All Season Tyres (Michelin Cross Climate)
Discussion
Does anyone have any experience of these, specifically Michelin Cross Climate?
I've just bought an old Mercedes 190. I will probably use it most from October to March. I have other cars for better weather. It may also do a run down to Italy in the summer but that's not certain and I don't go every year.
Winter wheels and tyres are an expense and faff I could do without. These Michelins are aimed at people for whom "Snow is the exception rather than the rule".
They get first place in reviews for wet and dry braking and come top 3 to top 5 for ability in snow review dependent.
They seem ideal for my intended use. Downsides are they're £68 instead of £54 for regular summer Michelin. Life expectancy is stated at 35k miles where I have always managed near 50k on summer Michelins.
Am I missing something blindingly obvious or are these basically the tyres I should be using?
Thanks in advance for any guidance.
I've just bought an old Mercedes 190. I will probably use it most from October to March. I have other cars for better weather. It may also do a run down to Italy in the summer but that's not certain and I don't go every year.
Winter wheels and tyres are an expense and faff I could do without. These Michelins are aimed at people for whom "Snow is the exception rather than the rule".
They get first place in reviews for wet and dry braking and come top 3 to top 5 for ability in snow review dependent.
They seem ideal for my intended use. Downsides are they're £68 instead of £54 for regular summer Michelin. Life expectancy is stated at 35k miles where I have always managed near 50k on summer Michelins.
Am I missing something blindingly obvious or are these basically the tyres I should be using?
Thanks in advance for any guidance.
Edited by MJK 24 on Tuesday 26th September 19:41
Happy with mine. Wouldn't use anything else at the moment.
Great on the little bit of snow we had last winter - I reckon I would've got stuck with normal /summer tyres on.
Absolutely fine for rest of year, I couldn't comment on "handling" to be fair as I just don't push my car hard at all on the road.
25k from my last pair, although they'd probably have been legal to 30k.
Great on the little bit of snow we had last winter - I reckon I would've got stuck with normal /summer tyres on.
Absolutely fine for rest of year, I couldn't comment on "handling" to be fair as I just don't push my car hard at all on the road.
25k from my last pair, although they'd probably have been legal to 30k.
I have them on our heavy family vehicle (13' Seat Alhambra diesel) which previously wore Vredestein winter tyres all year & OE Conti's from new. The Cross climates were recommended to by the independent tyre place I have used for years.
They seem to be holding up well on the front which wore the OE Conti's in about 15k,but having only done 10k on them I can only say they will last longer than the Vredesteins.
Dry grip is OK but they squeal a lot to let you know they are about to let go which annoys me, where the Vred's just felt like driving on butter. The OE summer Conti's hung on a lot better without complaint, just wear out fast.
Wet grip seems a per the OE Conti's but not as good as the Vreds especially in torrential rain.
We didn't suffer last winter with much more than a basic frost which they coped with unsurprisingly but I could still get the traction control flickering out of uphill junctions where the Vreds were solid.
From what I've been told most of the Michelin tyres for general road cars are to have the X climate tech added. They seem OK to me as a compromise tyre for the UK. If we had bad winters with deep snow again I would rather have true winter tyres though.
HTH
They seem to be holding up well on the front which wore the OE Conti's in about 15k,but having only done 10k on them I can only say they will last longer than the Vredesteins.
Dry grip is OK but they squeal a lot to let you know they are about to let go which annoys me, where the Vred's just felt like driving on butter. The OE summer Conti's hung on a lot better without complaint, just wear out fast.
Wet grip seems a per the OE Conti's but not as good as the Vreds especially in torrential rain.
We didn't suffer last winter with much more than a basic frost which they coped with unsurprisingly but I could still get the traction control flickering out of uphill junctions where the Vreds were solid.
From what I've been told most of the Michelin tyres for general road cars are to have the X climate tech added. They seem OK to me as a compromise tyre for the UK. If we had bad winters with deep snow again I would rather have true winter tyres though.
HTH
I was looking at these or winter tyres for my GT86. After some reading when for winters. mainly as the cross climate are good but there has to be a compromise having a good winter tyre and good summer tyre. IE I wanted the best for summer and winter. For the type of driving I do with the 86. It's used all year round and it does get toured in europe and enjoy a weekend blast as well.
But I did get my mums Focus fitted with these as she does not drive much or go out for a blast on the weekend, will be better than her OE tyres all season.
