The Best Michelin Tires: Review and Buying Guide

Enthusiasts want it! OEMs love it! The tire of choice for many manufacturers, the Pilot Sport 4S, has been acclaimed as a jack of most trades, master at some, a feat few rivals can also stake claim to. Gradually improving upon the steering feel and dry performance of the Pilot Super Sport is one achievement. What especially surprises drivers is how it blends confidence-inspiring behavior with surefooted wet traction. 

“Michelin Acoustic Technology” is present and uses an extra layer of sound-deadening foam to reduce road noise. This hardcore, track-capable tire can work as a relatively serene, wet-weather cruiser for those who take their enthusiast machines on long excursions. 

Such tires are suited for a variety of vehicles from hot hatches to hardcore sports cars and even some luxury sedans. Just remember that it’s a jack of most trades; Michelin does not recommend these tires be used in light snow or at any temperature below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep a spare set of winter rubber in the garage.

Specs

• Type: max-performance summer
• Recommended vehicles: coupes, sport compacts, sports sedans, luxury sedans
• Speed Rating: ZR (Y)

Pros

• Superb dry weather grip and braking
• Surprising wet weather traction
• Ample steering feedback
• Sharp steering response

Cons

• Among the costliest of summer tires
• The most susceptible in this list to hardening and cracking in extreme cold

No, you won’t set any lap records nor conquer the Alps on the Defender T+H, but this Michelin tire is a solid and affordable all-arounder. Research has proven this choice to be a quality product of all-weather usability with reasonable dry weather performance. Praise is given to the quiet and smooth ride which doesn’t completely turn steering responses to mush. 

Kudos to stabilizing the tread with polyamide-reinforced steel belts and sipes which interlock beneath the surface. It has a fair deal of usability in light snow, a plus for those caught off guard before they could get their hands on a proper set of winter tires. Caveats? Of course there will be. 

In Tire Rack’s instrumented testing, the Defender T+H lags slightly behind more expensive performance all-seasons, not only in dry grip but in the wet as well. Available sizes are limited from 15-inch to 18-inch wheels, barring it from some larger cars. Inconsistent tread life has been the most standout issue reported. Some buyers have grown smitten with these tires over the course of nearly 60,000 miles. Others have claimed to be unable to travel much farther than 20,000 miles. Whether poor alignments or road surfaces were truly a factor in each use case is unknown.

Specs

• Type: Touring all-season
• Recommended vehicles: Coupes, compacts, family sedans, minivans, small SUVs/crossovers
• Speed Rating: R

Pros

• Stellar price point among Michelins
• Quiet on highway
• Comfortable ride
• Well-rounded all-weather performance

Cons

• Limited in sizes
• Inconsistent tread life
• Less wet weather traction than other all-season offerings

Imagine a Forza-syle tuning slider for tires where one end equates to full-tilt performance and the other for year-round practicality. Take wherever the Pilot Sport 4S is on that spectrum and kick it over a few clicks towards the latter and voilà, you have the similarly-acclaimed Pilot Sport All Season 4. 

If you’re willing to sacrifice tenths of a second here or there for added versatility in real-world driving conditions, this is a solid compromise. Using interlocking sipes, widened channels, and an “Extreme Silica” rubber compound, these tires offer enhanced wet weather grip over summer tires and have actually been reported to handle light snow by a handful of drivers. The wide range of applicable vehicles means you could also pick up a set for your small crossover or large sedan as well. 

Despite the compound’s enhanced resistance to cold climates, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 is not a true winter tire, but this rubber can still hold its own until the weather gets truly hairy. One buyer even stated that they intend to use it as their winter set.

Specs

• Type: Ultra-high-performance all-season
• Recommended Vehicles: Coupes, sport compacts, sports sedans, small SUVs/crossovers
• Speed Rating: ZR (Y) 

Pros

• Enhanced wet traction over summer tires
• Somewhat handy in light snow and cold weather
• Broad vehicle applicability
• Cheaper than Pilot Sport 4S and some non-performance Michelin all-seasons

Cons

• Still no replacement for winter tires
• Trades dry weather performance for its added versatility

Essentially an SUV’s take on the CrossClimate2 and CrossClimate+, the CrossClimate SUV delivers a premium feel and versatile performance to suburbanites everywhere. The distinct (and admittedly wicked-looking) V-shaped tread pattern channels water outward as quickly as possible giving it some of the best wet-weather traction in its class. 

Dry performance is surprisingly top tier with a welcome degree of athleticism in its steering response. Graced with a three-peak snowflake rating, it can also impersonate a winter tire in light-to-moderate snow with class-leading traction on icy roads according to Tire Rack’s instrumented tests. Despite this, Michelin still insists this is no true winter tire, so blizzard connoisseurs, be wary.

