Head-to-head Updated

Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Continental CrossContact LX Sport — 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 32 + 0 road tests and 21,629 + 562 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate 2 is ahead, 88–57

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Michelin CrossClimate 2
Tire AMichelin

CrossClimate 2

All Season

± 4

Tests 87 · 32 tests Owners 87 · 21,629 reviews

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

“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.”

Continental CrossContact LX Sport
± 7

Tests – · none yet Owners 48 · 562 reviews

“Issues with Continental Cross Contact LX Sport tires Anybody having premature wear on their tires? In South Texas these tires are notorious for having flaking/peeling/chunking issues on the tread. Had to replace mine after 26k, but noticed the issues much earlier than that. Not a warrantable condition but Continental did give proration based on tread depth. Used the credit towards some new Michelins. Read more”

Category by category

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

  1. 95

    Dry

    CrossClimate 2 +36
    59
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2CrossContact LX Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 30 / – tests99≈ 62 (est.)
    Reviews found online8955

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 99.1 + 40% × 88.5 = 95

    CrossContact LX Sport: 60% × 62.5 (est.) + 40% × 54.7 = 59

    No road tests of dry for CrossContact LX Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 87

    Wet

    CrossClimate 2 +26
    61
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2CrossContact LX Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 30 / – tests83≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online9257

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 83.4 + 40% × 91.6 = 87

    CrossContact LX Sport: 60% × 63.2 (est.) + 40% × 57.1 = 61

    No road tests of wet for CrossContact LX Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 91

    Snow

    CrossClimate 2 +29
    62
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2CrossContact LX Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / – tests99≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online7857

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 98.9 + 40% × 78.4 = 91

    CrossContact LX Sport: 60% × 65.8 (est.) + 40% × 57.4 = 62

    No road tests of snow for CrossContact LX Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 78

    Comfort

    CrossClimate 2 +16
    62
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2CrossContact LX Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / – tests65≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online8758

    CrossClimate 2: 40% × 65.1 + 60% × 86.5 = 78

    CrossContact LX Sport: 40% × 67.1 (est.) + 60% × 58 = 62

    No road tests of comfort for CrossContact LX Sport. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 80

    Noise

    CrossClimate 2 +16
    64
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2CrossContact LX Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / – tests79≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online8361

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 78.6 + 40% × 82.6 = 80

    CrossContact LX Sport: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 61 = 64

    No road tests of noise for CrossContact LX Sport. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 83

    Treadwear

    CrossClimate 2 +44
    39
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2CrossContact LX Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / – tests81≈ 51 (est.)
    Reviews found online8723

    CrossClimate 2: 60% × 81.1 + 40% × 86.8 = 83

    CrossContact LX Sport: 60% × 50.8 (est.) + 40% × 22.5 = 39

    No road tests of treadwear for CrossContact LX Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 82

    Handling (owners)

    CrossClimate 2 +36
    46
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2CrossContact LX Sport
    Reviews found online8246
  8. 90

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2CrossContact LX Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 22 / – tests90–
Scores at a glance
Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Continental CrossContact LX Sport: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin CrossClimate 2Continental CrossContact LX Sport
Relative Score 88 57
Dry 95 59
Wet 87 61
Snow 91 62
Comfort 78 62
Noise 80 64
Treadwear 83 39
Handling (owners) 82 46
Efficiency 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 starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

CrossClimate 2

± 7

CrossContact LX Sport

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A 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

Tire B CrossContact LX Sport

Pros

  • Low road noise and exceptional cabin comfort
  • Strong handling and reliable grip in wet and dry conditions
  • Confident performance in light snow and winter weather

Cons

  • Disappointing tread life and faster-than-expected wear
  • Occasional reports of reduced traction in heavy mud or specific slick conditions
  • Higher price point relative to the longevity experienced by some drivers
All owner themes in the CrossContact LX Sport review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

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.

