September 7, 2021
The term "you get what you pay for" makes a regular appearance when reading tire reviews or talking about tires. While we strongly disagree with the generalization that a more expensive tire is always the better tire, testing has shown time and again that tires from the premium manufacturers, particularly their flagship replacement market tires, have a tendency to perform at a high level across the board. Developing a tire that delivers impressive on-road refinement, wet traction, light snow traction, and longevity requires all the technology tire designers have at their disposal. Between the highest-quality materials, advanced manufacturing techniques, computer modeling, and old-fashioned know-how and ingenuity, designing a premium product is cost-intensive, and it’s difficult to build to a price point without making compromises along the way.
In the summer of 2021, Bridgestone introduced the Alenza AS Ultra, a Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tire utilizing the company’s cutting-edge compound that was designed to make significant improvements in the "wet vs. winter vs. wear" compromise. The tread pattern also utilizes the company’s innovative QuietTrack Technology to deliver a luxurious experience that would be right at home on a premium SUV, CUV, or light pickup truck. With the Alenza AS Ultra, Bridgestone is aiming directly for the top of the premium Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season segment, so we decided to see how it stacks up to the real competition.
To really put the Alenza AS Ultra to the test, we chose two of the highest-performing all-around tires available; the Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season CrossContact LX25 and the Grand Touring All-Season Michelin CrossClimate2, and we tested all three head-to-head. Our evaluation used 2019 Audi Q5 2.0T SUVs fitted with new, full tread depth 235/60R18 tires mounted on 18x8.0 wheels.
Our 6.0-mile loop of expressway, state highway and county roads provides a great variety of road conditions that include city and highway speeds, smooth and coarse concrete, as well as new and patched asphalt. This route allows our team to experience noise comfort, ride quality and everyday handling, just as you would during your drive to school or work.
Delivering a luxurious on-road experience is arguably the first requirement from any premium touring tire. While traction in inclement weather is expected and essential for safety, the majority of miles for any touring tire will come from the daily drive and extended road trips, most often in fair weather. These are the conditions where drivers will spend the most time, so it’s important for a premium tire to provide lasting satisfaction on the road, and all three tires in our test demonstrated they were up to the task.
The CrossClimate2 featured a nicely-controlled ride that excelled at making each impact a distinct and concise event. It was also the firmest in the test, which meant some small bumps that were mostly eliminated by the other tires, were more noticeable when driving the Michelin. Noise comfort was test-leading, creating very little sound over smooth roads and just a small amount of tread growl when interacting with coarse pavement. The steering was solid on-center, with sharp responses to inputs that felt sporty, yet still appropriate for a crossover or sport utility vehicle. Continental’s CrossContact LX25 nearly matched the Michelin in our team’s subjective evaluation, tying the test leader in two of our three evaluation criteria. Though the two earned the same score in Ride Comfort, there were some noticeable differences. The Continental was a little softer and better-cushioned than the Michelin, but it wasn’t quite as composed, which was preferable in some situations and made impacts feel like more of an event in others. Noise comfort was impressive overall, with some minor tread and cavity noise blending together to create a tone that stood out a small amount. It was still likely to satisfy even the most-discerning of drivers. The steering had nice weight and a great sense of straight-ahead around town or at highway speeds. Its response to inputs was precise, and it wasn’t quite as quick as the other two tires in the test. While the Alenza AS Ultra was a refined, impressive tire on the road, it was a small step behind in our subjective evaluation. Test-leading ride quality was a highlight, and if a cushioned, comfortable ride is a driver’s top priority, the Alenza AS Ultra should be strongly considered. Some sections of our road ride route are very cracked and broken, and the Bridgestone did the best job accommodating all the imperfections while maintaining unwavering composure. Some medium-volume tones were present over all but the smoothest surfaces. While not objectionable, they didn’t blend together completely, which made them stand out somewhat to our drivers. Similarly, the steering was acceptable for the category, if not test-leading. It was eager to respond to inputs, though light in effort and a little vague throughout the full range experienced on our road ride route.
Our 1/3-mile per lap test track course includes 90-degree street corners, a 3-cone slalom and simulated expressway ramps. Run in both dry and wet conditions, the test track allows our team to experience the traction, responsiveness, handling and drivability normally only encountered during abrupt emergency avoidance maneuvers.
