tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

Michelin CrossClimate+ vs Hankook Kinergy 4S2 — 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 13 + 27 road tests and 121 + 3,669 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate+ is ahead, 79–70

Check price on Amazon · CrossClimate+ or Kinergy 4S2 on Amazon
Add your size for an exact match
/R

Both Amazon links then search this exact size.

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Michelin CrossClimate+
Tire AMichelin

CrossClimate+

All Season

± 5

Tests 81 · 13 tests Owners 78 · 121 reviews

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

Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Tire BHankook

Kinergy 4S2

All Season

± 4

Tests 78 · 27 tests Owners 60 · 3,669 reviews

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

“Hankook's 3-peak all-season tire, also called all-weather, is finally available from TR, though it had been out awhile now, when it replaced the 4S (4s1?) that was sold in Canada, but not the US. Like all the other 3-peak all-seasons that they carry, TR classifies the 4S2 as grand touring all-season”

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, CrossClimate+ won 7 and Kinergy 4S2 won 0 (average 99% vs 95% of the best).
  • In 7 tests that measured wet braking for both, CrossClimate+ won 3 and Kinergy 4S2 won 4 (average 94% vs 95% of the best).
  • In 5 tests that measured dry handling for both, CrossClimate+ won 3 and Kinergy 4S2 won 0 (average 100% vs 99% of the best).
  • In 5 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, CrossClimate+ won 0 and Kinergy 4S2 won 5 (average 93% vs 97% of the best).
  • In 5 tests that measured wet handling for both, CrossClimate+ won 2 and Kinergy 4S2 won 3 (average 97% vs 99% of the best).
  1. 87

    Dry

    CrossClimate+ +15
    72
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 26 tests9483
    Reviews found online7856
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 7 shared tests · wins 7–099%95%
    Dry Braking (cool) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–196%100%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 3–0100%99%
    Dry Handling (cool) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%100%

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 93.9 + 40% × 77.5 = 87

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 82.9 + 40% × 56.1 = 72

  2. 81

    Wet

    CrossClimate+ +3
    78
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 26 tests8187
    Reviews found online8165
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 0–593%97%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 7 shared tests · wins 3–494%95%
    Wet Braking (cool) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–095%84%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 2–397%99%
    Wet Handling (cool) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%96%

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 80.8 + 40% × 80.6 = 81

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

  3. 68

    Snow

    Kinergy 4S2 +4
    72
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 21 tests6579
    Reviews found online7261
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 1–494%95%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 1–498%98%
    Snow Traction (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–197%97%

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 65 + 40% × 72.3 = 68

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 78.6 + 40% × 61 = 72

  4. 75

    Comfort

    CrossClimate+ +14
    61
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 7 tests7171
    Reviews found online7754

    CrossClimate+: 40% × 70.9 + 60% × 77 = 75

    Kinergy 4S2: 40% × 71.5 + 60% × 54.4 = 61

  5. 67

    Noise

    CrossClimate+ +4
    63
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 21 tests6862
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 3–299%99%

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 67.6 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 67

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 61.6 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 63

    No owner ratings of noise for CrossClimate+ or 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. 82

    Treadwear

    CrossClimate+ +15
    67
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 10 tests8372
    Reviews found online8060
    Wear (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–098%63%

    CrossClimate+: 60% × 83.2 + 40% × 79.7 = 82

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 72.5 + 40% × 59.6 = 67

  7. 72

    Handling (owners)

    CrossClimate+ +16
    56
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate+Kinergy 4S2
    Reviews found online7256
  8. 74

    Efficiency

    CrossClimate+ +23
    51
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 21 tests7451
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 4–190%87%
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin CrossClimate+Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Relative Score 79 70
Dry 87 72
Wet 81 78
Snow 68 72
Comfort 75 61
Noise 67 63
Treadwear 82 67
Handling (owners) 72 56
Efficiency 74 51

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
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

CrossClimate+

± 4

Kinergy 4S2

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, Michelin CrossClimate+ finished ahead 7 times and Hankook Kinergy 4S2 4 times.

