Michelin have recently announced a mid life update of the extremely successful Michelin CrossClimate, the Michelin CrossClimate+
Launched in March 2015, the CrossClimate was the first of a new breed of all season tyres. Traditionally all season tyres start life as a winter tyre, and have the balance of performance moved slightly towards dry and wet running. While this leaves traditional all season tyres excellent on snow and ice, other performance qualities suffer, most notably dry braking.
The CrossClimate started life as a summer tyre, and was gifted winter abilities. While this means it isn't quite as good as traditional all season tyres in extreme winter conditions, it is still more than enough for anything the UK winter has to offer, all while retaining the dry and wet performance of a dedicated summer tyre.
So, with the multiple award winning CrossClimate being updated, what does the new tyre bring? Visually, the only change for the CrossClimate+ is the addition of the + on the sidewall, so we've spoken to Michelin UK to find out exactly what's new on the inside!
The New Michelin CrossClimate+
What is the main change in the new CrossClimate+?
The main change is the new latest/greatest tread compound. Thanks to the new compound, the CrossClimate+ delivers more mileage, so even bigger gap now to All Season competitors, and Michelin's other summer range. It's a new version of the same compound family, and this version works well in multiple geographic zones.
What else has changed?
We have significantly reduced drop off new to worn, meaning the tyre retains its dry, wet and snow performance throughout the treadlife.
Are there any drawbacks to the new CrossClimate+?
While dry braking performance is identical to the CrossClimate, wet braking has gone from lower part of A of the EU label, over the boundary to upper part of B, hence change looks greater than it is.
It is only a slight drop in wet braking performance in certain sizes, but we've a large gain in other areas. It's still amongst the top end of the summer ranges as a 'B', only about a third of premium summer tyres offer 'A', and I think considering all the other benefits the CrossClimate+ brings, it's worth it.
The CrossClimate Family
The new CrossClimate+ will slowly replace the CrossClimate in all but 14" sizes. The CrossClimate SUV will remain on the market, with additional 19" and 20" sizes due at the start of 2018!
Still not convinced the CrossClimate is the right tyre for you?
i just put them on two hundred thirty miles van rides like shit NOT HAPPY
I have CC tires on my Alfa Romeo GT. Unfortunately rear left side one got damaged by a rusted shock absorber which dropped while driving.
Should I replace this tire with same (CC) tires as the ones on other 3 wheels, or (considering the little difference between CC+ and CC) it’s okay to replace it with a CC+?
thanks!
I'd be more worried about tread depth differences, there's very little between the CC and CC+ though
Do u mean tread difference with other 3 tires or between new CC & (new) CC+?
Tread condition of the remaining 3 is pretty good.
For example fitting a new tyre with the opposing axle tyre below 4mm isn't advised
Hey Michael, my name is David and I have a 2007 forester, what tires finally worked for you ?
I haven’t used winter or all-seasons tyres before but thought I’d try the CCs. I park on a gravel / stone chipping drive and I’ve read comments about gravel embedding into the “softer “ compounds and then flying out when driving on tarmac. Is there any truth in this
Yes, but it's the same for a lot of siped tyres and isn't really a huge problem
I'm about to put CC+ on my car, ideal for the climate where I live. Given that my little 1 litre Mk8 Fiesta is never going to get near 130mph, are there any pros/cons between the H and V speed rating versions of the tyre that appear to be my choices in 195/55R16? They're only about a tenner difference in price.
btw, this site (and youtube channel) put all the competition to shame - by far the best!
In theory a little more comfort with the H, but a lot of the time they're the same tyre :)
Legend - thank you so much!
got these for 5 years and only thing that wants me to change them is the age, still lot's of meat to go lol. Not a single flat tyre in 5 years.
I'm very appreciative of your videos, I don't think I would have considered the CrossClimate without your reviews, from what I see it looks ideal. Love to pick your brain though.
My car is an AWD Chrysler 300C V8 and I live in a Seattle area. I imagine it's a lot like the London area weather wise. Mostly damp, the road being wet as much as dry, rarely below freezing all day, rarely above 70(21C) snow maybe a week out of the year, but a mountain pass not far that I do travel.
I drive very uhm spiritedly, enjoy my driving, I hit up gravel and such on occasion, as well as top 140MPH(225kmh) on occasion, and spend more time sideways then I should. I'm looking for the ideal tire for my mixed but mostly damp conditions from fall to spring. I've had dedicated winter and summer tires, but need to replace the worn winter tires and generally want an all around great tire that works best most of the year in mixed conditions. Price and mileage are not a big concern.
I'm thinking the CrossClimate SUV might be the ideal tire. The SUV version comes in larger sizes to fit my large wheel wells better(I think I might be able to fit a 275/45/20). The SUV version has a higher speed rating for when I'm being naughty. And given that my car is 4,515lbs(2048kg) empty the higher weight ratings couldn't hurt.
My question for you if you'll indulge me is, am I missing anything? Something I've overlooked, a reason this is a bad idea, a better tire option, etc.?
PS yes I already have the means to make adjustments for tire rolling radius and pressure monitoring. Only fitment challenge is finding the perfect wheel, these need a lot of offset.
