Michelin CrossClimate+ 18" All Weather tires are a viable year-round replacement for Tesla Model 3, better in snow & rain, cost less, last longer, protect rims, and reduce range only slightly (new for '21 CrossClimate 2, even better!)

Posted by Paul Braren on Jan 31 2020 (updated on Jun 29 2023) in

See also newer, shorter version of this original, extensive article below:

Michelin CrossClimate 2 All Weather Tires Review - a safe year-round choice in rain/snow, hot/cold
Dec 10 2021

This article is not a sponsored post.

crossclimate-plus-for-tesla-model-3-for-better-performance-and-curb-rash-avoidance-analytics-jun-28-2023 — This article has remarkable staying power. As of Jan 28 2023, this article has 16,931 Pageviews and 14,614 Unique Pageviews.

If you just wish to start shopping for the Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires for your Tesla Model 3, jump to the Shop Section below.

TLDR

The CrossClimate 2 has replaced the already great CrossClimate+ tire that is a great choice for Tesla Model 3 owners who have to occasionally drive in the snow. They are well-suited for hot summer, heavy rain, and winter cold. They're actual snow tires that you drive on all summer too, so you don't have to change tires every fall and spring.

NOGvvldyU — Essentially a Michelin CrossClimate+/CrossClimate 2 endorsement by Tesla Owners Online Podcast's Ian Pavelko.

Note, your Model 3 range might be reduced by as much as 10% with CrossClimate+ tires for the first roughly 3,000 miles before they break in, an effect that Michelin warned me of, and seemingly well under 5% range penalty after that. The newer CrossClimate 2 tire replaces the CrossClimate+, and are said to have even better grip in snow and an even lower rolling resistance which is great for range. Rolling resistance is a difficult thing to measure exactly without track testing, even with my OBD apps. One advantage to sticking with Michelin brand would be warranty replacement money back, I got a check for $206 given 4/32" tread after 26,400 miles on my original MXM4s. Staying with Michelin brand tires may also up the odds of Tesla mobile service helping you with flats, read what Tesla says about limited service areas for loaner wheels. I've decided the slight trade-off is well worth it for me here in Southern New England where I only very occasionally have to drive on unplowed roads. I've provided more updates below as I've gotten more experience driving these in the snow, and come across more articles and videos with very favorable reviews, popular #FSDBeta tester @kimpaquette even drove cross-country on these same tires, having read this article before buying them. As of Jan 11 2021, I've put 10,047 miles (16,169 km) on my CrossClimate+ tires, and it appears possible I can keep going all the way down to just 2 mm of tread depth.

Engineering Explained - Dec 02 2020 - Has Michelin Created The Best All Season Tire? Rain, Sun, or Snow!

Tyre Review - Sep 2 2021 - Michelin CrossClimate 2 vs Michelin CrossClimate+ - EXCLUSIVE First Test!

kobykat1 - Jan 24 2021 - Unbelievable! Michelin CrossClimate 2 better than winter tires?

Fully Charged Show - Nov 25 2021 - The Secret Pollution That All Cars Are Guilty Of | Fully Charged

Why You Tire Choice Matters

You have just 4 crucial contact patches that keep you from inadvertently going off-road.

CrossClimate-Plus-treated-with-Carfidant-Ultimate-Tire-Shine-Spray.JPG

Four small contact patches of rubber are all that is between you and the road in your powerful Tesla. My Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD was made in November of 2018, and it came with the OEM tires that Tesla uses for all North American Model 3s ordered with the default/standard 18" wheel size: Michelin Primacy MXM4 P235/45R18 XL 98W. See also Michelin Primacy Product Page and Tire Rack listing, and Michelin CrossClimate+ Product Page and Tire Rack listing. I had 26,400 miles of mostly highway miles and between 4/32 and 5/32" in tread depth on mine before I proactively replaced all four of them this week. FYI, Tesla had inspected them 3 times for wear in my 13 months of ownership, and Tesla rotated them once at 12,000 miles at my home, using Mobile Service. Given my wife and I sometimes need to get to work even when it snows or rains, and given it's the middle of winter here in New England right now, it was time for a new set of tires.

TireRack
Michelin CrossClimate 2 - SIZE: 235/45R18 XL 98V Grand Touring All-Season

If you're the TLDR sort, you can skip on down to the video where I test for curb protection and noise levels, my conclusions, and my handy shopping links.

Disclosure: My family owns no stock in Tesla. Tesla doesn't advertise at TinkerTry, or anywhere else, and this is not a sponsored post. We financed the purchase of two Tesla Model 3s, replacing my 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid in December of 2018 and replacing my wife's 2005 Honda Civic EX in December of 2019. These big moves to an all electric household were an expression of our mutual desire to go green, avoid gasoline, be safe, have fun, and save money in the long run. Mostly for my job, I drive a lot, 25,000 miles in 2019 for example, and I thoroughly enjoy sharing what I've learned with you. I hope you can tell!

Research

I started at Tesla Shop, where you'll find the Model 3 18" Aero Wheel and Winter Tire Package for $2,000, and you can't buy those Pirelli Winter Sottozero tires separately, and they're the Sottozero 2, not the better Sottozero 3 tires.

So a couple of weeks ago I set out to do some research for another solution. One with that three peak mountain snowflake, but still good year-round. I quickly decided that I wasn't going to invest the time, money, and considerable space required to store a complete set of 4 tires mounted on rims. This was basically required back when I lived in Ithaca NY with a Honda Civic, but not so much living here in Southern New England just 30 miles from the temperature-moderating Atlantic Ocean, so we really don't drive on snow pack very often around here. Certainly not enough to justify the considerable cost of dedicated snows.

I thought about what I wanted in my next tire, and documented them in this order of priority:

a little better tread life rating than the original tires, for a more economical overall cost of ownership
better performance in snow
better performance in heavy rain
a little less noise would be a bonus, but not essential

After a pretty exhaustive search, seen in the See Also section below, it quickly became evident that getting a tire with all 4 of my preferences and noise reducing foam inside and low rolling resistance was going to be impossible. Every tire selection is a set of compromises. Gladly, one tire kept popping to the very top of various lists and ratings, the Michelin CrossClimate+, introduced in early 2017, here's the press release:

Michelin CrossClimate+ tyres offer consistent through-life traction in snow

Set for a January/February 2017 launch in 15- to 18-inch tyre sizes, Michelin CrossClimate+ fitments expand on the range’s unique status as a summer tyre with winter capabilities by offering excellent traction on snow-covered roads, from the first mile to the last – with little difference in performance as the tyre tread wears down.

I believe that the popularity in the Tesla Model 3 greatly contributing to Michelin finally offering this desirable tire in the required P235/45R18 XL 98W size, load, and weight rating in mid-2019. Also interesting to note that the photo at the top of this article from Michelin's CrossClimate+ Product Page Mfg Part Number 18884 UPC 086699188847 actually features a Tesla Model 3 wheel!

One notable example of the top ratings is on TireRack.com home page. After entering in an 2018 Tesla Model 3 18", there it was, the CrossClimate+, right on top of the list of 37 choices compatible with my ride.