DisciplineCategoryCrossClimate+Kinergy 4S2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 99% 95% +4.1 7–0 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Dry Braking (cool) Dry 96% 100% −4.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Dry Handling Dry 100% 99% +0.5 3–0 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Dry Handling (cool) Dry 100% 100% +0.1 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 93% 97% −4.4 0–5 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Braking Wet 94% 95% −0.6 3–4 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Braking (cool) Wet 95% 84% +10.9 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Handling Wet 97% 99% −1.3 2–3 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Handling (cool) Wet 100% 96% +4.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Snow Braking Snow 94% 95% −1.9 1–4 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Snow Handling Snow 98% 98% −0.6 1–4 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 3–2 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wear Treadwear 98% 63% +34.4 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 90% 87% +3.1 4–1 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 68% 88% −20.1 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #3/14 #13/14 – 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Value Cost 84% 72% +12.0 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Overall Ranking Overall #4/9 #6/9 – 7–4 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 CrossClimate+

Pros

  • Strong snow and cold-weather traction for an all-season tyre, with many owners reporting winter-tyre-like confidence on snow, slush and hills, including on front-wheel-drive cars.
  • Excellent dry handling and steering response with precise, summer-tyre-like feel, along with generally very good wet grip and braking.
  • Long tread life: many reports of 30,000–55,000+ km or miles with low wear, including taxi and van use and 4-year/50,000-mile ownership.

Cons

  • Performance degradation with age: several owners report grip (wet and snow), noise and ride deteriorating after about 1–2 years, with hardening or cracking of the rubber in some cases.
  • Limitations on ice, packed snow and deep or steep snow, where some owners found them inferior to dedicated winter tyres or to rivals such as the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons.
  • Wet-weather concerns for some, including aquaplaning, being pulled around by standing water, and scary steering feel as the tyres aged.
All owner themes in the CrossClimate+ review

Tire B 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

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Michelin CrossClimate+

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

Tire B

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/TyreReviews ·3 upvotes ·2025-10-15

“Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Continental AllSeasonContact 2 For the past 3 years I have been using the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 195/55R15 and I am super happy with them, but a little over 50,000km in it is time to get new shoes this winter. I have driven in snow and they felt quite ok. Now I am looking to either get them again since I enjoyed them, or try the Continental AllSeasonContact 2 - but they only come in 185/55R15. I have read that narrower tires are better in the snow - most of the driving I do is on maintained roads but we do go into the mountains for a few weekends through winter usuallly. First of all, are the Continental a big step up from the Hankooks, like-for-like? Secondly, would the width difference be a significant factor in snow performance gain or dry/wet performance loss? And if it is better to have the narrower tire, would the Hankook in 185/55R15 be still a reasonable move from my current 195/55? Price-wise: Continental AllSeasonContact 2 185/55 R15 - 100Eur Hankook Kinergy 4S2 185/55 R15 - 79Eur Hankook Kinergy 4S2 195/55 R15 - 84Eur Cheers :) Read more”
bobistheoilguy.com ·2021-03-02

“Hankook's 3-peak all-season tire, also called all-weather, is finally available from TR, though it had been out awhile now, when it replaced the 4S (4s1?) that was sold in Canada, but not the US. Like all the other 3-peak all-seasons that they carry, TR classifies the 4S2 as grand touring all-season”
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

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin CrossClimate+ B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available6395
Rim diameters13″ – 19″14″ – 20″
UTQG—500 A A
Sizes in common5454

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin CrossClimate+

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

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

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 74 vs 51 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 72 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 87 vs 72 on dry.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 82 vs 67 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is straight aquaplaning

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

Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate+
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Check price on Amazon

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

CrossClimate+ or Kinergy 4S2?

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

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

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

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

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

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 72 vs 68 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, CrossClimate+ or Kinergy 4S2?

Michelin CrossClimate+, 67 vs 63 on our noise score.

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

Michelin CrossClimate+, 75 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, CrossClimate+ or Kinergy 4S2?

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

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

Michelin CrossClimate+, 74 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