Thanks.
If moving away from a summer / winter combination, the CrossClimate is the best European type all weather tyre on the market, however have you considered tyres like the American type UHP tyres, like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 AS? We don't have these in Europe so I don't have much experience with them yet!
I live in south of Sweden and have an Audi A8 4x4, 2010.
Same question as above but Michelin PS 4 AS is not for sale here. Also, I will not drive very active during winter, just need a good tyre.
Could the SUV version work here, since I also have 20" wheels?
Really hard to actually understand the difference between SUV and +...!
Thanks!
There's very little difference between SUV and + so if it's in your size and meets your needs, it's a good choice
If you want a tyre which will cope with snow, the CC+ is the logical option :)
I'm going to buy new tires for a big and heavy car.
Mercedes-Benz 420 SE from 1990, tire dimension 205/65R15.
I use the car both summer and winter but not on snowy surfaces. I drive the car a maximum of 5000 km per year. I wish good comfort and sound level.
What do you recommend?
Maybe check out this video: https://www.tyrereviews.co....
After 4 years and 52.000km with michelin crossclimate i bought a new set crossclimate +!I am very satisfied with the tyres.
after 1.5y, 20000km, i measure 6mm. feels solid.
but in cold it feels bit harder. thankfully in hot goes not get too soft.
better than summer eco michelins, for sure, that was bad as a hockeypucks.
I have a decision to make. Two years ago (during beast from the east) I had a puncture and fitted two crossclimates on the front. They were excellent in the snow compared to the Eagle F1s which left me almost immobile and actually stranded me one day during that winter.
I now have a different car and it needs two new tyres. But its nearly April so a whole summer of use to come, and in the winter just gone we got no snow either. Performance would be better on premium summer tyres and if I buy crossclimate again its a compromise for all summer and we may not even get snow next winter.
What to do? Compromise for the risk we get snow in 10 months time, but if we do im laughing, or get the right tyres for the next 8 months of use at least, but leaving a small risk of being put out next winter?
Your annual mileage and personal driving style really dictates this, only you have the answer!
I would like to see the CC featured alongside your tests for the common UHP tyres. Its difficult to know how much of a compromise it is without seeing it directly alongside the other choices (Eagle F1, PS4 etc). The CC is £30 per corner more than the Eagle F1A5 as well.
My car is a big and heavy Mondeo 2.5T petrol estate and I do 10k per year in it.
It doesn't have the A5 in, but you can use the PC6 as a reference:
https://www.tyrereviews.co....
Thanks. The CC is a good tyre and does seem to hold its own against the premium summer tyres. Still torn though as I know it is still a compromise. How important is 3m on dry braking, 3 km/h in aquaplaning, less than a second difference on dry handling, or a couple decibels in noise? Are these fairly substantial gaps or marginal ones?
It seems like the Plus is now alvailable in 14" too:
https://www.michelin.co.uk/...
I had the same question about the difference between CC+ and CC SUV for my wife's Tiguan and found a comment on the Michelin website about the SUV being designed for 90% on road 10% off so will probably go for the CC+ as the only time the Tiguan goes off road is to occasionally tow a horsebox across a grass field (although that's more than most SUVs around here, the only time they're off road is parking on the pavement outside Waitrose). I'm basically looking for a road tyre, it is just a jacked up golf after all, so am swayed by the longer life of the CC+. Also the Michelin tyre chooser puts the CC+ higher up the list than the SUV for the Tiguan so I'm guessing unless you're going off road that's their recommendation.
As an aside I just had 4 CrossClimates fitted to my daughters Seat Mii, CC+ isn't available as a 14", and my worry was ride comfort as they're an XL tyre on a small car but no problem at all, if anything they're more comfortable than the conti sport contacts they replaced. Haven't had much cold weather yet but she commented that unlike the contis the traction control isn't triggered by the mud left by tractors on the lanes around here, particularly at junctions, so that bodes well for snow traction.
I can't argue with any of your logic, very well thought out :)
Hi, I'm about to change all 4 tyres on my BMW X3. It appears I have the option of the CC+ or the CC SUV. My tyre size is 235/50 R18 and the rating between those 2 tyres are identical except for the speed rating. CC+ is Y and CC SUV is V and the price tag of about £3.29 per tyre! Should I go for the SUV as the X3 is a SUV or do I get the CC+? I'm on the assumption the CC+ is the newer tyre? Thanks :)
The answer is I don't know! Maybe a question for Michelin, though I'd tend to go with the SUV vehicle is best with an SUV tyre logic
Are this decent on a Subaru Outback ? Driving conditions: California lowland and once in a while California High Country with snow and ice.
I'd say they'd be a very good balance for that type of driving, just be careful on ice though as they're not really designed for that.
I'm looking to change the OE Bridgestone Turanza's on my 1.6T Astra K (200hp / 280nm). As I live on the west coast of Scotland we deal with alot of rain - plenty of standing water, icy days for around 1/4 of the winter and generally at most a couple of inches of snow over the winter for at most 10 days a year.
My weekly driving consists of 20% Motorway / 30% Fast twisty B roads / 50% town.
What would you recommend between the CC+ and Pilot Sport 4?
