tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Nexen N Blue 4 Season — 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 + 11 road tests and 21,726 + 31 owner reviews. How we score

CrossClimate 2 is ahead, 87–71

Check price on Amazon · CrossClimate 2 or N Blue 4 Season 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 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.”

Nexen N Blue 4 Season
Tire BNexen

N Blue 4 Season

All Season

± 5

Tests 73 · 11 tests Owners 68 · 31 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (wear)

Category by category

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

Key facts

  • In 4 tests that measured dry braking for both, CrossClimate 2 won 4 and N Blue 4 Season won 0 (average 100% vs 90% of the best).
  • In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, CrossClimate 2 won 4 and N Blue 4 Season won 0 (average 92% vs 87% of the best).
  1. 95

    Dry

    CrossClimate 2 +27
    68
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 31 / 11 tests9970
    Reviews found online8865
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–0100%90%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0100%97%

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 65.1 = 68

  2. 87

    Wet

    CrossClimate 2 +13
    74
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 31 / 11 tests8374
    Reviews found online9274
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–097%95%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–092%87%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–095%94%

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 74.2 + 40% × 73.8 = 74

  3. 90

    Snow

    CrossClimate 2 +23
    67
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 27 / 7 tests9967
    Reviews found online7868
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–097%90%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–098%96%
    Snow Traction (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0100%88%

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 66.9 + 40% × 68.3 = 67

  4. 79

    Comfort

    CrossClimate 2 +10
    69
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / – tests67≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online8670

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 40% × 68.9 (est.) + 60% × 69.8 = 69

    No road tests of comfort for N Blue 4 Season. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 79

    Noise

    CrossClimate 2 +2
    77
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 7 tests7783
    Reviews found online83≈ 66 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–199%99%

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 83.4 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 77

    No owner ratings of noise for N Blue 4 Season. 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 +13
    71
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 6 tests8176
    Reviews found online8863
    Abrasion (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0100%100%
    Wear (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–268%93%

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 76.2 + 40% × 62.8 = 71

  7. 82

    Handling (owners)

    CrossClimate 2 +12
    70
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2N Blue 4 Season
    Reviews found online8270
  8. 90

    Efficiency

    CrossClimate 2 +63
    27
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimate 2N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 7 tests9027
    Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–194%95%
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–099%80%
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin CrossClimate 2Nexen N Blue 4 Season
Relative Score 87 71
Dry 95 68
Wet 87 74
Snow 90 67
Comfort 79 69
Noise 79 77
Treadwear 84 71
Handling (owners) 82 70
Efficiency 90 27

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
± 4

CrossClimate 2

± 5

N Blue 4 Season

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 5 tests that ran both, Michelin CrossClimate 2 finished ahead 5 times and Nexen N Blue 4 Season 0 times.

DisciplineCategoryCrossClimate 2N Blue 4 SeasonΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 100% 90% +9.6 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2022 All Season Tyre Market Overview · 195/55 R16
Dry Handling Dry 100% 97% +3.3 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 97% 95% +1.8 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Wet Braking Wet 92% 87% +4.5 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2022 All Season Tyre Market Overview · 195/55 R16
Wet Handling Wet 95% 94% +1.2 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Snow Braking Snow 97% 90% +7.2 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Snow Handling Snow 98% 96% +2.8 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Snow Traction Snow 100% 88% +12.3 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Noise Noise 99% 99% +0.3 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Abrasion Treadwear 100% 100% 0.0 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Wear Treadwear 68% 93% −25.4 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 94% 95% −1.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 99% 80% +19.3 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 59% 100% −40.7 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #11/15 #6/15 – 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Value Cost 41% 95% −53.6 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 195/55 R16
Overall Ranking Overall #3/35 #14/35 – 5–0 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2022 All Season Tyre Market Overview · 195/55 R16

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 N Blue 4 Season

Pros

  • Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
  • High level of ride comfort and low road noise
  • Strong grip and predictable handling in cold, wet, and snowy winter conditions

Cons

  • Vague road feedback and noticeable understeer in warmer weather (above 20°C)
  • Increased rolling resistance leading to slightly reduced fuel economy
  • Softer sidewalls limit spirited or high-speed dry cornering performance
All owner themes in the N Blue 4 Season 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

Nexen N Blue 4 Season

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

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin CrossClimate 2 B · Nexen N Blue 4 Season
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available9256
Rim diameters15″ – 21″13″ – 19″
Tread depth9 - 10/32″—
UTQG640 B A—
Treadwear warranty60,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common3030

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Nexen N Blue 4 Season

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

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 90 vs 27 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 95 vs 68 on dry.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 90 vs 67 on snow.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 87 vs 74 on wet.

Pick tire B Your priority is wear

Nexen N Blue 4 Season won 2 of 2 shared wear tests.

Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate 2
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Nexen N Blue 4 Season
Check price on Amazon

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

CrossClimate 2 or N Blue 4 Season?

Which is better in the wet, CrossClimate 2 or N Blue 4 Season?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 87 vs 74 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, CrossClimate 2 or N Blue 4 Season?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 95 vs 68 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, CrossClimate 2 or N Blue 4 Season?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 90 vs 67 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, CrossClimate 2 or N Blue 4 Season?

Neither, by our numbers: 79 vs 77 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, CrossClimate 2 or N Blue 4 Season?

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

Which lasts longer, CrossClimate 2 or N Blue 4 Season?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 84 vs 71 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, CrossClimate 2 or N Blue 4 Season?

Michelin CrossClimate 2, 90 vs 27 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