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 Pirelli Scorpion Winter — 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
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
77/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
80/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Michelin X-Ice North 4 and Pirelli Scorpion Winter are within 2 points overall. Michelin X-Ice North 4 is stronger on treadwear and snow. Pirelli Scorpion Winter is stronger on comfort and dry.
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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)
Scorpion Winter leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 94 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 97% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Scorpion Winter leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 81 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 90 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 91% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 81 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 95% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 92% | 100% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 97% | 97% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Scorpion Winter leads by 39
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 12 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 81 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 73 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 72 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 73 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
X-Ice North 4 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | X-Ice North 4 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin X-Ice North 4 | Pirelli Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 81 |
| Dry | 82 | 91 |
| Wet | 81 | 82 |
| Snow | 89 | 78 |
| Comfort | 41 | 80 |
| Noise | 86 | 85 |
| Treadwear | 89 | 73 |
| Handling | 81 | 80 |
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
80
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 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 | 97% #4/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -1.5 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 92% #7/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 86% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +5.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #8/8 · 2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 100% #15/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 94% #7/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | +5.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 6% #17/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | 50% #2/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | -44.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #10/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 95% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +3.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 92% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -7.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 97% #2/8 · 2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.8 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 94% #4/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 88% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #13/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 91% #6/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -0.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #11/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | 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 Pirelli Scorpion Winter is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, often mimicking the handling characteristics of a summer tire. While many users praise its confidence-inspiring grip on highways and in heavy rain, consensus is mixed regarding its performance in severe ice and deep slush, where some drivers report a lack of traction.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to aquaplaning
- Strong dry road handling and stability at high speeds
- Comfortable and quiet ride quality for long-distance cruising
- Predictable and confidence-inspiring grip in light to moderate snow
Cons
- Inconsistent performance on hard ice and slushy conditions
- Faster tread wear compared to standard summer tires
- Reduced snow traction as the tire ages and tread depth decreases
- High-speed stability can feel vague at extreme velocities
Observations
- Users with heavy SUVs and performance crossovers report high satisfaction with highway handling but note faster tread wear.
- Drivers utilizing staggered fitments on 20-inch wheels report good feedback and handling, though some note the design is aging compared to newer iterations.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin X-Ice North 4 | B · Pirelli Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Winter tire | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | — | 44 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Michelin
81
/ 100
Pirelli
Too close to call: Michelin X-Ice North 4 and Pirelli Scorpion Winter are within 2 points overall. Michelin X-Ice North 4 is stronger on treadwear and snow. Pirelli Scorpion Winter is stronger on comfort and dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Scorpion Winter scores 80 vs 41 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 89 vs 73 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 89 vs 78 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Scorpion Winter scores 91 vs 82 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin X-Ice North 4
Tire B · Pirelli Scorpion Winter
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin X-Ice North 4 also compared with
Pirelli Scorpion Winter 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.