I've noticed as the bridgestones are dipping below 3mm on the front axle I'm starting to get wriggle and torque steer creeping in.
Hello mate!
I have a Nissan Pulsar (110bhp/240nm) and I also had Bridgestone Turanza0s fitted. They have lasted for 70,000 kms or 43,500 miles! I live in Spain, but in the north-east and we often get fog and rain in the winter, though not as much as in Scotland! Today I have fitted 4 CC+, have only tested them for 7km on the way home but they felt better in the rain.
I would definitely recommend the CC+ over the PS4, especially for wet conditions. In the summer, they work like summer tyres, but when you need them they will behave like winter!
Look at the video Tyre review have made: https://www.youtube.com/wat...
noise level ?
Good evening from Greece
Winter is coming that means wet roads and travelling to north by highway ice and litle snow
the question: for my Ceed Nokian weatherproof or Michelin CC+ (summer temperatures sometimes over 40C) I need your help ANY other suggestions accepted
Michelin for sure
BRIDGESTONE A005 205/55 R16 91H?
Would these be a good choice for a VW Golf GTI TCR? I am interested more how do they compare with a dedicated summer tire (Bridgestone Potenza) as winters are usually wet and cold but very few days of snow.
They'd be the best all season choice, but they'd still feel a bit soft compared to the OE Summer tyre. If you can avoid snow and freezing conditions, I'd stick with summers. If not, these are the best of the rest.
Thank you for your response. Unfortunately I can't avoid as there is mandatory interval to have car equipped with winter/all seasons from November until March.
I find the current Bridgestone Potenza S001 (delivered with car) really on the low quality so I was thinking I have 2 scenarios:
1. Keep the Bridgestone as summer tyres for another year, buy dedicated winter tyres and most probably change also to some proper summer tyres after.
2. Use CC+ all year around. I do not see the point in using CC+ just for winter.
I am not concerned about the winter part, as I mentioned, most of the days are cold and not much snow, usually rain, especially not in the city. The problem is that I have seen one test (done by you) when it was compared with a summer tyre but that test is from 2015 and maybe obsolete in 2019/2020.
I would like to know (or see) a test how good/bad it compares with dedicated summer tyres for the (+10/+25 temperature), dry and wet as they are actually announced as summer tyres with winter capabilities. Your opinion?
If you're not worried about extreme winters, I'd still use the CC+ as the winter tyre if you derive any enjoyment from driving. On a normal Golf the handling differences might not be as noticeable, but they will be on a GTI.
I would fit the CC+ This winter, and see if you can live with them year round. The performance dropoff doesn't change particularly between +5c and +25c
Hi, I'm looking for CC+ tyres for my 2017 Audi Q5 but they don't seem to appear in searches only CC SUV. Is this as good as the CC+.
Yes it is
Hi,
I was going to purchase these for my e90 but they don't manafacture in 255 x 40 x 17. I then looked at alternatives like the Continental AllSeasonContact but again don't have my size tyre. Is there any other alternatives that are similar in performance as the 2 I mentioned? I'm looking for an all season tyre that favours more towards the summer tyre rather than the winter tyre.
Thanks.
The Vredestein Quatrac 5 or Bridgestone AllWeather A005 are the other two options with more of a dry bias.
Thankyou for the response. I have just looked on several websites, black circles, the manafacturers website and tyre reviews and neither of these are available in 255 40 17. Do you know what other size would be safe for me to run without any issue? I'm new to this so appoligies for the noobie questions.
Thanks.
Sadly I can't recommend different tyre sizes, but your handbook might have a winter wheel option size you can use, something like 225/45 R17 all round. Whether you want to actually make that change is up to you
I have had these on a Forester (215/65/16) and a Fiesta (245/45/17) for 12,000 and 2500 miles respectively. In the 2018 March snow dump the Forester was driving through 2 feet of drift snow, over the bumpers with masses of grip. I was well impressed having previously used Nokian WD4s and the CCs felt as good for grip and traction and "almost" as good as the Nokians for snow braking. I expected the CCs to be ok or quite good in the snow but they are hugely impressive. Everything you read about them being good in the wet and dry is true, very solid performer. The Fiesta went to Scotland and back in December 2018 and saw a few inches of snow which it dealt with very well, little bit twitchy on take off but on the move quite confidence inspiring. In the warm and dry the CCs on the Fiesta wriggle under hard acceleration (170bhp) but grip and braking for the way I drive seem as good as the summer Pilot Sports. Wear seems good on the Forester, should easily get around 40,000+ miles to 2mm.
Hi from Greece! I will replace my tires with Cross Climate SUV (235/55 17). Crossclimate+ comes also for SUV;
Hi! Is this a question?
Yes e mash. What car have you? I have this size on my A8L Audi.
I'd like to replace the unloved Pirellis on my Daimler Double Six, 6.0, and trying to decide what to buy - I like Nokians but the WR A4 not yet available in my size (225/60 16) Any suggestions as how to keep the quietness and legendary ride as original as possible?
Are you specifically after a winter tyre?