So if it's your daily drive that does not get pushed to much they should be very good. She's had them on since last oct and held up well during the winter and no issues noted at all. Wearing well.
But I did get my mums Focus fitted with these as she does not drive much or go out for a blast on the weekend, will be better than her OE tyres all season.
So if it's your daily drive that does not get pushed to much they should be very good. She's had them on since last oct and held up well during the winter and no issues noted at all. Wearing well.
Ive had cross climates fitted to our Honda for a couple of years now.
Overall we have had very little snow/ice since I had them fitted but we have have a lot of rain.
They have performed superbly in all conditions. Much better than the bridgestone dueller's that were fitted when we got the car.
When they need replacing I will happily replace them with another set of cross climates.
Overall we have had very little snow/ice since I had them fitted but we have have a lot of rain.
They have performed superbly in all conditions. Much better than the bridgestone dueller's that were fitted when we got the car.
When they need replacing I will happily replace them with another set of cross climates.
I have limited actual experience of them, but from the reviews alone I intend to if them to the family car when the current Eagle F1s need replacing (we currently run separate summer and winter tyres but it's working out rather expensive because our lowish milage means they need to be replaced due to age long before they actually wear out).
As others have said though they're not a sporty tyre; there's no way I'd want them on the Elise.
As others have said though they're not a sporty tyre; there's no way I'd want them on the Elise.
kambites said:
I have limited actual experience of them, but from the reviews alone I intend to if them to the family car when the current Eagle F1s need replacing (we currently run separate summer and winter tyres but it's working out rather expensive because our lowish milage means they need to be replaced due to age long before they actually wear out).
As others have said though they're not a sporty tyre; there's no way I'd want them on the Elise.
The are the "sportiest" of the all seasons though.As others have said though they're not a sporty tyre; there's no way I'd want them on the Elise.
I road tripped to the Alps on them to give them a good test, super impressed with the result - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO0zyQh2l3M
For your described intentions, they're certainly what I'd recommend.
Put them on daughters boggo Golf and they seem just fine in everyday use. We haven't had any adverse weather in the 18mths she's had them. Wear is good.
I was slightly concerned that they're only available in XL - extra load, but the ride and noise seem fine. In theory on XL tyres you should increase the basic tyre pressure a little as they carry a lower load at normal pressures but in practice there's nothing in it.
I was slightly concerned that they're only available in XL - extra load, but the ride and noise seem fine. In theory on XL tyres you should increase the basic tyre pressure a little as they carry a lower load at normal pressures but in practice there's nothing in it.
Sheepshanks said:
I was slightly concerned that they're only available in XL - extra load, but the ride and noise seem fine. In theory on XL tyres you should increase the basic tyre pressure a little as they carry a lower load at normal pressures but in practice there's nothing in it.
You'd be surprised how many XL and non-XL versions of tyres are the same tyre, just with a different sidewall!Google "michelin geobox"
Two things:
- the revised CrossClimate+ has apparently better performance as the tyre wears, and:
- Continental have (finally) brought out an all-season tyre:
http://www.continental-tyres.co.uk/car/tyres/car/a...
Best of luck.
- the revised CrossClimate+ has apparently better performance as the tyre wears, and:
- Continental have (finally) brought out an all-season tyre:
http://www.continental-tyres.co.uk/car/tyres/car/a...
Best of luck.
My other half has been running cross climates on her Outback for the last 12 months, 20k miles in and they've actually got quite a bit of tread left, feel exactly as good as the summer Kumhos which were on there before with good noise and ride quality. Wet grip in particular is fantastic, and still works well in high temperatures without melting the tread like a winter can. Highly recommended, and apparently the new cross climate + is even better.
jon- said:
You'd be surprised how many XL and non-XL versions of tyres are the same tyre, just with a different sidewall!
Google "michelin geobox"
Thanks - haven't seen that before. When you say "different sidewall", you mean different marking? According to that article, the sidewall construction itself is the same. So it must be constructed as an XL.Google "michelin geobox"
That's the issue with pressure - XL tyres have a stronger sidewall to handle higher pressures that XL tyres need to support extra load. At lower pressures the sidewall generates more heat because it's flexing more so the load capacity at a given pressure is a bit lower than a non-XL tyre.
