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Head-to-head Updated

Firestone Destination Winter SUV 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 1 + 13 road tests and 1 + 13 owner reviews. How we score

X-Ice North 4 is ahead, 74–63

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Firestone Destination Winter SUV
Tire AFirestone

Destination Winter SUV

Winter

± 9Provisional

Tests 65 · 1 test Owners 60 · 1 review

Best test result: #3 of 10 in 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test (noise)

Michelin X-Ice North 4
Tire BMichelin

X-Ice North 4

Winter

± 5

Tests 74 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 13 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.

  1. 59

    Dry

    X-Ice North 4 +17
    76
    Why this score
    SourceDestination Winter SUVX-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 10 tests5781
    Reviews found online6169

    Destination Winter SUV: 60% × 57.5 + 40% × 60.9 = 59

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 80.8 + 40% × 68.9 = 76

  2. 65

    Wet

    Level
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDestination Winter SUVX-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 12 tests6560
    Reviews found online6473

    Destination Winter SUV: 60% × 65.2 + 40% × 63.7 = 65

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 59.6 + 40% × 73.4 = 65

  3. 65

    Snow

    X-Ice North 4 +18
    83
    Why this score
    SourceDestination Winter SUVX-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 11 tests6987
    Reviews found online5978

    Destination Winter SUV: 60% × 69.1 + 40% × 58.9 = 65

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 87.1 + 40% × 77.5 = 83

  4. 60

    Comfort

    X-Ice North 4 +15
    75
    Why this score
    SourceDestination Winter SUVX-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 66 (est.)76
    Reviews found online5674

    Destination Winter SUV: 40% × 66.1 (est.) + 60% × 56.1 = 60

    X-Ice North 4: 40% × 76 + 60% × 73.5 = 75

    No road tests of comfort for Destination Winter SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 71

    Noise

    Destination Winter SUV +11
    60
    Why this score
    SourceDestination Winter SUVX-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 10 tests7455
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Destination Winter SUV: 60% × 74.2 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 71

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 55.4 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 60

    No owner ratings of noise for Destination Winter SUV or 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.

  6. 62

    Treadwear

    X-Ice North 4 +12
    74
    Why this score
    SourceDestination Winter SUVX-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 64 (est.)≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online5978

    Destination Winter SUV: 60% × 63.9 (est.) + 40% × 59.2 = 62

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 70.7 (est.) + 40% × 78.3 = 74

    No road tests of treadwear for Destination Winter SUV. 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).

  7. 59

    Handling (owners)

    X-Ice North 4 +17
    76
    Why this score
    SourceDestination Winter SUVX-Ice North 4
    Reviews found online5976
  8. 68

    Efficiency

    Destination Winter SUV +8
    60
    Why this score
    SourceDestination Winter SUVX-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 7 tests6860
Scores at a glance
CategoryFirestone Destination Winter SUVMichelin X-Ice North 4
Relative Score 63 74
Dry 59 76
Wet 65 65
Snow 65 83
Comfort 60 75
Noise 71 60
Treadwear 62 74
Handling (owners) 59 76
Efficiency 68 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
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Important
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Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Not important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 9

Destination Winter SUV

± 5

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.

DisciplineCategoryDestination Winter SUVX-Ice North 4ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 90% #10/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test 95% #6/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 95% #6/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test 79% #17/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 91% #10/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test 92% #7/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 96% #10/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test 97% #6/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 92% #6/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test 99% #5/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 96% #5/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test 99% #2/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #3/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 91% #7/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test 96% #6/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 72% #3/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test 46% #15/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #8/10 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test #3/6 2027 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Destination Winter SUV

Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.

Tire B X-Ice North 4

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and braking on ice and snow, with several reviewers describing it as class-leading and rarely triggering ABS
  • Low stud noise on clear pavement for a studded tire, with some reviewers rating it quieter than other studded tires they have used
  • Confident, predictable handling in winter conditions, including on ice tracks, with one reviewer noting improved directness and controllability on an older AWD car

Cons

  • Stud retention is inconsistent, with reports of studs coming loose after several seasons and one warranty claim after heavy stud loss on front tires
  • Reduced performance and some slippage on wet and dry pavement, as well as in early winter and early spring conditions
  • Noticeable noise on dry roads for some users, particularly the high stud count and EV combination
All owner themes in the X-Ice North 4 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Firestone Destination Winter SUV B · Michelin X-Ice North 4
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Firestone Destination Winter SUV

Michelin X-Ice North 4

Winner: Michelin X-Ice North 4 — better snow, dry and handling. Pick the Firestone Destination Winter SUV if noise and efficiency matter most to you. Firestone Destination Winter SUV rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 1 review), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 83 vs 65 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 76 vs 59 on dry.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 76 vs 59 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 75 vs 60 on comfort.

Tire A · Firestone Destination Winter SUV
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Tire B · Michelin X-Ice North 4
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Destination Winter SUV or X-Ice North 4?

Which is better in the wet, Destination Winter SUV or X-Ice North 4?

Neither, by our numbers: 65 vs 65 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Destination Winter SUV or X-Ice North 4?

Michelin X-Ice North 4, 76 vs 59 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Destination Winter SUV or X-Ice North 4?

Michelin X-Ice North 4, 83 vs 65 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Destination Winter SUV or X-Ice North 4?

Firestone Destination Winter SUV, 71 vs 60 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Destination Winter SUV or X-Ice North 4?

Michelin X-Ice North 4, 75 vs 60 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Destination Winter SUV or X-Ice North 4?

Michelin X-Ice North 4, 74 vs 62 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Destination Winter SUV or X-Ice North 4?

Firestone Destination Winter SUV, 68 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