Not at all - in fact, probably more a summer tyre as I don't intend using my vehicle during the winter - however, I guess to retain some "winter" usage I should opt for an all weather tyre
Check out the all season tests on the site and pick one that has the best blend of comfort and wet / snow grip to work with your own driving pattern.
The Goodyear and Conti all season products seem to cover your requirements.
One thing puzzles me: the major change seems to be compounding so why not replace cc with cc+ in those sizes as well?
It's a good question I don't have an answer for!
Educated guess: new compound is more expensive, cc are made mostly as 14s and those tires usually have lower mileage and are found on budget cars. CC+ on R14 would be more expensive and they would be overkill in terms of durability (for most drivers)
How do all season tyres compare with tyres like Bridgestone Dueler 687's or BF Goodrich Urban Terrain's on surfaces like wet grass, light mud, rocky tracks and their resistance to sharp stones?
Are there any mixed tests which take account of this? Would like to know how much better on the road these all season tyres are than H/T tyres and conversely how much better these H/T's are for light off road use. There are A/T Vs Winter tyre tests but these are all on road and obviously A/T's have a more aggressive tread pattern which hurt on road traction.
Being a mainly rural SUV driver with intermittent light off road use I'm not sure which would be best suited for me. The OEM Dueler's were average on all aspects apart from road wet braking and handling which was non existent!
Here you go: http://www.tyrereviews.co.u...
Sadly this is the closest I've seen.
I fitted 4 Cross Climates to a 86hp Clio a couple of years ago (I think they were 195/55 r16) and thought they were great. The handling (cornering in particular) in both wet and dry was fantastic.
Now I'm driving a 147hp Golf MK7 2.0TDI on 225/45 r17 - it's 300kg heavier, and it's time to change tyres.
I drive mainly on country roads - the question is should I go for cross climate or cross climate plus? Is there much difference between the two for handling/cornering? More interested in dry/wet than snow/ice...
There's not much between the two tyres, I'd suggest the plus just because it would likely be newer stock.
I am about to replace my original CrossClimate tyres that were fitted back in late January 2016, I have since done over 60,000 miles/96,560 km in nearly 34 months! 205/55/16 size, in South of England conditions. We did have a few days of bad snow in places, these tyres got me out and gave me confidence on the road. But they feel like a good summer tyre in the dry and wet which was the main thing! At that mileage in nearly 3 years, longevity is legendary! I know some new players have come to the scene now such as the Conti-AllSeason Contact, which seems comparable in some aspects, but ultimately I doubt it will match on longevity which is the reason I will stick to the Michelin CrossClimates. I am looking forward to the Plus model as performance of tyre stays more consistent on wearing, and that is a great thing! BTW I totally love the site and YouTube videos, only came across it a week ago nothing on the Net with this much tyre insight, videos and some entertainment! Keep up the good work! Cheers!
Glad you're enjoying the CrossClimates, they're an excellent tyre :)
I have a 2018 Nissan Leaf 40kWh which has Dunlop Enasave EC300 215/50R17 tyres fitted. I’m looking at all season tyres, and considering CrossClimate tyres which I ran on my previous Leaf, but just heard about the new Bridgestone All Weather A005 tyres. They appear to be even better in the limited information I can find. Which would you recommend.
They seem to match the CrossClimate in the dry and wet but are worse in the snow. I hope to have more information on the website soon!
I’m torn between the CC’s and full winters for my RWD BMW M240i, was looking at all square 225 40 18 on the standard staggered rims. Just thinking the CC’s will perform better more of the time than full winters such as the Conti WinterContact 850p in a typically mild U.K winter? I don’t need full snow performance as I rarely travel far, just need to keep mobile. I’d rather have better cold, dry, wet and greasy performance which is the conditions we face the most. Which would you recommend?
I used to own a m135i and I'd probably pick the CC for the added dry performance. That said, the 850P is an incredible tyre!
Thanks for taking time to reply. Last winter I ran the Michelin PSS tyres and they were woeful in the cold, even when dry, traction was poor until some heat was in them. I suppose what I am hoping to achieve is better all round grip in the dry and also wet/greasy conditions. Do the CC also outperform a good winter tyre in the wet, in particular when its cold and wet? Or is it purely in dry conditions the CC will be better? Thanks again :-)
The CC will be close to a full winter tyre in the cold and wet, and much better than a summer tyre if that's what you're after, but with all your power it's going to be a struggle whatever the tyre!
The PSS was very bad in the cold wet, the PS4 would also be an improvement.
I tried to start a new feed; but I couldn’t. I own and operate Steve’s Tire 905-660-3131 in Concord Ontario, L4k1w5 and we sell lots of tires. It would be nice if you could refer to M+S with the Mountain Snowflake 3pmsf symbol, as an All-Weather Tire and not an All-Season Tire. 905-660-3131, and let’s chat. Cheers! Steve. https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
It’s September 2018 and the SUV sizes were supposed to be ready by around January. But it’s still not available in the 20” size. Need the 245/45R20 for my Evoque but having to buy the old CrossClimate as it’s not available in the CrossClimate Plus. Not happy!
The good news is that the CrossClimate isn't a million miles away from the + model, so you can be happy knowing you're still on an excellent tyre!
That’s true. It’s still miles better than other ‘All Season’ Tyres!
