80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
68/100
8 professional tests
User signal (40%)
85/100
11 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Michelin X-Ice North 4 vs Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — 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
78
/ 100
Objective (60%)
67/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
86/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin X-Ice North 4 — better dry, handling and noise. Pick the Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV if comfort and snow matter most to you.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 38
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 20 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 77 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 93% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
X-Ice Snow SUV leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 80 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 83 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 93% | 88% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 100% | 98% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
X-Ice Snow SUV leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 93 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 97 |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 94% | 96% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 99% | 100% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
X-Ice Snow SUV leads by 52
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 12 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 93 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 77 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 80 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 70 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin X-Ice North 4 | Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 78 |
| Dry | 82 | 44 |
| Wet | 81 | 82 |
| Snow | 89 | 94 |
| Comfort | 41 | 93 |
| Noise | 86 | 77 |
| Treadwear | 89 | 82 |
| Handling | 81 | 70 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
80
/ 100
Tire A
78
/ 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 | 96% #11/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 93% #7/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 92% #7/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 96% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | -4.6 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 96% #3/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 98% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | -2 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Ice | 92% #3/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 95% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | -2.6 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 69% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 82% #2/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | -13.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #3/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 98% #2/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | -0.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 100% #15/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 6% #17/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | 20% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | -14.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 94% #1/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | -2.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 99% #2/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | -0.8 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #6/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 88% #6/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | +6.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 89% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 80% #3/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | +8.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #6/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 88% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | +4.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #20/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Michelin X-Ice North 4 is widely regarded as a top-tier studded winter tire, offering class-leading traction on ice and packed snow. While users consistently praise its superior noise suppression and handling compared to competitors, long-term stud retention remains a point of contention for some owners.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and confidence on icy and snow-covered surfaces
- Significantly lower road noise compared to traditional studded winter tires
- High tread longevity and durability over multiple winter seasons
- Predictable handling and improved vehicle feedback in adverse conditions
Cons
- Inconsistent long-term stud retention reported by some users
- Slightly wallowy or vague handling feel on dry pavement
- Tendency to collect snow in the tread pattern at low speeds
- Reduced performance in deep, loose snow over hard-packed surfaces
Observations
- Users noted that narrower tire dimensions can contribute to a wallowy feel on dry roads.
- Performance is highly regarded across diverse vehicle types, ranging from AWD sedans like the Kia Stinger to older, analog sports cars.
The Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV is highly regarded for its exceptional winter performance, providing reliable traction in deep snow and icy conditions. Users consistently praise its quiet ride and comfort, noting that it performs significantly better than summer or all-season tires in cold climates without negatively impacting EV range.
Pros
- Outstanding traction on snow and ice
- Remarkably low road noise for a winter tire
- Excellent ride comfort
- Minimal impact on electric vehicle range
Cons
- Unsuitable for year-round use due to soft compound in warm temperatures
- Reduced handling precision compared to dedicated summer tires
Observations
- EV owners, specifically those with the Tesla Model Y, report that the tire maintains efficiency and range during winter months.
- Users note that the tire is well-suited for high-performance vehicles in mountainous regions like Tahoe, provided they are swapped out seasonally.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin X-Ice North 4 | B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Winter tire | Premium Touring Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Michelin
78
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin X-Ice North 4 — better dry, handling and noise. Pick the Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV if comfort and snow matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 93 vs 41 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 82 vs 44 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 81 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 86 vs 77 on noise.
Tire A · Michelin X-Ice North 4
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin X-Ice North 4 also compared with
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV 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.