Tests 74 · 8 tests Owners 79 · 10 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test (snow handling (tester's mark))
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental VikingContact 8 vs Michelin X Ice Snow — 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 10 + 19 owner reviews. How we score
VikingContact 8 leads, 76–73 Narrow edge
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Tests 70 · 13 tests Owners 79 · 19 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test (comfort (tester's mark))
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 ice traction for both, VikingContact 8 won 0 and X Ice Snow won 4 (average 88% vs 95% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured dry braking for both, VikingContact 8 won 2 and X Ice Snow won 1 (average 84% vs 82% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, VikingContact 8 won 0 and X Ice Snow won 3 (average 71% vs 77% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured wet braking for both, VikingContact 8 won 3 and X Ice Snow won 0 (average 83% vs 79% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured wet handling (tester's mark) for both, VikingContact 8 won 1 and X Ice Snow won 0 (average 76% vs 73% of the best).
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75
Dry
VikingContact 8 +768Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 11 tests 75 65 Reviews found online 75 72 Dry Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–1 84% 82% Dry Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 94% 91% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 93% 92% Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–0 90% 79% VikingContact 8: 60% × 74.6 + 40% × 75.1 = 75
X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.8 + 40% × 71.8 = 68
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71
Wet
Level71Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 12 tests 63 65 Reviews found online 84 80 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–3 71% 77% Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–0 76% 73% Wet Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–0 83% 79% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 85% 81% Wet Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 96% 94% VikingContact 8: 60% × 62.9 + 40% × 84 = 71
X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 80.4 = 71
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78
Snow
VikingContact 8 +276Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 12 tests 77 73 Reviews found online 78 81 Ice Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–2 89% 95% Ice Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 100% 95% Ice Traction (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–4 88% 95% Snow Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–1 90% 89% Snow Handling (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–1 95% 94% Snow Traction (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–0 98% 95% Ice Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 80% 60% Snow Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–0 78% 68% VikingContact 8: 60% × 77.3 + 40% × 77.8 = 78
X Ice Snow: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 81.1 = 76
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86
Comfort
VikingContact 8 +680Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 3 tests 92 81 Reviews found online 82 80 Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 95% 98% VikingContact 8: 40% × 92.3 + 60% × 81.5 = 86
X Ice Snow: 40% × 81.5 + 60% × 79.7 = 80
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79
Noise
VikingContact 8 +475Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 8 tests 79 81 Reviews found online 79 ≈ 67 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 99% Exterior Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 99% 99% Noise (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 93% 94% VikingContact 8: 60% × 78.9 + 40% × 79.1 = 79
X Ice Snow: 60% × 80.7 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 75
No owner ratings of noise for X Ice Snow. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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73
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +477Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 70 (est.) ≈ 72 (est.) Reviews found online 77 84 VikingContact 8: 60% × 70.2 (est.) + 40% × 77 = 73
X Ice Snow: 60% × 72.5 (est.) + 40% × 83.5 = 77
No road tests of treadwear for VikingContact 8. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
No road tests of treadwear for X Ice Snow. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
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76
Handling (owners)
VikingContact 8 +175Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 76 75 -
78
Efficiency
VikingContact 8 +177Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 6 tests 78 77 Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–0 100% 98% Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 95% 97%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 8 | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 73 |
| Dry | 75 | 68 |
| Wet | 71 | 71 |
| Snow | 78 | 76 |
| Comfort | 86 | 80 |
| Noise | 79 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 73 | 77 |
| Handling (owners) | 76 | 75 |
| Efficiency | 78 | 77 |
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
76
/ 100
VikingContact 8
73
/ 100
X Ice Snow
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 9 tests that ran both, Continental VikingContact 8 finished ahead 9 times and Michelin X Ice Snow 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | VikingContact 8 | X Ice Snow | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 84% | 82% | +1.4 | 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Dry Circle | Dry | 94% | 91% | +3.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 93% | 92% | +1.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 90% | 79% | +11.1 | 1–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 71% | 77% | −6.1 | 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 83% | 79% | +3.8 | 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 85% | 81% | +4.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 96% | 94% | +2.3 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 76% | 73% | +3.7 | 1–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17 |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 89% | 95% | −5.6 | 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Ice Handling | Snow | 100% | 95% | +4.7 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17 |
| Ice Handling (tester's mark) | Snow | 80% | 60% | +20.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18 |
| Ice Traction | Snow | 88% | 95% | −7.9 | 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 90% | 89% | +0.9 | 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% | 94% | +1.0 | 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Snow Handling (tester's mark) | Snow | 78% | 68% | +10.0 | 1–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 98% | 95% | +2.2 | 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 95% | 98% | −3.4 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 99% | 99% | −0.4 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17 |
| Noise | Noise | 100% | 99% | +0.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Noise (tester's mark) | Noise | 93% | 94% | −0.4 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 100% | 98% | +1.3 | 1–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 95% | 97% | −2.7 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Road Rating (tester's mark) | Other | 91% | 97% | −6.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #6/10 | #7/10 | – | 9–0 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A VikingContact 8
Pros
- Exceptional ice and snow traction that rivals studded tires
- High level of ride comfort and ability to soak up potholes
- Very low noise levels and quiet operation
Cons
- Slightly loose grip or slipping behavior on completely dry roads
- Lack of steering feel and a noticeable gap in response on straightaways
- Occasional underperformance reports regarding rear-end stability at low speeds on specific SUVs
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 VikingContact 8 | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 123 | 100 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | 13″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 54 | 54 |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 8
73
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
Narrow edge: Continental VikingContact 8 — better dry, comfort and noise. Pick the Michelin X Ice Snow if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 75 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 86 vs 80 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 79 vs 75 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 77 vs 73 on treadwear.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 8
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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VikingContact 8 or X Ice Snow?
Which is better in the wet, VikingContact 8 or X Ice Snow?
Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 71 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, VikingContact 8 or X Ice Snow?
Continental VikingContact 8, 75 vs 68 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, VikingContact 8 or X Ice Snow?
Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 76 on the snow score, within 3 points.
Which is quieter, VikingContact 8 or X Ice Snow?
Continental VikingContact 8, 79 vs 75 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, VikingContact 8 or X Ice Snow?
Continental VikingContact 8, 86 vs 80 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, VikingContact 8 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 77 vs 73 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, VikingContact 8 or X Ice Snow?
Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 77 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.
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