Load Range

I tried veering away from the OE (Original Equipment) spec'd (or higher) tires for a bit, finding this popular reddit thread Comparison of best Model 3 compatible tires (18", 19", 20"), sourced from Tirerack.com ratings that includes many tires that don't quite have the same load rating. It also has a pointer to the source of that amazing table of data at skytopia:

Best Tesla Model 3 compatible tires compared using Tire Rack and Tyre Reviews
with the Google Doc spreadsheet seen in the images located here.

I also found this very helpful review, which features a CrossClimate+ in a slightly wider size:

all-season-tires-for-the-tesla-model-3-to-keep-things-simple-and-hopefully-safer-cheaper-in-the-long-run

All-Season Tires For The Tesla Model 3 To Keep Things Simple — And Hopefully Safer & Cheaper In The Long Run

I read a lot of reviews online, and when I came across this one from tyrereviews.co.uk, I made up my mind. What I found interesting was the way the CrossClimate tires supposedly would keep up good performance all the way down to minimum tread depth (1.6 mm). That should make for a compelling case in terms of cost per mile.
Nov 04 2019 by Jesper Berggreen at CleanTechnica

Wider Tire Size? No, not for me.

Note the author uses a slightly wide tire, to avoid curb rash, and says the noise levels are a little less than the OEM tire. When I began checking online and also contacting local shops for pricing of installation, balancing, 4 wheel alignment, and TPMS sensor reset, I ran into issues with anybody willing to use a tire other than the exact same size and same load rating (or higher). I'd also rather not have a speedometer that isn't perfectly accurate.

So after an exhaustive search of the next best choices in the list, in the end, I decided to go with the CrossClimate+, crossing my fingers that I'd be able to actually measure whether the sound level was less at 65 mph, using the same test methodology I used here. Read onward to see and hear the results!

Compare

Created with data from the table at Skyptopia, and list prices from Michelin MXM4 and CrossClimate+.

        Michelin CrossClimate+  | Michelin Primacy MXM4
_________________________________________________________________________
Treadlife Warranty Miles  40,000  45,000
Treadlife Warranty Years       6       6
Treadwear                    600     500
Traction                       A       A
Temp                           A       A
Tire weight (lbs)             23      25
Hydro-planing Resistance     9.5       8.4
Wet Traction                 9.6       8.4
Cornering Stability          9.4       8.6
Dry Traction                 9.5       8.9
Steering Response            9.4       8.6
Light Snow Traction          9.4       6.7
Deep Snow Traction           9.3       5.5
Ice Traction                 8.9       5.2
Ride Quality                 9.3       8.6
Noise                        8.3       8.1
Treadwear Performance        9.4       7.5
List Price, Per Tire      $217.99   $288.00

Consumer Reports

Seeing this rating sort helped reinforce my decision.

Michelin CrossClimate + tire

Tested tread life (Miles) - 75000
Highs - Very good performance in all tested areas.
Lows - None.

Usable below 4/32" tread depth? Maybe.

Here's another helpful article to check out:

New VS 4mm VS 2mm All Season Tyre Performance

The drop in performance can be so vast after 4mm that certain countries where "three peak mountain and snowflake" tyres are a legal requirement for winter driving, they can lose their legality after 4mm, meaning you only get to use half of your tyres tread.

Should this be the case? Michelin have been making alot of noise recently regarding the negative impact of having to scrap a tyre with half its tread life remaining, and their arguments are compelling. Not only are you costing the customer more, but you're also causing a much higher negative environmental impact by doubling natural resourse usage and doubling waste.

Warranty Claim for the premature wear of my OEM tires? - Yes!

This part of the tire search process was a nice surprise. Would the tire shop try to handle filing a warranty claim with Michelin?

Turns out the answer was yes! $207 dollars worth of yes!

It was this timely forum post by rideincircles in the Tesla Motors Club Recommended tires M3 Long Range, RWD thread that gave me the idea to ask around:

This comment goes for anyone in this thread. If you need to replace your first set of Michelin MXM4's, go to a Michelin approved dealer like Discount Tire or another store and they can prorate the discount on the tire warranty. My Michelin cross climate new set was $513 out the door and I got a 60% discount on replacing them at 17k miles. Those tires would have cost $1100+ without the warranty. The only major stipulation is that you need to repalce with new Michelin tires.

I saw a mention on cross climate's above, and they are better on traction and weather than the MXM4's, but they do seem to be less efficient on that front. I did a 4077 mile road trip on them over the Christmas holidays and overall had no issues, but my average was 315 wh/m for my entire trip. I did not have any issues with noise on mine. They seem about equal on that front, just some surfaces are louder than others.

Found My Dealer/Installer.

So last week I did exactly that, I asked around.

At first I had an appointment and a price agreement with Pops Tires, who went ahead and ordere the tires from Michelin, only to have to call me back to let me know their Hunter wheel alignment calibration software wasn't ready. Gladly, he didn't leave me back at square one, referring me to Town Fair Tire of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and offering to transfer the tires to them for my installation. While the price I'd be paying was very slightly higher, Town Fair Tire could get me all squared away in 2 days rather than 2 months. They have 99 locations across New England. I let Pops Tires know how much I appreciated their referral, and that I'd look them up again when the time came for my wife's Model 3 tires to be replaced.

One very nice perk quickly surfaced when talking to Town Fair Tire. They actually offered to try to get me some money back from Michelin, doing all the paperwork for me! That's right, when you stick with the same brand of tire as the original equipment tire, a big added benefit was that you might get a prorated discount on your new purchase. In their experience, customers usually get their check from Michelin in the mail within 60 to 70 days, but sometimes it can take up to 4 months. The process starts with shipping the used 4 tires back to Michelin, presumably for inspection. I'll believe the check when I see it, of course. Treadlife Warranty Miles for the OEM tires was 45,000 miles, but when their OEM, things get a little muddy, and Tesla will only replace the OEM tires with the same exact tires anyway.

For me, that check is $206.00, which is $51.75 of credit per tire. This was made as as good-will gesture from Michelin for my situation, after Town Fair Tire called them while I was waiting for my vehicle. Your results might vary, and certainly don't assume you'll get anything back. But you can at least ask when you're shopping around.

Waiting Room Has Cameras.

Roadie-view--TinkerTry — Roadie app, directly connected over WiFi to my Roadie about 80' away through a cinder block wall.

My Roadie actually allowed me to view (almost-live) footage from 4 of my Model 3's built-in cameras while I waited in the waiting area, right over direct-connect WiFi. But I could also look up at the customer lounge's TV monitors for a live video feed from the shop area, along with another screen indicating repair status and approximately how much longer I'd be waiting. My entire visit was a little under 2 hours, as expected.

Done! Trust, but verify.

My new tire pressures were set to 40 psi, despite the receipt indicating 42 psi, and despite the Tesla door sill sticker recommending 42 psi. No problem, I set my tires to 42 when I got home, double-checking my garage's compressor measurement by verifying on the Tesla's display that shows real-time TPMS data.
My right-front tire's valve stem cap was now silver.
All 4 tire's balancing weights were a rather bright silver.

