Michelin CrossClimate 3 vs Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport — Michelin didn’t just replace the reigning all-season king — they doubled down. The CrossClimate 3 arrives as the natural successor to the award-winning CrossClimate 2, refined for even better balance across dry, wet, and snow. But here’s the twist: they’ve launched a CrossClimate 3 Sport alongside it.
So what’s with the Sport? Think sharper handling, quicker stops, and better dry grip — all while still rocking that 3PMSF snow badge. It’s Michelin’s boldest move yet: an all-season tire that grips like summer rubber but refuses to compromise in winter. Let’s check out the results!
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Results: Michelin CrossClimate 3 vs Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport
Results below were taken from the 2025 Tyre Review’s Michelin CrossClimate 3 Tire Video. The graph below shows the comparison between Michelin CrossClimate 3 vs Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport based on the relevant performance category. The Michelin CrossClimate 3 tire was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
The tire size of interest is a 225/40R18 which is a common tire size for Audi A3 or BMW 3 series. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle of choice is a Volkswagen Golf.
Wet
In wet braking, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport stopped in 31.38 meters, which is 3.05 meters shorter than the CrossClimate 3’s 34.43 meters — an 10% improvement. During wet handling, the Sport version completed the course in 96.8 seconds, making it 3.67 seconds faster than the standard CrossClimate 3 at 100.47 seconds, a 4% advantage. However, in straight-line aquaplaning, the CrossClimate 3 held grip until 76.53 km/h, outperforming the Sport’s 74.25 km/h by 2.28 km/h — a 3% lead for the regular version.
In conclusion, the CrossClimate 3 Sport delivers noticeably better wet braking and handling, making it the superior performer in active wet driving, while the standard CrossClimate 3 retains a slight edge in aquaplaning resistance.
CrossClimate 3 Sport :
- +10% in wet braking
- +4% in wet handling
- -3% in aquaplaning
Snow
In snow braking, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport stopped in 7.5 meters, just 0.03 meters shorter than the CrossClimate 3 at 7.53 meters — a negligible 0.4% improvement. Snow traction was nearly identical, with the Sport offering 4.43 m/s² compared to 4.42 m/s² for the standard version, a marginal 0.2% advantage. However, in snow handling, the CrossClimate 3 completed the course in 76.44 seconds, making it 1.01 seconds faster than the Sport’s 77.45 seconds — a 1% edge for the standard tire.
In conclusion, both tires are virtually equal in snow braking and traction, with the regular CrossClimate 3 offering slightly better control in snow handling. Even with the CrossClimate 3 Sport’s much higher wet performance, snow was not compromised!
CrossClimate 3 Sport :
- ~0% in snow braking
- ~0% in snow traction
- -1% in snow handling
Dry
In dry braking, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport stopped in 38.19 meters, which is 1.42 meters shorter than the CrossClimate 3’s 39.61 meters — a 4% improvement. For dry handling, the Sport version completed the course in 76.6 seconds, making it 1.65 seconds quicker than the standard CrossClimate 3 at 78.25 seconds, translating to a 2% advantage.
In conclusion, the CrossClimate 3 Sport clearly delivers better dry braking and handling, bringing a sportier, more responsive feel without losing its all-season versatility.
CrossClimate 3 Sport :
- +4% in dry braking
- +2% in dry handling
Rolling Resistance
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport recorded a rolling resistance of 7.6 N/kN, which is 0.2 N/kN lower than the CrossClimate 3’s 7.8 N/kN — a 3% improvement. Despite its sportier focus, the CrossClimate 3 Sport still manages to be slightly more efficient in rolling resistance.
CrossClimate 3 Sport :
- +3% in rolling resistance
Conclusion
The new Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport delivers clear advantages in wet and dry braking, sharper handling, and slightly lower rolling resistance — all while maintaining strong snow performance. While mileage has yet to be tested, the early results show an impressive leap forward. Michelin is once again redefining what an all-season tire can be — this time, with a bold and sporty twist.
Dr Edwin Pang