Continental VikingContact 8 vs Michelin X Ice Snow+
Ahead in each discipline
The Continental VikingContact 8 and the Michelin X Ice Snow+ have met in one independent test so far, and the VikingContact 8 finished ahead. The VikingContact 8 was stronger in dry and comfort, the X Ice Snow+ in wet and ice.
Performance profile
12 measurements from the one shared test, each tire shown as its share of the better figure.
Where each is furthest ahead
VikingContact 8
X Ice Snow+
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.
Where each scores higher
VikingContact 8
X Ice Snow+
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.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tires' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tire that did better.
| Measurement | VikingContact 8 | Gap | X Ice Snow+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry VikingContact 8 ahead | |||
| Dry Braking ft | 99 | 1.4% | 100 |
| Dry Circle g | 0.82 | 1.2% | 0.81 |
| Subj. Road Score pts | 7.5 | 6.7% | 8 |
| Wet X Ice Snow+ ahead | |||
| Wet Braking ft | 118 | 1.2% | 116 |
| Wet Circle g | 0.7 | 1.4% | 0.71 |
| Snow Level | |||
| Snow Braking ft | 57 | 1.2% | 57 |
| Snow Handling s | 52.3 | 2.1% | 53.41 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | 8 | = | 8 |
| Ice X Ice Snow+ ahead | |||
| Ice Braking ft | 41 | 9.4% | 37 |
| Ice Traction s | 5.31 | 7.5% | 4.91 |
| Comfort VikingContact 8 ahead | |||
| Subj. Comfort pts | 8 | 3.2% | 7.75 |
| Subj. Noise pts | 7.75 | 10.7% | 7 |
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.
Head to head in 1 test in 2026
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 | VikingContact 8 | Field | X Ice Snow+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tire Test | P2 of 3 | P3 of 3 |
VikingContact 8 vs X Ice Snow+: your questions
Is the Continental VikingContact 8 or the Michelin X Ice Snow+ the better tire?
The Continental VikingContact 8 and the Michelin X Ice Snow+ have met in one independent test so far, and the VikingContact 8 finished ahead. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the VikingContact 8 scores 9.2 and the X Ice Snow+ 8.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the VikingContact 8 or the X Ice Snow+?
The X Ice Snow+ led 2 of the 2 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The VikingContact 8 led 2 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 1-1 between the VikingContact 8 and the X Ice Snow+.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the VikingContact 8 83% from 8 reviews; the X Ice Snow+ has no owner reviews yet.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The VikingContact 8 is made in 123 sizes (15 to 22 inch) and the X Ice Snow+ in 85 (16 to 22 inch). 64 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the VikingContact 8 is graded D for wet grip and B for rolling resistance in most sizes; the X Ice Snow+ D and B.
More comparisons with these tires
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Continental VikingContact 8 vs Michelin X Ice Snow
6-0 in 6 shared tests
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Continental VikingContact 8 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
6-0 in 6 shared tests
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Continental VikingContact 8 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
6-1 in 7 shared tests
vs 
Continental VikingContact 8 vs Pirelli Ice Friction
3-0 in 3 shared tests
vs 
Continental VikingContact 8 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
2-0 in 4 shared tests
vs 
Continental VikingContact 8 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
2-0 in 4 shared tests
Every Continental vs Michelin test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
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.