Michelin X Ice Snow - Test Results

Test Statistics

10

Tests Completed

4th

Average Position

1st

Best Result

8th

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

Michelin X Ice Snow delivers consistently strong ice and snow performance with multiple test wins and frequent top-three placements in winter-focused evaluations. It excels particularly in ice braking/traction and subjective control on snow/ice, often pairing secure behavior with low rolling resistance. However, its wet and dry braking performance is regularly mid-pack to below average among Nordic friction peers, and noise/comfort can be merely average. Overall results trend positive with an average overall position of 3.7 across 10 tests, including two overall wins and several podiums.

Strengths cluster around ice/snow grip and efficiency: multiple 1st places for ice braking/traction and repeated top-three snow metrics indicate a dependable winter specialist. Weaknesses are concentrated in wet braking and some dry braking scenarios where stopping distances lag the best, plus occasional middling handling on ice in certain tests despite strong braking/traction.

Performance Strengths

Ice Performance Strong
• 1st ice braking and 1st ice traction in 2024 Vi Bilägare (Test 1)
• 1st ice braking and 1st ice traction in 2023 Vi Bilägare (Test 3)
• 2nd ice braking and 2nd ice handling in 2022/23 Tire Reviews (Test 5)
Snow Performance Strong
• 1st overall with strong subjective snow handling in 2022/23 Tire Reviews (Test 5: Subj. Snow Handling 2nd, Snow Circle 3rd)
• Top-3 snow braking/handling cluster in 2020 Test World (Test 10: Snow Braking 2nd, Snow Handling 3rd, Subj. Snow Handling 1st)
• Clean sweep vs UHP/AS tires in 2021 comparison (Test 6: 1st snow braking/traction/handling)
Overall Competitiveness/Awards Strong
• 1/9 overall in 2022/23 Tire Reviews (Test 5)
• 1/19 overall in 2020 Tire Reviews roundup (Test 9)
• Average overall position 3.7 across 10 tests
Aquaplaning Resistance Moderate
• Straight aquaplaning 2nd/8 in 2023 Vi Bilägare (Test 3, +1.5% from best)
• Straight aquaplaning 2nd/8 and curved 2nd/8 in 2022/23 Tire Reviews (Test 5)
• Straight aquaplaning 2nd/8 in 2020 Vi Bilägare (Test 8)
Efficiency/Rolling Resistance Moderate
• 1st rolling resistance in 2022/23 Tire Reviews (Test 5)
• Lowest rolling resistance in 2020 Vi Bilägare (Test 8)
• 4th/20 rolling resistance in 2020 Test World (Test 10)

Performance Weaknesses

Wet Braking Strong
• 7th/8 wet braking (+29.1%) in 2023 Testirenkkaat (Test 4)
• 7th/8 wet braking (+16.9%) in 2020 Vi Bilägare (Test 8)
• 15th/20 wet braking (+30%) in 2020 Test World (Test 10)
• 14th/16 wet braking (+24.9%) in 2021 Tire Reviews (Test 7)
Dry Braking Moderate
• 7th/8 dry braking in 2023 Vi Bilägare (Test 3, +5.9%)
• 6th/8 dry braking in 2022/23 Tire Reviews (Test 5, +16%)
• 16th/20 dry braking in 2020 Test World (Test 10, +7.6%)
Ice Handling Variability Moderate
• 5th/8 ice handling (+5%) in 2024 Vi Bilägare despite best braking/traction (Test 1)
• 6th/8 ice handling (+5.8%) in 2023 Vi Bilägare (Test 3)
• 7th/20 ice handling (+6.5%) in 2020 Test World (Test 10)
Noise/Comfort Minor
• 7th/8 noise in 2024 Vi Bilägare (Test 1, +0.8%)
• 7th/8 noise in 2023 Vi Bilägare (Test 3, +1.1%)
• Average subjective comfort 4th/8 in 2022/23 Tire Reviews (Test 5)

Performance Over Time

Test History

of 8

2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test

2024
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3

The Michelin X-Ice Snow finished fourth, standing out with excellent braking performance across all conditions despite being one of the harder tires in the test and the only Nordic winter tire rate...

Strong:
Ice Braking, Ice Traction

Weak:
Noise

View Test

of 17

The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024

2024
Winner: Pirelli Ice Zero 2

The Michelin X-Ice Snow, a Nordic non-studded tire, disappointed in this test. Its ice grip was significantly lower than expected for its category, and it showed the worst wet braking performance i...

View Test

of 8

2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test

2023
Winner: Continental VikingContact 7

The French friction tire has impressive longitudinal winter grip – that is, acceleration and braking. It has the best stopping distance on ice in the test, and the braking performance on snow als...

Strong:
Ice Braking, Ice Traction, Snow Braking, Straight Aqua, Wet Braking

Weak:
Noise, Dry Braking, Fuel Consumption

View Test

of 8

2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test

2023
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3

Ice and Snow: Safe driving behavior on snow, very good steering on snow, general grip level on ice is good; Wet Conditions: Excellent extreme situation behavior, good steering on dry surfaces, und...

Weak:
Ice Traction, Wet Braking, Wet Handling

View Test

of 9

2022/23 Tire Reviews Studless Winter Tire Test

2022

The Michelin couldn't quite match the Continental in the dry, but was essentially the same in the wet and had the best hydroplaning resistance of all the tires on test. It was a few percent behind ...

Strong:
Ice Braking, Ice Handling, Subj. Ice Handling, Subj. Snow Handling, Rolling Resistance, Curved Aquaplaning, Straight Aqua, Subj. Wet Handling

View Test

of 3

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S vs Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 vs Michelin X-Ice Snow

2021

Unsurprisingly, the Michelin X-Ice Snow extreme winter tire dominated the snow testing. The most impressive quality of the tire was just how rounded the performance was on snow, with a near flawles...

Strong:
Snow Braking, Snow Handling, Snow Traction

View Test

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