Tests 66 · 3 tests Owners 68 · 15 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test (noise)
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin X Ice Snow — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
X Ice Snow leads, 71–67 Narrow edge
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Tests 67 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 19 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (rolling resistance)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
62
Dry
Level62Why this score
Source Winter Craft WP51 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 62 56 Reviews found online 63 70 Dry Braking (% of best) 94% 80% Dry Handling (% of best) 97% 92% -
68
Wet
Level68Why this score
Source Winter Craft WP51 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 67 62 Reviews found online 69 77 Wet Braking (% of best) 85% 83% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 94% -
69
Snow
X Ice Snow +776Why this score
Source Winter Craft WP51 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 67 73 Reviews found online 73 80 Snow Braking (% of best) 93% 69% Snow Handling (% of best) 97% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) 89% 98% -
70
Comfort
X Ice Snow +1080Why this score
Source Winter Craft WP51 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) – 82 Reviews found online 70 78 -
71
Noise
X Ice Snow +475Why this score
Source Winter Craft WP51 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 74 81 -
66
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +672Why this score
Source Winter Craft WP51 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 67 76 -
65
Handling
X Ice Snow +974Why this score
Source Winter Craft WP51 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 65 74
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 71 |
| Dry | 62 | 62 |
| Wet | 68 | 68 |
| Snow | 69 | 76 |
| Comfort | 70 | 80 |
| Noise | 71 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 66 | 72 |
| Handling | 65 | 74 |
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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Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Winter Craft WP51
71
/ 100
X Ice Snow
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 | Winter Craft WP51 | X Ice Snow | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% #4/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 80% #5/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | +13.8 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 97% #10/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 92% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | +4.9 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 90% #6/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −9.9 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 89% #4/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | −10.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Ice | 85% #8/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 95% #5/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | −9.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 92% #3/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 70% #7/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +22.6 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #1/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 92% #2/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 44% #6/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +47.8 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 8% #12/16 · 2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tyre Test | 14% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | −6.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 93% #8/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 69% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +24.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #5/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | −1.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 89% #8/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 98% #7/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −9.6 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 91% #7/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | −7.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 85% #32/49 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | 83% #7/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #6/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 94% #9/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2.8 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winter Craft WP51
Pros
- Exceptional traction and reliability in deep snow and slush
- High price-to-performance ratio compared to premium brands
- Solid durability and tread life for the price point
Cons
- Noticeable increase in road noise
- Mediocre wet-weather braking and traction
- Lack of steering feedback and stability on dry pavement
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 · Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 4 | 100 |
| Rim diameters | 13″ – 15″ | 13″ – 21″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
Kumho Winter Craft WP51
71
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
Winner: Michelin X Ice Snow — better comfort, handling and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 80 vs 70 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 74 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 69 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 72 vs 66 on treadwear.
Tire A · Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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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.