When I mentioned the bright silver weights that showed up in my pictures, Town Fair Tire offered to swap out my weights for me at no charge, along with getting me my 4th black valve stem. I took them up on that offer today, and it turns out they had to remove all 4 tires to properly scrape the old ones off and put on the new black ones in the same exactly spots.

Lessons Learned / Tips.

When contacting potential installers, be sure they can:
a. order 4 of this exact tire, Michelin CrossClimate+ 235/45R18 XL 98Y.
b. lift your vehicle safely, with jack pads, in exactly the right 4 spots.
c. handle warranty claim for the OEM tires, aka Original Equipment (OE) tires.
Bring a printout of pages 168 and 182 of the Model 3 Owner's Manual to hand to the installer, which show the jack lift points, and the Lug Nut Torque of 129 lb. ft. / 175 Nm. Note my receipt indicated they used 129 lb. ft.
Bring your Lifting Jack Pads to hand to the installer. Don't take their word for it, politely ask if you can see the lift and that it actually only touches the jack points.
Mention you'd like the residue from the old weights removed if possible, and that you'd prefer dark colored weights when balancing your new tires.

Curb Rash Protection? Some is better than none.

What a nice surprise to find that not only is the noise level not any worse, but I seem to now have a bit of curb rash protection too! I wasn't really a fan of those rim guards anyway, and one of mine started to peel off after about 10,000 miles. I only have a slight curb rash on the right front tire during a very low speed Auto-park gone wrong session in Montreal, curbing the right front wheel on a rough stone curb. It’s nice to know that low speed curb incidents are far less likely to result in rim damage with these tires.

Note that the Skytopia table indicates that the CrossClimate+ offer "Fringe protect (Flange shield / Rim protection ridge), and lists TBD for the OEM tires. TireRack also mentions that the country of origin is the Spain & Canary Islands.

Long Term Concerns? Rolling resistance/range is an open question.

I've done about 40 highway miles and another 35 miles around town, and I can safely say that the sound levels don't seem to be any different. Handling is excellent, with no chirp off the line even when flooring it. When there are tiny stones sprinkled on the road, I'd say these tires pick them up and fling them into the wheel wells at very low speeds, but that's about all I noticed. The weather has been been good, so I can't yet report my gut feel on their performance in wet and snowy conditions. But considering the huge difference in ratings between these and the OEM tires, I've got little reason to worry about that.

Consumer-Reports-CrossClimate-Plus — Consumer Reports. Click image to visit source article.

It is worth noting that folks have notice a possible decrease in efficiency compared to the OEM tires, but results are varied. For example,
Consumer Reports has it as the lowest rolling resistance of their tire roundup here:

Consumer Reports - Performance all season tires
Rolling Resistance Score of 75 (top score)

Tesla Model 3 Scheduled Maintenance - Tires & Brakes

Yes, even EVs (Electric Vehicles) need some routine maintenance, including tire rotation, tire and wiper replacement, and in winter climates, brake caliper cleaning and lubrication. Great video about this brake service here. Please always check with Tesla for the latest information. While I'm just linking to the online version of the instruction manual below, you should check the searchable instruction manual on your Tesla Model 3's screen for the latest information.

Tires
You can read the Model 3 Owner's Manual's page 155:

Tire Wear
Adequate tread depth is important for proper
tire performance. Tires with a tread depth less
than 4/32” (3 mm) are more likely to
hydroplane in wet conditions and should not
be used. Tires with a tread depth less than
5/32” (4 mm) do not perform well in snow and
slush and should not be used when driving in
winter conditions.
Model 3 is originally fitted with tires that have
wear indicators molded into the tread pattern.
When the tread has been worn down to 4/32”
(3 mm), the indicators start to appear at the
surface of the tread pattern, producing the
effect of a continuous band of rubber across
the width of the tire. For optimal performance
and safety, Tesla recommends replacing tires
before the wear indicators are visible.

Tire Rotation, Balance, and Wheel Alignment
Tesla recommends rotating the tires every
10,000-12,000 miles (16,000-20,000 km).
Unbalanced wheels (sometimes noticeable as
vibration through the steering wheel) affect
vehicle handling and tire life. Even with regular
use, wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
If tire wear is uneven (on one side of the tire
only) or becomes abnormally excessive, check
the alignment of wheels.
Note: When replacing only two tires, always
install the new tires on the rear.

Brakes
Model 3 Owner's Manual's page 64:

Brake Wear
Model 3 brake pads are equipped with wear
indicators. A wear indicator is a thin metal
strip attached to the brake pad that squeals as
it rubs against the rotor when the pad wears
down. This squealing sound indicates that the
brake pads have reached the end of their
service life and require replacement. To
replace the brake pads, contact Tesla Service.
Brakes must be periodically inspected visually
by removing the tire and wheel. For detailed
specifications and service limits for rotors and
brake pads, see Subsystems on page 179.
Additionally, Tesla recommends cleaning and
lubricating the brake calipers every year or
12,500 miles (20,000 km) if in an area where
roads are salted during winter months.
Warning: Neglecting to replace worn
brake pads damages the braking system
and can result in a braking hazard.

Tesla Milford Connecticut service charged me $175 for this brake service.

Conclusion

If these CrossClimate+ tire's life exceeds 30,000, when the time comes for new tires for my wife's 2020 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range+ RWD, I'll probably go with the same exact CrossClimate+ tires as my AWD. Yes, even though she's driving the most efficient car currently sold.

When it comes time to using Town Fair Tire for my free lifetime tire rotations, I may want to look into using a different location that has a Tesla-compatible lift that I can see for myself.

If I lived in a climate like southern California where rain and snow are barely considerations, I would possibly just replace the original tires with the same exact tire, because efficiency would then be a bigger priority. But for our one car that we both use when the weather is bad, I just needed something even more likely to avoid accidents in poor weather than the stock tires. The CrossClimate+ seems likely to deliver, at an out-of-pocket cost of $964.34 to our family.

Noise

The difference is slight. While ambient lighting was bright enough to disable my dB Meter's LCD display backlight, it failed to be adequate to really see my dB meter on the way to the tire replacement. Still, you can hear a difference. At least on this road surface I tested on, the CrossClimate+ tires are slightly quieter than the OEM tires. This is more apparent when I listen to the video on a quality sound system with deep bass. When I watch on my iPhone 11 Pro Max, it seems to be about the same. Watch the video below and listen for yourself.

Note that my wife's 2020 Model 3 SR+ has only 1,000 miles on its original tires, so I can still do some comparisons. That said, it will never be apples-to-apples, since mine is a 2018 LR AWD, and there have been numerous engineering changes including some that could affect acoustics.

