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Head-to-head Updated

Kumho WinterCraft WP71 vs Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — 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 6 + 2 road tests and 17 + 4 owner reviews. How we score

X-Ice Snow SUV is ahead, 72–60

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Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Tire AKumho

WinterCraft WP71

Winter

± 6

Tests 70 · 6 tests Owners 48 · 17 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (snow handling)

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Tire BMichelin

X-Ice Snow SUV

Winter

± 6

Tests 68 · 2 tests Owners 77 · 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.

  1. 53

    Dry

    X-Ice Snow SUV +19
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 2 tests6270
    Reviews found online3974

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 62.1 + 40% × 38.5 = 53

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 74.1 = 72

  2. 64

    Wet

    X-Ice Snow SUV +3
    67
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests7657
    Reviews found online4881

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 75.6 + 40% × 47.7 = 64

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 57.5 + 40% × 80.5 = 67

  3. 68

    Snow

    X-Ice Snow SUV +8
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests7373
    Reviews found online6081

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 73 + 40% × 60.3 = 68

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 80.5 = 76

  4. 46

    Comfort

    X-Ice Snow SUV +29
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online3478

    WinterCraft WP71: 40% × 62.9 (est.) + 60% × 34.3 = 46

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 40% × 70.6 (est.) + 60% × 77.6 = 75

    No road tests of comfort for WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 73

    Noise

    Level
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 2 tests7877
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 77.8 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 73

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 77 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 73

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV. 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.

  6. 62

    Treadwear

    X-Ice Snow SUV +8
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / – tests69≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online5373

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 68.8 + 40% × 52.9 = 62

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 68.6 (est.) + 40% × 72.5 = 70

    No road tests of treadwear for X-Ice Snow SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 38

    Handling (owners)

    X-Ice Snow SUV +35
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71X-Ice Snow SUV
    Reviews found online3873
  8. 52

    Efficiency

    X-Ice Snow SUV +21
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 2 tests5273
Scores at a glance
CategoryKumho WinterCraft WP71Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Relative Score 60 72
Dry 53 72
Wet 64 67
Snow 68 76
Comfort 46 75
Noise 73 73
Treadwear 62 70
Handling (owners) 38 73
Efficiency 52 73

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
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

WinterCraft WP71

± 6

X-Ice Snow SUV

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.

DisciplineCategoryWinterCraft WP71X-Ice Snow SUVΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 97% #11/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 93% #7/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 93% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 92% #8/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 93% #7/44 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview 88% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 96% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #17/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 99% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 100% #2/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 74% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 96% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 82% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 61% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #12/10 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 #5/8 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A WinterCraft WP71

Pros

  • Strong traction and braking performance in deep snow and slush
  • Competitive price point compared to premium winter tire alternatives
  • Predictable handling in dry winter conditions

Cons

  • Excessive road noise, particularly at low to moderate speeds
  • Vague or 'spongy' steering feedback and handling characteristics
  • Inconsistent lateral grip and understeer issues on wet roads
All owner themes in the WinterCraft WP71 review

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
All owner themes in the X-Ice Snow SUV review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71 B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available290
Rim diameters17″ – 18″16″ – 22″

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV

Winner: Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — better handling, comfort and efficiency. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 73 vs 38 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 75 vs 46 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 73 vs 52 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 72 vs 53 on dry.

Tire A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
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Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
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WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Which is better in the wet, WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 67 vs 64 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 72 vs 53 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 76 vs 68 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 73 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 75 vs 46 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 70 vs 62 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterCraft WP71 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 73 vs 52 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