81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
73/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
78/100
15 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin X Ice Snow — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
11 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 and Michelin X Ice Snow are within 2 points overall. Kumho Winter Craft WP51 is stronger on noise and dry. Michelin X Ice Snow is stronger on treadwear, snow and comfort.
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Winter Craft WP51 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Winter Craft WP51 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 94 | 56 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 78 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 93% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 97% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Winter Craft WP51 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 74 | 71 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 81 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 100% | 72% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 90% | 100% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Winter Craft WP51 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 68 | 79 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 94 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 92% | 100% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 97% | 92% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Winter Craft WP51 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 93 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 87 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter Craft WP51 leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | Winter Craft WP51 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | 74 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Winter Craft WP51 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 91 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Winter Craft WP51 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 75 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 80 |
| Dry | 87 | 65 |
| Wet | 74 | 75 |
| Snow | 77 | 85 |
| Comfort | 84 | 90 |
| Noise | 100 | 74 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 91 |
| Handling | 71 | 75 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
80
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #11/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 93% #16/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +7.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 97% #10/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | -1.9 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #11/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #1/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | +2.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 92% #2/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 92% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -0.3 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 4% #23/51 · 2018 51 Winter Tyre Shootout | 100% #1/2 · Michelin Pilot Sport 4S vs Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 vs Michelin X-Ice Snow | -95.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 92% #29/35 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | 100% #2/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -8 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #5/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 92% #4/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +5.5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 91% #7/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 95% #3/5 · The Best Snow Tyres for 2025/26 | -3.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #11/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 72% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +27.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 90% #11/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 100% #5/5 · The Best Snow Tyres for 2025/26 | -10 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that excels in deep snow and icy conditions, often outperforming more expensive competitors in severe weather. While users consistently praise its winter traction and affordability, some report compromises in dry-road handling, wet-weather braking, and increased cabin noise.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and reliability in deep snow and slush
- High price-to-performance ratio compared to premium brands
- Solid durability and tread life for the price point
- Effective performance on icy surfaces
Cons
- Noticeable increase in road noise
- Mediocre wet-weather braking and traction
- Lack of steering feedback and stability on dry pavement
- Potential for tread block squirm during steering inputs
Observations
- Drivers of smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., Yaris, Mazda 3) report high satisfaction with snow climbing capabilities.
- Owners of heavier or higher-performance vehicles (e.g., Audi A4/A6, Mercedes E220D) noted concerns regarding wet-weather traction and handling precision.
- Some users observed a 15-20% increase in fuel consumption, likely due to the tire's aggressive winter tread compound.
The Michelin X-Ice Snow is widely regarded as a top-tier studless winter tire, offering exceptional traction in deep snow, slush, and icy conditions. While users note a slight compromise in dry-road handling and noise levels compared to previous iterations or summer tires, the consensus highlights its superior longevity and confidence-inspiring performance in severe winter climates.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and lateral grip in deep snow and slush
- High level of confidence and stability on icy surfaces
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality for a dedicated winter tire
Cons
- Average performance and handling on dry or wet pavement
- Increased road noise as the tires wear over time
- Can feel slightly 'twitchy' or less stable at the absolute limit of handling
- Higher price point compared to some competitors
Observations
- Tesla owners report that the tire maintains a quiet cabin environment, effectively managing road noise despite the vehicle's lack of engine sound.
- Users with performance-oriented vehicles like the Lexus IS 350 noted that the tire provides a comfortable ride even in larger 19-inch fitments.
- Drivers of smaller vehicles, such as the Fiat Panda and Mazda MX-5, report high confidence in extreme sub-zero conditions and long-distance winter touring.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Kumho
80
/ 100
Michelin
Too close to call: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 and Michelin X Ice Snow are within 2 points overall. Kumho Winter Craft WP51 is stronger on noise and dry. Michelin X Ice Snow is stronger on treadwear, snow and comfort.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Kumho Winter Craft WP51 scores 100 vs 74 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho Winter Craft WP51 scores 87 vs 65 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 91 vs 79 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 85 vs 77 on snow.
Tire A · Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
More comparisons
Also compared with
Kumho Winter Craft WP51 also compared with
Michelin X Ice Snow also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.