Videos

TinkerTry YouTube Channel - Michelin CrossClimate+ 18" tires for Tesla Model 3 w/ rim protection and noise levels tested

TinkerTry YouTube Channel - Tesla Model 3 interior noise measurably reduced by inexpensive self-stick car door trim

Edmunds YouTube Channel - 2017 Tesla Model 3 | Track Test Update | Edmunds

Dirty Tesla - May 03 2019 - Tesla Model 3 Aero vs Sport Wheels - Comparing Efficiency | Noise | Ride Comfort

Rich Rebuilds - Oct 13 2019 - video cued to the brake service spot - Servicing your Tesla model 3: The Complete Guide

Note this comment below the Edmunds video:

You ignore the effect on range. Not all aspects of performance are aided by the wider tires, higher rolling resistance, and poorer aero. A Tesla engineer estimates a 31 mile loss with this tire package vs stock, a big deal in the EV world especially on longer road trips.

So higher propensity to pop on potholes, and considerably less range. Given I frequently do long road trips for work, with about 50 Superchargers in 2019 alone, the slight possibility of a boost in cornering performance that 19" wheels could give me wouldn't be worth the trade-off for me.

Shop

Michelin-Buy — Michelin Product Page with FIND A DEALER button.

Ensuring the reputation of these online sites is your responsibility, not mine. I haven't bought from any of them besides TireRack.com.

This CrossClimate+ tire size can be a little hard to find online, and be sure your local installer is willing to actually do the installation on a tire bought elsewhere. In my case, Town Fair Tire does not install tires bought elsewhere including online, but they claim to match prices with anyone. They actually have these exact tires in their warehouses, but they aren't listed on their website yet.

FTC Disclosure: These first shopping links below may generate income for TinkerTry, and they might request that you temporarily bypass your ad blocker to visit them:

TireRack
Michelin CrossClimate 2 - SIZE: 235/45R18 XL 98V Grand Touring All-Season

Canadian Tire

eBay

Here's non-income earning links:

CarID

Discount Tire Direct

SimpleTire

Summit Racing Equipment

TireSize.com

WheelHero

Price

My Town Fair Tire Price:
$ 997.60 Install, balance, 4 wheel alignment, TPMS reset
$ 103.80 Road Hazard Warranty (optional)

$ 1101.40  TOTAL (plus your local state sales tax)

For me, that's minus the $206.00 for the OEM tire warranty, bringing my total down to $895.40 before CT Sales Tax.

I've got my receipts right here for you just in case you find them helpful, in US dollars.

Don't Forget To Mail Your Recall Card

Alternatively, seems you can visit Michelin here to submit your tires for recall notifications.

No recalls are listed on NHTSA for the Michelin CrossClimate tire.

Feb 08 2020 Update

Of course there are other options out there, here's a 19" tire owner pretty darn happy with his New Falken ZE960 A/S tires:

The ZE960 is extremely capable, making it the perfect fit for popular vehicles like the BMW 3 and 4 Series, Honda Accord Sport and Tesla Model 3.”

The ZIEX ZE960 features a 65,000-mile Tread Life Warranty for H and V-rated sizes (45,000 miles for W-rated sizes). Additionally, the tire carries Falken’s Road Hazard Protection, offering free replacement for any damage that occurs during the first two years, or within the first 3/32nds of tread life, whichever comes first.

Surprisingly little discussion of these on Model 3, at least not yet, not on Skyptopia yet, nor is there much of anything on a Google Search, at least not yet. Not sure if they meet the load rating and speed specs of the OEM tires.

Feb 10 2020 Update

On Feb 8th and again today, I did round trips to the Boston area and back, about 100 miles each way.

Based on these findings, I feel strongly enough about my preliminary look at my TeslaFi data and my first-hand experience that I really needed to change the article title from:
Michelin CrossClimate+ 18" tires for Tesla Model 3 are better in snow & rain, protect rims, and cost less
to:
Michelin CrossClimate+ 18" tires for Tesla Model 3 are better in snow & rain, protect rims, cost less, but reduce range

It seems my overall consumption may have gone up a bit, somewhere in the vicinity of 10%. I have more analysis to do, but I wanted to give you some preliminary findings to use as you consider your next tires.

What seemed a bit disconcerting was that my estimates of battery percentage left were off in both directions tonight. When we set out with 100% charge, it said we'd arrive at our destination at 61%, but it wound up being closer to 58%, just a little off. On our way back, it said we'd arrive home with 18% on the GPS trip and on the Trip graph (which I wish I took a picture of). In the end, it wound up being 9%. Yes, there was some light rain or wet roads about 1/2 of the drive in each direction, but still, that's quite a difference, and doesn't match up with many dozens of other nearly identical trips where the estimates had been quite good. In other words, on the Trip Remaining Energy display, I'm now routinely coming up significantly below the predicted gray line. While this may become more accurate over time, it's still worth noting if you're buying this tire and routinely use the full range of your car.

Feb 11 2020 Update

I'll need more data and some warmer drier weather to see if the hit in range is significant, and maybe even a chance to try to estimate how big the impact in range is. This is unlikely to be anywhere near as accurate as controlled track testing, however. I had passengers, and keeping them comfortable was a higher priority than trying to control for things like temperature.

I think there's still value in giving you an early look at the data as I go, to help you be a more informed buyer about what getting stickier tires might really mean in the range-is-important EV world. It's a balancing act, a compromise, a trade-off. I would certainly hope a major trade journal covers this topic in far more detail than I ever could, and I sure wish there were standardized rolling resistance specs were published for every tire out there. I can only hope that the rise of EVs will help bring this issue to the forefront, removing some of the guess-work, and helping shoppers make more informed buying decisions.

Here's another look at my trips yesterday, from my TeslaFi screenshots.

2019-12-31-cambridge-mass-to-near-home — Dec 31 2019 OEM tires, aero wheel covers, 41 psi, clear weather, 6 mph wind, 3 people onboard

2020-02-08-home-to-cambridge-mass — Feb 08 2020 CrossClimate+ tires, no aero wheel covers, 40 psi, dry conditions, little wind, 3 people onboard

2020-02-10-home-to-cambridge-mass — Feb 10 2020 CrossClimate+ with aero wheel covers, 41 psi, 50% of the trip was light rain/wet roads, little wind, 3 people onboard

OEM Tires:
Aero wheel covers, 41 psi, clear weather, 6 mph wind, 3 people onboard:

12/31/2019 Avg Temp Outside 36.5°F, Avg Temp Inside 66.8, Fan Avg 3.9 , 275 Wh/Mile at Avg Speed of 61 MPH, 122.5 MPGe

CrossClimate+ Tires:
No aero wheel covers, 40 psi, dry conditions, little wind, 3 people onboard:

2/08/2020 Avg Temp Outside 28.0°F, Avg Temp Inside 65.1, Fan Avg 3.0 , 315 Wh/Mile at Avg Speed 61 MPH, Battery Usage 46%, 107.1 MPGe

Aero wheel covers, 41 psi, 50% of the trip was light rain/wet roads, little wind, 3 people onboard:

2/10/2020 Avg Temp Outside 40.5°F, Avg Temp Inside 64.3, Fan Avg 3.8 , 314 Wh/Mile at Avg Speed of 64 MPH

Feb 12 2020 Update

See also the discussion on twitter here. There has been much discussion about the efficiency of these tires, but TFC207 and I seem to be two of the very few people who have provided some actual numbers.

