Head-to-head Updated

Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Michelin Primacy 4 — 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 + 23 road tests and 21,726 + 13,422 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate 2 is ahead, 87–80

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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 Primacy 4
Tire BMichelin

Primacy 4

Summer

± 4

Tests 84 · 23 tests Owners 77 · 13,422 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test (wet braking)

“Well my answer is none of the above. You choose, they are all a lottery imo. I just bought some Michelin Primacy 4 for mine today. Size 215/55 R18”

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 +13
    82
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 31 / 21 tests9986
    Reviews found online8875

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

    Primacy 4: 60% × 85.9 + 40% × 75.4 = 82

  2. 87

    Wet

    CrossClimate 2 +4
    83
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 31 / 22 tests8385
    Reviews found online9280

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

    Primacy 4: 60% × 85.5 + 40% × 79.5 = 83

  3. 90

    Snow

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

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

  4. 79

    Comfort

    CrossClimate 2 +3
    76
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 5 tests6775
    Reviews found online8676

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

    Primacy 4: 40% × 75.4 + 60% × 75.8 = 76

  5. 79

    Noise

    CrossClimate 2 +8
    71
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 15 tests7774
    Reviews found online83≈ 66 (est.)

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

    Primacy 4: 60% × 73.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 71

    No owner ratings of noise for Primacy 4. 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 +3
    81
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 3 tests8185
    Reviews found online8875

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

    Primacy 4: 60% × 84.8 + 40% × 75.4 = 81

  7. 82

    Handling (owners)

    CrossClimate 2 +7
    75
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Primacy 4
    Reviews found online8275
  8. 90

    Efficiency

    Primacy 4 +3
    93
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 15 tests9093
Scores at a glance
Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Michelin Primacy 4: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin CrossClimate 2Michelin Primacy 4
Relative Score 87 80
Dry 95 82
Wet 87 83
Snow 90 –
Comfort 79 76
Noise 79 71
Treadwear 84 81
Handling (owners) 82 75
Efficiency 90 93

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
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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
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Important
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Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

CrossClimate 2

± 4

Primacy 4

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 2Primacy 4ΔHead-to-head
Dry Dry 100% #1/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 99% #2/8 · 2022 Al Volante Summer Tire Test R16 – Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 100% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 99% #3/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #4/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 99% #5/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 100% #1/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 63% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 90% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 96% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 93% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 99% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Wet 70% #8/8 · 2024 Promobil Commercial Winter Tire Test R17 97% #2/8 · 2022 Al Volante Summer Tire Test R16 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 92% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 96% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 95% #5/5 · 2025 TUV Hankook iON FlexClimate EV Report 92% #13/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 93% #5/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 98% #4/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 83% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 93% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Lateral Stability Wet 95% #4/4 · 2024 Auto Express Crossover All-Season Tire Test R18 98% #3/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 95% #4/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 92% #4/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Exterior Noise Noise 100% #1/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 100% #1/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 98% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise (tester's mark) Noise 95% #4/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 60% #7/8 · 2021 ViBilagare Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 95% #4/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 87% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 98% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 96% #7/10 · 2022 ViBilagare Eco vs Normal Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 83% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild 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 63% #10/10 · 2022 AutoBild SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #3/15 2024 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test #3/21 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 47% #14/15 · 2025 ADAC All Season Tyre Test 83% #8/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Tyre Weight Other 95% #6/16 · 2024 ADAC All Season Tyre Test 100% #2/10 · 2020 Teknikens 17 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #2/6 2026 Wybór Kierowców Winter Tire Test R17 #4/6 2025 Wybór Kierowców Summer Tire Test R16 – 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 Primacy 4

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and long-lasting durability
  • Low road noise and a very quiet, comfortable ride
  • Reliable and consistent wet and dry grip

Cons

  • Vague, numb, or floaty steering feel with soft sidewalls under hard cornering
  • High price point compared to competitors
  • Occasional reports of increased road noise or harsher ride as the tread wears down
All owner themes in the Primacy 4 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 Primacy 4

