Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Michelin Primacy MXM4: The question which always arises when a new vehicle owner has to change his OE tires for the very first time, does he stick to the OE tires which have served him so far or he should change to a replacement market tire? To fine this out, Tire Rack pick up one of the hottest car right now, “Tesla Model 3” and pitted its OE spec tire Michelin Primacy MXM4 vs its replacement counterpart Michelin CrossClimate 2, Without further ado, let’s put this 2 tires head to head and see who comes out on top !
Table of Contents
Results
Results below were taken from the Tire Rack’s “Electric Vehicle Tires – Comparing Michelin Original Equipment to Aftermarket” test. The graph below shows the comparison between Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Michelin Primacy MXM4 based on the relevant performance category. The CrossClimate 2 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark. Note that for subjective comfort evaluation, we equate 1 point as 5%. Hence for example if tire A is graded 7 while tire B is graded 6, A is better than B by 5%.
As only CrossClimate 2 has the elusive 3 peak mountain logo, Tire Rack will nonetheless perform snow & ice testing in this upcoming 2022 winter season. A detailed testing on snow including acceleration, braking & handling will be performed at Tire Rack’s proving ground.
The tire size of interest is 235/45R18 which is a common tire size for Honda Accord & Volkswagen Passat. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a 2022 Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor Long Range test vehicle.
Wet
The friction of coefficient of the tire/road dramatically decreases in wet roads compared to dry roads. Hence it is more likely to get into a road accident during wet conditions rather than on a sunny day. It was so important that the EU label has wet braking as one of its three criteria. With regards to our comparison, CrossClimate 2 was dominated in wet braking as it out-brake Primacy MXM4 by 21.9 feet (6.7 m) which is almost 2 car lengths !
With such leading performance in wet braking, CrossClimate 2 continued to dominate in wet handling as it was 1.7 seconds faster in lap time Primacy MXM4. While in subjective handling rating, CrossClimate 2 also reigned supreme with an overall rating of 7.72 vs 6.91 of Primacy MXM4. Overall, CrossClimate 2 has a big advantage over Primacy MXM4 in wet performances.
Primacy MXM4 :
- -15% in wet braking
- -4.1% in wet handling (subj)
- -4.7% in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
As for dry, safety is usually not an issue as the braking distance is much longer than wet. However this is the default daily usage and the tires have to perform at a very consistent level. Similar to wet, CrossClimate 2 also dominated the dry braking performance criteria as it managed to brake 7.4 feet (2.3m) earlier compared to Primacy MXM4 from a speed of 50 mph (80km/h) down to 0.
Primacy MXM4 :
- -7.9% in dry braking
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
Ride comfort, noise & comfort was tested and both tires are neck in neck with no much differences in between. Primacy MXM4 has a slightly higher rating of 7.92 against the 7.88 rating of CrossClimate 2.
Primacy MXM4 :
- +0.2% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.
Snow
In terms of Snow Braking, the Michelin Cross Climate 2 stands out with a stopping distance of 59.10 feet, which is notably shorter than the Michelin Primacy MXM4’s stopping distance of 67.30 feet. This difference of 8.20 feet in stopping distance showcases the superior snow braking performance of the Cross Climate 2, indicating a better grip and safer stopping capability on snowy surfaces.
When evaluating Snow Acceleration, from 0 to 12 Mph, the Michelin Cross Climate 2 demonstrates its supremacy. It requires only 12.49 feet to reach this speed, while the Michelin Primacy MXM4 lags behind, needing 16.44 feet. The reduced acceleration distance for the Cross Climate 2, by a margin of 3.95 feet, implies that it has better traction and can gain speed more efficiently in snowy conditions than its counterpart.
Lastly, in the realm of Snow Handling, which is a subjective measure, the Michelin Cross Climate 2 garners a higher score of 8.08 out of 10. In comparison, the Michelin Primacy MXM4 manages a score of 6.33 out of 10. This higher score for the Cross Climate 2 suggests that drivers or testers felt a more confident and controlled driving experience with it on snowy terrains, compared to the Primacy MXM4.
Primacy MXM4 :
- -12.2% in Snow braking.
- -8.8% in Snow handling (subj).
- -24% in Snow acceleration.
Ice
In terms of Ice Braking, the Michelin Cross Climate 2 showcases superior performance with a stopping distance of 42.70 feet, which is notably shorter than the Michelin Primacy MXM4’s stopping distance of 47.20 feet. This difference of 4.50 feet in stopping distance emphasizes the advanced ice braking capability of the Cross Climate 2, clearly showing a better grip and more secure stopping power on icy surfaces when compared to the Primacy MXM4.
Primacy MXM4 :
- -9.5% in Ice Braking.
UTQG rating
We have previously shown that UTQG tread wear rating can be a good indication of your expected mileage. Below are the UTQG values of both of the tirelines.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelin | Primacy MXM4 | All | 500 | A | A |
| Michelin | CrossClimate 2 | All | 640 | B | A |
Based on the data provided by Tire Rack, mileage warranty for Primacy MXM4 is 45,000 miles while CrossClimate 2 is 60,000 miles. This is sort of reflected in the UTQG wear values as Primacy MXM4 has a much lower 500 rating in comparison with the 640 rating of CrossClimate 2. This is definitely attributed to the lower tread depth you get from the OE specific tire as it has to meet a much lower level of rolling resistance targets.
For more in depth information about UTQG, please check out this article here. We even have a free download on the latest UTQG values from the leading tire manufacturers.
Estimated Range at 100% Charge
Being an electric vehicle, the estimated range is something you are particularly fond of especially if you are driving long distance. The concept is fairly simple, the lower your tire’s rolling resistance the less energy is needed per travel distance. Instead of doing the traditional rolling resistance measurement, Tire Rack instead drove 2 identical vehicles in more or less identical conditions on a 200-mile route on the highways near Tire Rack’s South Bend headquarters.
Based on the study and some extrapolation calculation, the OE fitted Primacy MXM4 was rated to have a total mileage of 305 miles compared to the 271 miles with CrossClimate 2. This does not come as a surprise as the Primacy MXM4 is an OE specific tire for Tesla Model 3 and it is tailored for electric vehicle usage.
Estimated Range at 100% Charge :
- 100% @ CrossClimate 2
- 113% @ Primacy MXM4
Price
Being the undisputed technology leader, we would expect Michelin to command the highest priced tire in the market. The Primacy MXM4 was found to be 62 dollars more expensive than CrossClimate 2.
Tire size: 245/40R18
CrossClimate 2 : $245
Primacy MXM4 : $307
Difference: +20% more expensive for Primacy MXM4.
Summary
After evaluating the winter results, the Michelin Cross Climate 2 continues to stand out in terms of ice braking performance over the Michelin Primacy MXM4. This reinforces its already established superiority in dry, wet, price, and mileage performances. While the Primacy MXM4 has its strengths, especially in estimated range due to its lower rolling resistance, the comprehensive performance metrics affirm that the CrossClimate 2 is the champion in this duel. The minor setback of a lower range can indeed be addressed with astute trip planning. Thus, with both summer and winter performances taken into account, it’s evident that CrossClimate 2 not only maintains but solidifies its champion status in 2023.