Feb 13 2020 Update

This is an awesome video, and given the potholes around here, I have little need thirst for low profile tires, especially after this explanation of performance differences between the 18"/19"/20" options for the Model 3.

Engineering Explained - How To Prevent Expensive Tesla Wheel Damage

Feb 16 2020 Update

I now have 1,100 miles on these tires after only 2 weeks. It appears that the overall impact of replacing the OE tires is somewhere a bit beyond 10% efficiency loss. I'm reaching out to Michelin for comment, as I'd really like to learn whether this is within expectations. Here's what I wrote:

I've written quite a technical and very popular article about using the 18 CrossClimate+ tire as an Michelin Primacy MXM4 OE replacement, seen here:
https://TinkerTry.com/crossclimate-plus-for-tesla-model-3-for-better-performance-and-curb-rash-avoidance
What I, and others, such as:
https://twitter.com/TFC207/status/1227787887200153601?s=20
are experiencing is more than a 10% range loss, so the rolling resistance seems to be higher.

1) Can you confirm, what are the rolling resistance ratings for the OE Michelin Primacy MXM4 OE and the CrossClimate+ tires?

2) What is the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S rolling resistance, and would it be a more efficient OE replacement?

Any and all guidance on whether this sort of range loss is to be expected for stickier tires would be greatly appreciated by me, and my readers.

Here's what I got back:

Thank you for contacting Michelin. We apologize for the inconvenience. Due to extremely high email volumes, you may receive a delay in response time of up to 2-5 business days. If your issue is more pressing, please call us at 1-866-866-6605 and we will be glad to assist you.

I'll update this article if I hear back, and I may give the phone number a try.

Also worth noting that apparently Town Fair Tire offers up to 30 days replacement from the date of purchase, to choose a different tire, details at townfairtire.com/30-day-tire-test-ride which seems to mean I have until Feb 28th to decide if I'm going to go with another tire.

1227784946913357825 — Long discussion about the CrossClimate+ effect on range happening on Twitter.

2020-02-15-CT-to-NYC-and-back-TeslaFi-stats

Took the Skytopia Table Google Doc original spreadsheet and saved a copy, then got rid of every tire that's not 18", then got rid of any tire showing No for Extra Load. This leaves only 2 contenders in the All Season category:

Michelin Primacy Tour A/S (Fringe Protect unknown)
Vredestein Quatrac 5 (with Fringe Protect)

The Michelin Primacy Tour A/S has some TireRack reviews with some concerns over snow handling. The much less expensive Vredestein Quatrac 5 may have concerns about noise. It's not much to go on, just letting you know what I've found so far.

Feb 18 2020 Update

After some phone tag, I spoke with Michelin at the phone number listed on their contact page, speaking with a representative who had seen my web form information about year and make, but couldn't see the details of my request, which I documented above.

Here's what I learned from the first representative:
The Michelin Primacy MXM4 Acoustic tire was first made for Tesla back in 2017.
The Michelin CrossClimate+ in the Tesla Model 3 18" size came out in 2018.
They sometimes mark their tires with the word Energy, but not on any of their tires that fit a Tesla. Also, they don't list rolling resistance, which they call "Fuel Efficiency" anywhere on their public specifications web pages, due to competitive concerns. ~~They don't have a PR email address for inquiries either.~~

This is what she read off her screen to me:

~~Michelin Primacy MXM4 Acoustic Fuel Efficiency rating 8/10. Recommended.~~
Michelin CrossClimate+ Fuel Efficiency rating 9/10. Substitute.

I politely thanked her, but forgot to ask about alternatives to the OE and the CrossClimate+. So I called back, and they asked for my name, presumably to track my calls. That's fair.

Here's what I learned from the second also representative:

Michelin Primacy MXM4 Acoustic Fuel Efficiency rating 9/10.
Michelin CrossClimate+ Fuel Efficiency rating 9/10.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and Michelin Pilot Sport S are both summer tires
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Fuel Efficiency 9/10.
Michelin Primacy Tour A/S 235/45R18 not sold for this car.
X-Ice Xi3 Fuel Efficiency rating 10/10. View comparison with CrossClimate+ at Skytopia.
Verified that the MXM4 specs she was looking at were for the Acoustic OE tire for Tesla.

They have no other All Season or Performance All Season tire that they recommend for this vehicle.

So, one says the CrossClimate is slightly more efficient, the other says their the same. I'd give more weight to the second rep, who took the time to confirm that we were discussing the exact tire size for this car. My suspicion was correct, as I took to DM'ing @MichelinUSA, read onward...

Feb 19 2020 Update

Michelin's response was prompt, definitive, and very helpful:

Here's a copy-and-paste:

@paulbraren:

I have some questions about rolling resistance/fuel efficiency of suitable OE replacement tires on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range vehicle, would you be able to assist?

Michelin Primacy MXM4 P235/45R18 XL 98W Acoustic are the OE tires

Michelin Primacy MXM4 Acoustic Fuel Efficiency rating?
Michelin CrossClimate+ Fuel Efficiency rating?

@MichelinUSA:

Hi Paul! Thank you for reaching out to Michelin North America.

While there is no standard fuel efficiency rating across all brands, we have rated our own tires based on how they perform in several categories, including fuel efficiency. We have given both the Primacy MXM4 and the Cross Climate + a rating of 9 out of 10 for fuel efficiency.

Many factors go in to the rolling resistance of a tire, including how the tire is used and maintained, the age of the tire, and the climate that the tire is in. As a result, we cannot provide more detailed numbers on the fuel efficiency of a tire as it can change on a case by case basis.

We hope that this answers your question! Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help.

We went back and forth a little longer with some clarification, sharing our experience with >10% range loss. The response has some helpful information, seen below. Quality customer experience is so rare, and I'm very thankful when it does happen!

@MichelinUSA:

Hi Paul,

In regard to the available All Season tires for the specified vehicle, the two options are the Primacy MXM4 and the Cross Climate +. The only difference between the tire's seasonal options is that the Cross Climate + is an All Weather tire that carries the USTMA Severe Snow Designation, meaning the tire is more capable of handling winter conditions than an All Season tire such as the Primacy MXM4.

A great way to check for a recommended tire for a specific vehicle is the Tire Finder on our website. Click the link below to see the full list of options for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range:

http://social.michel.in/6010TwhEr

As for contacting our PR team, you can reach out via the appropriate contact located at the link below:

http://social.michel.in/6011TwhET

Feb 20 2020 Update

Added some of what representative 2 had to say above, adding the X-Ice Xi3 that might be a good choice for folks interested in high efficiency winter tires.

Here's the listing for all 18" Michelin tires suited for the Tesla Model 3.

Michelin Green X logo.

Note that the Green X appears on the OE tire, but it's not clear what that means, with very little info available searching Michelin.com, see first result:
First/best search result:

Green X®
The Michelin® Green X® label guarantees a level of energy efficiency among the highest in the market and reduced CO2 emission while maintaining all the legendary Michelin advantages of long wear, safety, and other performances.

