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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Nexen Winguard Sport — Compared (September 2026)

Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.

Tire A Michelin

Michelin CrossClimate 2

All Season Premium Touring tires

Michelin CrossClimate 2 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
95/100
37 professional tests
User signal (40%)
81/100
143 owner reviews
Dry
90
Wet
83
Snow
82
Comfort
77
Noise
72
Treadwear
82
Handling
74

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Nexen

Nexen Winguard Sport

Winter Touring tires

Nexen Winguard Sport tread pattern
Objective (60%)
73/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
46 owner reviews
Dry
87
Wet
75
Snow
84
Comfort
87
Noise
51
Treadwear
86
Handling
65

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Michelin CrossClimate 2 — better noise, handling and wet. Pick the Nexen Winguard Sport if comfort and treadwear matter most to you.
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Category breakdown

7 categories, side by side

Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.

Dry

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) CrossClimate 2 leads by 3
A — Michelin CrossClimate 2
90
B — Nexen Winguard Sport
87
Why this score
SourceCrossClimate 2Winguard Sport
Professional tests (TWG score) 92 86
Tire Rack owners 94 –
Tyre Reviews owners 86 82
America's Tire owners 98 –
Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 95%
Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 99%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) CrossClimate 2 leads by 8
A — Michelin CrossClimate 2
83
B — Nexen Winguard Sport
75
Why this score
SourceCrossClimate 2Winguard Sport
Professional tests (TWG score) 84 68
Tire Rack owners 94 –
Tyre Reviews owners 82 79
America's Tire owners 97 –
Wet Braking (% of best) 90% 90%
Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 98%

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Winguard Sport leads by 2
A — Michelin CrossClimate 2
82
B — Nexen Winguard Sport
84
Why this score
SourceCrossClimate 2Winguard Sport
Professional tests (TWG score) 80 80
Tire Rack owners 88 –
Tyre Reviews owners 85 90
Snow Braking (% of best) 95% 96%
Snow Handling (% of best) 100% 95%
Snow Traction (% of best) 67% 94%

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Winguard Sport leads by 10
A — Michelin CrossClimate 2
77
B — Nexen Winguard Sport
87
Why this score
SourceCrossClimate 2Winguard Sport
Professional tests (TWG score) 73 –
Tire Rack owners 89 –
Tyre Reviews owners 84 81
America's Tire owners 96 –

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) CrossClimate 2 leads by 21
A — Michelin CrossClimate 2
72
B — Nexen Winguard Sport
51
Why this score
SourceCrossClimate 2Winguard Sport
Professional tests (TWG score) 72 29
America's Tire owners 92 –

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Winguard Sport leads by 4
A — Michelin CrossClimate 2
82
B — Nexen Winguard Sport
86
Why this score
SourceCrossClimate 2Winguard Sport
Tire Rack owners 91 –
Tyre Reviews owners 82 85
America's Tire owners 95 –

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) CrossClimate 2 leads by 9
A — Michelin CrossClimate 2
74
B — Nexen Winguard Sport
65
Why this score
SourceCrossClimate 2Winguard Sport
Tyre Reviews owners 74 65
America's Tire owners 97 –
DriverReviews owners 84 –

Scores at a glance

Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Nexen Winguard Sport: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin CrossClimate 2Nexen Winguard Sport
Relative Score 80 77
Dry 90 87
Wet 83 75
Snow 82 84
Comfort 77 87
Noise 72 51
Treadwear 82 86
Handling 74 65

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Personalize

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.

Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Test data

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryTire ATire BΔBoth?
Dry Braking Dry 100% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 95% #15/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test +5.2 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #8/15 · 2024 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test 99% #7/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test -0.5 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/5 · 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 71% #18/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test +29 Different tests
Noise Other 98% #4/16 · 2023 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test 95% #1/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test +3 Different tests
Price Other 100% #12/12 · 2024 Minivan / SUV All Season Tyre Test 62% #2/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test +37.9 Different tests
Value Other 99% #14/15 · 2025 ADAC All Season Tyre Test 63% #4/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test +36 Different tests
Wear Other 72% #8/16 · 2024 ADAC All Season Tyre Test 73% #18/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test -0.2 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 50% #2/9 · 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tyre Test 2% #48/54 · 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test +47.9 Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 95% #5/16 · 2021 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test 96% #19/30 · 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview -1.4 Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 100% #8/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test 95% #19/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test +4.7 Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 67% #1/16 · 2025 ADAC All Season Tyre Test 94% #4/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test -26.7 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 98% #2/6 · The Best All Season Tyres for 2024 / 2025 92% #16/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test +5.6 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #3/15 · 2024 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test 0% #13/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 0 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 90% #7/37 · 2024 All Season Tyre Market Overview 90% #17/56 · 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview -0.8 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #5/6 · 2025 Mid Range All Season Tyre Test 98% #10/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test -1 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Michelin CrossClimate 2

The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is widely regarded as a benchmark all-weather tire, offering exceptional snow and ice traction that rivals dedicated winter tires while maintaining respectable dry and wet performance. While most users praise its year-round versatility and comfort, a subset of owners reports concerns regarding wet-weather confidence, increased road noise as the tire wears, and a noticeable impact on fuel efficiency.

