Michelin CrossClimate 2 Vs Plus

‍Overview

The CrossClimate 2 and CrossClimate Plus are among Michelin’s best-selling all-season tires. The reason why these tires are so popular in their niche is their outstanding performances, across different conditions.

And like other Michelin tires, both the CrossClimate 2 and the CrossClimate have been made using high-quality materials. Therefore, regardless of which tire you choose, you can rest assured you will get value for your money.

But, between the CrossClimate2 and the CrossClimate Plus, which tire should you choose? Which one performs better than the other? In this article, we will compare different aspects of these two tires, to help you differentiate them and choose one that suits your needs.

About the CrossClimate 2

The CrossClimate 2 is an all-season, touring tire, designed for crossovers, minivans, high-performance cars, passenger cars, vans and SUVs.  According to Michelin, this tire is built to deliver top-notch wet and dry traction, short braking distances on dry roads, outstanding wet braking, as well as long-lasting tread life.

Michelin has outfitted it with an advanced Thermal Adaptive compound, designed to give the tire dependable traction on wet and dry roads. Also, this tread compound is formulated to remain pliable in freezing conditions, meaning the tire will continue providing reliable grip.

It comes with a directional tread design, featuring V Ramp chamfers. This tread pattern is designed to provide biting edges on snowy roads. Also, the tire’s tread features Michelin’s proprietary 3D SipeLock technology. This technology is designed to ensure block rigidity, resulting in enhanced traction during harsh weather.

At the center of the tread are a series of aligned, uniform blocks. This design enhances the tire’s ability to accelerate or decelerate while improving traction pressure when doing hard turns.

Unlike other all-season tires, the CrossClimate 2 doesn’t come with circumferential grooves. However, the angle of the grooves on its tread will play a similar role in channeling water outward, which will help prevent aquaplaning resistance. Besides helping with aquaplaning resistance, these angled grooves are also designed to boost the tire’s stability at higher speeds.

Michelin also applied its exclusive PIANO Noise Reduction Tuning technology to this tire. This technology is aimed at reducing noise and vibrations, resulting in a smoother, quieter and comfier ride.

About the CrossClimate Plus

The CrossClimate Plus is an all-season touring tire, built for minivans, crossovers, passenger cars, SUVs, station wagons, coupes, and sedans. It’s designed for drivers looking for a dependable all-season tire, which can deliver superior wet and dry traction, reliable traction in snowy conditions, composed handling, and a comfortable ride.

It comes with an all-weather tread compound, which has been formed into a directional tread pattern. This tread pattern is designed to boost the tire’s dry traction and handling stability. The tire’s tread also features wide lateral grooves as well as open shoulders, designed to boost its water evacuation capabilities.

The CrossClimate Plus also features bevel-edged tread blocks. These tread blocks are designed to enhance the tire’s traction on damp surfaces. It also features 3D self-locking sipes, designed to boost its grip and traction on snow-covered and ice-covered roads.

Another notable feature of this tire is the emerging grooves, which have been placed on the shoulders. As this tire wears down, these grooves will help it to retain dependable traction on snow and wet surfaces.

The CrossClimate Plus also sports the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol. This is an indication that this tire can provide a higher level of traction in extreme wither conditions than your standard all-season tire.

Performance Comparison

There’s little to separate the CrossClimate 2 and the CrossClimate Plus, in terms of features. As you may have noticed, both tires come with almost the same types of features and technologies. And this is something you can expect, considering that one of them is more of an upgrade to the other.

But do they also deliver the same level of performance? To find this out, we first mounted a set of each tire on a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. From there, we then subjected each tire to the same testing conditions.

To this end, we evaluated each tire’s dry performance, wet performance, and performance in snowy conditions. We also assessed each tire’s handling as well as ride quality. We started all our tests with the CrossClimate Plus and then proceeded to the CrossClimate 2. And after testing each tire rigorously, we observed the following.

Dry Performance

The CrossClimate Plus performed exceptionally well on dry surfaces. It delivered high levels of grip and traction. Also, braking distances are among the shortest that we’ve observed in its category. We didn’t experience any loss of grip even when navigating sharp corners at higher speeds.