Cheers.
Been looking at replacing my summer tyres for an all season and liked the reports of these cross climates. Only issue is my tyre size as standard is 245/40r18 any advise on what i can do here? As i can’t see any use in the full winter good year do for south england
The Conti is worth checking out :)
http://www.tyrereviews.co.u...
Hi , I've got 245/45/20 on my vw t5.1 camper, I want a decent all season tyre , would you recommend the Michelin CC tyres or something else , also where you recommend to purchase them ? Thanks
CrossClimates seem to still be the best, especially in larger sizes. There are plenty of options for purchasing online, and I'm sure your local fitters would have stock!
How do you rate verdestein quatrac 5 ?
Seems to be a very capable tyre :) Not quite as good as the CC in the dry but still excellent
The CrossClimate are by far the best All Season Tyre. Full stop. Stop pissing around and go buy a set!! ;-)
I’m tempted to fit 4 of these but worried as my cars handbook doesn’t reference pressures for XL tyres and the last thing I want to do is fit £300+ worth of tyres and start wearing them out prematurely or unevenly.
Any advice?
As you will be running the same load through them, run them at OE pressures.
Do the new crossclimate + tyres have a rim protection ridge? I saw some orginal crossclimates and was put off by the lack of protection for 18" wheels...
As far as I'm aware, the rim protection status hasn't changed.
I've seen some ads. detailed FSL in the CC+'s name. Could you look after it? I'm interested in the rim protector ridge question @ 18inch size too.
I have a transporter t5 t32. 215/60/17 My current tyres have a load rating of 104, but the rating for your tyres is 100(still above the maximum axel loading for my vehicle-1600kg)
Can a fit your tyres to my vehicle and will this affect the validity of my insurance. If I cannot, can you recommend a similar tyre with adequate load rating... thanks, Simon
If the handbook specifies 104 in that size then it's not advisable to go lower as it can cause insurance issues.
There is a CrossClimate Van tyre (agilis) which might be worth looking into! That should have load ratings suitable.
I have very recently, within the last two weeks, taken delivery of a brand new front wheel drive Audi Q2 Sport 1.4 which has Bridgestones Turanza T001 tyres on it as standard. I don't spend enough time in the UK in winter to merit a full winter tyre with all the changing-over of summer/winter tyres required every six months, so I am seriously thinking of replacing the Bridgestones with Michelin CrossClimate Plus tyres next week, as most of my driving is on untreated country lanes and the British weather is difficult at the moment to say the least. I know it will cost me a fair amount, but what price safety! Michelin do a 215/55 R17 98W that would fit the Q2. Would you reckon the Michelin CrossClimates would be a good choice under these circumstances? Thanks.
I do, this video is worth a watch - https://www.youtube.com/wat...
One thing to consider is the time of year. Hopefully we've had the last of the snow and we're coming into the warmer part of the year, so maybe it would be worth keeping the Bridgestone tyres on for the summer, then fitting the CrossClimates in Autumn so they'll have full tread depth for any snow and ice driving you encounter in winter 2018.
Thanks - that's excellent! Will do as you suggest.
After a good deal of research, including on your website & YT channel, I've decided to go for the CrossClimate Plus to replace my car's 6 year old tyres. Even though I live in Hertfordshire, which doesn't get much in the way of snow, I'd rather have the piece of mind for my tyres to have some snow ability, especially if that keeps me mobile in the winter.
I've got a 12yo Mazda3, which has a firm ride, so I'm also 'downsizing' from a set of 205/55 R16V Dunop SP Sport Fastresponse (I've found these to be decent) to a new set of 195/65 R15H (the alloys were corroding anyway and contributing to the tyres losing pressure more than they should) to also give me a more comfortable ride. I'd driven a Mazda3 TS with 15in wheels and tyres before (work pool car, mine's a TS2 with 16in alloys as standard) and the ride was so much better, with barely any discernable (if at all) reduction in handling ability/grip.
Luckily I can do this (the plate says so on the car and confirmed by Mazda) without penalty to my insurance premium as well, and the cost of the entire change is only £150 more than just replacing the 'dodgiest' alloy wheel plus 4 new 16in tyres. What's also amazing is how much cheaper tyres are now when compared with the last time in 2012 - a set of 16in like-for-like replacements would come in at £40 less, £25 less for the latest Dunlops or the 15in CC+s, despite the exchange rate being just as bad (for us) today as back then.
I have high hopes for this new setup so I'll put up a review once they've done a decent amount of miles (as before my suggestion is that we can edit out own reviews by a log-in so we can say how good they are at the beinnging and overall through their life - especially how long they are lasting with the performance [another reason why I chose the CC+]). Good informative videos as usual.
I look forward to the review, I'm sure you won't be disappointed :)
Hmm are these worth fitting to my car? It’s a 2013 Fiesta ST with 17” wheels, or are sportier summer tyres still the better choice? Just want something that can cope with anything in the U.K, particularly rain as we seem to get so much if that. The car currently has its standard Bridgestone Potenza tyres fitted but I need new ones on the front this month.
