Michelin CrossClimate2 launched in the USA, coming to Europe in 2021, but no UK date yet

Following reports at the end of July that Michelin was about to introduce a successor to its successful CrossClimate year-round tyre, the company has now officially launched the CrossClimate2 in North America. The CrossClimate2 will be available in 56 sizes, fitting 76 per cent of the best-selling passenger cars and crossovers in the US marketplace today. Currently, 25 sizes are available. In early 2021, an additional 31 sizes will be available. The tyre is expected to land in Europe during 2021. However, details of the tyre’s UK launch have not yet been released.

Pitched as a “crossover tyre”, Michelin points out that “competitors in the all-season tyre category typically deliver in one or two performance areas well but have to make sacrifices in other areas that are important to drivers”. However, according to the French tyre maker, the CrossClimate2 delivers them all – wet stopping, longevity, dry grip and snow performance.

The CrossClimate2 has a distinct V-formation tread pattern, something that has been retained from the original CrossClimate. It is also designed to deliver whole-life performance, according to Michelin: “All tyres begin to wear after their first drive. But not all tyres offer outstanding stopping power as they wear. The CrossClimate2 does. In wet conditions, even when worn, the CrossClimate2 stopped shorter than leading competitive tyres – up to 50 feet shorter when stopping from 50 mph”.

Michelin’s claim is based on internal wet braking tests from 50 mph using 235/55 R18 tyres buffed to 3/32-inches on a 2020 Toyota RAV4. In these circumstances, the Michelin CrossClimate2 had an average stopping distance of 142.9 ft compared with the Continental CrossContact LX25 (195.8 ft) and the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady (198.6 ft). In 215/55 R17 on a 2019 Toyota Camry, the Michelin CrossClimate2 had an average stopping distance of 181.0 ft compared with 216.2 ft for the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack and 227.8 ft for the Continental PureContact LS. with an average. Actual on-road results may vary.

The CrossClimate2 is also said to wear up to 15,000 extra miles better than its competitors based on US Department of Transportation Average Annual Miles per driver (13,500 miles). The treadwear test was performed on 235/55 R18 tyres fitted to a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. Here, the most-worn groove of a rotated set came in at 67,300 miles versus the Continental CrossContact LX25 (58,100) and the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady (52,000 miles). 215/55 R17 tyres on 2016 Toyota Camry vehicles wore out at 61,100 miles compared with the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack (47,300 miles) and the Continental PureContact LS (54,700).

In addition, drivers in snowy climates can have confidence in the “3-peak mountain snowflake rating” given to the CrossClimate2 and its reported 31 per cent better snow traction when worn than four leading all-season worn competitive tyres. Michelin makes this claim based on third-party snow traction tests using ASTM Test Method F1805-12, and tyre buffed to 3/32-inches remaining tread depth. When compared to Standard Reference Test Tyre (SRTT), in size 235/55 R18 the Michelin CrossClimate2 tyre scored 93 compared against the Continental CrossContact LX25 tyre which scored 63 and the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tyre which scored 65; and when compared to SRTT, in size 215/55 R17 the Michelin CrossClimate2 tyre scored 90 when compared against the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack which scored 62 and the Continental PureContact LS which scored 59.

“We designed this tyre to deliver safety and performance in every stop, every turn, and throughout every season,” said Michelin brand director Matthew Cabe. “Parents, caretakers and all conscientious drivers understand the responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others when they drive. They don’t want to feel powerless. This tyre gives them confidence and control in any weather, during any season.”