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Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 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 27 + 33 road tests and 3,659 + 21,726 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate 2 is ahead, 87–70

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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 2
Tire BMichelin

CrossClimate 2

All Season

± 4

Tests 87 · 33 tests Owners 87 · 21,726 reviews

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

“CrossClimate2 in. Alenza Run Flats out. Swapped the Alenza run flats for CrossClimate2 all-weather tires. Sharper handling. Better ride comfort. Very quiet after an initial break-in period. Just make sure the tire pressure is as recommended on the door sill sticker, shop techs don’t always check. I’m an early adopter of CC2 tires, been using them on my old Jeep since 2022, super durable and perfect for inclement weather, still had some tread remaining at the 60k-mile warranty mark.”

Category by category

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

Key facts

  • In 15 tests that measured dry braking for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 0 and CrossClimate 2 won 15 (average 93% vs 99% of the best).
  • In 15 tests that measured wet braking for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 9 and CrossClimate 2 won 5 (average 94% vs 93% of the best).
  • In 12 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 3 and CrossClimate 2 won 8 (average 94% vs 96% of the best).
  • In 12 tests that measured snow braking for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 2 and CrossClimate 2 won 10 (average 97% vs 98% of the best).
  • In 12 tests that measured snow traction for both, Kinergy 4S2 won 1 and CrossClimate 2 won 11 (average 94% vs 99% of the best).
  1. 72

    Dry

    CrossClimate 2 +23
    95
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 31 tests8399
    Reviews found online5688
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 15 shared tests · wins 0–1593%99%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 9 shared tests · wins 6–2100%99%
    Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–195%100%

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

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 99.2 + 40% × 88.3 = 95

  2. 78

    Wet

    CrossClimate 2 +9
    87
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 31 tests8783
    Reviews found online6592
    Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 7 shared tests · wins 6–194%90%
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 12 shared tests · wins 3–894%96%
    Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–088%83%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 15 shared tests · wins 9–594%93%
    Wet Braking (concrete) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–290%93%
    Wet Circle (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–099%96%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 9 shared tests · wins 7–298%96%

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

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 83.1 + 40% × 91.7 = 87

  3. 72

    Snow

    CrossClimate 2 +18
    90
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 27 tests7999
    Reviews found online6178
    Ice Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–289%92%
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 12 shared tests · wins 2–1097%98%
    Snow Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–196%100%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 9 shared tests · wins 2–798%100%
    Snow Slalom (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–492%100%
    Snow Traction (% of best) · 12 shared tests · wins 1–1194%99%
    Snow Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–184%100%

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

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 98.6 + 40% × 78.2 = 90

  4. 61

    Comfort

    CrossClimate 2 +18
    79
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 4 tests7267
    Reviews found online5486
    Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–288%88%

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

    CrossClimate 2: 40% × 67.2 + 60% × 86.1 = 79

  5. 64

    Noise

    CrossClimate 2 +15
    79
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 20 tests6277
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)83
    Noise (% of best) · 11 shared tests · wins 4–698%99%
    Noise (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–189%95%

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

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 77.2 + 40% × 82.7 = 79

    No owner ratings of noise for Kinergy 4S2. 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 2 +17
    84
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 7 tests7281
    Reviews found online6088
    Abrasion (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–378%100%
    Wear (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 4–178%76%

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

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 81.2 + 40% × 88 = 84

  7. 56

    Handling (owners)

    CrossClimate 2 +26
    82
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate 2
    Reviews found online5682
  8. 51

    Efficiency

    CrossClimate 2 +39
    90
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 23 tests5190
    Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–395%97%
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 10 shared tests · wins 0–1084%98%
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Kinergy 4S2Michelin CrossClimate 2
Relative Score 70 87
Dry 72 95
Wet 78 87
Snow 72 90
Comfort 61 79
Noise 64 79
Treadwear 67 84
Handling (owners) 56 82
Efficiency 51 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.

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Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

Kinergy 4S2

± 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.

In the overall rankings of 15 tests that ran both, Hankook Kinergy 4S2 finished ahead 6 times and Michelin CrossClimate 2 9 times.

