Michelin Crossclimate 2 - Tread Depth

[scimmiamagia!]

I have a set of Michelin Crossclimate 2 on my Beach. Fitted in September 2023. Done around 27k miles on them. Fronts are now just under 4mm. Rear just under 6mm. The rears are ok but wondering about the performance of the fronts in snow and ice.

I could swap rear to front but still need new rears as I am not sure I want the rear to overtake me!

Anyone with Crossclimate 2 on their van? How low can you let the tread go? Michelin seem to suggest a life of a tyre is 60k miles?

Think I may need to but the bullet and get proper winter tyres for imminent journey to the Alps.

 

[vmaxkiddy]

I have a set of Michelin Crossclimate 2 on my Beach. Fitted in September 2023. Done around 27k miles on them. Fronts are now just under 4mm. Rear just under 6mm. The rears are ok but wondering about the performance of the fronts in snow and ice.

I could swap rear to front but still need new rears as I am not sure I want the rear to overtake me!

Anyone with Crossclimate 2 on their van? How low can you let the tread go? Michelin seem to suggest a life of a tyre is 60k miles?

Think I may need to but the bullet and get proper winter tyres for imminent journey to the Alps.

Recommended to change at 3mm, any lower and they won’t be effective in snow.

 

[Baldrick]

Hopefully someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but I recently came to understand that the tyres with more tread should be on the rear - counterintuitive to my own thoughts.
I also read on here that the best deals on Michelin Cross Climate II’s come from Black Circles who own them. The last time I paid a small fortune for a set and last time I checked, via their website they are considerably cheaper with options of local fitters. Need a set myself.

 

[WelshGas]

Hopefully someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but I recently came to understand that the tyres with more tread should be on the rear - counterintuitive to my own thoughts.
I also read on here that the best deals on Michelin Cross Climate II’s come from Black Circles who own them. The last time I paid a small fortune for a set and last time I checked, via their website they are considerably cheaper with options of local fitters. Need a set myself.

Yes, best practice, regardless of FWD,/RWD or 4 wheel drive , new tyres or tyres with the best traction or tread depth should be on the rear axle.
Worn tyres on the Rear compared to Front tyres can lead to Oversteer which is more difficult to control.

Oversteer is generally considered worse for most drivers because it is harder to control and can lead to a spin or collision. Understeer, while also undesirable, is often considered safer because it is more intuitive to correct and the car typically maintains a more predictable, head-on trajectory.

Understeer

• What it is: The front wheels lose grip first, and the car pushes wide instead of turning.
• Safety: Considered safer and more stable for the average driver.
• Corrections: You can correct it by easing off the throttle or braking lightly, which brings the front wheels back into better grip.
• • Downside: It can diminish performance and handling in a competitive setting, as it requires slowing down more to get through the corner.

Oversteer

• What it is: The rear wheels lose grip first, causing the back of the car to slide out.
• Safety: Considered more dangerous because it requires quick, skilled reactions to avoid a spin or crash.
• Corrections: You must counter-steer (turn the wheel in the direction the rear is sliding) and smoothly reduce power.
• Downside: Can be frightening and difficult to manage on a normal road.

 

[Oscarthebeddie]

Hopefully someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but I recently came to understand that the tyres with more tread should be on the rear - counterintuitive to my own thoughts.
I also read on here that the best deals on Michelin Cross Climate II’s come from Black Circles who own them. The last time I paid a small fortune for a set and last time I checked, via their website they are considerably cheaper with options of local fitters. Need a set myself.

Try camskill last time I looked £136 plus postage, I get a mobile fitters £15 fitted and balanced

 

[andyinluton]

Yes, best practice, regardless of FWD,/RWD or 4 wheel drive , new tyres or tyres with the best traction or tread depth should be on the rear axle.
Worn tyres on the Rear compared to Front tyres can lead to Oversteer which is more difficult to control.

Oversteer is generally considered worse for most drivers because it is harder to control and can lead to a spin or collision. Understeer, while also undesirable, is often considered safer because it is more intuitive to correct and the car typically maintains a more predictable, head-on trajectory.

Understeer

• What it is: The front wheels lose grip first, and the car pushes wide instead of turning.
• Safety: Considered safer and more stable for the average driver.
• Corrections: You can correct it by easing off the throttle or braking lightly, which brings the front wheels back into better grip.
• • Downside: It can diminish performance and handling in a competitive setting, as it requires slowing down more to get through the corner.

Oversteer

• What it is: The rear wheels lose grip first, causing the back of the car to slide out.
• Safety: Considered more dangerous because it requires quick, skilled reactions to avoid a spin or crash.
• Corrections: You must counter-steer (turn the wheel in the direction the rear is sliding) and smoothly reduce power.
• Downside: Can be frightening and difficult to manage on a normal road.

Understeer - you look straight ahead to see what you going to hit
Oversteer - you look through a side window to see what you are going to hit.

if the tread is 6mm and 4mm tread its not going to make any difference which end they are on.
If it was 1.6mm and 6mm it would make a difference in the wet..

 

[willwander]

I prefer a bit of Oversteer on the van, helps my Scandinavian flick

 

[sidepod]

In a fwd unit, you only tend to experience lift-off oversteer ie you go in too hot, panic, lift off, weight transfer, rear let’s go. Game over.

 

[sidepod]

if the tread is 6mm and 4mm tread its not going to make any difference which end they are on.
If it was 1.6mm and 6mm it would make a difference in the wet..

This is my thinking. I don’t know if tyre wear is linear/proportional to grip?
I did work with an ex Pirelli tyre guy a few years ago but every time he began talking about tech stuff my eyelids became unbelievably heavy!

