Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
- TR Score
- 8.2/10
- Owners say
- -
- TR Score
- 8.6/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 12
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin X Ice North 4 finished ahead 1 times and the Winterpeak F Snow 1 not once.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Michelin X-Ice North 4 for frequent ice or severe Nordic winters where stopping distance and traction are paramount. Choose Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1 for predominantly clear/wet winter roads with occasional ice, prioritizing comfort, low noise, and value while accepting reduced ice headroom.
Where the Winterpeak F Snow 1 is stronger
- Lower noise and better comfort (9/10 noise; comfort lead in R18 test)
- Slightly better dry and wet braking (e.g., 30.8 m dry; 37.5 m wet)
- Marginally better fuel use (≈0.4% advantage in R18 test)
Where the X Ice North 4 is stronger
- Class-leading ice performance (−21% ice braking distance; +29% ice traction)
- Better wet/aquaplaning balance (faster wet handling and higher straight aqua speed)
- Good stability in extremes despite slow steering
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.
Winterpeak F Snow 1 vs X Ice North 4 at a glance
| Category | Winterpeak F Snow 1 | Gap | X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won2 shared tests | 0 | 1 | |
| Dry2 measurements | 1 | Level between the two. | 1 |
| Wet5 measurements | 1 | 3 | |
| Snow3 measurements | 0 | 1 | |
| Ice3 measurements | 0 | 3 | |
| Comfort2 measurements | 2 | 0 | |
| Value1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.2/10 | The X Ice North 4 by 0.4 | 8.6/10 |
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 2 tests in 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 | Winterpeak F Snow 1 | Field | X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test | P6 of 7Nordic Friction Winter Tires | P5 of 8Studded Winter Tires | |
| 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test | P5 of 7Nordic Friction Winter Tires | P4 of 7Studded Winter Tires |
Performance profile
15 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winterpeak F Snow 1
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.
Where each scores higher
Winterpeak F Snow 1
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.
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 | Winterpeak F Snow 1 | Gap | X Ice North 4 | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 4% | 105 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 14.3% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 123 | 0.8% | 124 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 41.4 | 0.2% | 41.3 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 10% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 38.2 | 1.8% | 38.8 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 165 | 0.4% | 164 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 5.9 | = | 5.9 | 0-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||
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| 157 | 21.3% | 124 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 7.2 | 29.2% | 5.1 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 16.7% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 40% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 28.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 5.99 | 0.4% | 6.01 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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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 Winterpeak F Snow 1 scores 8.2 and the X Ice North 4 8.6 out of 10.
| Winterpeak F Snow 1 | Category | X Ice North 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Dry | 61 | ||
| 54 | Wet | 25 | ||
| 39 | Comfort | 57 | ||
| 27 | Value | 52 | ||
| 74 | Snow | 78 | ||
| 65 | 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
| Winterpeak F Snow 1 | Category | X Ice North 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Dry Grip | 7.7 | ||
| - | Wet Grip | 7.3 | ||
| - | Road Feedback | 7.7 | ||
| - | Handling | 8.2 | ||
| - | Wear | 8.9 | ||
| - | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
| - | Snow Grip | 9.2 | ||
| - | Ice Grip | 9.8 | ||
Owners rate the X Ice North 4 84% from 12 reviews; the Winterpeak F Snow 1 has no owner reviews yet. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
No owner reviews yet. Be the first to review it →
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 | Winterpeak F Snow 1 | X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| On the market since | 2021 | - |
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 Nordic-focused premium-touring winter tires against each other: Falken's Winterpeak F Snow 1 and Michelin's X-Ice North 4. Across two independent 2025 winter tests in 205/55 R16 and 235/45 R18, Michelin finished ahead overall in both, but with some notable caveats.
The data shows a clear split in priorities: Michelin consistently delivers class-leading ice performance, while Falken trades ultimate winter grip for better comfort, lower noise, and marginally better economy and dry/wet braking in milder conditions. If your winter drives swing between glassy ice and mixed asphalt, the choice hinges on which compromise you can live with.
Conclusion
Michelin X-Ice North 4 is the safer bet when icy roads are the norm. It dominates objective ice metrics-over 21% shorter ice braking distance and roughly 29% stronger ice traction versus Falken-backed by slightly better wet handling and aquaplaning resistance. Steering precision can feel sluggish and understeery on asphalt, but stability remains consistent in extremes.
Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1 appeals to drivers spending more time on clear or wet winter asphalt with only occasional ice. It stops a touch shorter in dry and wet, rides quieter and more comfortably, and sips marginally less fuel. However, on true ice it can't match Michelin's safety margin. Value-wise, Falken makes sense if pricing is favorable and ice exposure is limited; otherwise, Michelin's superior ice security justifies its premium. The practical takeaway: choose Michelin for maximum ice assurance; pick Falken for calmer, quieter mixed-winter commuting with rare ice encounters.
Winterpeak F Snow 1 vs X Ice North 4: your questions
Is the Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1 or the Michelin X Ice North 4 the better tire?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin X Ice North 4 finished ahead 1 times and the Winterpeak F Snow 1 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winterpeak F Snow 1 scores 8.2 and the X Ice North 4 8.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winterpeak F Snow 1 or the X Ice North 4?
The X Ice North 4 led 3 of the 5 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 1-1 between the Winterpeak F Snow 1 and the X Ice North 4.
Which is better in snow?
The X Ice North 4 led 1 of the 3 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the X Ice North 4 84% from 12 reviews; the Winterpeak F Snow 1 has no owner reviews yet.
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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.
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