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!”

r/Subaru_Outback ·14 upvotes ·2024-01-17

“My Official review of the Cross Climate 2 tires. I put some new shoes on the Outback after reading some threads on here and decided with my weather here in Missouri the Cross Climate 2s were the best fit. In rain, they are great so no more sliding or hydroplaning what so ever. In snow, they are even more amazing. They grip extremely well. The one downside to them that concerns me, and I didn't think about this when I purchased them, is that fact you can't do a full tire rotation to them like conventional tires as they are directional so you can only do front to back and vise versa. For this reason I am concerned if I will get 60K out of them and avoid the inner/outer wear. Sure you can dismount the tire from the wheel and remount them but I had heard that's bad for them. Overall, they are excellent. If you are concerned about the tire rotation thing, I would say the Michelin Defenders or the Falkan Wildpeaks are probably a better bet. I plan on getting the Falkans next but hopefully that wont be for at least 50K more miles. Read more”

r/ecoboostmustang ·2 upvotes ·2025-07-28

“On a 2015 Highlander Hybrid, the CC2 is excellent anti-hydroplaning, wonderful snow and ice handling, both moving and stopping. I am a rideshare driver averaging 200 or so miles per day. The tires are only just now a bit noisier at 78,000 miles. Wear is down to 3/32 and went through a wild, heavy rain storm today with no lack of confidence whatsoever. Only downside is that >80 degrees F and gas mileage goes down by 2 mpg. Love the tires so much that I feel the slight loss during summer is still worth it.”

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

Tire B

Continental CrossContact LX Sport

Mixed

Community opinion on the Continental Cross Contact LX Sport is mixed, with some drivers praising its comfort, balance of control, and low road noise. However, many owners express dissatisfaction with rapid tread wear, flaking or chunking, poor wet traction, and shallow initial tread depth. Several users consider replacing them early with options like Michelin CrossClimate or Defender models.

bobistheoilguy.com ·3 upvotes ·2022-10-17

“A broken screw went partially into the tire tread, cutting one of the metal wires / belts in the casing. The tire is not losing air. I am concerned the damaged wire belt could lead to a tire failure. The open divot, deeper than the tire tread, also concerns me since it can get packed with debris, damage the other intact wire, or open the hole even more or further puncturing it. Tire is 2 years old with 17k miles so it's in great shape. Continental Cross Contact LX Sport 245/50 R20. This is on my wife's Pilot so I want her to have a reliable tire with no possibility of having a failure due to this damage, if that is likely here. What do you guys think?”

r/ModelX ·1 upvote ·2026-09-18

“You don’t want to be too cheap with harder rubber material because they lack stability. I just replaced mine with Continental Cross Contact LX Sport T1 from America Tires with the best balance between comfort and control. Slightly cheaper than Tesla Service Center. You can try the Hankook Evo ION designed specifically for EV but you only have half the warranty mileage due to staggered tires configuration on the MX.”

r/tires ·1 upvote ·2026-09-27

“Gouge on sidewall It’s a continental cross contact LX sport 235/65 R18. Got them last year but hit a sharp curb the other day. Not sure if I’m seeing any cords, there’s some white streaks deep in the gouge but it all seems in tact. Just need to drive this car for 3 more days, is it safe?”

Top themes
#premature tread wear#wet weather traction#OEM tire replacement#tire inflation pressure#ride comfort and road noise#EV efficiency comparison

Based on 26 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin CrossClimate 2 B · Continental CrossContact LX Sport
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available9239
Rim diameters15″ – 21″16″ – 22″
Tread depth9 - 10/32″9/32″
UTQG640 B A480 A A
Treadwear warranty60,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side WallBlackwall
Max pressure50 - 51 psi51 psi
Sizes in common55

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Continental CrossContact LX Sport

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

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 83 vs 39 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 95 vs 59 on dry.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 82 vs 46 on handling.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 91 vs 62 on snow.

Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate 2
Tire B · Continental CrossContact LX Sport

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CrossClimate 2 or CrossContact LX Sport?

Which is better in the wet, CrossClimate 2 or CrossContact LX Sport?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 87 vs 61 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, CrossClimate 2 or CrossContact LX Sport?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 95 vs 59 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, CrossClimate 2 or CrossContact LX Sport?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 91 vs 62 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, CrossClimate 2 or CrossContact LX Sport?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 80 vs 64 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, CrossClimate 2 or CrossContact LX Sport?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 78 vs 62 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, CrossClimate 2 or CrossContact LX Sport?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 83 vs 39 on our treadwear 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