Continental IceContact 3 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
- TR Score
- 9.1/10
- Owners say
- 79% · 3
- TR Score
- 8.6/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 12
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin X Ice North 4 finished ahead 6 times and the IceContact 3 3 times, with 2 level. The IceContact 3 stopped 4.3% shorter in the wet; the X Ice North 4 stopped 10.7% shorter on ice.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pick Michelin X-Ice North 4 for regions with frequent polished ice or icy rural roads where maximum ice grip is paramount. Choose Continental IceContact 3 for urban/suburban Nordic driving with lots of wet, slush and cleared pavement where precise steering, wet safety and everyday refinement matter most.
Where the IceContact 3 is stronger
- Class-leading wet braking and handling across tests (e.g., 6-7% shorter wet stops vs Michelin in multiple years)
- More precise steering and predictable behavior on asphalt and mixed conditions
- Often quieter and with lower rolling resistance/fuel use in several tests
Where the X Ice North 4 is stronger
- Outstanding ice braking, traction and handling (frequent double-digit advantages)
- Calm, stable understeer balance with secure rear on winter surfaces
- Good snow grip and short dry stops in several tests
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
IceContact 3 vs X Ice North 4 at a glance
| Category | IceContact 3 | Gap | X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won11 shared tests | 3 | 2 level | 6 |
| Dry14 measurements | 5 | 6 | |
| Wet24 measurements | 19 | The IceContact 3 stopped 4.3% shorter in the wet (8 tests) | 4 |
| Snow25 measurements | 12 | The IceContact 3 stopped 1% shorter on snow (8 tests) | 7 |
| Ice25 measurements | 4 | The X Ice North 4 stopped 10.7% shorter on ice (8 tests) | 21 |
| Comfort9 measurements | 6 | The IceContact 3 was 1.2 dB quieter (3 tests) | 3 |
| Value4 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.1/10 | The IceContact 3 by 0.5 | 8.6/10 |
| Owner rating3 and 12 reviews | 79% | The X Ice North 4 by 5 points | 84% |
| Pricein the 4 tests that listed prices | +2.6% | The IceContact 3 was dearer in 3 of 4 | Cheaper |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 11 tests, 2019 to 2025
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | IceContact 3 | Field | X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test | P3 of 8 | P5 of 8 | |
| 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test | P2 of 7 | P4 of 7 | |
| 2024 Studded Tire Test | P5 of 8 | P3 of 8 | |
| The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 | P6 of 6 | P3 of 6 | |
| 2023 Studded Tire Test | P5 of 8 | P2 of 8 | |
| 2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test | P5 of 8 | P2 of 8 | |
| 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test | P6 of 9 | P3 of 9 | |
| 2020 Studded Winter Tire Test | P2 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| The Best Winter Tires for 2020 | P1 of 19 | P1 of 19 | |
| 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test | P1 of 5 | P1 of 5 | |
| 2019 Studded Winter Tire Test | P1 of 8 | P2 of 8 |
Performance profile
18 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
IceContact 3
X Ice North 4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 85%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 1 measurement recorded in only one shared test is left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
IceContact 3
X Ice North 4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
IceContact 3
X Ice North 4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the IceContact 3 79% from 3 reviews and the X Ice North 4 84% from 12. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | IceContact 3 | Gap | X Ice North 4 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 0.7% | 111 | 4-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 34% | scored | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 114 | 4.3% | 119 | 6-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 40.22 | 2.5% | 41.25 | 8-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 9.5% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 38.6 | 1.9% | 37.9 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 90 | 1% | 91 | 5-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.93 | 0.3% | 4.92 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 70.93 | 0.5% | 71.42 | 5-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 75 | 10.7% | 68 | 1-7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.09 | 12.3% | 4.33 | 1-7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 54.57 | 3.8% | 52.35 | 1-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 5.4% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 43.3% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 10.4% | scored | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.4 | 1.2 dB | 73.57 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.4 | 1.8% | 5.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.78 | 0.9% | 5.72 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the IceContact 3 scores 9.1 and the X Ice North 4 8.6 out of 10.
