Michelin CrossClimate 3 vs Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
The headline is stark: Pirelli swept all three overall comparisons, driven by shorter braking and higher safety margins in rain and aquaplaning. Yet Michelin answers with class-leading wear life (circa +44% vs Pirelli in one test), lower abrasion, better rolling resistance, and the strongest snow performance of the group. This sets up a clear trade-off between day-to-day grip and safety in mixed/wet conditions versus winter bite and total cost of ownership.
Test Results
Independent comparison tyre tests are the best source of data to get tyre information from, and the good news is there have been three tests which compare both tyres directly!
| Tyre | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 | three |
While it might look like the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is better than the Michelin CrossClimate 3 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tyres are very complicated objects which means where one tyre is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.
Key Strengths
- Best-in-test longevity and low abrasion (+44% wear advantage; lower material loss)
- Excellent snow traction and handling; 'snow king' capability
- Lower rolling resistance for improved efficiency
- Refined NVH: strong comfort and cabin noise scores
- Class-leading wet performance: shorter braking and higher aquaplaning thresholds
- Consistently shorter dry braking with tidy, predictable handling
- Balanced all-rounder with composed on-limit behavior
- Top overall results across all shared tests (3/3 wins)
Dry Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during three dry braking tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 stopped the vehicle in 5.53% less distance than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Dry Braking: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was 1.09% faster around a lap than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during one dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was 1.1% faster around a lap than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 and Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 performed equally well in subj. dry handling tests.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Fun
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during one subj. fun tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 scored 2.56% more points than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Subj. Fun: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Subj. Fun winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during three wet braking tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 stopped the vehicle in 6.3% less distance than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Wet Braking: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was 4.38% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during one wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was 6.23% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 scored 2.56% more points than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was 4.11% faster around a wet circle than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Wet Circle: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during two straight aqua tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 floated at a 5.65% higher speed than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Straight Aqua: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during two curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 slipped out at a 17.56% higher speed than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one snow braking tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 stopped the vehicle in 10.78% less distance than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Snow Braking: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 accelerated 2.64% faster than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 had 6.35% better snow traction than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was 2.28% faster around a lap than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one snow handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was 2.78% faster around a lap than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Circle
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one snow circle tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 provided 0.52% more lateral grip than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Snow Circle: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Snow Circle winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 scored 7.5% more points than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Subj. Noise
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one subj. noise tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 scored 5% more points than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Subj. Noise: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was better during one noise tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 measured 0.55% quieter than the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
Best In Noise: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one wear tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 is predicted to cover 30.6% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Wear: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one value tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 proved to have a 15.12% better value based on price/1000km than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Value: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during two rolling resistance tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 had a 3.25% lower rolling resistance than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin CrossClimate 3 was better during one abrasion tests. On average the Michelin CrossClimate 3 lost 26.9% less particle wear matter than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
Best In Abrasion: Michelin CrossClimate 3
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Michelin CrossClimate 3 and Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3.
In total the Michelin CrossClimate 3 has been reviewed 3 times and drivers have given the tyre 85% overall.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 has been reviewed 42 times and drivers have given the tyre 83% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin CrossClimate 3.
In dry conditions manages to have acceptable levels of grip in a straight line, slight wheel spin sometimes but cannot complain since the M2 is RWD 365bhp.
Very strong tyre in the dry and super progressive, really lets you know when it does begin to slip when doing spirited driving. A big strong point as these tyres still allow the vehicle to be driven in a sporting manner.
In the wet they are okay for wet straight line grip, it spins up pretty... Continue reading this review using the link below
Conclusion
The Michelin CrossClimate 3 strikes back where ownership meets winter: it's the snow specialist (wins in traction/handling and key snow laps), rides quieter and more comfortably subjectively, and offers standout longevity and value (≈+44% wear, lower abrasion, better rolling resistance). For harsher winters or drivers keen on long service life and fuel economy, Michelin makes strong financial and seasonal sense.
Key Differences
- Wet safety: Pirelli stops ~5-9% shorter and resists aquaplaning better (+8% straight; +15-27% curved).
- Dry braking: Pirelli shorter by ~5% across tests.
- Snow capability: Michelin leads traction/handling; Pirelli only edges one close snow brake result in a single test.
- Longevity/costs: Michelin shows ~44% longer wear and lower abrasion; better rolling resistance and value metrics.
- Comfort/quiet: Michelin earns higher subjective comfort/noise; Pirelli slightly lower noise in one instrumented result.
- Character: Pirelli feels more secure and composed in mixed/wet; Michelin is calmer, efficient, and winter-biased.
Similar Comparisons
Looking for more tyre comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tyres:
Michelin CrossClimate 3 Top Comparisons
Footnote
This page has been developed using tyre industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tyres in the same test.
Why is this important? Tyre testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tyre test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tyre tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tyre Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tyre comparison, Tyre Reviews doesn't.