Head-to-head Updated

Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — 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 33 + 27 road tests and 21,726 + 6,649 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate 2 leads, 87–83 Narrow edge

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Michelin CrossClimate 2
Tire AMichelin

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.”

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Tire BMichelin

Pilot Sport 4 S

Summer

± 4

Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 86 · 6,649 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)

“A note about the pilot sport 4 S: in cold weather (below 5 degrees) even if it isn't icy, the tyre compound hardens and has dramatically reduced grip. They are excellent summer tyres though, good in the wet too. These days I run Uniroyal rainsport 5 and they're very good.”

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 +2
    93
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 31 / 25 tests9995
    Reviews found online8892

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

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 94.6 + 40% × 91.5 = 93

  2. 87

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 4 S +1
    88
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 31 / 26 tests8386
    Reviews found online9290

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

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 85.9 + 40% × 90.4 = 88

  3. 90

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 27 / – tests99–
    Reviews found online78–

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

  4. 79

    Comfort

    CrossClimate 2 +1
    78
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 6 tests6770
    Reviews found online8683

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

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 83.4 = 78

  5. 79

    Noise

    CrossClimate 2 +10
    69
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 20 tests7770
    Reviews found online83≈ 66 (est.)

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

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69

    No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4 S. 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. 84

    Treadwear

    CrossClimate 2 +12
    72
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 1 tests8170
    Reviews found online8874

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

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74 = 72

  7. 82

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Sport 4 S +8
    90
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Pilot Sport 4 S
    Reviews found online8290
  8. 90

    Efficiency

    CrossClimate 2 +18
    72
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 23 tests9072
Scores at a glance
Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin CrossClimate 2Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Relative Score 87 83
Dry 95 93
Wet 87 88
Snow 90 –
Comfort 79 78
Noise 79 69
Treadwear 84 72
Handling (owners) 82 90
Efficiency 90 72

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

Less important
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Important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

CrossClimate 2

± 4

Pilot Sport 4 S

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

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.

DisciplineCategoryCrossClimate 2Pilot Sport 4 SΔHead-to-head
Dry Dry 100% #1/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 94% #3/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 100% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 94% #8/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #4/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 100% #2/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 100% #1/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 98% #4/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Subj. Steering Response Dry 70% #5/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 90% #4/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 90% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 96% #4/7 · 2025 Autobild Sportcars Summer Tire Test R20 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 93% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 100% #1/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Wet 70% #8/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 88% #5/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 92% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 90% #7/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 95% #5/5 · 2025 TUV Hankook iON FlexClimate EV Report 87% #7/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 93% #5/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 90% #6/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 83% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 84% #8/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Lateral Stability Wet 95% #4/4 · 2024 Auto Express Crossover All-Season Tire Test R18 80% #2/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 95% #4/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 84% #6/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Exterior Noise Noise 100% #1/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 99% #2/7 · 2025 Autobild Sportcars Summer Tire Test R20 – Different tests
Interior Noise Noise 67% #7/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 80% #5/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 98% #4/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise (tester's mark) Noise 95% #4/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 98% #2/7 · 2024 EVO Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 98% #2/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 55% #12/12 · 2024 Minivan / SUV All Season Tyre Test 46% #11/11 · 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test – Different tests
Tyre Weight Other 95% #6/16 · 2024 ADAC All Season Tyre Test 99% #2/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #2/6 2026 Wybór Kierowców Winter Tire Test R17 #1/10 2026 ACE Summer Tyre Test – Different tests

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 Pilot Sport 4 S

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and predictable handling in both dry and wet conditions
  • Noticeable reduction in road noise and improved ride comfort compared to competitors and run-flats
  • Sharper steering response and improved cornering stability

Cons

  • High initial purchase price
  • Rapid tread wear reported by some aggressive drivers and track users
  • Soft sidewalls can cause a slightly vague or laggy initial response during rapid steering transitions
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport 4 S 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.

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

Tire B

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Positive

The community widely regards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S as a benchmark max-performance summer tire, praising its outstanding dry and wet grip, stability, and daily driving refinement. Common criticisms focus on its premium price, rapid tread wear on high-powered heavy vehicles or hot track sessions, and significantly reduced grip in cold weather. Many enthusiasts consider it an ideal street tire, though some note softer sidewalls compared to predecessors or recommend dedicated track tires for hard circuit driving.

mustang6g.com ·2020-11-15

“I just went 12k on PSS for mixed use weekend and HDPE. 275/35 19x10 front and 305/30 19x11rear stagger. I replaced the PS4s from stock purchased PP1. I immediately noticed the PSS seemed a little louder and the concrete joints were felt and heard. Now after putting on 285/35 and 325/30 MP4S I'm enjoying a better ride. I have a track event this weekend so I'll get to test the 4S in track duty.”

vwvortex.com ·2025-09-26

“My 2023 20th AE Golf R came with Hankook tires , and I've been very pleased with them. I'm a fairly aggressive driver and frequent the twisty roads in the Santa Monica Mountains. I also have a mildly modded Mk VI Golf R shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires on factory 18" rims, and the Hankooks seem to perform almost as well in the dry, but outshine the PS4s in the wet. I will most likely need new tires next year, but I am undecided between the Hankooks and the Michelin PS4AS tires . As for Continental tires ... I use Continental tubular tires on my road bicycle, but have experienced many problems, including massive chunking with them on my 1974 BMW 2002Tii and my 1979 Scirocco Gti , so I am not going to use them on my cars again.”

jaguarforums.com

“I had a similar experience with Discount Tire and brand new Michelin PS4S's. I clipped a large lane marker (not a dot, a turtle) with both driver's side tires and pinch-flatted them both. I had driven them less than 10 miles so Discount Tire replaced them for only $50 without me even asking for a discount. I had purchased them for about $450 each and didn't buy a road hazard warranty, so I was very pleased with Discount Tire.”

Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Track day durability#High price vs alternatives#Tread life and wear#Cold weather performance#Sidewall stiffness and comfort

Based on 208 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin CrossClimate 2 B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
CategoryAll SeasonSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available92110
Rim diameters15″ – 21″17″ – 22″
Tread depth9 - 10/32″—
UTQG640 B A300 A - AA A
Treadwear warranty60,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common2727

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Narrow edge: Michelin CrossClimate 2 — better efficiency, treadwear and noise. Pick the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S if handling matters most to you.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 90 vs 72 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 84 vs 72 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 79 vs 69 on noise.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 82 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate 2
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

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CrossClimate 2 or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Which is better in the wet, CrossClimate 2 or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Neither, by our numbers: 87 vs 88 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, CrossClimate 2 or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Neither, by our numbers: 95 vs 93 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, CrossClimate 2 or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 79 vs 69 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, CrossClimate 2 or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Neither, by our numbers: 79 vs 78 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, CrossClimate 2 or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 84 vs 72 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, CrossClimate 2 or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 90 vs 72 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