Tests 74 · 3 tests Owners 51 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 8 in 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test (straight aqua)
Head-to-head
Updated
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
X-Ice Snow SUV is ahead, 70–60
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Tests 68 · 2 tests Owners 74 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
60
Dry
X-Ice Snow SUV +1171Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 73 71 Reviews found online 42 70 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 93% -
65
Wet
Level65Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 74 56 Reviews found online 52 78 Wet Braking (% of best) 97% 88% Wet Handling (% of best) 99% 96% -
71
Snow
X-Ice Snow SUV +576Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 74 73 Reviews found online 67 81 Snow Handling (% of best) 97% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) 95% 100% -
55
Comfort
X-Ice Snow SUV +1873Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic X-Ice Snow SUV Reviews found online 42 77 -
–
Noise
No comparison73Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 77 -
54
Treadwear
X-Ice Snow SUV +1468Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic X-Ice Snow SUV Reviews found online 45 70 -
49
Handling
X-Ice Snow SUV +2271Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic X-Ice Snow SUV Reviews found online 49 71
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic | Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 60 | 70 |
| Dry | 60 | 71 |
| Wet | 65 | 65 |
| Snow | 71 | 76 |
| Comfort | 55 | 73 |
| Noise | – | 73 |
| Treadwear | 54 | 68 |
| Handling | 49 | 71 |
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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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
60
/ 100
UltraGrip Ice Arctic
70
/ 100
X-Ice Snow SUV
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | UltraGrip Ice Arctic | X-Ice Snow SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #4/10 · 2017 Autocenter Studded Winter Tyre Test | 93% #7/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | +5.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 94% #7/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 96% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | −2.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Ice | 91% #7/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | −6.9 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 78% #6/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 96% #2/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | −18.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 20% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | −3.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #4/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | −1.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 95% #7/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | −5.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 98% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 88% #6/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | +10.2 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 80% #3/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 97% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 88% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | +8.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A UltraGrip Ice Arctic
Pros
- Excellent traction and handling on packed snow
- Strong performance on ice during the first two seasons
- Reliable winter grip in extreme arctic conditions
Cons
- Significant stud loss after two seasons of use
- Abrupt and dangerous decline in grip performance by the third year
- Poor longevity relative to competitors despite remaining tread depth
Tire B X-Ice Snow SUV
Pros
- Outstanding traction on snow and ice
- Remarkably low road noise for a winter tire
- Excellent ride comfort
Cons
- Unsuitable for year-round use due to soft compound in warm temperatures
- Reduced handling precision compared to dedicated summer tires
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic | B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | — | 90 |
| Rim diameters | — | 16″ – 22″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
60
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
70
/ 100
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Winner: Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — better handling, comfort and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 71 vs 49 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 73 vs 55 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 68 vs 54 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 71 vs 60 on dry.
Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
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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.