Tests 66 · 5 tests Owners 73 · 5 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 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 5 + 13 road tests and 5 + 20 owner reviews. How we score
X Ice Snow leads, 73–69 Narrow edge
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Tests 70 · 13 tests Owners 78 · 20 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.
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56
Dry
X Ice Snow +1167Why this score
Source Winter i*pike RS2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 11 tests 49 65 Reviews found online 66 71 Dry Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 91% 93% Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 49.2 + 40% × 66 = 56
X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 70.8 = 67
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73
Wet
Winter i*pike RS2 +271Why this score
Source Winter i*pike RS2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 12 tests 71 65 Reviews found online 76 79 Wet Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 84% 79% Wet Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 96% 95% Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 71 + 40% × 75.7 = 73
X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.8 + 40% × 79.2 = 71
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76
Snow
Level76Why this score
Source Winter i*pike RS2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 12 tests 76 73 Reviews found online 77 81 Ice Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 91% 85% Ice Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 95% 86% Ice Traction (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 91% 70% Snow Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 99% 98% Snow Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 98% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 98% 98% Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 75.9 + 40% × 76.5 = 76
X Ice Snow: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 81.2 = 76
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72
Comfort
X Ice Snow +880Why this score
Source Winter i*pike RS2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests 79 81 Reviews found online 68 79 Winter i*pike RS2: 40% × 79 + 60% × 67.6 = 72
X Ice Snow: 40% × 80.6 + 60% × 78.8 = 80
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59
Noise
X Ice Snow +1675Why this score
Source Winter i*pike RS2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 8 tests 55 80 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Noise (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 63% 89% Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 54.6 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 59
X Ice Snow: 60% × 80.2 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 75
No owner ratings of noise for Winter i*pike RS2 or X Ice Snow. 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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72
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +476Why this score
Source Winter i*pike RS2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 69 (est.) ≈ 72 (est.) Reviews found online 75 81 Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 69.5 (est.) + 40% × 74.8 = 72
X Ice Snow: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 81.4 = 76
No road tests of treadwear for Winter i*pike RS2. 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 Snow. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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72
Handling (owners)
X Ice Snow +375Why this score
Source Winter i*pike RS2 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 72 75 -
73
Efficiency
X Ice Snow +477Why this score
Source Winter i*pike RS2 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 6 tests 73 77
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 73 |
| Dry | 56 | 67 |
| Wet | 73 | 71 |
| Snow | 76 | 76 |
| Comfort | 72 | 80 |
| Noise | 59 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 76 |
| Handling (owners) | 72 | 75 |
| Efficiency | 73 | 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
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Important
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Less important
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Neutral
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Less important
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Not important
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Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
Winter i*pike RS2
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 2 tests that ran both, Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 finished ahead 1 times and Michelin X Ice Snow 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | Winter i*pike RS2 | X Ice Snow | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 91% | 93% | −1.8 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 40% #6/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 78% #5/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 96% #3/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 75% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 84% | 79% | +5.0 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 96% | 95% | +0.7 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 91% | 85% | +5.4 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Ice Handling | Snow | 95% | 86% | +8.8 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Ice Traction | Snow | 91% | 70% | +21.8 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% | 98% | +1.2 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% | 98% | −0.7 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 98% | 98% | 0.0 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 80% #2/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 97% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #3/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 99% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise (tester's mark) | Noise | 63% | 89% | −26.1 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 100% #2/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% #2/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 97% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 67% | 50% | +16.7 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #13/16 | #8/16 | – | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winter i*pike RS2
Pros
- Exceptional traction and braking on snow and ice
- Strong side grip and predictable cornering limits
- High durability with secure stud retention over multiple years
Cons
- Poor steering feedback on dry tarmac
- Noticeable understeer in dry road conditions
Tire B X Ice Snow
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow, packed snow, and slush
- High confidence and predictable handling on icy and freezing roads
- Impressive tread wear longevity and minimal wear over multiple seasons
Cons
- Average performance on dry and wet pavement compared to dedicated non-winter tires
- Slightly noisier on dry pavement as the tread wears down
- Can feel slightly twitchy at the limit or less comfortable than older X-Ice generations
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 | 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?
69
/ 100
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
73
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
Narrow edge: Michelin X Ice Snow — better noise, dry and comfort. Where the Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 75 vs 59 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 67 vs 56 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 80 vs 72 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 72 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet braking
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 won 2 of 2 shared wet braking tests.
Tire A · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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Winter i*pike RS2 or X Ice Snow?
Which is better in the wet, Winter i*pike RS2 or X Ice Snow?
Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 71 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winter i*pike RS2 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 67 vs 56 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Winter i*pike RS2 or X Ice Snow?
Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 76 on the snow score, within 3 points.
Which is quieter, Winter i*pike RS2 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 75 vs 59 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Winter i*pike RS2 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 80 vs 72 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Winter i*pike RS2 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 72 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Winter i*pike RS2 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 77 vs 73 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