Current official advice is to have the least worn tyres on the rear, as loss of grip here would cause oversteer, which is perceived as being less easy to manage than understeer.
Michelin advise against mixing Cross-Climates with summer tyres. It probably doesn't matter when it's dry and not too cold, but my personal experience described above suggest that the car could be severely unbalanced front-rear in ice and snow.

There's a good article about tyres in the January 2019 edition of 'What Car?' It's certainly got me thinking that I might look at Michelin Cross Climates next time around. They (and other all-season tyres do seem a good compromise. ATS seem to be offering £50 off if you buy two Michelin tyres at the moment - but I haven't researched that in detail - it's just a headline on their website.

Had the Cross Climates on for about 2,000 miles now. No snow yet but plenty of frost and rain. I'm no expert but as far as I'm concerned they just work. They grip fantastically in the wet despite the power steering's best efforts to convince you otherwise, and if the amount of crap on my tailgate and back window is anything to go by they must shift immense amounts of water. They are slightly noisier than the old tyres, but I can live with that, and fuel consumption is about 2-3 mpg better on motorways etc and about the same as previously on local journeys. It may be my imagination but the ride does some to be slightly more comfortable which is an unexpected bonus.

Bit surprised they are noisier. They were certainly a bit quieter on our Suzuki, but they were 50 profile on that.

TrevC said:

Bit surprised they are noisier. They were certainly a bit quieter on our Suzuki, but they were 50 profile on that.

Click to expand...

The noise is mainly noticeable in the wet and on concrete motorways

Does the 500X need XL tyres with the reinforced sidewall?

Most tyres listed on e.g. MyTyres for 225/45 x 18 seem to be XL...

XLs would give an even harsher ride !

bluejohn125 said:

Does the 500X need XL tyres with the reinforced sidewall?



Most tyres listed on e.g. MyTyres for 225/45 x 18 seem to be XL...



XLs would give an even harsher ride !

Click to expand...

I don't think the XLs are necessary but many of the options seem to be XL. The Cross Climates seem to be less harsh but are XLs (if that helps at all)

Travelled from work in the Snow & Ice last night across the back roads of the Wilds & Weald Kent. Some quite steep inclines, in places with nothing else on the roads. I was amazed at the grip these tyres (Michelin Cross +) had. It wasn’t deep snow but was laying on a wet surface so was freezing.
Going downhill it only broke traction once when I was on ice but, stopping distance was impressive all the same. Guess Winter tyres are best option in this situation / weather, but then you have the hassle changing them!
Yes they are a ‘compromise tyre’ with a Summer bias but how often do we get the white stuff?
Not sure if we get more if the white stuff?? Hope so as didn’t get stuck!!

Your experience matches the one we had with Cross-Climates on my wife's Suzuki. With 4" of snow this morning, she was wishing she had kept it and not swapped for a 500C! She'll be happy again in the summer though, and the Michelins are much cheaper in the size she will need for the little 500.

So thanks to the wife 'greeting' one of the local original 1920's hard stone kerbs near us on Friday which not only kerbed the Alloy nicely ( ) but left a nice gouge in the sidewall I have brought forward the switch to Michelin Cross Climates. Obviously wrong time of year for inclement weather however early signs are initially positive. Notable reduction in road noise and definate ride improvement - although the Cross Plus wearing the 18" wheel that will always be an issue. Actually quite looking forward to trying it in the rain/ice and worst later in the year. Oh and a quick shout out to Tyresonthedrive. Had not really heard of them before but they were the only ones who had the Michelin's in and could do mobile fitting as I couldn't be bothered to stick the spare on............ Fitted 48 hours from order first thing Sunday morning. Very good Trust reviews which I have added to.

OK just an update for anyone interested in the Cross-Climates....... I probably should not have willed the 'inclement weather' on in my last post as ever since then its not stopped raining where I live. Anyway gave me a chance to assess the tyres. As mentioned grip is much improved as is ride however one point to note - I noted a slight noise on acceleration which I initially thought might be something wrong with the engine. It was only noticeable under load and when going through standing water. Revving the engine with clutch depressed (hence no torque going through the wheels) and the noise is not there so I have deduced that its the Cross Climates - presumably with the increased tread pattern - doing the job they are designed to do in displacing water. It it quite noticeable though for the discerning driver - bearing in mind our car is an Oil-burner so noisier than Petrol units. As I say it shows they are working as they should but something any prospective purchaser should bear in mind..... Again this is only under load and through standing water.

Continental 17" fronts here and got about 18K out of them.

Ironically we were given a new 500X as a rental car for our Hols in Italy which I am just back from and I can confirm the ride is much improved in a smaller sized alloy!.......though I fore-sake it for the looks on our 18" Cross Plus