Michelin CrossClimate+ (Plus) tyres review

Michelin CrossClimate+ (Plus) tyres are suitable for all-season use in passenger cars. Founded in 1889, Michelin is today one of the flagship companies in the tyre industry. The manufacturer is a true innovator, for example, in 1951 they patented the world’s first radial tyres with metal cord, which was a real breakthrough in production. The presented rubber has 3PMSF (3 Peaks Mountain Snow Flake) marking, meaning that it can be used on the snow surface.

Characteristics of the all-season Michelin Cross Climate + (Plus) rubber:

excellent traction on water, snow and ice;
braking efficiency;
heat-resistant, high-strength rubber;
elimination of hydroplaning and slash;
extended service life.

The Michelin Cross Climate Plus tyres appeared on the market in early 2017 and provide safe driving in the summer heat on hot, and in winter on snow-covered, icy roads. The rubber has an excellent quality of grip, braking, handling and comfort.

The tyres have directional symmetrical pattern with V-shaped arrangement of narrow blocks of original shape. Three-dimensional lamellae cut to its entyre depth, form long edges of the mesh, which on snow-covered roads are connected into a single system and work as “claws”. This significantly increases the adhesion force of the tyre and prevents lateral sliding. The lamella walls provide fixation of blocks strictly vertically, which improves stability during maneuvers, turns, start and emergency braking. Rubber with special arrangement and shape of the elements have influenced the fastest possible execution of steering commands. Numerous curved grooves instantly evacuate water from the contact spot, which eliminates aquaplaning and slushing. The car tyre frame made of high-strength materials and double-layer rubber prevent uneven wear and tear.

Distinctive feature of the car tyre is an increase in the duration of use by 9% compared to its predecessor. It became possible due to the fact that the width of the lamellas increases during operation and provides the possibility of using the tyre with the residual depth of blocks below 4 mm.

Michelin CrossClimate+ (Plus) rubber has high heat resistance, elasticity and strength due to its high natural rubber content and the addition of innovative polymers. The manufacturer recommends using tyres in the temperature range from -30 to +40 degrees.

Information about Michelin CrossClimate+

Manufacturer: Michelin (France)
Model name: Michelin CrossClimate+
Car type: passenger cars
Seasonality: Summer *
Spikes: no
Michelin CrossClimate+ bus description

✔ What is the tyre rating?
Rating 5.0 of 5, reviews 9
✔ Which countries are manufactured in?
Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland
✔ In what diameters are available?
R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19
✔ Since what year is on sale?
since 2016

The Michelin CrossClimate+ all-season tyre owes its appearance to the popularity of the model of the same name and the presence of several significant disadvantages. The predecessor turned out to be a very successful product from a commercial point of view, but not ideal for several consumer properties at once. For this reason, the French manufacturer preferred to promptly eliminate all identified defects, making minor changes to the tyre design, which will be discussed below.

Updated compound

Most of the changes occurred in the composition of the rubber tread compound, which, like its predecessor, has two layers. The “Base” is made of a compound with increased rigidity and the ability to quickly remove heat from the frame, which reduces the heating of the tyre and at the same time, rolling resistance, fuel consumption and wear. In fact, there are no significant changes, which cannot be said about the top layer of the tread. The compound used in its manufacture has a much wider range of operating temperatures. Increasing the share of natural rubber content allowed increasing it to minus 30 and up to 40 degrees Celsius. At the same time, special polymer compounds ensure optimal elasticity of the tread almost throughout this range. As a result, it was possible to eliminate one of the main disadvantages of the previous model, namely insufficient grip on slippery snowy roads.

Extended service life

Another significant improvement was a significant increase in bus life. This is due to changes in the lamella design. They are cut through to the full depth of the tread. And their width, as they wear out, increases by more than the previous values. This feature makes it possible to use the tyre on winter coverings with the residual tread depth less than 4 mm. In other words, when a tyre from another manufacturer has to be changed, CrossClimate+ can be operated for some time.

Claw effect

In addition to the increasing width of the lamella, which is equipped with a tyre tread, have other design features. They form very long hitch edges, arranged in such a way that when in contact with rolled snow they work as a whole, increasing each other’s efficiency, forming a so-called “claw effect”. It noticeably improves the traction properties in the longitudinal direction, as well as the resistance to lateral sliding.

It is also worth noting the ability of the lamella walls to fix the blocks strictly in a vertical position, despite the constant impact on them by multi-directional acceleration forces. The stability of the blocks has a positive effect on a whole range of tyre performance properties. It improves grip during maneuvering, braking and speed dialing, control accuracy, fuel economy and reduces the risk of uneven wear.

Key features of the Michelin CrossClimate+ tyre

The updated compound extends the operating temperature range of the tread;
the possibility of using the tyre on snow with a residual tread depth of less than 4 mm is provided by the increased width of the blades;
increased resistance to lateral sliding and excellent traction during braking and speed dialing, thanks to the “claw effect” formed by the location and design of three-dimensional lamellas.

Michelin CrossClimate+ tyre tests:

In Autoklub ČR Allyear tyre test 2020 205/55 R16 Michelin CrossClimate+ took place 2 of 7

Total: 99%
Wet: 90%
Dry: 95%
Snow: 90%

ADAC Allyear tyre test 2020 235/55 R17 Continental AllSeasonContact took place #3 of 7

Wet: 85%
Dry: 100%
Snow: 82%
Ice: 100%
Noise: 93%
Fuel consumption: 77%

In Autobild Allyear tyre 2020 205/55 R16 Stopping Distance test Continental AllSeasonContact took place #5 of 32

Stopping distance on dry: 43.4 yards (BEST 43.4 yards)
Stopping distance on wet: 49.2 yards (BEST 54.3 yards)

Testimonials

Bought for driving often on dirty or dirt roads. On the off-road showed itself in the best way – rowing like a tractor, complete absence of aquaplaning and hints of slippage. But on dry asphalt at high speed in curves can be felt the rollability of the car (very soft) with excellent course stability and grip. Junctions on the track are almost invisible. It doesn’t feel any rut. Very quiet. The biggest disadvantage of the tread is that it clogs small stones and when driving, it chisels heavily on the bottom and flies into neighboring cars.

Fred★★★★

Long doubted the choice, but in the end did not regret. The tyre is quite quiet, well kept the road on any surface, even in the pouring rain was not discomfort. Out of the disadvantages, a little swollen. To this will have to get used to, maybe because of the profile, took a little higher. On ice if a little below 32 ° F fully winter tyres will not replace, especially spiked, you need to be awake neat, on snow more than less, so where the winter is not one week a year about the year-round operation is better not to think.

Vitaly★★★★