 

[Wildsilver]

I have a set of Michelin Crossclimate 2 on my Beach. Fitted in September 2023. Done around 27k miles on them. Fronts are now just under 4mm. Rear just under 6mm. The rears are ok but wondering about the performance of the fronts in snow and ice.

I could swap rear to front but still need new rears as I am not sure I want the rear to overtake me!

Anyone with Crossclimate 2 on their van? How low can you let the tread go? Michelin seem to suggest a life of a tyre is 60k miles?

Think I may need to but the bullet and get proper winter tyres for imminent journey to the Alps.

Decent winter tires are the bees knees for snow and ice.
Consider getting a set plus rims for peace of mind.

 

[matt_wood]

If you’re planning on travelling to Austria the minimum winter tread depth is 4mm. I live close to the alps and drive on dedicated winter tyres and still have sketchy moments. You def need chains when it gets really bad and a small portable spade is also super handy. That is mainly for digging out the van from a parking spot when a snowplough has been past. https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/en/themen/mobilitaet/kfz/10/Seite.063320

 

[dazcleveland]

I've just ordered a pair of Michelin Crossclimates from my local tyre garage for fitting this week and they quoted me £236 a tyre fitted, which I thought was pretty competitive given the prices I've found online. They did say they were in short supply though at the moment - apparently only 6 available through their 8 different main UK suppliers. Already have a pair fitted and find them to be fantastic tyres. Much quieter and fuel efficient than the Goodyear Cargo Vectors I have used in the past. However, as @matt_wood said, snow chains are also essential (and a legal requirement) in the Alps. We spend a couple of months there during winter and although the Michelins perform really well in light snow, even they struggle to move a heavy vehicle like a Cali when it starts to get deep!!

 

[sidepod]

We spend a couple of months there during winter and although the Michelins perform really well in light snow, even they struggle to move a heavy vehicle like a Cali when it starts to get deep!!

Well that’s because they’re a compromise tyre and can only do half a job. They’re neither a good summer tyre or a good winter tyre.
At £265 for a compromise Jack of all trades it’s madness.

Winter tyres for winter. Summer tyres for the rest.

 

[Blanco]

Motorcycling taught me about oversteer, understeer and corners - slowly in, quick out. Learnt the hard way and as important 40 years later in a 2.5 ton brick.

 

[dazcleveland]

Well that’s because they’re a compromise tyre and can only do half a job. They’re neither a good summer tyre or a good winter tyre.
At £265 for a compromise Jack of all trades it’s madness.

Winter tyres for winter. Summer tyres for the rest.

Of course you are correct and in the past I have had two sets of tyres - summers on alloys and winters on steels. However, after downsizing our home we no longer have the luxury of enough space to store a spare set of wheels. Therefore, I find the Michelin Agilis Crossclimates, with occasional snow chain use, an acceptable compromise to paying for tyre storage and swapping wheels / tyres twice a year. With regard to "They’re neither a good summer tyre or a good winter tyre." I find these tyres to be more than capable for our requirements in all seasons as they are, after all, fitted to a camper van - not a high performance sports car.

 

[DJCWORCS]

I put a set of Michelin Crossclimates on my 2007 California in January 2019 and changed June 2025 after 35k miles when there was around 2mm on them left. To date I have found them excellent in all weather conditions in the UK - I mainly use my van in winter and travel all over the UK in it. I agree with @dazcleveland and have found them more than capable.

 

[orbital]

I put a set of Michelin Crossclimates on my 2007 California in January 2019 and changed June 2025 after 35k miles when there was around 2mm on them left. To date I have found them excellent in all weather conditions in the UK - I mainly use my van in winter and travel all over the UK in it. I agree with @dazcleveland and have found them more than capable.

12k miles... For some reason my van eats tyres even though I’m light on the throttle.

 

[Perfectos]

12k miles... For some reason my van eats tyres even though I’m light on the throttle.

Might be worth getting a Four wheel tracking analysis carried out.

 

[The Fockers]

You know, I've lived long enough to see "best practice" change over time. So this latest best practice to put the best tyres on the rear, I think is nonsense. Especially on a front wheel drive car with modern ABS, EBD etc which should look after all that skidding stuff. Personally I want the best tyres on the end of the car that does ALL the steering, ALL the drive and most of the braking.
The cynic in me suggests that if they get you to put the worst tyres with the least tread on the front, they'll wear out quicker so they get another sale sooner.
My 2p. I'll get me coat............

 

[WelshGas]

You know, I've lived long enough to see "best practice" change over time. So this latest best practice to put the best tyres on the rear, I think is nonsense. Especially on a front wheel drive car with modern ABS, EBD etc which should look after all that skidding stuff. Personally I want the best tyres on the end of the car that does ALL the steering, ALL the drive and most of the braking.
The cynic in me suggests that if they get you to put the worst tyres with the least tread on the front, they'll wear out quicker so they get another sale sooner.
My 2p. I'll get me coat............

More like a Shroud.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I’m fitting these wheels on Friday with Agilis Cross Climates for a winter trip to the Alps this Christmas…

 

[sidepod]

Destination?

 

[sidepod]

You know, I've lived long enough to see "best practice" change over time. So this latest best practice to put the best tyres on the rear, I think is nonsense. Especially on a front wheel drive car with modern ABS, EBD etc which should look after all that skidding stuff. Personally I want the best tyres on the end of the car that does ALL the steering, ALL the drive and most of the braking.
The cynic in me suggests that if they get you to put the worst tyres with the least tread on the front, they'll wear out quicker so they get another sale sooner.
My 2p. I'll get me coat............

Here here!

 

[soulstyledevon]

Destination?

Les Deux.
Never been, so why not

 

[sidepod]

Les Deux.
Never been, so why not

Les Deux Alpes? Nice. Spent a season there a long time ago.
We’re heading for Lauterbrunen.