Wet traction is the first half of the equation when it comes to capability in inclement weather, and here all three tires were very strong and very closely-matched. The CrossClimate2 earned the highest subjective score from our team, in addition to setting the shortest 50-0mph stopping distance and tying for the highest lateral traction on the skid pad. When pushed on the track, our drivers praised the responsive steering and impressive acceleration and braking traction, though a small imbalance in mid-corner grip meant some care had to be exercised to avoid pushing wide through turns. In contrast, the CrossContact LX25 felt like it had the strongest cornering grip on the track, with confident front-end authority that made our drivers feel like they could carry the most speed at corner entry and get back to the throttle sooner at corner exit. It also set the fastest average lap and was mid-pack in 50-0mph braking distance. Sometimes the steering gave our drivers a little more response than expected, and when pushing it around the track, the braking didn’t feel quite as strong as the objective numbers would indicate. The Alenza AS Ultra tied the Michelin for lateral traction and essentially tied the Continental for the fastest average lap. It was a close third of three in 50-0mph braking. On the track, our test vehicle felt free on the Bridgestones, gliding more and allowing more rotation than with the other tires. It was very controllable and helpful if the goal was to set a fast lap time, but we could see drivers preferring the more locked-down feeling of the other two tires on the street.
In our dry track testing, all three tires performed at a high level that would be more than satisfactory for use on a crossover, SUV, or light truck. The CrossClimate2 felt the most athletic of the group and also led our objective testing for average lap time and 50-0mph braking, with a tie for the top spot in the skid pad test. Our drivers preferred the Alenza AS Ultra to the CrossContact LX25 in the dry, thanks to its balanced handling and communicative steering. The Alenza AS Ultra also tied the Michelin in lateral traction, but it trailed the group in average lap times and 50-0mph braking by a noticeable margin. The CrossContact LX25 was easy to drive and provided objective results that were near the top in every metric. Similar to what we found in the wet, the steering could respond a little more than expected, which required some minor corrections to the driver’s input and hurt the tire’s subjective score a small amount.
In our test, the CrossClimate2 was branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, and Alenza AS Ultra and CrossContact LX25 were not. We always find it interesting to compare tires with and without the brand, because the 3PMSF does not always guarantee a superior winter performer. The test required to earn the 3PMSF measures longitudinal acceleration traction only, which means there is no braking or cornering component, and it doesn’t evaluate ice traction whatsoever.
The CrossContact LX25 held the advantage around the handling track, both objectively and subjectively. Our drivers preferred the steering characteristics and the lateral traction and balance of the Continental. Combined with its strong outright traction, it set the fastest average lap time and earned the highest subjective score. The CrossClimate2 was the leader in our objective acceleration and braking tests, and it was a mere .40 second behind the Continental around the track. Subjectively, our drivers wished for a little less understeer and slightly sharper steering response, but the planted, secure feel when pushing to the limit would be reassuring for drivers in adverse, snowy conditions. While the Alenza AS Ultra finished third of three in all metrics, it still delivered an acceptable performance in the snow. Nice steering feel and handling balance that only slightly leaned toward understeer made it an easily-drivable package, despite having limits that were noticeably lower than the test leaders.
The CrossClimate2 held a small advantage in our ice testing, coming to a stop from 12 mph in 42.4 feet, which was 2.1 feet shorter than the CrossContact LX25 and 6.4 feet shorter than the Alenza AS Ultra.
As is often the case when we test premium touring products, there isn’t a bad choice in this group. No matter which option a driver chooses, they will end up with a refined, confident performer with strong traction in dry and wet conditions. The Michelin CrossClimate2 takes the top spot thanks to on-road characteristics that include a controlled, if maybe a little firm, ride; very little tire noise; and sharp, responsive steering. Combine that with test-leading braking distances in the wet, dry, light snow, and on the ice, and it’s easy to see why the CrossClimate2 is a favorite of consumers and our test team. The Continental CrossContact LX25 is a strong all-around performer, too. In this test, some slightly more noticeable tread noise is the only thing keeping it from tying with the leader in our on-road evaluation Strong, mid-pack braking and skid pad figures and test-leading wet lap times are high points, and best-in-test lap times and subjective scores in the snow complete the package. The Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra delivers an excellent balance of performance, with the nicest ride of the group, confident wet traction, and lateral grip that ties for best-in-test in both the dry and the wet. Some low- to medium-volume tread noise is only noticeable in contrast to the other premium products in the group, and subjectively it doesn’t feel as strong in the wet as its objective figures would indicate. It trails this admittedly strong competitive set in the snow, as well.
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