Tests 75 · 8 tests Owners 62 · 33 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental VikingContact 7 vs Michelin X-Ice North 4 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 8 + 13 road tests and 33 + 12 owner reviews. How we score
X-Ice North 4 is ahead, 74–69
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Tests 74 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 12 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test (ice traction)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
Key facts
- In 4 tests that measured dry braking for both, VikingContact 7 won 1 and X-Ice North 4 won 2 (average 92% vs 91% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, VikingContact 7 won 1 and X-Ice North 4 won 1 (average 81% vs 81% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured wet handling for both, VikingContact 7 won 3 and X-Ice North 4 won 1 (average 92% vs 89% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured ice braking for both, VikingContact 7 won 0 and X-Ice North 4 won 4 (average 77% vs 94% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured ice handling for both, VikingContact 7 won 1 and X-Ice North 4 won 3 (average 87% vs 97% of the best).
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66
Dry
X-Ice North 4 +1076Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 X-Ice North 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 10 tests 77 81 Reviews found online 51 70 Dry Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–2 92% 91% Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 55% 90% VikingContact 7: 60% × 76.6 + 40% × 50.7 = 66
X-Ice North 4: 60% × 80.8 + 40% × 69.8 = 76
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67
Wet
VikingContact 7 +265Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 X-Ice North 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 12 tests 69 60 Reviews found online 66 74 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 92% 93% Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 70% 70% Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–1 81% 81% Wet Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 3–1 92% 89% VikingContact 7: 60% × 68.7 + 40% × 65.7 = 67
X-Ice North 4: 60% × 59.6 + 40% × 74 = 65
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76
Snow
X-Ice North 4 +783Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 X-Ice North 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 11 tests 79 87 Reviews found online 72 77 Ice Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–4 77% 94% Ice Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–3 87% 97% Ice Traction (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–4 70% 94% Snow Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–1 95% 93% Snow Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 3–1 99% 96% Snow Traction (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 3–0 95% 91% VikingContact 7: 60% × 79 + 40% × 72.2 = 76
X-Ice North 4: 60% × 87.1 + 40% × 77.4 = 83
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70
Comfort
X-Ice North 4 +575Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 X-Ice North 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests 70 76 Reviews found online 71 74 VikingContact 7: 40% × 70.1 + 60% × 70.5 = 70
X-Ice North 4: 40% × 76 + 60% × 73.9 = 75
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80
Noise
VikingContact 7 +2060Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 X-Ice North 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 10 tests 87 55 Reviews found online 68 ≈ 66 (est.) Exterior Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 60% Noise (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 100% 68% VikingContact 7: 60% × 87 + 40% × 68.3 = 80
X-Ice North 4: 60% × 55.4 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 60
No owner ratings of noise for X-Ice North 4. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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60
Treadwear
X-Ice North 4 +1474Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 X-Ice North 4 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 63 (est.) ≈ 71 (est.) Reviews found online 56 79 VikingContact 7: 60% × 62.6 (est.) + 40% × 55.8 = 60
X-Ice North 4: 60% × 71 (est.) + 40% × 78.8 = 74
No road tests of treadwear for VikingContact 7. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for X-Ice North 4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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64
Handling (owners)
X-Ice North 4 +1377Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 X-Ice North 4 Reviews found online 64 77 -
77
Efficiency
VikingContact 7 +1760Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 X-Ice North 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 7 tests 77 60 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 70%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Michelin X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 74 |
| Dry | 66 | 76 |
| Wet | 67 | 65 |
| Snow | 76 | 83 |
| Comfort | 70 | 75 |
| Noise | 80 | 60 |
| Treadwear | 60 | 74 |
| Handling (owners) | 64 | 77 |
| Efficiency | 77 | 60 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
VikingContact 7
74
/ 100
X-Ice North 4
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.
In the overall rankings of 10 tests that ran both, Continental VikingContact 7 finished ahead 4 times and Michelin X-Ice North 4 6 times.
| Discipline | Category | VikingContact 7 | X-Ice North 4 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 92% | 91% | +0.6 | 1–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 55% | 90% | −35.0 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 92% | 93% | −1.8 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 81% | 81% | +0.6 | 1–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 92% | 89% | +2.7 | 3–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 70% | 70% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 77% | 94% | −17.0 | 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Ice Handling | Snow | 87% | 97% | −9.8 | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Ice Traction | Snow | 70% | 94% | −24.6 | 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 95% | 93% | +1.9 | 2–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% | 96% | +2.9 | 3–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 95% | 91% | +3.7 | 3–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 50% #13/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 100% | 60% | +40.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Noise | Noise | 100% #3/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise (tester's mark) | Noise | 100% | 68% | +31.7 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 96% #4/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 93% #15/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% | 70% | +30.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 50% | 46% | +3.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/15 | #11/15 | – | 4–6 in 10 shared tests Newest: 2025 Teknikens Värld Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/50R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A VikingContact 7
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
Tire B X-Ice North 4
Pros
- Outstanding grip and traction on ice and snow
- Significantly lower road noise compared to competing studded tires
- Comfortable ride quality
Cons
- Premature stud loss reported by some users over multiple seasons
- Slightly slippery feel on rain and dry concrete
- Light studs can struggle to penetrate loose snow sitting on top of hard ice
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · Michelin X-Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 134 | — |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 22″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 7
74
/ 100
Michelin X-Ice North 4
Winner: Michelin X-Ice North 4 — better treadwear, handling and dry. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if noise and efficiency matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 80 vs 60 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 77 vs 60 on efficiency.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 74 vs 60 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 77 vs 64 on handling.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice North 4
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VikingContact 7 or X-Ice North 4?
Which is better in the wet, VikingContact 7 or X-Ice North 4?
Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 65 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, VikingContact 7 or X-Ice North 4?
Michelin X-Ice North 4, 76 vs 66 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, VikingContact 7 or X-Ice North 4?
Michelin X-Ice North 4, 83 vs 76 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, VikingContact 7 or X-Ice North 4?
Continental VikingContact 7, 80 vs 60 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, VikingContact 7 or X-Ice North 4?
Michelin X-Ice North 4, 75 vs 70 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, VikingContact 7 or X-Ice North 4?
Michelin X-Ice North 4, 74 vs 60 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, VikingContact 7 or X-Ice North 4?
Continental VikingContact 7, 77 vs 60 on our efficiency score.
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.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology