Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Michelin X Ice Snow

In this article we will be looking at independent tire test data, and real world driver reviews of the Michelin X Ice North 4 and the Michelin X Ice Snow to find out which tire is best for your own driving.

The good news is that both the Michelin X Ice North 4 and Michelin X Ice Snow 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.

In This Article
Introduction Test Results Driver Reviews Conclusion
X-Ice-North-4 VS X-Ice-Snow

Test Results

Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been four tests which compare both tires directly!

Out of these four tests:

  • Michelin X Ice North 4 finished ahead of the Michelin X Ice Snow in three of the tests
  • The Michelin X Ice North 4 and Michelin X Ice Snow drew in one of the tests

While it might look like the Michelin X Ice North 4 is better than the Michelin X Ice Snow 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.

Dry Braking

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during two dry braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 stopped the vehicle in 3.67% less distance than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
30.2M
Michelin X Ice Snow
31.35M
Dry braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Dry Braking: Michelin X Ice North 4

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:29.3M Michelin X Ice Snow: 31.2M
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:31.1M Michelin X Ice Snow: 31.5M

Subj. Dry Handling

Michelin X Ice North 4
8 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
8 Points
Subjective Dry Handling Score, higher is better

Best In Subj. Dry Handling:

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:8 Points Michelin X Ice Snow: 8 Points

Wet Braking

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one wet braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 stopped the vehicle in 2.01% less distance than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
36.6M
Michelin X Ice Snow
37.35M
Wet braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Wet Braking: Michelin X Ice North 4

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:35.9M Michelin X Ice Snow: 38.6M
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:37.3M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 36.1M

Wet Handling [s]

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during two wet handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow was 1.54% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin X Ice North 4.

Michelin X Ice North 4
35.8s
Michelin X Ice Snow
35.25s
Wet handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Wet Handling [s]: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:35.4s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 35s
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:36.2s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 35.5s

Subj. Wet Handling

Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during zero subj. wet handling tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 scored 12.5% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
7 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
8 Points
Subjective Wet Handling Score, higher is better

Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:7 Points ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 8 Points

Snow Braking

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one snow braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 stopped the vehicle in 1.07% less distance than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
50.8M
Michelin X Ice Snow
51.35M
Snow braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Snow Braking: Michelin X Ice North 4

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:50.6M ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 50.4M
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:51M Michelin X Ice Snow: 52.3M

Snow Traction

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 accelerated 0.84% faster than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
5.9s
Michelin X Ice Snow
5.95s
Snow acceleration time, lower is better

Best In Snow Traction: Michelin X Ice North 4

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:6s Michelin X Ice Snow: 6s
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:5.8s Michelin X Ice Snow: 5.9s

Snow Handling [s]

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 was 0.98% faster around a lap than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
50.65s
Michelin X Ice Snow
51.15s
Snow handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Snow Handling [s]: Michelin X Ice North 4

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:49s ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 48.7s
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:52.3s Michelin X Ice Snow: 53.6s

Subj. Snow Handling

Michelin X Ice North 4
9 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
9 Points
Subjective Snow Handling Score, higher is better

Best In Subj. Snow Handling:

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:9 Points Michelin X Ice Snow: 9 Points

Ice Braking

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during two ice braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 stopped the vehicle 12.06% shorter than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
38.3M
Michelin X Ice Snow
43.55M
Ice braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Ice Braking: Michelin X Ice North 4

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:37.8M Michelin X Ice Snow: 42.7M
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:38.8M Michelin X Ice Snow: 44.4M

Ice Traction

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during two ice traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 accelerated 28.57% faster than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
3.75s
Michelin X Ice Snow
5.25s
Ice acceleration time, lower is better

Best In Ice Traction: Michelin X Ice North 4

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:3.7s Michelin X Ice Snow: 5.3s
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:3.8s Michelin X Ice Snow: 5.2s

Ice Handling [s]

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during two ice handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 was 13.73% faster around a lap than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
55.9s
Michelin X Ice Snow
64.8s
Ice handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Ice Handling [s]: Michelin X Ice North 4

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:57.3s Michelin X Ice Snow: 61s
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:54.5s Michelin X Ice Snow: 68.6s

Subj. Ice Handling

Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one subj. ice handling tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 scored 30% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
10 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
7 Points
Subjective Ice Handling Score, higher is better

Best In Subj. Ice Handling: Michelin X Ice North 4

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Michelin X Ice North 4:10 Points Michelin X Ice Snow: 7 Points

Subj. Noise

Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during zero subj. noise tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 scored 23.53% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Michelin X Ice North 4
6.5 Points
Michelin X Ice Snow
8.5 Points
Subjective in car noise levels, higher is better

Best In Subj. Noise: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:6 Points ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 8 Points
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:7 Points ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 9 Points

Price

Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during one price tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow cost 7.69% less than the Michelin X Ice North 4.

Michelin X Ice North 4
650
Michelin X Ice Snow
600
Price in local currency, lower is better

Best In Price: Michelin X Ice Snow

2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:650 ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 600

Rolling Resistance

Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during one rolling resistance tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow had a 50% lower rolling resistance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.

Michelin X Ice North 4
3.6kg / t
Michelin X Ice Snow
1.8kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t, lower is better

Best In Rolling Resistance: Michelin X Ice Snow

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16		 Michelin X Ice North 4:3.6kg / t ✓ Michelin X Ice Snow: 1.8kg / t

Real World Driver Reviews

Tire Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Michelin X Ice North 4 and Michelin X Ice Snow.

In total the Michelin X Ice North 4 has been reviewed 9 times and drivers have given the tire 84% overall.

The Michelin X Ice Snow has been reviewed 12 times and drivers have given the tire 82% overall.

This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin X Ice Snow.

Best Review for the Michelin X Ice North 4
Given 91% 205/55 R16 T on a combination of roads for 0 spirited miles
Uncompromising grip on all types of winter surfaces. Out of competition on the ice tracks. Very low noise level, audible only at low speeds when driving on a clean road. With these tires, it is very difficult to achieve ABS actuation. Perfectly copes with leaving the track. After running-in in compliance with the manufacturer's recommendations, the studs took their position and after 15,000 km remain in place. I recommend to buy, the best studded tire.
Helpful 100 - tire reviewed on February 10, 2021
View all Michelin X Ice North 4 driver reviews >>
Best Review for the Michelin X Ice Snow
Given 93% 225/45 R17 on mostly country roads for 10,000 spirited miles
Previously owned the Michelin alpin 4a on a volkswagen tiguan. Fantastic tires, Decided to choose the new version for my Fiat Panda cross. The x ice snow is an amazing tire. It has been raining and snowing for the last month, i leave for work every morning in -10c and come home at night in -3c. Fresh snow, sludge, rain and ice. The tire is amazing. I feel confident while driving In all conditions. Recently went offroading in a few mountain trails. Parked the car up and iced road, jumped out with the kids, and we could not walk without falling over, Completely iced over. I did not even... Continue reading this review using the link below
Helpful 178 - tire reviewed on December 5, 2020
View all Michelin X Ice Snow driver reviews >>

Conclusion

In conclusion the Michelin X Ice North 4 performed better in dry braking, wet braking, snow braking, snow traction, snow handling [s], ice braking, ice traction, ice handling [s] and subj. ice handling, while the Michelin X Ice Snow performed better in wet handling [s], subj. wet handling, subj. noise, price and rolling resistance.

Interestingly, both tires performed equally well in subj. dry handling and 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 Michelin X Ice North 4 seems to be the best tire overall.

However, it's important to note that both tires have their strengths.

Remember, the best tire for you might depend on which of these factors are most important for your specific driving needs and conditions.

Overall Winner: Michelin X Ice North 4

Overall Winner: Michelin X Ice North 4

Footnote

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.