Continental Cross Contact LX25 vs Michelin Cross Climate SUV: We have been covering the SUV segment quite a bit with our last SUV battle involving Michelin’s Latitude 3 vs Pirelli’s Scorpion Verde. This time around we would like to compare two relatively newer premium SUV tires which are predominantly popular in the American market. The Cross Contact LX25 from Continental was launch in 2019 while the Cross Climate SUV was launch in 2016. Lets have a detail look into the test results of both these tires.
Table of Contents
Results
Results below were taken from tire rack’s “Testing Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season Tires for the New Family Vehicle” test. A total of 3 tires were tested this time around. The graph below shows the comparison between Continental Cross Contact LX25 vs Michelin Cross Climate SUV based on the relevant performance category. The Cross Contact LX25 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
As both tires are categorized as all season tires, tire rack has included snow & ice in its testing portfolio. A detail testing on snow including acceleration, braking & handling were evaluated. The tire size of interest is a 235/60R18 which is a common SUV tire size for Honda CR-V & Volvo XC60. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information.
Wet
Due to the ever persistence water layer on top of the road surface during wet conditions, the coefficient of friction generated is much lower compared to a dry situation. Hence the issue of safety has become a big topic when it comes to wet road. It was so important that the EU label has wet braking as one of its three criteria. Cross Climate SUV had the big edge when it comes to wet braking, out performing the Cross Contact LX25 by braking 2.7m earlier !
While in wet handling, the performance gain in wet braking was transferred into a 0.05 seconds advantage in lap time for the Cross Climate SUV. Even though with this razor thin margins, subjectively the Cross Climate SUV was also rated better compared to Cross Contact LX25. Overall in the wet category, Cross Climate SUV definitely has the upper hand.
Cross Climate SUV:
- +7.7% in wet braking
- +1.8% in wet handling (subj)
- +0.2% 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 consistence level. Cross Climate SUV continue its dominance by braking a whopping 2.2m earlier than Cross Contact LX25. While in subjective dry handling there were very closely rated together as Cross Climate SUV scored a 7.37 and Cross Contact LX25 got a 7.27 rating.
Cross Climate SUV:
- +9.5% in dry braking
- +0.5% in dry handling(subj)
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
As the noise & comfort can be quite critical in a premium SUV, tire manufacture’s have to be sure they meet a certain comfort threshold to avoid complaints. The Cross Contact LX25 fared better in noise comfort and ride quality and edge the Cross Climate SUV by only 0.08 points.
Cross Climate SUV:
- -1% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.
Snow
As both tires have been rated as an all season tire, we are thrilled when tire rack included snow on its testing list. From initial checks, the Cross Climate SUV has a 3 peak mountain label to legally certified the tire as a winter tire. However this is not the case for Cross Contact LX25 which does not carry this label.
The tables were turn this time around when it comes to snow. The Cross Contact LX25 show great snow braking & acceleration strengths while was also faster in snow handling. This comes to a surprise as you would have thought with the 3 peak mountain label the Cross Climate SUV would have performed better but it was not proven the case.
Cross Climate SUV:
- -4.1% in snow braking
- -2.3% in snow acceleration
- -2.3% in snow handling (subj)
- -1.7% in snow handling (lap time)
Ice
While snow was dominated by Cross Contact LX25, the ice advantage was given to Cross Climate SUV. At a braking speed of 40-0 km/h , the Cross Climate SUV was stopping 0.3 meters shorter than the Cross Contact LX25.
Cross Climate SUV:
- +2.6% in ice braking
Price
Being the undisputed technology leader, we would expect Michelin to command the highest priced tire in the market. This was reflected somehow as Cross Climate SUV is 17% more expensive than the Cross Contact LX25.
Tire size: 255/55 R18
Cross Climate SUV: $240
Cross Contact LX25: $205
Difference: +17% more expensive for Cross Climate SUV.
Summary
Overall, the Cross Climate SUV was clearly the best in most of the performance criteria. Its biggest drawback comes in the form of snow. Taking into consideration the overall balance this tire is in all performance criteria the Cross Climate SUV is the clear winner!