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Head-to-head Updated

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 27 + 2 road tests and 3,659 + 152 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate leads, 74–70 Narrow edge

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Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Tire AHankook

Kinergy 4S2

All Season

± 4

Tests 78 · 27 tests Owners 60 · 3,659 reviews

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

“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”

Michelin CrossClimate
Tire BMichelin

CrossClimate

All Season

± 6

Tests 75 · 2 tests Owners 74 · 152 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 14 in 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test (noise)

Category by category

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

  1. 72

    Dry

    CrossClimate +4
    76
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 2 tests8378
    Reviews found online5674

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 82.9 + 40% × 56 = 72

    CrossClimate: 60% × 77.9 + 40% × 73.5 = 76

  2. 78

    Wet

    Kinergy 4S2 +2
    76
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 2 tests8775
    Reviews found online6578

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 86.8 + 40% × 64.9 = 78

    CrossClimate: 60% × 75.4 + 40% × 77.8 = 76

  3. 72

    Snow

    Kinergy 4S2 +3
    69
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 2 tests7971
    Reviews found online6165

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 78.6 + 40% × 60.9 = 72

    CrossClimate: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 65.4 = 69

  4. 61

    Comfort

    CrossClimate +13
    74
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / – tests72≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online5476

    Kinergy 4S2: 40% × 71.6 + 60% × 54.4 = 61

    CrossClimate: 40% × 70.1 (est.) + 60% × 75.8 = 74

    No road tests of comfort for CrossClimate. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 64

    Noise

    CrossClimate +5
    69
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 1 tests6271
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 61.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 64

    CrossClimate: 60% × 70.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69

    No owner ratings of noise for Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 67

    Treadwear

    CrossClimate +7
    74
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 1 tests7274
    Reviews found online6075

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 72.5 + 40% × 59.7 = 67

    CrossClimate: 60% × 73.8 + 40% × 74.9 = 74

  7. 56

    Handling (owners)

    CrossClimate +17
    73
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate
    Reviews found online5673
  8. 51

    Efficiency

    CrossClimate +25
    76
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 2 tests5176
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Kinergy 4S2Michelin CrossClimate
Relative Score 70 74
Dry 72 76
Wet 78 76
Snow 72 69
Comfort 61 74
Noise 64 69
Treadwear 67 74
Handling (owners) 56 73
Efficiency 51 76

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

± 6

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.

DisciplineCategoryKinergy 4S2CrossClimateΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 92% #6/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 99% #2/14 · 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #3/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 90% #7/14 · 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 94% #4/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 94% #4/11 · 2017 All Season VS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 93% #7/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 87% #9/14 · 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #8/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 96% #4/14 · 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 100% #1/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 91% #5/8 · 2017 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 96% #9/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 99% #2/8 · 2017 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #9/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 100% #1/14 · 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 85% #6/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test 91% #4/10 · 2017 All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 86% #9/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 100% #1/8 · 2017 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #7/15 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test #4/10 2017 All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 89% #4/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test 65% #8/10 · 2017 All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #7/9 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 #9/9 2018 ADAC All Season Tyre Test – Different tests

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

  • Exceptional tread life and durability
  • Strong wet-weather grip and hydroplaning resistance
  • Reliable traction in light snow and cold conditions

Cons

  • Tendency to pick up and retain small stones in the tread pattern
  • Noticeable drop in performance as tread depth decreases
  • Potential for reduced fuel economy compared to dedicated summer tires
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

The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 is widely regarded as a good-value 3PMSF all-weather tire, often recommended as a cheaper alternative to the Michelin CrossClimate 2 thanks to strong wet performance and good independent test results. Complaints include a stiff ride, highway road noise, fast or uneven tread wear, and weaker snow and ice grip for some owners. Several users noted that ice performance wasn't tested and that it suits milder, wet climates best.

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!”
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/mercedes_benz ·8 upvotes ·2026-09-06

“Tire recommendations E-class Hi all, I've been enjoying my first E-class for a couple months now. The only thing that has been bothering me is the loud noise the tires make at about 130 kph. I've ruled everything out so I'm really certain it is just the tires. They are hankook kinergy 4s2 h750 all seasons, so a bit of noise is to be expected but these really make a loud humming noise at highway speeds. Does anyone have recommendation for quiet all season tires? They do need to have the 3pmsf certifaction. My sizes are front: 245/40 R19 & back: 275/35 R19. Read more”
Top themes
#Value vs CrossClimate 2#Wet traction#Snow and ice grip#Tread wear concerns#Ride comfort stiffness#Road noise#Tyre Reviews test results#EV and range use

Based on 34 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 available95—
Rim diameters14″ – 20″—
UTQG500 A A—

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Michelin CrossClimate

Narrow edge: Michelin CrossClimate — better efficiency, handling and comfort. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if snow matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin CrossClimate scores 76 vs 51 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin CrossClimate scores 73 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin CrossClimate scores 74 vs 61 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin CrossClimate scores 74 vs 67 on treadwear.

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?

Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 76 on the wet score, within 3 points.

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

Michelin CrossClimate, 76 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?

Michelin CrossClimate, 69 vs 64 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate?

Michelin CrossClimate, 74 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate?

Michelin CrossClimate, 74 vs 67 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate?

Michelin CrossClimate, 76 vs 51 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