Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport vs Kleber Quadraxer 3: This is a true all-season showdown within the Michelin family. On one side, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport—the sportiest evolution of Michelin’s iconic CrossClimate DNA—built for drivers who want year-round safety without giving up performance. On the other, the Kleber Quadraxer 3, a more value-focused all-season contender from Kleber, a brand owned by Michelin, aiming to deliver confident four-season capability at a more accessible level.
Same group, different philosophies: premium performance vs smart value—the all-season battle just got very interesting
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Results: Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport vs Kleber Quadraxer 3
Results below were taken from AutoBild’s 2025 All Season Tire Test with a total of 15 tires tested including a reference winter & summer tire. The graph below shows the comparison between Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport vs Kleber Quadraxer 3 based on the relevant performance category. The Continental AllSeasonContact 2 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
Since we are talking about the all season with 3 peak mountain certification segment, the snow performances was tested. The tire size of interest is 225/40 R18 which is a common tire size for Volkswagen Golf & Audi A3. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a Volkswagen Golf.
Wet
In wet braking, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport stops 0.6 m shorter than the Kleber Quadraxer 3 (47.3 m vs 47.9 m), giving Michelin about a 1% advantage. In wet handling, Michelin again takes the lead, carrying 1.2 km/h more speed through the course (71.4 km/h vs 70.2 km/h), translating to a 2% gain. However, in straight-line aquaplaning, the balance clearly shifts, with the Kleber Quadraxer 3 resisting water lift until 3.3 km/h higher speed than Michelin (76.3 km/h vs 73 km/h), giving Kleber a solid 5% edge.
Overall, Michelin prioritises wet control and stopping confidence, while Kleber counters with stronger straight-line aquaplaning resistance, making this wet-performance battle a clear trade-off rather than a one-sided win.
Quadraxer 3 :
- -1% in wet braking
- -2% in wet handling
- +5% in straight aquaplaning
Snow
In snow braking, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport stops 0.9 m shorter than the Kleber Quadraxer 3 (24.4 m vs 25.3 m), giving Michelin a clear 4% advantage. In snow traction, Michelin again leads with 68 N higher pulling force (2946 N vs 2878 N), translating to a 2% gain in traction. However, in snow handling, the balance slightly shifts, with the Kleber Quadraxer 3 carrying 0.3 km/h more speed through the course (53.6 km/h vs 53.3 km/h), a marginal 1% edge.
Overall, Michelin delivers stronger braking and traction on snow, while Kleber answers with slightly higher cornering speed, making this a closely matched snow performance fight with different strengths on display.
Quadraxer 3 :
- -4% in snow braking
- -2% in snow traction
- +1% in snow handling
Mileage
In wear testing, the Kleber Quadraxer 3 lasts 4,200 km longer than the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport (50,750 km vs 46,550 km), giving Kleber a clear 9% advantage in projected mileage. In abrasion, Kleber again shows slightly lower mass loss at 903 g compared to Michelin’s 912 g, a difference of 9 g, which works out to about a 1% advantage.
Overall, Kleber offers better longevity and slightly lower abrasion, making it the more durable option, while Michelin focuses more on outright performance rather than maximum tread life.
Quadraxer 3 :
- +9% in mileage
- +1% in abrasion
Dry
In dry braking, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport stops 0.5 m shorter than the Kleber Quadraxer 3 (38.8 m vs 39.3 m), giving Michelin a 1% advantage. In dry handling, Michelin again leads with 1.6 km/h higher speed around the course (100.6 km/h vs 99 km/h), which translates to a 2% advantage.
Overall, Michelin shows stronger dry stopping power and sharper handling, while Kleber trails slightly but still delivers stable, predictable dry-road behaviour.
Quadraxer 3 :
- -1% in dry braking
- -2% in dry handling
NVH
In noise testing, the Kleber Quadraxer 3 runs 0.2 dB quieter than the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport (72.5 dB vs 72.7 dB), giving Kleber a small 0% advantage once rounded.
Quadraxer 3 :
- ~0% in exterior noise (-0.2 dB)
Rolling Resistance
In rolling resistance, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport shows 0.38 N/kN lower resistance than the Kleber Quadraxer 3 (7.39 N/kN vs 7.77 N/kN), giving Michelin a clear 5% advantage.
Quadraxer 3 :
- -5% in rolling resistance
Price
For 225/40 R18, the Kleber Quadraxer 3 is €21 cheaper than the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport (€106 vs €127), which works out to a 20% price advantage in Kleber’s favour.
Tire size: 225/40 R18
- CrossClimate 3 Sport : € 127
- Quadraxer 3 : € 106
Difference: -20% cheaper for Quadraxer 3
Conclusion from a Tire Expert’s Perspective:
As a tire expert, I see the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport as the stronger choice for drivers who prioritise performance—it stops shorter, handles better in both wet and dry, offers stronger snow traction, and delivers lower rolling resistance. The Kleber Quadraxer 3 shines in value and durability, with longer wear life, better straight-line aquaplaning resistance, slightly quieter noise, and a much lower price.
Dr Edwin Pang