Tests 73 · 2 tests Owners 69 · 2 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental IceContact 2 vs Michelin X Ice Snow — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
X Ice Snow leads, 72–70 Narrow edge
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Tests 70 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 19 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 7 in 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 (rolling resistance)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
69
Dry
IceContact 2 +267Why this score
Source IceContact 2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 71 65 Reviews found online 66 70 -
71
Wet
IceContact 2 +269Why this score
Source IceContact 2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 70 64 Reviews found online 72 77 -
77
Snow
IceContact 2 +176Why this score
Source IceContact 2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 78 73 Reviews found online 75 80 -
66
Comfort
X Ice Snow +1480Why this score
Source IceContact 2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) – 82 Reviews found online 63 78 -
–
Noise
No comparison74Why this score
Source IceContact 2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) – 80 -
65
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +772Why this score
Source IceContact 2 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 65 76 -
71
Handling
X Ice Snow +374Why this score
Source IceContact 2 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 71 74
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental IceContact 2 | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 70 | 72 |
| Dry | 69 | 67 |
| Wet | 71 | 69 |
| Snow | 77 | 76 |
| Comfort | 66 | 80 |
| Noise | – | 74 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 72 |
| Handling | 71 | 74 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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.
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Less important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
70
/ 100
IceContact 2
72
/ 100
X Ice Snow
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | IceContact 2 | X Ice Snow | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 81% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +19.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 90% #8/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | −7.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #5/5 2021 Test World Winter Studded Tire Test R17 | #7/10 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Snow | 99% #2/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 95% #5/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | +3.3 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Snow | 100% #2/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +0.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 97% #5/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 69% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +28.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 86% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +13.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 95% #4/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | −0.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% #2/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 72% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +26.9 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A IceContact 2
Pros
- Excellent traction on snow and ice-covered surfaces
- Surprisingly comfortable and quiet ride for a studded tire
- Reliable handling and stability in severe winter conditions
Cons
- Increased road noise when driving on dry or clean pavement
- Noticeable degradation in ice grip performance after two seasons of use
- Requires precise tire pressure maintenance to ensure optimal wet-weather handling
Tire B X Ice Snow
Pros
- Exceptional traction and lateral grip in deep snow and slush
- High level of confidence and stability on icy surfaces
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
Cons
- Average performance and handling on dry or wet pavement
- Increased road noise as the tires wear over time
- Can feel slightly 'twitchy' or less stable at the absolute limit of handling
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental IceContact 2 | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 100 |
| Rim diameters | — | 13″ – 21″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
70
/ 100
Continental IceContact 2
72
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
Winner: Michelin X Ice Snow — better comfort, treadwear and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 80 vs 66 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 72 vs 65 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 74 vs 71 on handling.
Tire A · Continental IceContact 2
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.