Michelin has plenty of grand touring tires to choose from. For instance, there’s constant debate between Primacy vs Crossclimate tires. To help you decide which touring tire stands out all year round, let’s pit Michelin Crossclimate 2 vs Primacy Tour A/S against each other.
Michelin Crossclimate 2 wins by slight margin in wet and dry performance. Its main advantages are higher mileage warranty and better snow performance. Conversely, Primacy Tour A/S delivers an exceptionally quiet and smooth ride.
Factors | ||
Vehicles | Sedans, coupes, station wagons, crossovers and sports utility vehicles | Sedans, coupes, crossovers and sport utility vehicles |
Wet performance | Winner | Competitive |
Dry performance | Winner | Competitive |
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality | A bit noisy | Winner |
Snow and Ice performance | Winner | Competitive |
Price | Cheaper | Expensive |
Mileage Warranty | Winner | Competitive |
Table of Contents
About the Michelin Crossclimate 2
Michelin Crossclimate 2 debuted in 2020 as the most adaptable and innovative passenger tire, outperforming what other brands attempted to innovate in the last 20 years.
This grand touring all-season tire can deliver four essential driving performance categories: dry grip, wet stopping, snow performance, and longevity, thanks to its attractive qualities such as V-formation tread pattern, 3D locking sipes, thermal adaptive compound, and 60,000 km warranty.
This Miheline tire was designed for sedans, coupes, station wagons, crossovers and sports utility vehicles.
Michelin Primacy Tour A/S
Michelin Primacy Tour A/S was released in 2017. It succeeded Michelin Primacy MXM4 which was lauded for a good balance in comfort, longevity and performance.
Compared to its predecessor, this grand touring tire aimed to improve its snow performance by 17% by having:
- Advanced rubber compound that can sustain grip in snow and ice
- Zigzag sipes that can handle severe winter conditions
- Biting edges in snow in the form of sharp lateral groove angles
The tire was built for family sedans, coupes, crossovers and sport utility vehicles.
Differences: Primacy Tour A/S vs Michelin Crossclimate 2
1. Specifications
Michelin Crossclimate 2 has better treadwear rating and tread depth than Michelin Primacy Tour A/S. However, Primacy Tour A/S has better stopping power in wet surfaces as indicated by its A traction rating.
Specifications | Michelin Crossclimate 2 | Michelin Primacy Tour A/S |
Tire type | Grand touring all season tire | Grand touring all season tire |
Tire Size Inspected | 225/55R18 | 225/55 R18 |
UTQG Rating | 640 BA | 540 AA |
Max Load. | 1653 pounds | 1653 pounds |
Max PSI | 51 psi | 51 psi |
Tread Depth | 10/32 in. | 8.5/32 in. |
Tire Weight | 27 pounds | 27 pounds |
Price | $234.99 | $245.36 |
Mileage Warranty | 60,000 | 55,000 |
2. Warranties
The mileage warranty of Michelin Crossclimate 2 is 5,000 miles higher than Primacy Tour A/S. And, the Crossclimate 2 shares the same mileage promise with other grand touring tires like Premier A/S.
3. Results
Based on consumer ratings of Michelin Primacy Tour A/S vs Crossclimate 2, Crossclimate 2 defeats Primacy Tour A/S in wet and dry performance by a small margin.
Its high ratings in winter and treadwear solidified the victory of Crossclimate 2 in this match up.
Primacy Tour A/S outscored Crossclimate 2 in delivering a comfortable ride. The succeeding sections will shed light on these small performance nuances.
Tires |
Wet |
Dry | Winter | Comfort | Treadwear |
Michelin Crossclimate 2 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 9.1 |
Michelin Primacy Tour A/S | 9.1 | 9.2 | 8.0 | 9.1 | 8.7 |
4. Wet Performance
Michelin Crossclimate 2 outperformed Primacy Tour A/S in rainy conditions by a few points.
Because of its V-formation tread shape, it possesses excellent aquaplaning resistance.
Crossclimate 2 is easy to maneuver even in heavy rain because to its strong lateral grip and ability to wick water away over steep angles on the tread.
On the one hand, the four large circumferential grooves and full-depth notches provide good wet traction and great hydroplaning resistance.
5. Dry performance
Both tires deliver excellent performance on dry roads. However, Michelin Crossclimate has a slight edge in dry braking because of v-ramps on its tread. It can stop 16 feet shorter than leading competitors, which is the shortest in its class.
On the other hand, consumers loved the ease in handling in dry pavements of Primacy Tour A/S due to responsive steering.
6. Noise/comfort/ride quality
Michelin Primacy Tour A/S was voted as one of the quietest tires in the market. It has noise canceling features courtesy of enhanced Comfort Control PIANO Noise Reduction Tuning.
Michelin Crossclimate 2 has the same noise reduction technology but CC2 can be noisy as it ages.
Its comfort level depends on one’s tolerance level. For instance, one might need to turn the radio on to forget about cabin noise or the growl it creates when it hits potholes.In some cases, users attest that this tire can deliver a smooth and relaxing ride.
7. Snow and ice
Michelin Primacy Tour A/S can decently pass through slippery roads during icy or snowy conditions.
However, this good snow performance of Primacy Tour A/S cannot beat the confidence of the snow-rated tire in handling light to harsh winter conditions. Michelin Crossclimate 2 has a snowflake symbol which signifies this capability. The tire is usable even in deep snow.
In forums like Reddit, users praised the capability of Primacy Tour A/S to handle dirt, ice and snow. However, the tire wears out fast. That’s why they shifted to Michelin Crossclimate 2. They were influenced by the ratings on Consumer reports.
8. Cost
The starting price of Michelin Crossclimate 2 is $148. It is $40 cheaper than the starting price of Primacy Tour A/S ($180).
This affordable pricing made Crossclimate 2 even more attractive since it was dubbed as a summer tire with wet and winter capabilities.
Pros and cons: Michelin Primacy Tour A/S vs Crossclimate 2
- Superior all-season versatility
- Better Treadlife
- More affordable
- Produces low to loud noise as the tire wears out
- Exceptionally quiet on the road
- More comfortable
- Average snow performance and mileage warranty
Related:
- Michelin Defender vs Crossclimate 2 – Which is the Better?
- Michelin Crossclimate Plus vs Crossclimate 2 – Pros & Cons
FAQs
Is the CrossClimate 2 a quiet tire?
No, but CrossClimate 2 has tolerable road noise. The noise level is not distractingly weird or annoying, but one can hear or notice the sounds it produces.
Is Michelin Primacy A/S a good winter tire?
Michelin Primacy All Season has fair traction in light snow conditions. It delivers better performance on dry roads than on wet surfaces.
Conclusion
It was tough to compare Michelin Crossclimate 2 vs Primacy Tour A/S because both tires were specifically constructed to deliver all-season capability, comfort, and longevity.
In this neck and neck comparison, Michelin Crossclimate 2 obviously pulled in more points in snow performance, price and tread life.
Even though Michelin Crossclimate 2 seemed like a perfect tire already, you can also check Pilot vs Primacy tire comparisons or its club exclusive tires like Michelin X Tour for more options.