![System.Func`2[BlackCircles.Interfaces.IECommerceModuleData,System.String]](https://images.blackcircles.com/search/feature-all-season.svg){kind=small}
![System.Func`2[BlackCircles.Interfaces.IECommerceModuleData,System.String]](https://images.blackcircles.com/search/feature-ev.svg){kind=small}
Michelin CrossClimate 2
The CrossClimate 2 from Michelin has been created to provide a safer and more comfortable journey no matter the weather.
Price from
Find your size108.99to323.99
Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Primacy 4+: Which Tyre Should You Choose?
Both standing out as the frontrunners of Michelin's premium touring range, the CrossClimate 2 and Primacy 4+ regularly come up when UK drivers are weighing up their next set of tyres. While they share a badge and a reputation for quality, they're each designed for a different job.
This guide breaks down how the two compare on grip, weather performance, fuel efficiency, noise, longevity and price, so you can work out which one suits the way you drive.
What's the Difference?
The biggest difference between the Michelin CrossClimate 2 and the Michelin Primacy 4+ is what each tyre has been engineered to prioritise.
The CrossClimate 2 is an all-season tyre, built to cope with whatever the UK's weather throws at it, year-round, including light snow and ice. For that reason, it carries the 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) winter certification to prove it.
The Primacy 4+, on the other hand, is a dedicated premium summer tyre, focused on keeping its wet-braking performance and comfort levels high for as long as possible. As a result, it is not rated for winter or snow use.
Michelin CrossClimate 2 Overview
Launched as the successor to the original CrossClimate+, the CrossClimate 2 is one of Europe's best-selling all-season tyres. It has been designed to give drivers the confidence of a winter tyre without giving up dry and wet performance the rest of the year.
- EverTread Technology: evenly distributes acceleration, braking and cornering forces across the tread to extend tyre life.
- New-generation compound: a higher density of silica and carbon black that adapts its grip characteristics as road temperatures change.
- Cool Running Sidewalls: reduce energy lost to heat during braking and cornering, which helps lower fuel consumption and can improve EV battery range.
- 3PMSF certified: officially rated for severe snow conditions, so it doubles as a legally recognised winter tyre across Europe.
- EV Approved: suitable for fitment on electric vehicles.
Michelin Primacy 4+ Overview
Michelin Primacy 4 Plus +
Experience greater levels of safety with MICHELIN PRIMACY 4+. Designed to keep you and your passengers safe, mile after mile.
Price from
Find your size99.99to268.25
The Primacy 4+ is Michelin's premium summer touring tyre, built for drivers who want a comfortable, quiet ride. It also boasts braking performance that doesn't fall away as the tyre wears down.
- Self-Rejuvenating compound: a rubber compound that helps the tyre maintain wet-braking performance even as tread depth is lost.
- EverGrip technology: two layers of rubber that offset the loss of tread depth over the tyre's life, targeting consistent braking when worn.
- MaxTouch Construction: spreads acceleration, braking and cornering forces evenly across the tyre's footprint for better longevity.
- EV Approved: developed to cope with the extra weight and torque of electric vehicles.
- No winter certification: built and rated as a summer tyre, without a 3PMSF rating.
EU Tyre Label Ratings
EU label ratings are set per tyre size rather than per model, so the figures below are indicative ranges rather than a single fixed score. Always check the label for the exact size you're buying.
| Category | CrossClimate 2 | Primacy 4+ |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel efficiency | A–D depending on size (commonly C) | B–C depending on size (commonly C) |
| Wet grip | B across the range | A across the range |
| Noise | 69–73 dB | 69–72 dB |
Winter and Wet-Weather Performance
This is where the two tyres part ways most clearly.
The CrossClimate 2's 3PMSF certification means it's designed and tested to perform in snow and ice as well as heavy rain. This makes it a realistic one-tyre, year-round solution for most of the UK, including higher, colder or more rural areas.
The Primacy 4+ is not certified for winter use, but Michelin has specifically engineered it to hold onto its wet-braking performance for longer as the tyre wears. This is useful for drivers who see plenty of rain but very little snow or ice.
