wear or uneven inner tread deformation
  • Softer sidewalls can induce initial steering delay or a slight floating feel during aggressive cornering
All owner themes in the Kinergy 4S2 review

Tire B CrossClimate+

Pros

  • Excellent traction and confidence in light to moderate snow and ice.
  • Strong wet and dry road handling that rivals dedicated summer tires.
  • Impressive tread longevity and durability over high mileage.

Cons

  • Performance in wet conditions can diminish significantly as the tire wears.
  • Increased road noise reported by some users compared to dedicated summer tires.
  • Occasional reports of a harsh or 'bouncy' ride on certain vehicle suspensions.
All owner themes in the CrossClimate+ review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Mixed

Community members frequently view the Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 as a solid, budget-friendly alternative to premium all-weather tires like the Michelin CrossClimate 2, highlighting its strong wet traction and good snow performance for the price. However, users report mixed experiences regarding tread longevity, with some noting rapid or uneven wear, as well as drawbacks such as highway humming noise, a stiff ride, and twitchy handling on ice.

subaruoutback.org ·3 upvotes ·2022-11-09

“I had the Kinergy 4s2 tires and they were not good. They wore unevenly, especially on the outsides of the fronts and handling was poor. When cornering the tire felt like the sidewall was folding under which would explain the increased wear on the outside tread block of the tires . The alignment was verified to be perfect. Go with the CC2 or anything Nokian . I ran some old Nokian WRG2s and was very impressed. Id imagine the latest versions are also very good.”
r/tires ·2 upvotes ·2024-11-16

“We're able to get the Kinergy 4S2 from Discount Tires (America's Tires) for less than half the price of. the Cross Climate 2's. We plan to give them a try on a Nissan LEAF and Prius Prime. Hot take: Hit the "found a lower price" feature on the Discount Tire site and see what they offer you! We were very pleasantly surprised!”
r/croautomobili ·22 upvotes ·2025-10-29

“Zimske gume - premium ili neka srednja klasa? Nakon 2 proklizavanja u skretanju ovaj vikend (po kiši) zaključila sam da je vrijeme da kupim nove gume. Otkako sam uzela auto (prosinac 2022.) imam jedne te iste cjelogodišnje gume, Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 225/45/R17. Prošlu zimu kad je bilo snijega jedva sam kući s posla išla koliko sam se klizala po ulici, kiša još nekako ali snijeg i led katastrofa. Ove godine je i na kiši počeo proklizavati. Auto je zadnji pogon, 115ks ništa specijalno. Ono što me zanima je koliko ima smisla uzeti neke premium gume obzirom da godišnje radim oko 15k kilometara, većinski po gradu (Slavonija), tu i tamo autoput do Zg, možda 2 puta godišnje Mađarska/Austrija/Slovenija. Vidim da svi hvale Continental Wintercontact TS870 ali poprilično su skupe pa imate li možda preporuku za nešto jeftinije, a kvalitetno? Više me zanima da su dobre za kišu jer snijega nema nešto specijalno i sve će biti bolje nego ove koje sad imam. Što se dimenzije tiče imam jedne alu felge pa bih onda uzela istu dimenziju čisto da se ne moram izut iz cipela zbog troškova s kupovanjem još i felgi. TLDR: Zimska guma, 225/45/R17, zadnji pogon, što kupiti? Read more”
Top themes
#Affordable CrossClimate alternative#Wet weather traction#Snow and winter performance#Tread wear longevity#Cabin road noise#Ride stiffness and comfort

Based on 33 community posts

Tire B

Michelin CrossClimate+

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

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Kinergy 4S2 B · Michelin CrossClimate+
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available9563
Rim diameters14″ – 20″13″ – 19″
Sizes in common5454

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Michelin CrossClimate+

Winner: Michelin CrossClimate+ — better efficiency, handling and dry. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if snow matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 75 vs 54 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 72 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 87 vs 72 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 82 vs 67 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is straight aquaplaning

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 won 5 of 5 shared straight aquaplaning tests.

Tire A · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
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Tire B · Michelin CrossClimate+
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Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate+?

Which is better in the wet, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate+?

Michelin CrossClimate+, 81 vs 78 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate+?

Michelin CrossClimate+, 87 vs 72 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate+?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 72 vs 69 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate+?

Neither, by our numbers: 66 vs 67 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate+?

Michelin CrossClimate+, 75 vs 64 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate+?

Michelin CrossClimate+, 82 vs 67 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate+?

Michelin CrossClimate+, 75 vs 54 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