Hankook Winter i pike RS2 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
- TR Score
- 7.6/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 5
- TR Score
- 8.6/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 12
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin X Ice North 4 finished ahead 5 times and the Winter i pike RS2 not once. The Winter i pike RS2 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 4.9% higher speed; the X Ice North 4 stopped 14.2% shorter on ice.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Michelin X-Ice North 4 for regions with frequent ice and hard-packed snow or for drivers prioritizing maximum safety margins on frozen roads. Choose Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 for wetter, slush-heavy winters, strong aquaplaning resistance, and a lower purchase/rolling cost without needing top-tier ice grip.
Where the Winter i pike RS2 is stronger
- Class-leading wet braking and consistently faster wet handling
- Excellent aquaplaning resistance (higher straight-aqua speeds)
- Lower price and generally lower rolling resistance
Where the X Ice North 4 is stronger
- Dominant ice performance (shorter ice braking by up to ~18-26% in tests)
- Strong snow traction and handling with stable, predictable balance
- Better dry steering precision and subjective handling
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.
Winter i pike RS2 vs X Ice North 4 at a glance
| Category | Winter i pike RS2 | Gap | X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won5 shared tests | 0 | 5 | |
| Dry9 measurements | 1 | The X Ice North 4 stopped 2.2% shorter in the dry (5 tests) | 7 |
| Wet14 measurements | 11 | The Winter i pike RS2 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 4.9% higher speed (3 tests) | 2 |
| Snow16 measurements | 3 | The X Ice North 4 was 1.7% quicker in the snow traction test (5 tests) | 12 |
| Ice16 measurements | 0 | The X Ice North 4 stopped 14.2% shorter on ice (5 tests) | 16 |
| Comfort5 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Value2 measurements | 1 | Level between the two. | 1 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 7.6/10 | The X Ice North 4 by 1.0 | 8.6/10 |
| Owner rating5 and 12 reviews | 83% | Too close to call | 84% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 100% | The Winter i pike RS2 by 8 points | 92% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The X Ice North 4 was dearer in 2 of 2 | +26.8% |
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 5 tests, 2019 to 2023
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 | Winter i pike RS2 | Field | X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Studded Tire Test | P6 of 8 | P2 of 8 | |
| 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test | P7 of 9 | P3 of 9 | |
| 2020 Studded Winter Tire Test | P4 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test | P5 of 5 | P1 of 5 | |
| 2019 Studded Winter Tire Test | P5 of 8 | P2 of 8 |
Performance profile
12 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter i pike RS2
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. 7 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winter i pike RS2
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
Winter i pike RS2
X Ice North 4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter i pike RS2 83% from 5 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 | Winter i pike RS2 | Gap | X Ice North 4 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115 | 2.2% | 113 | 1-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 70.8% | scored | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 114 | 1.7% | 116 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 39.99 | 1.8% | 40.7 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 37.7 | 4.9% | 35.9 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 94 | 0.3% | 94 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.97 | 1.7% | 4.89 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 68.56 | 1.2% | 67.8 | 1-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 12.5% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 74 | 14.2% | 67 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.29 | 8.8% | 3.89 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 53.69 | 4.8% | 51.1 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 25% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 33.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 27.8% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 75.4 | 0.4 dB | 75.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.15 | 6.4% | 5.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.67 | 0.2% | 5.66 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Winter i pike RS2 scores 7.6 and the X Ice North 4 8.6 out of 10.
| Winter i pike RS2 | Category | X Ice North 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Dry | 61 | ||
| 64 | Wet | 25 | ||
| 73 | Comfort | 57 | ||
| 74 | Value | 52 | ||
| 47 | Snow | 78 | ||
| 53 | 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
| Winter i pike RS2 | Category | X Ice North 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Dry Grip | 7.7 | ||
| 8.2 | Wet Grip | 7.3 | ||
| 6.8 | Road Feedback | 7.7 | ||
| 8 | Handling | 8.2 | ||
| 9 | Wear | 8.9 | ||
| 7.6 | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
| 9.5 | Snow Grip | 9.2 | ||
| 8.8 | Ice Grip | 9.8 | ||
Owners rate the Winter i pike RS2 83% from 5 reviews and the X Ice North 4 84% from 12. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Hankook Winter i pike RS2
- 83%from 5 reviews
- 100%would buy again
- 62,450 milesdriven by reviewers
The Hankook Winter i pike RS2 earns its clearest owner praise for ice grip, mentioned positively by four of five drivers. Two also praise snow braking and two snow handling, while two longer-use accounts describe retained tread or firmly attached studs. Steering is the main recurring complaint, with two owners finding it vague or requiring corrections on dry roads. Noise is evenly divided between praise and criticism. Three of the five reviews were written at the initial stage, so the small sample is stronger on winter first impressions than on long-term behavior.
- Ice grip
- Snow braking
- Snow handling
- Vague dry-road steering
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 5 Winter i pike RS2 reviewsAmazing tires for the money, exelent grip on Ice, great handling, quiet and compfy with great wear. Nothing not to like.... Next to Michelin, GoodYear and Pirelli.
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 | Winter i pike RS2 | X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Price in the shared tests | The X Ice North 4 was the dearer tire in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 26.8% 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: Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 and Michelin X-Ice North 4. Both target safe, predictable performance in harsh winters, but they take different paths. Across five shared professional tests, Michelin consistently finishes near the top overall, while Hankook trades ultimate ice grip for value and stronger rain performance.
The big storyline: Michelin dominates ice and snow traction and brakes markedly shorter on ice, while Hankook is repeatedly stronger in the wet and resists aquaplaning better. Dry behavior and refinement tilt toward Michelin's steering precision, but Hankook often runs quieter in instrumented noise and offers lower price and rolling resistance. Which is better depends on how often you face glassy ice versus slushy, rainy winter commutes.
Conclusion
Michelin X-Ice North 4 is the clear performance leader in winter-critical metrics, sweeping all five ice categories across tests and usually edging snow traction/handling. Its typical 10-25% advantage on ice braking and traction can be the difference between stopping and sliding when roads glaze over. It also pairs that with confident dry-road steering and consistently high overall test rankings.
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 counters with best-in-test wet braking on multiple occasions, quicker wet handling, and notably better straight-line aquaplaning resistance. It's also meaningfully cheaper (often ~20-30% less) and tends to roll easier, which helps running costs. The trade-off is weaker stability at the limit and longer stopping on ice.
If your winters mean frequent ice and packed snow, Michelin is the safer, more rounded choice. If you drive more in milder, wet/slushy conditions and value budget and economy, Hankook delivers strong real-world utility for less. The memorable takeaway: choose Michelin for ice confidence, choose Hankook for wet security and value.
Winter i pike RS2 vs X Ice North 4: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter i pike RS2 or the Michelin X Ice North 4 the better tire?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin X Ice North 4 finished ahead 5 times and the Winter i pike RS2 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter i pike RS2 scores 7.6 and the X Ice North 4 8.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter i pike RS2 or the X Ice North 4?
The Winter i pike RS2 led 11 of the 14 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 4.9% higher speed across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The X Ice North 4 led 7 of the 9 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.2% shorter in the dry across 5 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The X Ice North 4 led 12 of the 16 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it was 1.7% quicker in the snow traction test across 5 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.6/10 for the Winter i pike RS2 and 8.3/10 for the X Ice North 4.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter i pike RS2 83% from 5 reviews and the X Ice North 4 84% from 12. 100% of Winter i pike RS2 owners would buy it again, against 92% for the X Ice North 4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the X Ice North 4 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 26.8% 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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