Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Alpin 6 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 19 + 33 road tests and 35 + 21,761 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate 2 is ahead, 87–81

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Michelin Alpin 6
Tire AMichelin

Alpin 6

Winter

± 4

Tests 81 · 19 tests Owners 81 · 35 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (wear)

Michelin CrossClimate 2
Tire BMichelin

CrossClimate 2

All Season

± 4

Tests 87 · 33 tests Owners 87 · 21,761 reviews

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

“We downsized from 21” stock on GTline to 20” rims and put on the CC2s—can’t stand the ugly stock rims and plastic covers. It got so much quieter that we noticed we could turn the radio down from 6 to 4 on the secondary roads, and down from 8 to 5 on the highway. Efficiency improved slightly, possibly due to lighter weight wheels.”

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
    SourceAlpin 6CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 31 tests7499
    Reviews found online8288

    Alpin 6: 60% × 74.1 + 40% × 81.6 = 77

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 99.2 + 40% × 88.4 = 95

  2. 89

    Wet

    Alpin 6 +2
    87
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 6CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 31 tests9083
    Reviews found online8792

    Alpin 6: 60% × 90.1 + 40% × 86.8 = 89

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 83.2 + 40% × 91.8 = 87

  3. 75

    Snow

    CrossClimate 2 +16
    91
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 6CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 27 tests7799
    Reviews found online7379

    Alpin 6: 60% × 76.7 + 40% × 73.4 = 75

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 98.5 + 40% × 78.8 = 91

  4. 82

    Comfort

    Alpin 6 +4
    78
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 6CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 4 tests8467
    Reviews found online8186

    Alpin 6: 40% × 83.8 + 60% × 81.4 = 82

    CrossClimate 2: 40% × 67 + 60% × 86.1 = 78

  5. 60

    Noise

    CrossClimate 2 +19
    79
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 6CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 20 tests5577
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)83

    Alpin 6: 60% × 55.5 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 60

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 76.9 + 40% × 82.6 = 79

    No owner ratings of noise for Alpin 6. 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. 85

    Treadwear

    Alpin 6 +1
    84
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 6CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 7 tests8981
    Reviews found online8088

    Alpin 6: 60% × 88.9 + 40% × 80.2 = 85

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

  7. 81

    Handling (owners)

    CrossClimate 2 +1
    82
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 6CrossClimate 2
    Reviews found online8182
  8. 64

    Efficiency

    CrossClimate 2 +26
    90
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 6CrossClimate 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 23 tests6490
Scores at a glance
Michelin Alpin 6 vs Michelin CrossClimate 2: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Alpin 6Michelin CrossClimate 2
Relative Score 81 87
Dry 77 95
Wet 89 87
Snow 75 91
Comfort 82 78
Noise 60 79
Treadwear 85 84
Handling (owners) 81 82
Efficiency 64 90

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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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

Alpin 6

± 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 1 tests that ran both, Michelin Alpin 6 finished ahead 1 times and Michelin CrossClimate 2 0 times.

DisciplineCategoryAlpin 6CrossClimate 2ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #7/10 #11/10 – 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Autonavigator Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Alpin 6

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry road grip in cold temperatures
  • High levels of ride comfort and low cabin noise
  • Impressive tread life and long-term durability

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance in deep snow and on ice
  • Some reports of sluggish steering feedback or 'soft' sidewall feel
  • Higher price point compared to some performance-oriented winter alternatives
All owner themes in the Alpin 6 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

Michelin Alpin 6

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

Tire B

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Positive

Most posters praise the CrossClimate 2 for strong snow, wet and hydroplaning grip, a quiet ride after break-in, and good tread life. Those who criticise it cite a small to moderate MPG or range loss, noise or a harsh ride for some owners, mixed wear reports, and a high price. A vocal minority calls it overhyped or unnecessary where snow is rare, and says rivals such as the Nokian WRG5 or Michelin Defender 2 suit some drivers better.

r/TeslaModel3 ·2 upvotes ·2025-11-20

“I live in Vancouver,WA and the CC2 are great for our climate even the light snowfall. I have an SR+, so they’re the 18” version. I have about 22K miles on them after 2 years and have averaged 240Wh/mi since installation, and I don’t drive conservatively. They did increase power usage by about 15-20Wh/mi. I’ve also been lazy and haven’t rotated them and they still are wearing very well. Got about 8/32nd up front and 6/32 in rear. Much better than the stock tires that were almost worn out at 22K. Note that places like Costco will not install these on your Tesla because they don’t meet the factory speed rating. It’s a CYA thing.”

r/volt ·8 upvotes ·2026-09-18

“Michelin CrossClimate2 efficiency surprisingly good! Just put in a new set of Michelin CrossClimate2s to go along with a move from LA to New England. I was a bit worried about the mileage/range hit but figured the safety in the winter outweighed it. I'm pleasantly surprised! On an all-highway trip from Boston to New Jersey, gas MPG was a steady 42 mpgs and I got about 45 miles on the battery, although I drive like a grandma at the posted speed limits so I think I was close to 44 mpg/45 EV miles on the old OEM tires. Around town in suburbia in good weather I'm still running between 4.0-5.0 miles/kWh. I estimate, at worst, a 5% drop in efficiency. Pretty good considering the Michelins feel so much stickier!”

macheforum.com ·8 upvotes ·2021-06-28

“I have the 235 that is a little higher load rating (105 vs 103 stock and 99 for 225). I'm probably getting about a 10% range reduction, but worth it to me for the improved handling and lower braking distance. I work from home and I charge to 90% about once a week unless taking a longer drive. If I did a lot of longer trips it might be an issue, but I am very happy with these tires.”

Top themes
#Snow and ice traction#Wet grip, hydroplaning#Road noise levels#Fuel economy, EV range#Tread wear, longevity#High price, value#Overhyped, meme status#Alternatives and comparisons

Based on 765 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Alpin 6 B · Michelin CrossClimate 2
CategoryWinterAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available4292
Rim diameters15″ – 20″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 common3838

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Alpin 6

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2 — better efficiency, noise and dry. Pick the Michelin Alpin 6 if comfort matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 90 vs 64 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 79 vs 60 on noise.

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 75 on snow.

Tire A · Michelin Alpin 6
Tire B · Michelin CrossClimate 2

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Alpin 6 or CrossClimate 2?

Which is better in the wet, Alpin 6 or CrossClimate 2?

Neither, by our numbers: 89 vs 87 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Alpin 6 or CrossClimate 2?

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

Which is better in snow, Alpin 6 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 91 vs 75 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Alpin 6 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 79 vs 60 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Alpin 6 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin Alpin 6, 82 vs 78 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Alpin 6 or CrossClimate 2?

Neither, by our numbers: 85 vs 84 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, Alpin 6 or CrossClimate 2?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 90 vs 64 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