Michelin CrossClimate2 Tire 30K Mile Test and Review - Wear, Noise, MPG Results

Our testing of the Michelin CrossClimate2 tire has now spanned 31,000 miles. We report on tire tread wear, noise, and MPG changes during our two-and-a-half-year test.

In April 2021, when our Mazda CX-5 test vehicle had 34,000 miles on the odometer, we installed new Michelin CrossClimate2 tires with the intent of doing a one-year review. That review period has now stretched out to almost three years, and we have completed 31,000 miles of driving on the tires. We are happy to report the positive test results of this great tire. Jump to the end of the story for testing notes from prior reports. Here is a point-by-point analysis of how these tries performed over 31,000 miles. 

Related Story: Michelin CrossClimate Tires Save This Mobile Service Provider Time and Money

Michelin CrossClimate2 Handling
The CrossClimate2 tires are a perfect match for our Grand Touring trim of the 2018 CX-5. This is a crossover that many reviewers name as best in class with regard to driving pleasure and handling. The CrossClimate2s had no negative effects and may have improved the handling a smidge over the stock OEM tires (Toyo A36). Even when just mounted, we felt no tread squirm or any other issues. 

Michelin CrossClimate2 - MPG Results
Our original pre-test mileage with our CX-5 was 26.8 MPG over 2,500 miles of monitoring. Having just completed 31,000 miles with these tires, we can say that the MPG has edged up consistently since they were mounted. Our latest tank of fuel yielded a 27.7 MPG average, and that has been typical of our tank averages. Thus, we can report that the Michelin CrossClimate2 tires helped to increase mileage slightly. 

Michelin CrossClimate2 - Treadwear Measurements
When our test tires reached the 22,000-mile marker, we measured the tread depth at 7 mm. Now that we have completed 31,000 miles of driving, the tread depth measures about 6.5mm. There is even wear across all four tire surfaces. We had aligned the vehicle just prior to mounting the test tires, and we rotated them at each or every other oil change interval. The rotations are front to back only because the tires are direction. We recently had the car aligned again at our 60K service visit. These tires are projected to last 75,000 miles at the current rate of wear before reaching the treadwear bars.

Michelin CrossClimate2 - Noise
Noise is very subjective, and our testing did not include instrumentation to measure noise. However, I am a car tester, and I test a new vehicle each week. I know from experience that the Mazda CX_5 is a quiet vehicle when new, having tested multiple model years since 2018. Our subjective opinion of the Michelin CrossClimate2 tire is that it does not add meaningful levels of noise when new or at the 31,000-miles driven marker. The CX-5 is a bit noisier than when new. However, aging door and sunroof seal elastomers, wheel bearing noise, brake noise, and engine pulley noise all have increased. Overall, the car remains quite serene and is quieter than many new vehicles in its class we test. 

We can say that having also tested the Michelin Defender2 all-season touring tire, that if your primary goal is a quiet ride, it is likely a better choice. However, the Defender2 does not have the severe snow duty rating that Michelin CrossClimate2 offers. 

31,000-mile Summary - Michelin CrossClimate2
Having extended our test beyond our planned mileage, we can say with high confidence that the buzz around the Michelin CrossClimate2 tire is all justified. This is a very special tire. It’s main mission is to offer an alternative to mounting seasonal winter-only tires in areas where severe winter weather is the norm. The tire succeeds in that mission brilliantly. In our testing, there were no downsides to ownership. We would recommend this tire without qualifications, but for those who want a tire that they can use all year round and still tackle severe winter weather, this is the best touring tire choice we know of. 

Test Notes: The original four tires in our test were supplied at no charge by Michelin. However, we paid for the original alignment, mounting, balancing, and all subsequent rotations. In addition, we replaced one of the original tires very early in our testing when one was damaged by a puncture. We paid out of pocket for that fifth test tire. At Torque News, we do sometimes accept no-charge test products, but we also often purchase products ourselves for testing, and that includes tires. Torque News does not accept advertising, and our site has no paywall. 

For Prior Michelin CrossClimate2 test reports and feature stories, please use the links below. 

Long-term Test of Michelin CrossClimate2 All-Weather Tires - Initial Impressions

Second Update Here Third Update Here

Fourth Update Here

Michelin CrossClimate2 Tire Owner Reports - Outstanding Winter Traction Watch the Michelin CrossClimate2 Tire Tackle Ice-Slick Roads

Michelin CrossClimate2 Tire Review Conclusion - The New 4-Season Standard

John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and connect with him at Linkedin.