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.
Owners rate it 8.6 points lower than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
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%By road tests
88.6%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.
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
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 9th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 8th of 10 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 8th of 10 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 8th of 10 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7th of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 4th of 10 | |
| Noise | 7th of 10 |
2026 Die Reifentester All Season tire Test - 225/40 R18 · 225/40 R18
4th of 9
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 9 | |
| Dry Braking | 6th of 9 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 9 | |
| Snow Traction | 4th of 9 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 9 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 9 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 8th of 9 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 9th of 9 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 1st of 9 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 7th of 9 | |
| Subj. Noise | 3rd of 9 | |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 1st of 9 |
Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 · 225/40 R18
6th of 7
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 7th of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 7th of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 7 | |
| Snow Braking | 2nd of 7 | |
| Snow Traction | 2nd of 7 | |
| Snow Handling | 2nd of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 7th of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 7th of 7 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 7th of 7 |
2025 AutoBild All Season tire Test · 225/40 R18
7th of 15
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 11th of 15 | |
| Wet Handling | 14th of 15 | |
| Wet Circle | 14th of 15 | |
| Dry Braking | 10th of 15 | |
| Dry Handling | 10th of 15 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 15 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 15 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 15 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 15 | |
| Straight Aqua | 10th of 15 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 13th of 15 | |
| Noise | 5th of 15 | |
| Value | 11th of 15 | |
| Wear | 3rd of 15 | |
| Abrasion | 2nd of 15 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 5th of 15 | |
| Snow Circle | 1st of 15 |
2025 All Season 30 tire Braking Test · 225/40 R18
11th of 30
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 12th of 30 | |
| Dry Braking | 12th of 30 |
Michelin CrossClimate 3 & 3 Sport vs Pilot Sport 5 vs Primacy 5 · 225/40 R18
4th of 4
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 4 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Dry Braking | 4th of 4 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 4 |
Michelin CrossClimate 3 and 3 Sport VS Rivals · 225/40 R18
3rd of 4
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 4 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 4 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 4 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 4 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 4th of 4 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 1st of 4 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Subj. Noise | 1st of 4 | |
| Snow Circle | 1st of 4 | |
| Subj. Fun | 4th of 4 |
Michelin CrossClimate 3 and CrossClimate 3 Sport · 205/55 R16
2 tires
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 1st of 2 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 2 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 2 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 2 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 2 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2nd of 2 |
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.
From 110 threads and comments.