The stiffer sidewall does have ride and noise implications but as the article notes, they're tiny and Cross Climates seemed fine to me.
jon- said:
kambites said:
I have limited actual experience of them, but from the reviews alone I intend to if them to the family car when the current Eagle F1s need replacing (we currently run separate summer and winter tyres but it's working out rather expensive because our lowish milage means they need to be replaced due to age long before they actually wear out).
As others have said though they're not a sporty tyre; there's no way I'd want them on the Elise.
The are the "sportiest" of the all seasons though.As others have said though they're not a sporty tyre; there's no way I'd want them on the Elise.
I road tripped to the Alps on them to give them a good test, super impressed with the result - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO0zyQh2l3M
For your described intentions, they're certainly what I'd recommend.
I've had Cross Climates on my Volvo S80 shed for a year now.
They are only ok in my experience.
Not huge amounts of grip in either wet or dry conditions. Not bad but nowhere near as good as a Pilot Sport tyre.
Perhaps they are better in snow but I haven't had the chance to try them out.
They just feel like an unnecessary compromise for 364 days of the year.
Barring a new ice age, I don't think I'll buy them again.
However it should be said that the S80 is not the nimblest and perhaps I ask a bit much of it when 'making time' on the return commute.
11,000 miles on a BMW 640d on the cross climates and I'm a quickish driver on empty B roads in the middle of the night.
Wear is fine, about half way through now which is similar or better than previous Eagle F1's.
The tyres are noisy in the corners. You hear a hissing sound as you lean on them but I find the grip in the dry acceptable. It's lower than normal tyres but I simply find that dry grip is not an issue in any modern BMW - I'd rather a lower and more progressive dry grip threshold anyway.
Wet grip is simply good and resistance to snatch from deep water or awuaplaning seems very good. I prioritise wet grip as this IS where I find myself occasionally running short. Tyres cope well with wet grass/leaves/mud conditions. They do pick up unite a lot of mud though. If I drive up through my lower paddock then up the main drive I end up dropping copious amounts of mud or a good 100 yards. Which is fine. Better than getting stuck in the field,
Mine were £145 each so not cheap. I like them and will buy again. Not used in winter conditions yet. Unless you live at the Nurburgring there's no point choosing the optimum dry grip performamce tyre. The time you get close to losing control is always In the wet/standing water going too fast or in the snow trying to get out of the driveway.
Wear is fine, about half way through now which is similar or better than previous Eagle F1's.
The tyres are noisy in the corners. You hear a hissing sound as you lean on them but I find the grip in the dry acceptable. It's lower than normal tyres but I simply find that dry grip is not an issue in any modern BMW - I'd rather a lower and more progressive dry grip threshold anyway.
Wet grip is simply good and resistance to snatch from deep water or awuaplaning seems very good. I prioritise wet grip as this IS where I find myself occasionally running short. Tyres cope well with wet grass/leaves/mud conditions. They do pick up unite a lot of mud though. If I drive up through my lower paddock then up the main drive I end up dropping copious amounts of mud or a good 100 yards. Which is fine. Better than getting stuck in the field,
Mine were £145 each so not cheap. I like them and will buy again. Not used in winter conditions yet. Unless you live at the Nurburgring there's no point choosing the optimum dry grip performamce tyre. The time you get close to losing control is always In the wet/standing water going too fast or in the snow trying to get out of the driveway.
MJK 24 said:
jon- said:
kambites said:
I have limited actual experience of them, but from the reviews alone I intend to if them to the family car when the current Eagle F1s need replacing (we currently run separate summer and winter tyres but it's working out rather expensive because our lowish milage means they need to be replaced due to age long before they actually wear out).
As others have said though they're not a sporty tyre; there's no way I'd want them on the Elise.
The are the "sportiest" of the all seasons though.As others have said though they're not a sporty tyre; there's no way I'd want them on the Elise.
I road tripped to the Alps on them to give them a good test, super impressed with the result - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO0zyQh2l3M
For your described intentions, they're certainly what I'd recommend.
Honeywell said:
They do pick up unite a lot of mud though.
Maybe that's a thing with Winter / All Season tyres. I have Kuhmo All Seasons on my Merc and we have a slightly awkward drive and a footpath that incorporates a grass verge. If the verge is at all wet then driving over it with All Seasons just tears it apart - I don't mean wheel-spin, the tyres just rip it up at a crawl. Cars with summer tyres can drive over it no problem.
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