79
/ 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 Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 — 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%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
2 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Michelin X-Ice North 4 and Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 are within 2 points overall. Michelin X-Ice North 4 is stronger on handling and treadwear. Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 is stronger on comfort and wet.
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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)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 80 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
IceGUARD Stud iG55 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 85 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
IceGUARD Stud iG55 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 90 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
IceGUARD Stud iG55 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 12 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 60 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 75 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin X-Ice North 4 | Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 80 |
| Dry | 82 | 80 |
| Wet | 81 | 85 |
| Snow | 89 | 90 |
| Comfort | 41 | 60 |
| Noise | 86 | – |
| Treadwear | 89 | 85 |
| Handling | 81 | 75 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
79
/ 100
Tire A
80
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 is highly regarded for its robust performance in severe winter conditions, offering reliable traction on snow, ice, and slush. While users praise its winter capabilities, they note that the tire's soft compound and stud configuration result in increased road noise and reduced handling precision on dry pavement.
Pros
- Excellent grip and traction on snow and ice
- Strong performance in slushy conditions
- Durable tread life over multiple seasons
- Effective stud retention during normal driving
Cons
- High levels of road noise on dry or wet tarmac
- Increased stopping distances on dry surfaces
- Noticeable tire flex or 'tilting' during spirited cornering
- Potential for stud loss under heavy driving conditions
Observations
- Users report that the tire's performance is particularly enhanced when paired with 4x4 drivetrain systems.
- The soft compound is noted to be more noticeable during city driving and maneuvers over uneven surfaces like tram tracks.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin X-Ice North 4 | B · Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Winter tire | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
79
/ 100
Michelin
80
/ 100
Yokohama
Too close to call: Michelin X-Ice North 4 and Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 are within 2 points overall. Michelin X-Ice North 4 is stronger on handling and treadwear. Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 is stronger on comfort and wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 scores 60 vs 41 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 81 vs 75 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 89 vs 85 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 scores 85 vs 81 on wet.
Tire A · Michelin X-Ice North 4
Tire B · Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin X-Ice North 4 also compared with
Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 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.