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Updated September 2026

Michelin CrossClimate 3 review

The Michelin CrossClimate 3 is generally regarded as a highly comfortable and quiet all-season tire that excels in dry and cold-weather conditions. While most users praise its refined road manners and winter capability, there is some debate regarding its performance evolution compared to its predecessor, the CrossClimate 2.

Relative score
83/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
80/100
5 reviews
Road tests
89/100
8 published tests
Community sentiment Mixed Read the buzz
#US Market Unavailability#CC3 vs CC3 Sport Differences#Wet and Dry Performance#Snow and Winter Traction#Treadwear and Longevity

Owners rate it 8.6 points lower than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

Michelin CrossClimate 3
Scores

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

By owner reviews

80%
Would buy again 80%
Dry
Overall dry
88%
Wet
Overall wet
75%
Snow & ice
Overall snow & ice
78%
Comfort
Overall comfort
94%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
93%
Handling
Overall handling
78%
By source
DriverReviews96%2,957 reviews Tyre Reviews80%5 reviews

By road tests

88.6%
Dry
85.2%
Wet
80.8%
Snow
81.9%
Comfort
94.5%
Noise
69%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 5 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Michelin CrossClimate 3 is generally regarded as a highly comfortable and quiet all-season tire that excels in dry and cold-weather conditions. While most users praise its refined road manners and winter capability, there is some debate regarding its performance evolution compared to its predecessor, the CrossClimate 2.

Pros

  • Exceptional ride comfort and low noise levels
  • Strong performance in cold, frosty, and light snow conditions
  • Improved tread wear resistance compared to previous generations
  • Confident handling and stability on dry road surfaces

Cons

  • Conflicting reports regarding snow and ice traction compared to the CrossClimate 2
  • Softer sidewall feedback compared to dedicated summer tires
  • Some users perceive a decline in wet weather performance versus earlier iterations

Worth knowing

  • Users operating RWD electric hatchbacks reported effective traction management in snow and slush conditions.
  • The tire is noted for maintaining quiet operation even when replacing dedicated summer touring tires like the Michelin Primacy 5.
Test results

8 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

The BEST All Season tires For 2026/27 · 225/40 R18

8th of 10
Best: Snow Traction · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling9th of 10
Wet Circle9th of 10
Dry Handling8th of 10
Snow Traction1st of 10
Snow Handling1st of 10
Rolling Resistance5th of 10
Straight Aqua8th of 10
Curved Aquaplaning8th of 10
Subj. Dry Handling7th of 10
Subj. Comfort4th of 10
Noise7th of 10

2026 Die Reifentester All Season tire Test - 225/40 R18 · 225/40 R18

4th of 9
Best: Snow Braking · 1st Weakest: Wet Braking · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking9th of 9
Dry Braking6th of 9
Snow Braking1st of 9
Snow Traction4th of 9
Rolling Resistance3rd of 9
Straight Aqua3rd of 9
Curved Aquaplaning8th of 9
Subj. Dry Handling9th of 9
Subj. Comfort1st of 9
Subj. Wet Handling7th of 9
Subj. Noise3rd of 9
Subj. Snow Handling1st of 9

Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 · 225/40 R18

6th of 7
Best: Snow Braking · 2nd Weakest: Wet Braking · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking7th of 7
Wet Handling7th of 7
Dry Handling7th of 7
Snow Braking2nd of 7
Snow Traction2nd of 7
Snow Handling2nd of 7
Rolling Resistance7th of 7
Straight Aqua7th of 7
Curved Aquaplaning7th of 7

2025 AutoBild All Season tire Test · 225/40 R18

7th of 15
Best: Snow Braking · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 14th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking11th of 15
Wet Handling14th of 15
Wet Circle14th of 15
Dry Braking10th of 15
Dry Handling10th of 15
Snow Braking1st of 15
Snow Traction1st of 15
Snow Handling1st of 15
Rolling Resistance4th of 15
Straight Aqua10th of 15
Curved Aquaplaning13th of 15
Noise5th of 15
Value11th of 15
Wear3rd of 15
Abrasion2nd of 15
Total Cost of Ownership5th of 15
Snow Circle1st of 15

2025 All Season 30 tire Braking Test · 225/40 R18

11th of 30
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking12th of 30
Dry Braking12th of 30

Michelin CrossClimate 3 & 3 Sport vs Pilot Sport 5 vs Primacy 5 · 225/40 R18

4th of 4
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 4
Wet Handling4th of 4
Dry Braking4th of 4
Dry Handling4th of 4

Michelin CrossClimate 3 and 3 Sport VS Rivals · 225/40 R18

3rd of 4
Best: Snow Traction · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 4th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling4th of 4
Dry Handling4th of 4
Snow Traction1st of 4
Snow Handling1st of 4
Rolling Resistance2nd of 4
Straight Aqua3rd of 4
Curved Aquaplaning4th of 4
Subj. Dry Handling4th of 4
Subj. Comfort1st of 4
Subj. Wet Handling4th of 4
Subj. Noise1st of 4
Snow Circle1st of 4
Subj. Fun4th of 4

Michelin CrossClimate 3 and CrossClimate 3 Sport · 205/55 R16

2 tires
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 2nd
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling1st of 2
Dry Handling1st of 2
Snow Traction1st of 2
Snow Handling1st of 2
Straight Aqua1st of 2
Curved Aquaplaning2nd of 2
Community buzz

What owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of the scores above.

Community opinion on the Michelin CrossClimate 3 (and its Sport variant) is mixed, balancing strong praise for improved longevity, snow capability, and refined ride comfort against criticisms of its dry and wet grip relative to competitors like the Pirelli SF3. Furthermore, significant frustration exists among North American consumers due to Michelin's decision to not launch the CC3 line in the US market anytime soon.

Sentiment breakdown
Positive29%
Mixed60%
Negative11%
Top themes
#US Market Unavailability#CC3 vs CC3 Sport Differences#Wet and Dry Performance#Snow and Winter Traction#Treadwear and Longevity#Ride Comfort and Noise#Size Availability Issues

From 110 threads and comments.