Michelin Primacy 4 vs CrossClimate 2

Michelin have established themselves as one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers since the company was founded in 1889.

From summer tyres to all-season tyres, Michelin have been market leaders when it comes to tyre development.

Two of their top tyre models in today’s market is their Primacy 4 and CrossClimate 2.

This article will outline the key features of both leading tyre models, comparing both the tyres’ successes to see how they truly match up together.

Primacy 4 Overview

The Michelin Primacy 4 is a premium summer tyre released by Michelin in January 2022.

Even if the Primacy 4 is a summer tyre model, it still offers fantastic wet grip performance through Michelin’s EverGrip technology. This gives the tyre 22% more space to clear water in wet conditions, even when worn.

Michelin also equipped the Primacy 4 with their Max Touch Construction technology, enhancing the tyre’s traction on the road when accelerating, braking heavily, and cornering.

On average, the Michelin tyre model lasts 11,000 miles longer on the roads than its competitors, highlighting the fantastic longevity of the model.

The Michelin Primacy 4 replaced the Primacy 3 in 2017, offering improved fuel efficiency and 20% more mileage than its predecessor.

CrossClimate 2 Overview

The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is a premium tyre model manufactured by Michelin since 2020.

Unlike the Primacy 4, the CrossClimate 2 is an all-season tyre. All-season tyres offer consistent levels of performance throughout different types of weather conditions.

The CrossClimate 2 features a thermal adaptive tread compound, making the tyre adaptive to all kinds of changes in road temperatures.

A Cool Running Sidewall is also featured on the tyre, reducing rolling resistance of the model by 10% compared to its predecessor. Reduction of rolling resistance helps with fuel efficiency and electric vehicle range.

The CrossClimate 2 replaced the CrossClimate+ upon its release in 2020.

Tyre Label Ratings

Tyre label ratings grade three different aspects of a tyre’s level of performance. Label ratings vary between different tyre sizes.

The categories are broken down as follows:

Fuel Efficiency – Ranked A to G

Wet Grip – Ranked A to G

Tyre Noise – Ranked with numbers and A to C/Decibels (dB)

Primacy 4 Label Ratings

Fuel efficiency of the Primacy 4 ranges from A – C, with sizes from 205/55 R17 to 255/45 R20 consisting of either A or B ratings.

The Primacy 4 features strong wet grip ratings of either A or B across all tyre sizes.

Tyre noise level ratings vary between 68b and 72b across available Primacy 4 tyre sizes.

CrossClimate 2 Label Ratings

The CrossClimate 2 has fuel efficiency ratings anywhere from A to D, with the most common ratings being B or C.

Wet grip ratings are consistently B across all tyre sizes.

External tyre noise of the CrossClimate 2 ranges between 69B and 73B.

Primacy 4 Awards

Since its inception, the Michelin Primacy 4 has seen various awards and recognitions from tyre experts around the world.

One of the most prestigious awards for the Michelin tyre was back in 2021, when the Primacy 4 scooped the WhatTyre ‘Summer Tyre of the Year’. WhatTyre recognised the Primacy 4 with this award as they were “impressed by the tyre’s ‘AA’ rating for wet grip and rolling resistance as well as Michelin’s efforts to extend grip and handling performance throughout the tyre’s lifetime.”

Just one year later, the WhatTyre Tyre of the Year Awards were also very complimentary of the Primacy 4, as the tyre model earned ‘SUV Tyre of the Year’.

DriverReviews also heralded the Michelin summer tyre back in their inaugural customer choice awards in 2022 – the Primacy 4 was acclaimed as “Highly Recommended” in the ‘Best Tyres for Family Cars’ category.

It’s safe to say that within its short existence, the Michelin Primacy 4 has seen many successes regarding accolades from industry experts and critics alike.

CrossClimate 2 Awards

Since the tyre’s release in 2022, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 has also been revered within the tyre industry.

In TyreReviews’ 2022/23 All Season Tyre Test, the model finished 1st out of 10 tyres due to the CrossClimate 2 being “ridiculously good in snow” and an “excellent tyre”.

Much like the Primacy 4, WhatTyre highly rates the CrossClimate 2, as seen at the recent Tyre of the Year awards in 2023. This is where the Primacy 4 was awarded with the prestigious ‘All-Season Tyre of the Year’ award, making it a back-to-back win in the all-season tyre category.

At the DriverReviews Customer Choice awards, the CrossClimate 2 was named ‘Best All-Season Tyres’ for 2022, shining a light to the tyre model’s all-season capabilities.

With a prestigious award as recent as 2023, it is safe to say the Michelin CrossClimate 2 still has years left to scoop more in years to come.

Customer Reviews

Powered by DriverReviews, our customer review system is broken down into four categories for our customers to critique their previously purchased tyres.

The categories are as follows:

• Overall Rating
• Would the customer buy the tyres again
• Does the car feel better to drive
• Were the tyres value for money

Primacy 4 Customer Reviews

• Overall rating of my tyres – 4.6/5
• I would buy the same tyres again – 4.7/5
• The car feels better to drive – 4.4/5
• The tyres were value for money – 4.3/5

CrossClimate 2 Customer Reviews

• Overall rating of my tyres – 4.6/5
• I would buy the same tyres again – 4.7/5
• The car feels better to drive – 4.3/5
• The tyres were value for money – 4.1/5

Primacy 4 Common Tyre Sizes

• 235/55 R18
• 225/45 R17
• 205/55 R17

CrossClimate 2 Common Tyre Sizes

• 205/55 R16
• 225/45 R17
• 225/40 R18

Primacy 4 Common Car Models

• Volvo XC40
• BMW 2 Series
• Volkswagen Golf

CrossClimate 2 Common Car Models

• Volkswagen Golf
• Honda CR-V
• Skoda Octavia

Tyre Price Ranges

Fully fitted prices for both tyre models will vary depending on tyre size, with the larger tyre sizes normally being the more expensive.

Prices for the Michelin Primacy 4 range from £90.18 to £247.73.*

Prices for the Michelin CrossClimate 2 range from £96.06 to £333.50.*

*Please note, prices of tyre models typically fluctuate in time, with prices listed being of today’s date (13/03/2024)