Feb 27 2020 Update

Today, I reached out to Michelin PR for comment, I'll update this article if I get an official response that I'm able to publish.

After about 1,700 miles on these tires over the last 3.5 weeks, I'm likely to keep them. The range loss seems to be coming in at a little under 10% overall, especially as the weather warms. I'm working on getting some driving data ready to share with you to help back this up. Far to early to tell yet.

Overall, it's very difficult to scientifically test these tires for rolling resistance in the real world, but trends I'm seeing from TeslaFi driving stats are starting to suggest that it's possible these tires won't show as much of a range impact during warmer weather.

What's interesting in this first video below is mention of the airflow over the front tires. Once you view the section of video I've cued up for you below, starting right at 18 minutes and 35 seconds, you'll be thinking about the the resistance that curb protection (aka rim protection, fringe protection, flange shield) has. It could help explain some of the range loss you'll see with anything beside OE tires that are optimized for laminar airflow across the wheels and aero covers.

Tech Forum - Jul 19 2018 - Details of the Tesla Model 3 revealed! And a look into the nooks and crannies.

Feb 29 2020 Update

I tweeted some thoughts out:

No means to properly test, but anecdotally seem better in rain, traction is great, no squealing off the line. But, no snow in New England to informally test. ~1,800 miles in 4 wks, range reduction hard to measure, maybe up to 10% in the cold.

When picking my 2018 Model 3 up from its HW3 retrofit a couple of days ago, I asked Tesla Service of Milford CT if they found anything when inspecting the underside of my Model 3. They saw no issues with the way that my car has been lifted for the tire change, this is good.

Also got some helpful feedback from Twitter today, 45,000 tire life sounds good.

Kim Paquette @kimpaquette
Hey #Tesla twitter- any #Model3 peeps have Michelin CrossClimate+ tires on their cars? I just ordered to replace my 18s - live in New England but don't get a ton of snow where I live. Any comments on how they've handled for you in snow, range hit, noise?

Tesla Clover Fla @FlaTesla
idk about snow, but i am getting over 45k miles out of them...

Mar 01 2020 Update

orbital-kickstarter — Excerpt from Orbital's kickstarter page.

Here's an interesting option, could get a percentage point or two back on range with possibly improved wind resistance. It's a larger wheel cover for 18" wheels, seems that could be a good combo for this slightly wider (due to fringe protection feature) CrossClimate+ tire. Details of this April 26 2020 product at the Kickstarter listing, which has far exceeded its goal:

Orbital - Efficient 18" Wheel Covers for Tesla Model 3

55ea0c0a3cee6dda38cd25a003b77932_original — From Orbital's Kickstarter listing.

Mar 06 2020 Update

I have noticed that in very low speed parking lot driving, if there is a lot of sand on the winter-treated pavement, these wheels pick up some of it, and you can hear the noise from some sand getting kicked up onto the mud flaps and wheel wells. This vanishes quickly on the open road, or at anything beyond 10 mph. Not a big deal, just an observation.

Gladly, in the past 2 weeks, my Tesla's built-in range estimator in the trip computer seems to be doing a much better job of predicting my battery's state of charge upon arrival at my destination, eliminating most of the range anxiety I was feeling that first week of long, rang-stretching trips with these new tires.

I talked to Michelin customer service today, and learned about the 60-day Satisfaction Guarantee. I was also told that because the Michelin Primacy MXM4 is a Luxury Performance Touring All-Season Tire, but the Michelin CrossClimate+ is a Luxury Performance Touring All-Weather Tire, it's not really an apples-to-apples comparison between them. It's two different product categories.

Another angle I'm thinking about is that it’s possible their internal testing shows one as rated at 8.5, and the other as 9.4, so they both get rounded off to 9. That math in itself could account for a 10% difference. In other words, saying a tire is 9 out of 10 for rolling resistance isn't a very precise number.

I'm no tire expert, but giving this some thought, it would seem likely that the reason the CrossClimate+ is apparently less efficient on the Model is is some combination of at least these 3 factors:

a stickier rubber compound in cold weather for better traction, increasing rolling resistance
a wider tire including a flange shield that disturbs airflow around the Tesla Aero wheel covers, increasing wind resistance
a difference in actual rolling resistance measurements lost when Michelin rounds their rolling resistance numbers off

It sure does seem the EV owner could use an easier, standardized way to comparison shop for tires. Right now, consumers don't get to see a rolling resistance rating printed right on the tire, the tire sticker, or even online.

I'd love to hear what you think, drop a comment below, and/or jump into this Twitter thread.

I think I'm done with this topic for now, but as the weather warms, I intend to update this article to let you know how I do with my range ratings. Based on what I see so far, I feel like it's likely I'll be somewhere between 5% to 10% range loss overall during the lifespan of these tires.

Mar 14 2020 Update

You can see a lot of variability here in this trip data from TeslaFi screenshot, but overall, these figures seem to indicate that the impact on range that these tires may be causing is lessening as the weather warms. I'll be driving this route again, which will give me some more comparison data to have a look at and share.

2019-03-14-TeslaFi-Wethersfield-CT-to-Cambridge-MA-and-back-efficiency-data-TinkerTry

Mar 23 2020 Update

I found some excellent information about storing tires by @IanPavelko about safely storing your off season tires or tires-on-wheels, tweeting:

This one’s a bit of a hornet’s nest, with even the tire companies disagreeing somewhat with one another on best practices..

He goes onto to explain what Michelin, Continental, and Yokohama have to say about tire storage.

May 08 2020 Update

I have some new data for you! A round trip to the Boston area.

On the way up, we had very light sprinkles for the first 10 miles or so. It was otherwise dry and clear, and 50°F. We obtained 85.8% efficiency (267 Wh/Mile) going up.

On the way back, just 69.9% efficiency (328 Wh/Mile). What was the primary cause of such a huge difference? Rain. Heavy rain, pretty much the whole way back. It really demonstrates a couple of things:

In more moderate temperatures, the CrossClimate+ tires might not be having any adverse effect on range, or a very minimal effect.
In heavy rain, a Tesla Model 3 can lose as much as 1/5 of its range.
Secondary cause of range loss was probably the wind, but under 10 mph average.

2020-05-08-route — This is essentially a round trip, with the route differing only slightly for the last 1.5 miles each way.

May 27 2020 Update

I have some more pretty compelling data for you, having recently complete some mask-delivery-related road trips with some notably excellent efficiency, given the warmer weather in the 70s, and the somewhat lower average speeds given the back roads. The point is that the CrossClimate+ tires do seem capable of excellent range when the weather gets warm, at least at 47 PSI. For ride comfort reasons, I may try going back down to 44 PSI and see how that goes.

Jun 27 2020 Update

My tweet explains 2020.24.6.1 and a new feature it includes:

Even though I leave 18” Aero covers on (I need all range), I set to Cap Kit, maybe more range accuracy by offsetting slight range loss from my tires https://tinkertry.com/crossclimate-p...
Fun side effect - hover car!

