It’s been a long running issue with the Michelin Cross Climate 2s I’ve fitted to the daily driver and the problem seems to be caused by the tire speed rating
Ordering tyres on size alone is not enough
This article in a nutshell
The issue is ride comfort. Every small bump gets transferred into the chassis. Expansion joints are particularly bad. If you imagine the tyres are made from wood you will be pretty close to the experience.
I’ve said in previous videos that the comfort issue does not make me wish I hadn’t fitted the Cross Climate 2s because the tyres offer so much in so many different conditions but the harsh ride has tarnished the enjoyment of the car.
By lucky coincidence I have had to change the tyres on one axle and after a comment on one of the videos, I paid particular attention to the speed rating of the new tyres namely that the new tyres would be have a H Speed Rating instead of the V speed rating of the original tyres.
The difference with these new H speed rated tyres has been almost miraculous. The ride on the axle they are fitted to (front) is now what you would expect from any normal tyre.
When I made this video and declared the difference some people said it was impossible, there was no way that changing the tire speed rating could make such a difference to ride comfort.
Yet another commenter chimed in and said the Cross Climate 2 in the size I had, in the V tire speed rating were actually “Heavy Duty” tyres. And sure enough, checking the sidewalls of the V rated tyres and it does indeed say the tyres are heavy duty.
And this might be the real answer.
It may not be the speed rating that has made the difference but the fact that the previous tyres were heavy duty and the new ones are not.
The morale of the story – Tire speed rating
Ordering tyres on size alone is not enough.
It is critically important to pay attention to the speed rating and in my opinion only get the speed rating you need. Don’t get tyres rated for a 150mph if your car will only ever travel at 130mph.
And perhaps even more important than that, make sure the tyres you are fitting are not heavy duty (unless you specifically need them) if you want to keep a decent ride.