The CrossClimates will give you a significant upgrade in wet performance when compared to the Bridgestones fitted, however you might lose a little of the sporty handling feeling the Bridgestone offers.
Compared to other tyres in the class the CrossClimate actually has quite a sturdy sidewall!
Hi
Have a Outlander Phev AWD & looking to fit these as an all year tyre (225/55/R18). Are the CC+ the same as the CC SUV ?
The SUV marker is used for SUV sized tyres and load ratings. The principle behind the tyres will be the same.
Hi,
I note with interest that at the start of 2018 there will be 19" and 20" sizes for the CCsuv.
I have a Land Cruiser running on 285/50R20 Michelin Latitude Tour HPs which are at about 3mm of tread, I would love to switch to the CCsuv as I drive often on snow in Wales.
Do you have any more information about the sizes they plan to introduce and if they are still on schedule for start of 2018?
Thank you very much,
Ioannis
PS: I am running the CC on my Honda Jazz and they are outstanding. In snow, compacted snow, some ice, and sharp gradients, they find grip where you would expect them to give out. IMO the CC is worth the hype!
I've asked the question to Michelin and will let you know when they reply, though I'd be mighty impressed if they release at 285/50 R20! (I wait to be impressed)
Thank you for following up, please do keep me in the loop when you hear back from Michelin.
They make the Latitude Tour HP in that size so I am hopeful.
Thanks again,
Ioannis
See my other post :)
"Ok, so it looks like the closest you'll get in 2018 is 275/45 R20! Impressively big, and close, but not right. It's due in May 2018."
Hiya, the new CC+ sizes are out and you were spot on about the 275/45 R20 being the closest to my car. I guess I need to wait till the next batch of sizes. Do you have any information about when of if at all Michelin is going to introduce more CC+ and CCsuv sizes?
Thank you,
Looking at what I have access to, you're not going to see your size this year :(
Thank you for letting me know,
Ioannis
Ok, so it looks like the closest you'll get in 2018 is 275/45 R20! Impressively big, and close, but not right. It's due in May 2018.
Hello folks, I'am having somewhat a rare problem. I would really appreciate any help and advise. I'am driving a 2017 KIA Sportage GT (4x4). In my city there is only 2-5 days of snow a year in average and temp does not drop below +5 C a lot. But in weekends I also drive up to close mountains a lot during skiing season. It is almost impossible and unsafe to drive with summer tires. Yet you cannot use tire chains most of the time because there is not enough snow on the road either. I thought CrossClimate tires & some high quality rubber chains (pallets) are a viable option. Yet I couldn't find the fit to my rims. I currently have the stock tires which are 245 45 R19 Conti Sport Contact. Will CrossClimate SUV 235 55 R19 fit my rims? Or can you suggest any other options to my situation. Thank you.
They will fit the rims, but whether they fit the car or not is another question. You'll be increasing the sidewall height slightly, and while there should be clearance it's worth checking with other owners on an owners club.
If you do change the tyre size, you will also need to let your insurance company know as it is classed as a modification.
Guys I'm living in Serbia where temperature goes from -20 to + 40 Celsius degrees. This year it was very hot summer, one day it was 55 Celsius degrees at the asphalt, and the winter knows to be very cold with lot of snow and mud. So I'm wondering does MICHELIN CROSSCLIMATE + is good for these weather condition?
The CrossClimate will "work" in these extreme temperatures, however at -20 I imagine ice is a real issue, and even a European winter tyre wouldn't be ideal. I'd suggest looking at a nordic friction winter tyre, or full studs for such extreme conditions!
I currently run on 195/55/16 87w but can only find cross climate in the same size as 91v xl. Can I move to the lower v rating ?
Yes you can, as long as the load rating at least meets the minimum specified (which it does)
Do I need to put all four tyres the same or can I have two and two. I know this is not advised with winter tyres?
It is the same for all season tyres. The balance of performance between an all season tyre and a summer tyre in the snow and ice will cause very unpredictable vehicle handling.
My car recommends 205/60/R16/92V. Can i fit CC+ with 205/60/R16/96VXL? Will they invalidate insurance? Would i need to change the recommended tyre pressure as well?
No to both :) It's perfectly allowed to go up in load rating, just not down. As you're not changing the tyre size it is not classed as a modification so the insurance company doesn't need to know.
So i can fix them on my car? Since cc+ are xl rated would they damage the rims or suspension?
Yes you can, there will be no issues with suspension or wheels due to the xl rating
So, forgive the ignorance but I am not too sure on this. Will the CrossClimate plus offer better grip and braking performance in low temperatures than an equivalent Premium summer tyre like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4? I understand it will be night and day when it comes to snow, but assuming I won’t have to drive in snow at all, will it be a safer drive in winter temperatures anyway?
Yes it will, it has a hybrid compound which allows it to stay more elastic at lower temperatures than regular summer tyres.
I've had CrossClimates on my wife's Golf for about 15 months and CrossClimate+ on my Superb V6 4x4 estate for the last six weeks. Across the eight tyres, all require between 0.1 and 0.5 bar to be 'topped up' each fortnight. All eight wheels are entirely undamaged/free from corrosion.
As others have mentioned, these tyres are more prone to wheel-spinning at pull-away when roads are a little damp/greasy.