Today, I noticed my lifetime Odometer stats are as follows:
30,794 miles | 8,4000 kWh | 273 Wh/mi

I'll need to dig around to find any pictures I might have taken before these tires.

Today, with wet roads, my wife commented that my car seemed a bit loud, I would say it's possible the CrossClimate+ tires are slightly louder than the OEM tires.

Sep 17 2020 Update

I've modified the start of the article to reflect that my range loss this summer has been more like 5%.

I'm still not entirely sure what exactly happens if I get a flat and call Tesla Roadside Assistance service:

Flat Tire
Damage to the wheel or tire that causes flat or unsafe driving conditions.
Coverage: Flat tire services are provided for up to 50 miles.

since Tesla doesn't stock these tires. Not a big concern for me, as I have USAA Roadside Assistance anyway, and I'd just be sure that they send a flatbed.

I've also seen a good deal of folks agreeing with my choice of CrossClimate+, discussed here, with PiperPaul summarizing:

Quite happy with my CrossClimates after a month and low usage (about 1500 Km). I have found they are as good or better for range, comfort, noise, handling than the MXM4. My Wh/km has dropped to 130+ from ~150 since getting them but our highway driving in that timeframe has been almost negligible too.

My wife noticed one rainy day when I was picking her up that the road noise outside the car as I pulled up seemed louder than she expected, this matches with our experience of noticing a bit more road noise around town in the rain. This is not a big deal, and it's not something we notice at highway speeds.

I did use Dura-Dressing Total Tire Kit XL, available on Amazon and direct from Dura-Coating. I applied it 30 days before this picture, sure looks good, and it seems to be holding up, even after 1,500 miles. It was a bit labor intensive to carefully follow the exact instructions properly, requiring 3 scrubs/rinses before the suds were no longer brown, followed by 3 applications of the dressing to get the shine I was going for. But the results were worth it, specially if it lasts for months.

Sep 23 2020 Update

Today, a little road strip with Aero wheel covers on and 42 PSI on the CrossClimate+ tires. What these amazing stats for a recent trip at 80.4°F outdoors tells me is that at moderate speeds of 50 MPH, my Model 3 AWD is quite capable of amazing efficiency. This also hints that rolling resistance may be less of a factor than airflow turbulence from the wider profile of these tires. To help reduce the chance that this second leg of the trip returning to the Hartford area was just the effects of 200ft of altitude drop over 23 miles driven, I show both directions, but unfortunately the start doesn't match the finish.

My hunch is that the CrossClimate+ is a good choice for folks looking for convenient and better performance year around, with an extra measure of curb rash avoidance, at the cost of about 5% range for long road trips where the average speeds exceed 60 mph.

Oct 16 2020 Update

I've posted a related comment at Tesla Owners Online forum here.

I heard Eric Camacho @ecfix is loving his CrossClimate+ tire today, on the new Tesla Owners Online podcast "89 - Sentry mode is gonna get you" recorded Oct 15th, here's the segment:
https://overcast.fm/+NOGu-IOo8/1:12:57

with playback speed controls, but you should subscribe with your favorite podcast app.

This same tire discussion segment is on YouTube, at this spot:

Oct 16 2020 - Tesla Owners Online - 89 - Sentry Mode is gonna get you

FYI, Kim Paquette used the CrossClimate+ tires on her recent cross-country trip, tweeting:

They’ve been great!! I didn’t notice a significant drop in efficiency! I can’t wait to put my new orbital aero covers on to see if they help improve it.

after a dialogue with me earlier this year, before I had any clue she was rather Twitter-famous.

I changed the title of this article from:
Michelin CrossClimate+ 18" tires for Tesla Model 3 are better in snow & rain, protect rims, cost less, but reduce range
to:
Michelin CrossClimate+ 18" tires for Tesla Model 3 are a viable year-round replacement: better in snow & rain, protect rims, cost less, last longer, reducing range slightly

Oct 26 2020 Update

There's a new all season tire to keep an eye on, with the 3 peak winter tire logo. It's called the CrossClimate 2, but the catch is that it's not available in sizes and weight ratings suitable for Tesla Model 3 use, at least not until 2021, according to this one Tesla Forum thread.

Fitment Industries - Jul 18 2020 - Has Michelin Outdone Themselves? | Michelin Cross Climate 2

Dec 09 2020 Update

I have a couple of updates. The first is that my wife drove her 2020 Model 3 SR+ (just 3,000 miles on the odo!) on the same exact 100 mile route following my 2018 Model 3 LR AWD (I have 35,500 miles on the odo) recently, and back again. This was essential COVID-19 related travel. Both cars were pre-conditioned identically, going from 80% to 90% during the last hour before departing, with interior heat on full blast for over over half an hour. Amazingly, with my HVAC on the trip admittedly set to heat my car interior less than hers, I had better efficiency on these trips, in my dual motor less efficient car. Since she has the original tires, that would seem to indicate I might not be seeing any reduced range by using CrossClimate+ tires. That is until I later realized her tire pressure had fallen to around 39 PSI merely due to the cold weather, and mine set to around 43 PSI. Perhaps that was low enough to have a significant impact on her trip efficiency. I can't really concluded anything, other than the fact that measuring efficiency in the real-world is a challenge to get right, especially in colder temperatures with so many variables.

tesla-tire-costs-10x-battery-cost-my-plan-to-deflate-tire-costs-90

The second update is that I spotted this excellent, closely-related article:

Tesla Tire Costs 10× Battery Cost, & My Plan To Deflate Tire Costs 90%
Sep 28 2020 by Paul Fosse at CleanTechnica

...
If you just replace the tires on your Model 3 with the tires it came with, tires costs are a significantly larger cost than the battery over the life of the vehicle. The Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (SR+) comes with Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires that have a treadwear rating of 500, a traction rating of A, and a temperature rating of A (500AA). You should get around 40,000 miles out of those tires, with a cost on Simpletire of $276. Add on local installation and a road hazard warranty and it comes to about $1,358 for 4 tires. $1,358 divided by 40,000 is about 3.4 cents a mile, or about 10 times as much as battery costs!
...

See also atj721 aka Paul Fosse Tires 10XBattery on twitter, with many Tesla tire related tweets.

Jan 03 2021 Update

Found this excellent new video. Note, the CrossClimate 2 is currently not available in a size and weight rating for the Model 3 or Model Y, so the CrossClimate+ is still the tire of choice.

Engineering Explained - Dec 02 2020 - Has Michelin Created The Best All Season Tire? Rain, Sun, or Snow!

Below this very informative video, I found this one comment to be particularly witty:

heroclix0rz
3 weeks ago
Michelin: "Aww yis, free advertising"
EE: "These are GOOD YEAR round tires!"
Michelin: "Noooooo!"

Jan 17 2021 Update

MICHELIN LAUNCHES “PEERLESS” CrossClimate 2 TIRE
Jul 30 2020

The CrossClimate 2 will be available in 56 sizes, fitting 76% of the best-selling passenger cars and crossovers in the marketplace today. Currently 25 sizes are available. In early 2021, an additional 31 sizes will be available.

