The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S vs Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport battle is a fascinating clash between two very different performance philosophies. The Pilot Sport 4S is a proven UUHP summer tire, built to deliver maximum dry and wet performance, while the CrossClimate 3 Sport is positioned as Michelin’s first UHP all-season tire with 3PMSF certification, promising serious performance without giving up winter capability.
We can all probably guess which tire will be faster in warm conditions. The real question is: how much performance do you actually give up by choosing the CrossClimate 3 Sport? Is the gap huge, or has Michelin created an all-season tire that can get surprisingly close to one of its best summer tires? Let’s find out.
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Results: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S vs Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport
The results presented here are from the Tyre Review’s 2026 Michelin Tire Test, where 7 of the best Michelin tire models were selected. The accompanying graph provides a side-by-side comparison of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S vs Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport across various performance categories, with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S serving as the benchmark at 100%.
The tire size of interest is the 225/40 R18 tire size, a popular choice for vehicles like the Volkswagen Golf & Audi A3 series. For further insights into various tire sizes, feel free to consult our latest tire size table. The tests were conducted using a VW Golf GTI MK7.5 as the test vehicle.
Wet
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S leads in all three wet tests. In wet braking, it stops in 26.95 m versus 29.06 m, a 2.11 m advantage, with the CrossClimate 3 Sport 7% behind. In wet handling, the Pilot Sport 4S is 5.07 seconds faster, completing the lap in 91.07 s versus 96.14 s, putting the CrossClimate 3 Sport 5% behind. Straight aquaplaning is much closer at 80.77 km/h versus 79.33 km/h, just 1.44 km/h difference, or 2%.
Overall, the Pilot Sport 4S is clearly the stronger wet-performance tire, especially in braking and handling. But considering the CrossClimate 3 Sport is a 3PMSF UHP all-season tire, staying only 2–7% behind a UUHP summer tire in the wet is an impressive result.
CrossClimate 3 Sport :
- -7% in wet braking
- -5% in wet handling
- -2% in aquaplaning
Dry
In dry braking, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S stops in 32.86 m compared with 36.99 m, a significant 4.13 m shorter stopping distance. That puts the CrossClimate 3 Sport 11% behind. Dry handling is much closer, with the Pilot Sport 4S completing the lap in 74.69 seconds versus 76.18 seconds, just 1.49 seconds faster, or a 2% advantage.
Overall, the Pilot Sport 4S shows its UUHP strength most clearly under hard dry braking, while the CrossClimate 3 Sport stays surprisingly close in handling. For a 3PMSF UHP all-season tire, being only 2% behind on the dry handling track is particularly impressive.
CrossClimate 3 Sport :
- -11% in dry braking
- -2% in dry handling
Rolling Resistance
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport has the clear advantage in rolling resistance, measuring 7.68 N/kN compared with 8.86 N/kN for the Pilot Sport 4S. That is a difference of 1.18 N/kN, giving the CrossClimate 3 Sport a 15% advantage in rolling resistance.
This is where the all-season tire fights back strongly. While the Pilot Sport 4S focuses more on outright grip, the CrossClimate 3 Sport requires less energy to roll, which should help improve overall efficiency.
CrossClimate 3 Sport :
- +15% in rolling resistance
Price
For the same 225/40 R18 size, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S costs €144, while the CrossClimate 3 Sport costs €121. That makes the CrossClimate 3 Sport €23 cheaper, or 19% less expensive.
That price gap makes the comparison even more interesting. The CrossClimate 3 Sport gives up some outright wet and dry performance, but it costs less, offers 3PMSF winter capability, and also has the advantage in rolling resistance.
Tire size: 225/40 R18
- Pilot Sport 4S : € 144
- CrossClimate 3 Sport : € 121
Difference: -19% cheaper for CrossClimate 3 Sport
Summary
From my perspective, this was never a straight fight. The Pilot Sport 4S is a dedicated UUHP summer tire, while the CrossClimate 3 Sport has to balance summer performance, winter capability and efficiency. As expected, the Pilot Sport 4S wins in outright wet and dry performance, but what impressed me most was how small some of the gaps were—just 2% in straight aquaplaning and dry handling, and only 5% in wet handling.
For a 3PMSF UHP all-season tire, that is seriously impressive. The CrossClimate 3 Sport also brings 15% better rolling resistance and a 19% lower price, so while the Pilot Sport 4S remains the choice for maximum performance, the CrossClimate 3 Sport shows just how close a modern all-season tire can now get.
Dr Edwin Pang