DisciplineCategoryKinergy 4S2CrossClimate 2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 93% 99% −6.5 0–15 in 15 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Dry Handling Dry 100% 99% +0.6 6–2 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tyre Test · 245/45 R18
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 95% 100% −4.9 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 · 195/55 R16
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 94% 90% +4.3 6–1 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 94% 96% −1.7 3–8 in 12 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Wet Braking Wet 94% 93% +0.4 9–5 in 15 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Wet Braking (concrete) Wet 90% 93% −3.2 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Wet Circle Wet 99% 96% +2.7 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 Auto Bild Sports Car All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R18
Wet Handling Wet 98% 96% +1.9 7–2 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tyre Test · 245/45 R18
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 88% 83% +4.8 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 · 195/55 R16
Ice Braking Snow 89% 92% −3.2 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Snow Braking Snow 97% 98% −1.2 2–10 in 12 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Snow Circle Snow 96% 100% −4.5 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test · 245/45 R18
Snow Handling Snow 98% 100% −1.9 2–7 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tyre Test · 245/45 R18
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 84% 100% −15.8 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 · 195/55 R16
Snow Slalom Snow 92% 100% −7.9 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tyre Test · 245/45 R18
Snow Traction Snow 94% 99% −4.3 1–11 in 12 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 88% 88% −0.1 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 · 195/55 R16
Noise Noise 98% 99% −0.7 4–6 in 11 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Noise (tester's mark) Noise 89% 95% −6.2 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 · 195/55 R16
Abrasion Treadwear 78% 100% −21.6 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Wear Treadwear 78% 76% +2.3 4–1 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 95% 97% −1.9 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 84% 98% −13.1 0–10 in 10 shared tests Newest: 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 · 195/55 R16
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 79% 58% +21.1 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2024 Minivan / SUV All Season Tyre Test · 235/55 R17
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #3/16 #5/16 – 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Value Cost 59% 45% +14.4 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Tyre Weight Other 93% 95% −2.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 ADAC All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Overall Ranking Overall #5/16 #2/16 – 6–9 in 15 shared tests Newest: 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15

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 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

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 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.

mavericktruckclub.com ·9 upvotes ·2024-08-12

“I replaced the factory Continentals at 9,258 miles at the end of August 2023 with the stock size 225/65R17 Michelin CrossClimate 2's. I waited until the local tire shop had a sale and had these mounted/balanced for under $800. 348 days, 10,004 miles and 4 seasons have passed since then. I spend much of my time around "town" with speed limits under 55 while also having a handful of longer highway drives. These are the closest thing to a "no-compromise" all season tire that I can imagine. They are smooth, quiet and have incredible grip in all weather conditions. Snow, rain, etc. Admittedly, I have not taken my FWD Maverick through any meaningful amount of mud. Maybe there is a tire better suited to this. There are also certainly performance oriented tires that will outperform this tire when it is hot and dry. Last, and certainly not least - there does not seem to be any fuel economy change. I have tracked every tank before and after these tires. Both my best (48.5MPG) and worst (27MPG) full tanks have happened since these were installed. 38.8 overall.”
bobistheoilguy.com ·19 upvotes ·2023-03-10

“I have had the Cross Climate 2 tires on my VW All Track now for about a year and thought I would share some findings about them. 1. They are QUIET on the road. Looking at the tread, you might think they are noisy but they are not! Run as quiet as a normal tire. 2. They give excellent traction and handling on dry, wet and snowy roads. This past winter, I had two occasions to drive on roads covered with 6-10" of snow. Excellent traction. 3. They wear very well! After about 12,000 miles, they hardly show any wear. I expect to get about 50,000-60,000 miles out of these tires. 4. They do exact a mileage penalty. I lost about 2 mpg overall since putting on these tires. However, I do not mind that considering the excellent traction I get from them. 5. They tend to pick up stones in the tread, particularly after the great state of Pennsylvania in its wisdom covers the roads before, during and after a snowstorm with gravel. Overall, this tire is a winner. Handling is excellent as is wear and traction. I would recommend this tire to anyone who wants these features and wants to leave a set of tires on their car year around.”
r/TyreReviews ·35 upvotes ·2026-01-18

“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.”
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 · Hankook Kinergy 4S2 B · Michelin CrossClimate 2
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available9592
Rim diameters14″ – 20″15″ – 21″
Tread depth—9 - 10/32″
UTQG500 A A640 B A
Treadwear warranty—60,000 mi
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—50 - 51 psi
Sizes in common6666

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Michelin CrossClimate 2

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

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 90 vs 51 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 82 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 95 vs 72 on dry.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 90 vs 72 on snow.

Pick tire A Your priority is curved aquaplaning

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 won 6 of 7 shared curved aquaplaning tests.

Tire A · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
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Tire B · Michelin CrossClimate 2
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Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate 2?

Which is better in the wet, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 87 vs 78 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 95 vs 72 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 90 vs 72 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 79 vs 64 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 79 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 84 vs 67 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Kinergy 4S2 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 90 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