Positive

The Michelin Primacy 4 is generally praised for its comfortable ride, low road noise, and strong braking and safety in both dry and wet conditions. While many users report excellent tread longevity across tens of thousands of kilometers, some note faster wear on heavier electric vehicles or rough surfaces. It is viewed as a premium touring tire that is unsuitable for winter conditions, prompting some drivers to weigh its high price against newer models like the Primacy 5 or cheaper alternatives.

r/ItalyMotori ·1 upvote ·2026-03-26

“Gomme alternative a Primacy 4 Buongiorno, ho una Peugeot 208 del 2020 con delle Michelin Primacy 4 205/45 R 17 88 V, le ho da 4 anni, circa 20000km all’anno tranne quest’anno che non le ho sostituite con le invernali e che quindi dovrei portarle ad usura completa con il prossimo “giro” delle gomme per altri 20000km. In totale arriverò a quasi 100000km, quindi super ammortizzate e le consiglierei sempre anche per la tenuta. Visto che entro fine estate pensavo di sostituirle tutte e quattro, vorrei capire se ci fossero delle alternative un più economiche ma altrettanto valide (un cambio gomme al momento mi costa circa €650-700). Read more”

vwvortex.com ·2026-09-12

“I might try to have a look at one today. There are two Uniroyal shops near me. Whether they have one in stock to look at though...? The trouble is they look really nice online but I'd like to see them in the flesh first. The old tyres (above photo) that were on these wheels were that nice square edged profile that I like, much the same as the Michelin Pilot Sports. These are going on my sons Golf EV so I'm also trying to consider if they are A rated for fuel, the best wet grip I can find and the lowest decibel level. The best choice I can find is the Michelin Primacy 4 which are A, A and 68. But on Black Circles it says they were designed for BMW. I'm sure they fit any wheel but do those properties still hold? I've always bought Pilots but B, B and 72, and its this 72 that really bugs me, is whats making me invest so much time into getting the right tyre for Toms EV. I'm getting a Tesla this Tuesday which does in fact come with the Pilots so they must be good on EV's anyway. Who knew buying tyres was so complicated.”

r/carIndia ·7 upvotes ·2026-03-26

“Michelin Primacy 4 or Conti UC6 - Virtus GT Hey, i recently got a Virtus GT with stock Apollo alnac 4g tyres - looking to upgrade them. As per ChatGPT my options are Michelin Primacy 4 and Continental UC6 - budget is not really a problem. Overall i want good grip, handling, comfort and low cabin noise. Not going for Pilot Sport 4, because don't want to compromise on comfort for performance when i am not going to push my car too much, hence PS4 is a no no. But read it somewhere that with Primacy 4, there is a noticeable difference in mileage not sure if it means going up or down. Need recommendations on what i should get! Thanks in advance”

Top themes
#ride comfort and low noise#tread life and durability#wet and dry grip#EV tire compatibility#Primacy 4 vs Primacy 5#poor winter and snow performance#premium pricing and alternatives

Based on 43 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin CrossClimate 2 B · Michelin Primacy 4
CategoryAll SeasonSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available9257
Rim diameters15″ – 21″15″ – 20″
Tread depth9 - 10/32″—
UTQG640 B A340 A A
Treadwear warranty60,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common4646

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Michelin Primacy 4

Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2 — better dry, noise and handling. Pick the Michelin Primacy 4 if efficiency matters most to you.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 95 vs 82 on dry.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 79 vs 71 on noise.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 82 vs 75 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 87 vs 83 on wet.

Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate 2
Tire B · Michelin Primacy 4

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CrossClimate 2 or Primacy 4?

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

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 87 vs 83 on our wet score.

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

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 95 vs 82 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, CrossClimate 2 or Primacy 4?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 79 vs 71 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, CrossClimate 2 or Primacy 4?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 79 vs 76 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, CrossClimate 2 or Primacy 4?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 84 vs 81 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, CrossClimate 2 or Primacy 4?

Michelin Primacy 4, 93 vs 90 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