Strange, it's not something we've heard of much, and having spoken directly to Michelin the CrossClimate internally has been one of their lowest issue tyres ever. I wonder if there was a certain batch or a wheel / tyre combination that causes it.
Well our tyres were manufactured at least 18 months apart, one set of original CCs @ 16", the other CC+ @ 18". So the two sets will have nothing in common at all.
When will Michelin manufacture Cross Climate tyres as run flats, ?
I have cross climate on my BMW 3 series, and I have had 2 punctures in 1 year, a first for me, plus I am always pumping air into them. they loose pressure so quickly, Has anyone noticed this?
Paul
no, I have been using cross climate since July 2016 on my Mercedes, after nearly 30,000 km, no punctures and no pressure loss on all four tyres
We've not had any reports of CrossClimates losing pressure or puncturing more easily than other tyres either.
Tyres don't lose pressure, must be the way they were installed / rims aren't "there" anymore.
Wheelset reconditioning required, I'd advise
Paul, I feel your pain!
I have had exactly the same problem over the last 18 months, four punctures. I had to replace 3 Crossclimates due to punctures just outside the T-zone.and suffered regular pressure loss from all four tyres despite buying two brand new alloys and having four Crossclimates fitted to two new and two existing wheels. Luckily, the forth puncture was repairable. IN 18 MONTHS??!! I had my previous tyres (two Michelin Pilot on front, two Hankook OEM on rear) for two years - no punctures. Still have the Hankooks on my spare alloys.
The three replacements were fitted at different tyre bays - same problem with pressure loss - I doubt all three were badly fitted.
I agree with some of the comments below - the Crossclimates are quiet, they "stick like glue" in wet or dry on normal speed cornering and braking but slip on faster turning on A roads/roundabouts etc at slightly higher speeds - something the previous Michelins never did.
I would be very surprised if Paul and I are the only ones having puncture/pressure loss problems.
I have four CC+ tyres fitted to my car (05 plate) and when I got them fitted the guys at the garage said the alloy wheels were corroded, they had to clean the rims before fitted the tyres.
I don`t have any tyre pressure issues and drove 11k miles since then.
Geza, since writing my reply above I got to thinking and went to a small, dedicated tyre shop with my latest puncture and spoke to him about the tyre pressure issues. He said it is highly likely they were not correctly fitted. He took the punctured tyre off the wheel and sure enough, next to no bead sealant had been used on either rim when it was fitted. On this basis I asked him to check and refit the other three tyres. One wheel had NO bead sealant on either rim, another had bead sealant on only one rim and the final one had so little bead sealant applied, they may as well had left it without any for all the good it did. Neither of the two older wheel rims had been cleaned prior to fitting the tyres (two of the alloys were brand new and the CCs were the first tyres to be fitted).
By contrast, before refitting the tyres the rims were completely cleaned (I was right there watching everything and taking photos for evidence to complain to the large company I purchased the tyres from) and a wide, thick layer of bead sealant was applied. Of course, new valves were fitted and each wheel was re-balanced. This was all done three days ago.
I will give them a week and check the pressure, as in the past the tyres would lose 2-3 psi every few days, but after seeing the difference in the amount of bead sealant now used I am inclined to agree with Alex below in that it was the poor way they were originally installed that caused the pressure loss problems.
I will report back with my findings re the pressure, but I still believe the CCs are very puncture-prone!
I also share your pain regarding punctures on Michelin CrossClimates, having now suffered two separate CrossClimate tyre failures on my Volvo V70 in the past month; the latest today. Both at 70mph and by the time that I pulled over and stopped, the tyre was ruined. Tyres were in good condition, with less than 8000 miles usage and undamaged. One puncture occured on front tyre; other one on rear tyre - both on the passenger side. Expensive, as tyre wall was shredded. I drove my old Volvo 850 some 280,000 largely on Michelin's, without an issue. Perhaps it was just bad luck or a coincidence to have two tyres fail in this way? Otherwise, I like the tyre.
I've spoken to Michelin about this and the CrossClimate is their lowest "issue" tyre ever, and there's certainly no unusual complaints of the tyres losing pressure. I agree with the other posters that there's a chance your alloys are to blame, or poor seating
Does anyone know the exact sizes of the new coming 19" and 20" SUV tyres and if there is new SUV+ coming?
If you're interesting in a specific size, we can speak to Michelin directly and find out for you.
I'm interested in two sizes - 225/55 R19 or 235/55 R19 (the latter available now) both in the SUV segment.
What about CrossClimate SUV+, Is this type of tyres be available soon (ever)?
My wife has Cross Climates on the front of her Golf GTI, and has been massively disappointed with them. She reports several incidents of the front sliding wide on roads that weren't particularly wet or greasy.
When she first got them, I recommended them to a friend who also has a Golf GTI. He fitted them to the rears, and texted me later the same day to complain that the rear was constantly activating the traction control due to an obvious lack of grip compared to his summer tyres. He has replaced them after 2 months.
I don't know if this is somehow a VW issue, but so far I would rate these as by far the worst tyres I have ever come across - borderline dangerous. Given all the rave reviews this is a huge surprise, but I wouldn't recommend that anyone fits these tyres.