The CrossClimate 2 is the newer version of these two tires. And, you can expect it to perform better than the previous iteration. So, is this the case? Based on our tests, we noticed that the grip and traction levels were slightly higher than what the CrossClimate Plus delivered. Also, the braking distances were slightly shorter than those we recorded with the CrossClimate Plus.

Wet Performance

After examining the dry performance of both tires, we then proceeded to test them in wet conditions, to assess how they would perform. Again, we started our tests with CrossClimate Plus and then moved on to the CrossClimate 2.

On wet surfaces, the CrossClimate Plus delivered adequate levels of traction and grip. Even when the surface is extremely wet and slippery, we could still manage to maneuver the Cruze confidently. Also, the cornering grip was equally sensational. However, the braking distances were a bit longer than we had expected.

The CrossClimate 2 continued with its impressive performance in wet and slippery conditions. In fact, its traction and grip levels are at par with some of the premium all-season touring tires in its class.

We never felt as if we were losing control of the Cruze at any point. The cornering grip was steady and the hydroplaning resistance was top-notch. As for braking distances, the CrossClimate 2 posted shorter distances than the CrossClimate Plus did.

For wet performance, we can say that the tire’s delivered almost the same level of performance. The only area where the CrossClimate 2 outperformed the CrossClimate Plus is braking distances.

Performance in Snow

We then went ahead to assess both tires’ performance in snowy conditions. After all, they are marketed as tires that are capable of handling snowy conditions and ice-covered roads. Besides, both come with the 3PMSF designation, meaning they are equipped to handle winter conditions.

Both tires delivered sufficient traction and grip in snowy conditions. Also, they remained stable, making it easy to control the vehicle. Furthermore, acceleration traction in both tires was decent. On ice-covered roads, both tires appeared hesitant.

But in deeper snow, the CrossClimate 2 appeared to handle the conditions better than the CrossClimate. Also, it delivered slightly shorter braking distances compared to the CrossClimate Plus.

Handling

The CrossClimate Plus didn’t disappoint in terms of handling. It responded well to driving inputs while its cornering was great.

In terms of handling, the CrossClimate 2 was somewhat of a disappointment. We expected it to perform better than the CrossClimate Plus. But this was not the case. While the responsiveness was decent, the feedback levels were a disappointment.

Comparing the two tires, we can confidently say that the CrossClimate Plus has a slight edge over the CrossClimate 2 in the handling department. This difference becomes even more pronounced when you push your vehicle to the limit.

Ride Quality

Grand touring tires are everyday driving tires. Therefore, both the CrossClimate Plus and the CrossClimate should provide a comfortable and refined ride. But is this the case?

The CrossClimate 2 delivered outstanding comfort levels. It absorbed the majority of road imperfections that we encountered during our test rides. Also, we didn’t experience any excessive vibrations while the noise levels are great. Even when cruising at higher speeds, the CrossClimate 2 remained quiet.

However, the CrossClimate Plus is a different story altogether. It doesn’t absorb road imperfections as well as you would want, meaning you will experience some jolts. Also, noise levels are below average. And the noise becomes noticeable once you hit higher speeds.

In terms of ride quality and refinement, the CrossClimate 2 outperforms the CrossClimate Plus considerably.

Warranties and Guarantees

Both tires come with a manufacturer’s warranty and a limited mileage warranty. The CrossClimate 2 comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty while the CrossClimate Plus comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. Hence, the CrossClimate 2 has a better treadwear warranty.

Prices Comparison

The CrossClimate 2 is the newer tire between the two. And newer versions tend to be more expensive than earlier iterations. But, this is not the case. While the CrossClimate Plus may be the older one, it’s more expensive than the newer CrossClimate 2.

Verdict

The CrossClimate 2 and the CrossClimate Plus are both reliable all-season touring tires. Also, they come with almost the same type of features. Furthermore, their performance levels are almost at par. The tire you should go for will depend on what you are looking for. If you are after an all-season tire that will deliver a comfortable ride, then the CrossClimate 2 is the one to go for. On the other hand, if you prioritize handling override refinement, then the CrossClimate Plus will be the ideal choice.