Summer and Dry-Weather Performance
The Primacy 4+'s summer-only remit means it can be tuned purely for dry and warm-weather conditions, and independent lab tests bear this out: across recent Auto Bild, Motor, Auto Zeitung and AMS comparisons, it has typically finished within 1–3% of the best tyre in its class for dry handling.
The CrossClimate 2 holds up well for a tyre that also has to cope with winter: it has taken outright wins for dry braking in some tests, including a 39.5m stop from 100km/h in a 2026 TÜV benchmark and 1st-place dry-braking results in Motor's and Auto Zeitung's independent rounds. Its dry handling, however, usually sits a little further off the pace than the Primacy 4+'s, typically 2–4% behind the best in class across Auto Bild Sportscars, Sport Auto and Tire Reviews testing. That gap is the practical trade-off for carrying 3PMSF winter certification.
If summer-only outright pace and precision matter most to you, the Primacy 4+'s test results give it the edge. If you want strong dry performance most of the year plus genuine snow and ice capability, the CrossClimate 2's results show that trade-off is a modest one.
Fuel Efficiency and EV Range
Both tyres use Michelin technology aimed at reducing rolling resistance, which feeds directly into fuel economy and, for EV drivers, range.
The CrossClimate 2's Cool Running Sidewalls are designed to cut the energy lost during braking and cornering. Meanwhile, the Primacy 4+'s EverGrip and self-rejuvenating compound are built to keep rolling resistance – and therefore efficiency – more consistent as the tyre ages.
In practice, differences between the two at a given size are usually small; the fuel-efficiency label on the specific size you're considering is the most reliable guide.
Noise and Comfort
The Primacy 4+ is marketed first and foremost as a comfort-focused touring tyre, and owner reviews consistently highlight how quiet it is at motorway speeds.
The CrossClimate 2 trades a little of that outright refinement for its all-weather ability, with a published noise range of 69–73 dB depending on size. This is still competitive for an all-season tyre, but generally a touch more vocal than a dedicated summer tyre like the Primacy 4+.
Longevity and Mileage
Michelin positions both tyres as long-lasting options within their categories.
The CrossClimate 2's EverTread technology and the Primacy 4+'s MaxTouch Construction are both designed to spread wear evenly and delay the point at which handling and braking start to fall away.
Independent test data has put the CrossClimate 2 among the lowest-wear tyres in its class, while the Primacy 4+'s EverGrip system is specifically aimed at keeping braking distances consistent right down to the legal tread limit.
Awards and Recognition
Beyond Michelin's own claims, both tyres have a solid track record with independent testers.
The CrossClimate 2 was named All-Season Tyre of the Year by WhatTyre in 2023 and topped TyreReviews.com's independent all-season tyre test, comfortably ahead of its rivals. On the flip side, standard Primacy 4 (the base of the Primacy 4+ range) was WhatTyre's Summer Tyre of the Year in 2021.
Is Either Tyre Suitable for an SUV?
Yes: both the CrossClimate 2 and Primacy 4+ are supplied in SUV-relevant sizes, several with reinforced (XL) load ratings to cope with the extra weight of an SUV. See the Common Sizes table below for the size bands each covers, including sizes up to 21 inches.
If you specifically want Michelin's SUV-branded tyre rather than a shared size from the core range, Michelin also sells dedicated SUV lines alongside these two: the CrossClimate 2 SUV (available from 17 to 22 inch, also 3PMSF certified and EV approved) and the Primacy 4 SUV Acoustic (which adds Michelin's Acoustic foam for extra cabin quietness). These sit alongside, rather than replace, the standard CrossClimate 2 and Primacy 4+, so it's worth checking your handbook or tyre placard for the exact size and load index your SUV needs before ordering.
For heavier SUVs, the case for the CrossClimate 2's winter capability is, if anything, a little stronger than for a hatchback or saloon, since extra vehicle weight makes the traction benefit of a 3PMSF-rated tyre more noticeable in poor weather. SUV drivers who stick to sealed, well-gritted roads and rarely see snow can still make a strong case for the comfort- and grip-focused Primacy 4+.
