Given
83%
while driving a
Fiat doblo
(185/65 R15 T) on
mostly country roads
for 5,000
spirited miles
I live in Cumbria, where we have steep hills and get lots of wet weather, and some snow. I drive a Fiat Doblo 1.9jtd with narrow (by modern standards) 185/65/15 tyres.
For the last 40 years, on a variety of cars, I have changed from summer to winter tyres according to season. This means I can get around whatever the road and weather conditions, and don't need an expensive 4x4. This is the best solution, if affordable.
However, this autumn, I bought a full set of Michelin Cross Climate+ for around £70 per tyre.
In normal conditions, whether wet or dry, I have found the CC+ to be very similar to my previous, good-quality, summer tyres. They are quiet and give a good ride. Fuel consumption has not been affected. They also handle well and allow more accurate steering through high-speed bends than the winter tyres I have previously used (normally Vredestein or Yokohama). Braking has been good, in both wet and dry, and in sub-7degree temperatures, when winter tyres come into their own..
However, the acid test came yesterday - how do they perform in snow and slush? We had between 4 and 6-inches of fresh snow, which then thawed to the usual slippery mush.
Compared to winter tyres, the CC+ gave reasonable grip and enabled me to drive safely up hill and down dale - conditions weren't extreme (by Cumbrian standards), and the tyres coped well. I felt they became somewhat less secure latterly, as the snow melted.
The only downside comes when braking - they take much longer to come to a halt than winter tyres, and lock up more quickly. So more care is needed, and I will have to drive more slowly in these conditions.
Overall, though, many people should find these tyres a good compromise, especially if they live in areas where snow is rare.
It is too early to tell how long these tyres will last, (no obvious wear after 5,000 miles), and whether their good characteristics will continue (as Michelin claims), throughout their lives.