As we know CrossClimate 2 sizes for the Tesla Model 3 weren't released in 2020, given the above statement from Michelin, it seems fairly likely it could happen in 2021, see also this TMC forum comment:

After reading this column I have to agree with jamesguan117 as the culprit is the faulty Sealant/Compressor switch. I you manually hold it to "Compressor only" it will work. Yet disappointing Repair Kit for the price we pay and sold by TESLA.

See also this Model Y article with video:

tesla-model-y-michelin-crossclimate-2-tires-video

Video: How Good Is A Tesla With Michelin CrossClimate 2 Tires In The Snow?
Nov 30 2020 by Zach Butler at TFLcar

So, ditching the standard all-seasons on 21-inch wheels, the Model Y now has some weather-appropriate rubber. Specifically, these are Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires. They are not a full-on winter design — that would be the X-Ice or Latitude tires, if you’re looking in the Michelin stable. These are “all-weather” tires meant to offer better traction in inclement weather, but could still be used year-round, like a standard all-season.

TFLnow - Nov 30 2020 - How Good Is A Tesla In The Snow?

Title changed from:
Michelin CrossClimate+ 18" tires for Tesla Model 3 are a viable year-round replacement: better in snow & rain, protect rims, cost less, last longer, reducing range slightly
to:
Michelin CrossClimate+ 18" All Weather tires are a viable year-round replacement for Tesla Model 3, better in snow & rain, cost less, last longer, protect rims, and reduce range only slightly

I've recently been hearing that Tesla's Model S/X/3 Tire Repair Kit have been having longevity and usability problems, explained on TMC forums Tesla forums, and with pictures and details on reddit. I haven't yet decided what I'm going to do with them, meanwhile, I've replaced the frunk contents with RideTheLightning-Podcast-recommended Stop & Go 1075 Standard Model Tire Plugger, along with another of the same EPAuto 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump, Digital Tire Inflator with Slime 20332 Inflator Hose Adapter that I keep in my garage.

Feb 16 2021 Update

I now have 10,785 miles on my CrossClimate+ tires, and still am not seeing a signficant difference in the tire wear comparing front tires to back tires, so I haven't had them rotated yet. All 4 tires appear to be about 6mm of tread depth, but I'm not experienced in measuring these accurately using this depth meter.

I have summed up my experience in my comment below:

Thank you for writing in!

When I got my CrossClimate+ tires, I set my 2018 Tesla Model 3 AWD settings menu under Service / Tire Configuration to Aero Wheel Cap Kit:
https://driveteslacanada.ca/model-y/how-to-change-the-wheels-on-the-avatary-display-of-your-tesla-model-y/
as a way to reduce the predicted range of my car on road trips, since at first the CrossClimate+ tires were extra sticky during these first few thousand miles, just as Michelin warned me, as mentioned in my article.

Now, at 10,785 miles and 13 months on my CrossClimate+ tires, the range loss might be as low as 3%. On a recent winter trip 2.5 hours each way from CT to MA, my trip computer was pessimistic, and I exceeded the predicted range in each direction by roughly 2% to 5%. So I've now changed my tire type back to Aero Cover.

In other words, it seems to be very low range reduction as a trade-off for a significant improvement in winter performance. I've done some informal snow pack testing with my AWD and my wife's 2020 SR+, but she has the OEM tires, so it's not apples to apples at all. I can say my acceleration on snow pack from 0-10 mph seemed a lot better with my car, but some of that is just AWD doing its thing. Not sure I'll publish that winter driving footage, 4K editing of an hour of footage is so painful/arduous.

As far as road noise, I do feel they are slightly louder than when driving my wife's car in rain, but on dry pavement on the highway, I doubt there is any appreciable difference between our two cars. It will be interesting to see if upcoming, newer CrossClimate 2 tires for Tesla Model 3 incorporate any noise reduction features, we'll have to wait and see.

Anyhow, thank you for writing in. If it's any help, I looked into how many used the Tire Rack affiliate link recently, and it seems dozens of folks have gone and used this link when making their purchase. It seems a decent assumption that the lack of negative feedback could be a good sign that buyers aren't regretting their purchase, and the pro-rated warranty money back from Michelin certainly doesn't hurt, as so many folks are finding the OEM tires aren't lasting very long.

https://twitter.com/paulbraren/status/1358235015709151235?s=20

May 05 2021 Update

Given the CrossClimate+
https://TinkerTry.com/crossclimate-pclimate-plus-for-tesla-model-3-for-better-performance-and-curb-rash-avoidance
have 14,000 miles before today's first rotation, 6/32" back & 9/32" front. Receipt says no rotation needed, but they did, had to pull them off anyway for caliper cleaning/lube, I can wait 2 years for next time.

My tweet pretty much sums it up. With the odometer now at 40,000 miles, I have 14,000 miles of experience with the CrossClimate+ tires. As expected, the rear tires wear faster, with Tesla Service measuring mine at 6/32" on the back and 9/32" on the front before my first rotation yesterday.

May 12 2021 Update

Here's the forum thread that Ian Pavelko references in his recent podcast here:

teslaownersonline.com/threads/model-3-replacement-tire-discussion-oem-sizes-only.13024

July 27 2021 Update

I somehow missed including this great video review in this article!

Michelin USA - Jason Fenske Reviews MICHELIN® CrossClimate®2 All-Season Tire

He's an amazing YouTuber, see also his great video commentating on Car & Drivers's recent 1,000 mile EV tests.

Nov 17 2021 Update

CrossClimate 2 shopping links added above.
Link to Michelin's CrossClimate 2 Product Page added.

Also, super helpful tweet by EU's @tyrereviews!:

One thing to keep in mind when looking at rolling resistance values of the CC2 and testing - the eu market version of the tyre was developed with rolling resistance as one of the primary focuses. The us market tire had slightly different design goals with less emphasis on RR

See also their #1 rating for their extensive testing of the CrossClimate 2 at 2021 Tyre Reviews All Season Tyre Test:

Michelin promised a big improvement in snow performance with the CrossClimate 2, and they certainly delivered it in the snow traction test, with the french tyre leading the pack by nearly 2%.

Nov 18 2021 Update

Today, I stopped by Pops Tires in Wethersfield CT to order some CrossClimate2 tires for a family member's 2019 Subaru Forester, in need of size P225/55R18. I learned the CrossClimate 2 tires are in heavy demand this season. While there, figured we'd have a look at my tread life, and Chris measured all 4 tires at 6/32", despite 24,000 miles on them. No rotation needed.

Add link to excellent long term review by TorqueNews below.

Nov 29 2021 Update

We had the tires installed on November 26th, and the total cost for all 4 tires was $1090 plus CT sales tax. This price included balancing, alignment, and disposal of the old tires. So far, the driver hasn't really noticed much difference in the way the car feels, but it's only been on dry pavement so far anyway.

Photos

CrossClimate-Plus-treated-with-Carfidant-Ultimate-Tire-Shine-Spray-2-weeks — On Mar 23 2020, this is how the CrossClimate+ tire looks with 12-day-old Carfidant Ultimate Tire Shine Spray. Significantly less shiny, but still decent.

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