Common Sizes
The CrossClimate 2 is available across a much wider size range, reflecting its position as an all-rounder for everything from small hatchbacks to SUVs. The Primacy 4+ is offered in a narrower band of sizes aimed mainly at mid-size and premium saloons and estates.
| Wheel size | CrossClimate 2 | Primacy 4+ |
|---|---|---|
| 15–17 inch | Widely available (52 of 88 sizes) | Available in core sizes, e.g. 205/55 R16, 205/60 R16, 225/45 R17 |
| 18–21 inch | Available up to 21 inches | Available up to 21 inches, e.g. 225/40 R18, 235/55 R18 |
How Do the Prices Compare?
Fitted prices at Blackcircles.com (including VAT, delivery, fitting, balancing and disposal):
| Fitted price range | CrossClimate 2 | Primacy 4+ |
|---|---|---|
| Fitted price range | £ to £ | £ to £ |
As a rule of thumb, the CrossClimate 2 carries a modest premium at most matching sizes, reflecting the extra engineering that goes into its winter certification.
Which Tyre Should You Pick?
Choose the Michelin CrossClimate 2 if you want one set of tyres to cover the whole year, including occasional snow or ice. Only do so if you're happy to trade a small amount of outright comfort and a modest price premium for that flexibility. It's the stronger choice for rural areas, higher ground or anyone who doesn't want to swap to dedicated winter tyres each year.
Choose the Michelin Primacy 4+ if your driving is mostly on well-maintained UK roads and you'd rather prioritise a quiet, comfortable ride and long-lasting wet-weather braking. This is also true if you rarely see snow or ice. The Primacy 4+ is also often priced slightly lower than the CrossClimate 2.
Ready to Choose?
Whichever tyre suits your driving, you can compare live pricing for your exact size, choose a fitting location near you and book online at Blackcircles.com, rated 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 190,000 reviews.
Need new Michelin tyres?
Enter your registration and postcode and we’ll show you the best tyres for your car
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tyre gives better grip in wet UK weather?
Both are strong wet-weather performers. The Primacy 4+ is specifically engineered to hold onto its wet-braking performance as it wears. Meanwhile, the CrossClimate 2's compound is built to adapt across a wider temperature range.
For most UK driving, the difference in wet grip between the two is smaller than the difference in how each performs once winter conditions arrive.
Can I use the Primacy 4+ in a UK winter, or do I need the CrossClimate 2?
The Primacy 4+ is a summer tyre without 3PMSF certification, so it isn't rated for snow or ice. If you regularly encounter winter weather – or simply want one tyre that's certified to handle it – the CrossClimate 2 is the safer year-round choice.
Does the Primacy 4+ give better fuel efficiency than the CrossClimate 2?
It depends on the specific size, since EU fuel-efficiency labels are set per size rather than per model. Both tyres use rolling-resistance-focused technology: Cool Running Sidewalls on the CrossClimate 2, EverGrip on the Primacy 4+. It's worth comparing the label on the exact size you need rather than assuming one model is always more efficient.
Which tyre is quieter on the motorway?
The Primacy 4+ is generally the quieter of the two, reflecting its focus as a comfort-led summer touring tyre. The CrossClimate 2 is still competitive for an all-season tyre, with a published noise range of 69–73 dB depending on size.
Is the CrossClimate 2 worth the extra cost over the Primacy 4+?
If you want the flexibility of a single tyre for the whole year, including occasional snow or ice, the CrossClimate 2's winter certification generally justifies its premium price tag. If your driving is summer-only and mostly on dry, well-maintained roads, the Primacy 4+ can offer comparable comfort and wet-braking retention at a lower price.
Which is better for city driving versus motorway or rural driving?
For mostly urban, low-speed driving in a milder part of the country, the Primacy 4+'s comfort and quietness are a strong fit. For rural, higher-altitude or motorway-heavy driving where weather is more variable, the CrossClimate 2's all-season and winter capability makes it the more practical option.
Where can I buy the CrossClimate 2 or Primacy 4+ fitted at the best UK price?
Both tyres are available fully fitted through Blackcircles.com, with prices including VAT, delivery, fitting, balancing and disposal. Enter your registration or tyre size at Blackcircles.com to see current pricing and book a fitting at a local garage.