Simon
Hi Simon.
Very curious. Having personally tested them on a number of vehicles, including a Golf, I'm a little surprised. Check out all the data from a test at MIRA (in the UK) here:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.u...
There has been one other test we've seen which included the CrossClimate in a dedicated summer tyre test, and the CrossClimate was on par with the best summer tyres in the wet, but lost out a little in aquaplaning and the dry.
I wonder if this is a symptom of the tyre size and the performance requirements of a Golf GTI. There's a reason you won't find many all season tyres in 18" and above, as the forces on the tyres increases, so does the disadvantage of siping.
I put 18" CC+ on my S3 two months ago, replacing 19" Conti SC5 and have no regrets. Don't know why they don't work on the Golf but they are fairly quiet and stick like glue wet or dry. I also put 15" CC on a Mk2 Cav SRi130 last summer with similar results. My local tyre dealer says that the CC is one of the best commented on tyres he has sold.
I'm agree with you. After some 10k km, specially when the temperature is high (25-30 degree) my car also slides specially at the rear. Breaking performance is good but cornering is not.
I put a set of 15" original CC on my wife's 2006 Toyota Corolla a year ago, and in generally we have been really impressed with them. Quieter, more comfortable ride, better grip in all conditions, but with one exception - with fast cornering it does loose grip sooner than in the summers we had on before. Not a major issue for us - I just like to drive hard once in a while! But this does suggests to me that for someone with a high performance vehicle who likes to get the most out of their car, these are probably not the best choice and you'll want to stick with a premium performance tyre design for the specific season.
I have them on my BMW and drove in snow, rain, ice and all sorts. and the DTC never activated
Unusual, How did your friend know it was the rear activating the traction control?
Is sliding wide not just bad driving?
I use the first version of the CrossClimate on a Morgan Plus 4. The tyre size I am using is 195/65 R15. In the area I live it is a legal requirement to have certified winter tyres or chains on board from 15 November to 15 April. Wet weather performance is excellent but I am a little concerned about the fractionally longer dry braking distance in the dry (by comparison to a summer tyre).
In my opinion it would be great to see a sports version of the CC. I would happily sacrifice some tyre life for better braking distances.
Yes, it is always legal to go up in load rating! This is part of the Michelin geobox ethos
http://www.tyrereviews.co.u...
Does anyone know when the crossclimate plus will be available in UK?
It's already on the market in a number of key sizes, we more rolling out in stages throughout the year.
As I understand it the big advantage the + brings is a better tyre life and better performance in worn state. Performance in rain suffers a bit but I'm curious how much are we talking about. Rain performance is probably the most important spec when used in Holland so if I drive 50, 80. 120 km/h in pouring rain how much longer will my brake distance be compared to the original CC or my current Energy Savers. Are we talking centimeters or meters?
While the wet braking label score has dropped from A to B in the majority of sizes, Michelin have stated it's a "low A -> high B", which means in reality the wet braking distances will be marginally different.
Is the size range set to be expanded? Specifically i'm hoping for 235/40/r18. Thanks
I have just changed from 235/40/18s to 225/40/18 so i could fit CCs on the same wheel. My wheel rim is an 8J, and when you google tyre sizes suitable for an 8 inch wide rim, you will see that the standard widths are 225 and 235, with the possibility of fitting 215s or 245s. Going from 235 to 225, the sidewall is 4mm shallower, meaning the speedo will read slightly higher, however it is negligible, and not noticeable. The tyre looks the same size as my old PS3s on 235s (2006 A4) but performs much better in this cold and icy weather. Goes on just as easily (fitted and recommended STS Tyre Pros). Cant recommend enough.
Hmm. Do we know if they will be offered also as ROF this time?
I do feel that was a drawback for the original CC!
Nick, it's always a slight problem, is that to get RunFlat sales in certain markets, we need approval by the brands, e.g. BMW/Merc (* & MOE), and if the tyres don't carry a marking the dealers won't sell them. While it's not an issue in the UK, it does affect things. We are certainly looking at Run Flat, but it's not currently on the horizon in 2017
Thanks Jamie
Doesn't this have the same tread compound as Michelin Energy Saver Tyres? The two Energy Saver sets I've had on two different cars all starting cracking 3 years into service leading me to replace them with 5 or 6mm tread remaining. These Crossclimates appear to be the perfect tyre to run in South East England but I'm worried they will start cracking as quickly as the Energy Savers.
WilliW
get in touch with me about your Energy Savers
The CrossClimate is a totally different compound family
Well I'm not sure what can be done about the Energy Savers cracking. Even Quik Fit said they were safe, and that the cracking was a cosmetic issue. I just didn't feel good about them and had them changed. See pic.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
WilliW
Totally understandable but we do have a process in place to help out.. I'm on leave this week but send me a pm and I'll get in touch
Not sure you can PM through disqus. Any other way to contact you?
The tread is still 7mm in depth? This was one of the drawbacks of the old model.
George, no change in tread depth. and I'd slightly disagree of it being a drawback when it still outlasts all it's competitors in tyre life by some margin and they start with 7.5-8mm.