| IceContact 3 | Category | X Ice North 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | Dry | 61 | ||
| 78 | Wet | 25 | ||
| 87 | Comfort | 57 | ||
| 55 | Value | 52 | ||
| 89 | Snow | 78 | ||
| 56 | Ice | 86 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| IceContact 3 | Category | X Ice North 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.7 | Dry Grip | 7.7 | ||
| 8 | Wet Grip | 7.3 | ||
| 8 | Road Feedback | 7.7 | ||
| 8.3 | Handling | 8.2 | ||
| 5 | Wear | 8.9 | ||
| 7.3 | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | Snow Grip | 9.2 | ||
| 7 | Ice Grip | 9.8 | ||
Owners rate the IceContact 3 79% from 3 reviews and the X Ice North 4 84% from 12. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental IceContact 3
- 79%from 3 reviews
- 16,500 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 IceContact 3 reviewsDriving in northern Norway, coastal climate, it has good handeling in mild slippery weather, excellent in proper winter driving
Michelin X Ice North 4
- 84%from 12 reviews
- 92%would buy again
- 132,021 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers rate the Michelin X Ice North 4 very highly overall, most often praising outstanding traction and braking on ice and snow along with impressively low road noise for a studded tire. Several reviews also highlight confident handling/feedback and generally strong longevity, with some users reporting long tread life and good stud seating after proper break-in. A smaller minority note trade-offs such as weaker grip on wet/dry pavement and occasional stud loss or faster wear later in the tire's life.
- Excellent grip and braking on ice and snow
- Low noise levels for a studded winter tire
- Confident handling/control and good road feedback in low-friction conditions
- Generally good durability/longevity for winter use (tread and/or studs)
- Wet/dry grip is not as strong as its winter (ice/snow) performance
- Some users report stud loss over time or after multiple seasons
Summarised by AI from 9 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 12 X Ice North 4 reviewsVery good on ice - probably one of the very best. But I wouldn't buy them if most of the driving is on wet or dry roads. The amount of studs in them contributes to a great amount of noise, but in return you'll get very good grip on ice. I have used them mostly on ice tracks with 3 different cars and the speed and grip you can get with these is on another level. Probably only comparable to Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3, but these have longer studs and lose studs easily. Compared to the Blizzaks, straight line grip is not as good, but generally they perform exceptionally well. Have no comparison to newer tires.
Snow grip is also really good. On dry and wet, feels a little spongy as you would expect from a winter tire. Haven't really driven them much on the road.
My experience is purely based on RWD cars: 1990 BMW 318i; 1995 BMW 328i; 2004 Smart Roadster. Used the same size with all of them.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | IceContact 3 | X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Replaced | Continental IceContact 2 | - |
| Replaced by | Continental IceContact 8 | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The IceContact 3 was the dearer tire in 3 of the 4 tests that listed prices, by 2.6% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pits two proven Nordic studded winter tires against each other: Continental's IceContact 3 and Michelin's X-Ice North 4. Across 11 shared professional tests from 2019-2025, Michelin collects more overall wins, largely on the strength of its ice performance, while Continental often places higher in mixed-surface rankings thanks to superior asphalt manners.
The pattern is consistent: Michelin is the ice specialist, repeatedly topping ice braking, traction and handling. Continental counters with class-leading wet and dry control, shorter wet stops, and better stability and predictability on cleared roads-plus generally lower noise and, in many tests, lower rolling resistance. The choice hinges on whether you drive mostly on polished ice or frequently transition between winter and bare pavement.
Conclusion
If your winters mean frequent polished ice and you prioritize the shortest stops and strongest drive-off on slick surfaces, the Michelin X-Ice North 4 is the safer bet. It dominates ice metrics in most tests (often by double-digit margins) and delivers calm, understeer-biased behavior that keeps the rear planted, even if steering precision is not its forte and wet/asphalt performance lags.
For mixed Nordic use with lots of cleared roads, rain, and slush, the Continental IceContact 3 is the more rounded daily tire. It repeatedly wins wet braking and handling, is easier to place with more precise steering, rides more quietly in several tests, and often returns better fuel economy/rolling resistance. You give up some ultimate ice bite versus Michelin, but gain confidence, predictability, and shorter wet stops when conditions swing above freezing.
Bottom line: choose Michelin for maximum ice security; choose Continental for balanced, real-world usability when winter brings both ice and long stretches of bare or wet tarmac.
IceContact 3 vs X Ice North 4: your questions
Is the Continental IceContact 3 or the Michelin X Ice North 4 the better tire?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin X Ice North 4 finished ahead 6 times and the IceContact 3 3 times, with 2 level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the IceContact 3 scores 9.1 and the X Ice North 4 8.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the IceContact 3 or the X Ice North 4?
The IceContact 3 led 19 of the 24 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.3% shorter in the wet across 8 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The X Ice North 4 led 6 of the 14 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The IceContact 3 led 12 of the 25 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1% shorter on snow across 8 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The X Ice North 4 used 0.9% less fuel (3 tests). Owners rate wear 5/10 for the IceContact 3 and 8.9/10 for the X Ice North 4.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The IceContact 3 was 1.2 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.3/10 for the IceContact 3 and 8.3/10 for the X Ice North 4.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the IceContact 3 79% from 3 reviews and the X Ice North 4 84% from 12.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the IceContact 3 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 2.6% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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