In this article we will be looking at independent tire test data, and real world driver reviews of the Continental IceContact 3 and the Michelin X Ice North 4 to find out which tire is best for your own driving.
The good news is that both the Continental IceContact 3 and Michelin X Ice North 4 are Premium Touring Winter tires designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars, which means comparing the two tires is relatively simple.
Both tires are hugely popular in the market place with drivers, and both have been featured in independent tire tests.
Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been nine tests which compare both tires directly!
Out of these nine tests:
While it might look like the Michelin X Ice North 4 is better than the Continental IceContact 3 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tires are very complicated objects which means where one tire is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tires compare across multiple tire test categories.
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during three dry braking tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 stopped the vehicle in 0.79% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Dry Braking: Continental IceContact 3
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:44.9M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 46.7M |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:29.9M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 29.3M |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:30.75M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 32.31M |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:31.5M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 31.1M |
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:33.65M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 32.79M |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:32.77M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 32.37M |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:32.47M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 33.26M |
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 scored 14.29% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:2 Points | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 5 Points |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:9 Points | Michelin X Ice North 4: 8 Points |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:3 Points | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 5 Points |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:5 Points | Michelin X Ice North 4: 5 Points |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:5 Points | Michelin X Ice North 4: 5 Points |
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during five wet braking tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 stopped the vehicle in 3.99% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Wet Braking: Continental IceContact 3
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:28.8M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 31M |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:33.4M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 35.9M |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:36.92M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 35.06M |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:33.7M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 37.3M |
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:37.1M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 38.54M |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:37.87M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 37.56M |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:34.74M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 37.27M |
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during seven wet handling [s] tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 was 2.45% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Continental IceContact 3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:44.12s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 44.37s |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:34.9s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 35.4s |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:43.77s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 45.75s |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:35.2s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 36.2s |
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:41.89s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 43.11s |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:41.1s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 41.8s |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:40.7s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 42.1s |
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 scored 12.5% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Continental IceContact 3
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:8 Points | Michelin X Ice North 4: 7 Points |
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during two straight aqua tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 floated at a 1.99% higher speed than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Straight Aqua: Continental IceContact 3
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:60.3Km/H | Michelin X Ice North 4: 58.1Km/H |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:63.7Km/H | Michelin X Ice North 4: 59.4Km/H |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:55.2Km/H | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 55.9Km/H |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:68.3Km/H | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 69.2Km/H |
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during four snow braking tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 stopped the vehicle in 0.7% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Snow Braking: Continental IceContact 3
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:16.9M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 17.9M |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:50.4M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 50.6M |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:10.5M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 10.5M |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:51.4M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 51M |
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:15.12M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 15.11M |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:12.98M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 13.24M |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:12.34M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 12.42M |
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during three snow traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 accelerated 0.21% faster than the Continental IceContact 3.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:4.06s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 4.17s |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:5.9s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 6s |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:3.67s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 3.67s |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:5.8s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 5.8s |
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:4.96s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 4.77s |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:4.84s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 4.83s |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:4.32s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 4.21s |
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during five snow handling [s] tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 was 0.69% faster around a lap than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Continental IceContact 3
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:83.75s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 86.49s |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:48.8s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 49s |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:75.04s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 75.69s |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:53.5s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 52.3s |
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:85.23s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 84.73s |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:75.1s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 75.5s |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:75.1s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 76.2s |
Best In Subj. Snow Handling:
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:9 Points | Michelin X Ice North 4: 9 Points |
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during six ice braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 stopped the vehicle 8.88% shorter than the Continental IceContact 3.
Best In Ice Braking: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:8.67M | Michelin X Ice North 4: 9.42M |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:38.9M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 37.8M |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:4.2M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 3.47M |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:40.9M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 38.8M |
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:15.42M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 12.82M |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:17.14M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 12.93M |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:15.87M | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 13.38M |
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during six ice traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 accelerated 14.78% faster than the Continental IceContact 3.
Best In Ice Traction: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Ice Traction winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:4.14s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 4.51s |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:3.8s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 3.7s |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:2.18s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 1.89s |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:3.9s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 3.8s |
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:5.89s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 4.39s |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:7.88s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 5.55s |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:6.81s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 5.66s |
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during six ice handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 was 4.07% faster around a lap than the Continental IceContact 3.
Best In Ice Handling [s]: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
2019 Studded Winter Tire Test 225/50 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:52.64s | Michelin X Ice North 4: 52.89s |
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:60.2s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 57.3s |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:52.24s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 51.23s |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:57.8s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 54.5s |
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:68.12s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 62.7s |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:40.8s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 39.6s |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:50.2s | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 48.2s |
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during zero subj. ice handling tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 scored 20% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Ice Handling: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Subj. Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:8 Points | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 10 Points |
Best In Subj. Comfort: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during one subj. noise tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 scored 5.5% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Noise: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:7 Points | Michelin X Ice North 4: 6 Points |
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:4 Points | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 5 Points |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:6 Points | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 7 Points |
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during three noise tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 measured 1.59% quieter than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Noise: Continental IceContact 3
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:68.6dB | Michelin X Ice North 4: 70.3dB |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:75dB | Michelin X Ice North 4: 75.8dB |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:73.6dB | Michelin X Ice North 4: 74.6dB |
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one price tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 cost 5.63% less than the Continental IceContact 3.
Best In Price: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:600 | Michelin X Ice North 4: 650 |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:2669 | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 2435 |
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental IceContact 3 was better during two rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental IceContact 3 had a 7.69% lower rolling resistance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental IceContact 3
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test 205/55 R16 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:3kg / t | Michelin X Ice North 4: 3.6kg / t |
2023 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
✓ Continental IceContact 3:5.4kg / t | Michelin X Ice North 4: 5.5kg / t |
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during two fuel consumption tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 used 2.45% less fuel than the Continental IceContact 3.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
2020 Studded Winter Tire Test 205/60 R16 |
Continental IceContact 3:5.69l/100km | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 5.66l/100km |
2024 Studded Tire Test 225/45 R17 |
Continental IceContact 3:5.75l/100km | ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4: 5.5l/100km |
Tire Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Continental IceContact 3 and Michelin X Ice North 4.
In total the Continental IceContact 3 has been reviewed 2 times and drivers have given the tire 71% overall.
The Michelin X Ice North 4 has been reviewed 9 times and drivers have given the tire 84% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin X Ice North 4.
In conclusion the Continental IceContact 3 performed better in dry braking, wet braking, wet handling [s], subj. wet handling, straight aqua, snow braking, snow handling [s], noise and rolling resistance, while the Michelin X Ice North 4 performed better in subj. dry handling, snow traction, ice braking, ice traction, ice handling [s], subj. ice handling, subj. noise, price and fuel consumption.
Interestingly, both tires performed equally well in subj. snow handling, showing that they are closely matched in these areas.
Which tire is best for you depends a lot on your driving style and situation, plus what you want from the tire. Comparing all the data in the tire reviews database, on balance seems to be the best tire overall.
Remember, the best tire for you might depend on which of these factors are most important for your specific driving needs and conditions.
Looking for more tire comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tires:
This page has been developed using tire industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tires in the same test.
Why is this important? Tire testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tire test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tire tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tire Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tire comparison, Tire Reviews doesn't.