Tread life is somewhat short by some customers’ accounts. Road noise, something which drivers have described as near-silent when new, reportedly increases a substantial amount as the tire ages. A few buyers have also noted a noticeable hit to their fuel economy and EV range.

Specs

• Type: Grand touring all-season
• Recommended Vehicle: Crossovers/SUVs
• Speed Rating: R

Pros

• Athletic performance for an SUV tire
• Enhanced winter capability including class-leading ice performance
• Balanced compromise between dry and wet traction

Cons

• Road noise reportedly increases with age
• Somewhat short tread life
• Still not a true winter tire

Intended for smaller crossovers and SUVs as well as standard passenger cars, the CrossClimate2 delivers class-leading dry and wet traction. With the same V-shaped tread pattern reinforced by interlocking sipes, handling and braking figures are best in class, and it upholds an appreciable level of steering precision for such a tire. 

Customers and experts have lauded the winter capability just like its SUV-specific sibling, but Michelin continues to insist that this is no replacement for true winter rubber. Road noise is minimal, and customers are yet to report the same increase in road noise with age as its SUV equivalent. 

Like the SUV tire, the CrossClimate2 is not for fuel misers. Some owners have reported notable hits to their fuel economy, and Tesla owners have reported significant losses in range, including as high as 60 miles lost.

Specs

• Type: Grand touring all-season
• Recommended Vehicles: Coupes, sedans, small crossovers/SUVs
• Speed Rating: R

Pros

• Enhanced winter capability
• Excels in both dry and wet conditions
• Quiet-ish for such a capable and aggressive tread pattern

Cons

• Not for hypermilers
• Not a true winter tire
• Somewhat firm for a touring tire

Offered on modern trucks and SUVs, the LTX A/T 2 has proven to be a solid, do-it-all choice for commuters who like to rough it every now and then. On-road refinement is reportedly praiseworthy with a smooth ride and even tread wear according to customer input. Off-road performance, as the tread pattern suggests, is there and certainly capable, but it’s not for those who frequent mud pits in the woods or rock walls at Moab. 

Tread life in many cases is a healthy amount; some light truck owners have stated that their sets lasted as long as 90,000 miles. One F-250 owner claimed that his survived to 140,000 miles. Of course, driving conditions and the exact vehicle used may yield varying results. And we don’t recommend that you attempt anything more than the manufacturer-suggested lifetime miles, as the rubber can degrade in more ways than just tread. 

Even with all that sweet, sweet versatility, a great tire is never perfect, so prepare for a bit of slip-and-slide action in winter. These are still no replacement for winter rubber, although they can still get around in light snow. Making these noteworthy on the street also means more aggressive all-terrains should be on the shopping list for the more adventurous outdoorsmen.

Specs

• Type: All-terrain
• Recommended vehicles: SUVs, light trucks, vans
• Speed Rating: R

Pros

• Competent all-around performance for trucks and SUVs
• Variety of available sizes
• Long tread life
• On-road refinement

Cons

• Holds onto gravel like ice studs
• Not for hardcore off-road enthusiasts

It’s pretty handsome for a touring tire, ain’t it? Occupying a niche above the more inclement weather-oriented CrossClimate 2 and budget-friendly Defender T+H, the Primacy Tour A/S asserts itself as a “premium” luxury touring all-season. It makes good on that promise with a reportedly balanced mixture of dry and wet grip with commendable handling and braking results. 

Steering, while reportedly lacking in feel, is pleasantly sharp for a touring tire according to customers. And interestingly enough, while definitely no winter tire, this choice displayed class-leading braking during Tire Rack’s ice tests. For those with sedans and crossovers on the girthy side, the Primacy Tour A/S thankfully comes in a wide array of available sizes all the way up to a 265/40R22. 

This, however, is no Pilot Sport 4S for commuter cars. It’s truly a jack of all trades and a master at none as it doesn’t seem to excel in any single performance measure aside from ice braking. In both Tire Rack’s and customers’ experiences, the ride can be somewhat firm for a touring tire, and road noise is muffled but never absent.

Specs

• Type: Grand touring all-season
• Recommended vehicles: Coupes, sedans, small crossovers/SUVs
• Speed Rating: R

Pros

• Balanced dry and wet traction
• Athletic steering responses
• Plenty of available wheel sizes for different vehicle types
• Usable traction in some winter conditions

Cons

• Not a standout in any performance measurement compared to rivals
• Somewhat firm for a “premium” touring tire