Pros

  • Outstanding snow and ice traction for an all-season tire
  • Excellent dry road handling and braking performance
  • High levels of ride comfort and noise refinement when new
  • Strong hydroplaning resistance in heavy rain
  • Long-term durability and tread life for many users

Cons

  • Noticeable drop in fuel economy compared to dedicated summer or low-rolling-resistance tires
  • Increased road noise and ride stiffness as the tread wears down
  • Mixed feedback on wet-weather grip, with some users reporting understeer or lack of confidence
  • Higher price point compared to competitors
  • Performance degradation in extreme summer heat

Observations

  • EV and hybrid owners frequently report a 5-7% reduction in range or fuel efficiency due to higher rolling resistance.
  • Users with high-performance or high-torque vehicles (e.g., BMW M-series, Mustang) often find the tire's sidewall and compound too soft for spirited driving, leading to unpredictable handling.
  • Drivers of heavier SUVs and crossovers generally report higher satisfaction with the tire's ability to handle inclement weather compared to lighter passenger cars.
Tire B Nexen Winguard Sport

The Nexen Winguard Sport is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that offers impressive traction in snow and slush for its price point. While most users praise its comfort, low noise levels, and reliable cold-weather performance, a minority of drivers report inconsistent grip in wet or icy conditions compared to premium alternatives.

Pros

  • Excellent value for money compared to premium winter tire brands
  • Strong traction and confidence in snow and slush
  • Low road noise and high ride comfort
  • Good durability and tread life for a mid-range tire

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance in wet or icy conditions for some users
  • Potential for uneven tread wear
  • Reported decrease in fuel economy for some vehicles
  • Not intended for high-performance dry-weather driving

Observations

  • BMW and Audi owners frequently report that the tires significantly improve winter capability on RWD and FWD platforms, often comparing them favorably to more expensive brands like Blizzaks.
  • Users with performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., VW GTI, Subaru WRX) note a marked improvement in winter safety over stock summer tires, though some report understeer during spirited dry-weather driving.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Mixed

Community opinion on the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is largely positive regarding its exceptional snow, ice, and wet weather traction, with many users praising its quiet ride and aggressive look. However, some dissenters point out potential drawbacks such as increased road noise as the tread ages, a minor hit to fuel economy or EV range, and questioned value for users who live in mild climates without winter weather.

r/LexusNX ·55 upvotes ·2026-06-14

“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.”

r/crv ·53 upvotes ·2023-06-23

“Review of Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires. I recently purchased Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires for my wife’s 2018 CRV EX-L FWD and I have to say they are pretty stellar. Thus far we have put at least 2000 miles on them to include a 14 hour road trip. Excellent traction on wet roads and far superior to the Goodyear Assurance we had before. We have driven through a couple significant downpours and these tires have confidence on wet roads. As for the alleged noise complaints, I think they’re very quiet compared to the old tires. Rolling resistance/ MPG; no changes and I would have happily sacrificed a couple MPG for good traction in FWD vehicle. As for snow, I can’t say and we live in Texas anyway. Price; I spent about $1000 total for four tires and installs at Costco. That was with tax. Overall, I highly recommend these tires thus far.”

r/MachE ·37 upvotes ·2026-07-23

“PSA: Michelin CrossClimate 2 - They make noise. Recently purchased Michelin Cross Climate 2s for my MachE from Costco. I received a fairly decent price (1,000 for 4) vs local competitors (1,400 for 4). I've seen a lot of people say how great they are, and I thought I'd give them a shot. They look nice. They definitely give it a more 'off-road' look. They also come with a 65,000 mile warranty which they said applied to EVs as well, which is nice as well. They feel great driving. I appreciate their excellent traction and feel secure on turns. I haven't been able to test them on snow yet, but they perform well on wet roads. That being said. They definitely make noise. They make a little at lower, city speeds (~35 mph). They also make a really weird noise at highway speeds (~70 mph+). Neither is so loud or annoying that a little radio can't cover up the sound. Overall, I am very pleased with the tire and the price I received. However, be warned, they do make noise. EDIT: I originally posted this is the Ford Mustang MachE forum and forgot to say that I put them on my MachE. The MachE, being an EV, may be why the noise is more noticeable for me versus others. Read more”

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 performance#Wet weather traction#Road noise and ride comfort#Fuel economy and EV range impact#Tread wear and longevity#Price and value comparison

Based on 393 community posts

Tire B

Nexen Winguard Sport

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

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin CrossClimate 2 B · Nexen Winguard Sport
CategoryAll Season Premium Touring tiresWinter Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Tread depth9 - 10/32″—
UTQG640 B A—
Treadwear warranty60,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin

Nexen

Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2 — better noise, handling and wet. Pick the Nexen Winguard Sport if comfort and treadwear matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 72 vs 51 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Nexen Winguard Sport scores 87 vs 77 on comfort.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 74 vs 65 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin CrossClimate 2 scores 83 vs 75 on wet.

Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate 2
Tire B · Nexen Winguard Sport

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.