Tests 73 · 13 tests Owners 65 · 11 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin X-Ice North 4 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Cinturato Winter 2 leads, 71–69 Narrow edge
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Tests 75 · 18 tests Owners 67 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test (ice braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
70
Dry
X-Ice North 4 +169Why this score
Source X-Ice North 4 Cinturato Winter 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 80 73 Reviews found online 55 63 Dry Braking (% of best) 80% 97% -
60
Wet
Cinturato Winter 2 +2383Why this score
Source X-Ice North 4 Cinturato Winter 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 58 90 Reviews found online 64 74 Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) 94% 96% Wet Braking (% of best) 70% 92% Wet Circle (% of best) 97% 98% Wet Handling (% of best) 95% 99% -
82
Snow
X-Ice North 4 +874Why this score
Source X-Ice North 4 Cinturato Winter 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 86 76 Reviews found online 75 72 Snow Braking (% of best) 93% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 96% Snow Traction (% of best) 70% 96% -
72
Comfort
X-Ice North 4 +270Why this score
Source X-Ice North 4 Cinturato Winter 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 75 Reviews found online 67 62 -
60
Noise
Cinturato Winter 2 +161Why this score
Source X-Ice North 4 Cinturato Winter 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 56 57 Exterior Noise (% of best) 60% 95% -
68
Treadwear
X-Ice North 4 +464Why this score
Source X-Ice North 4 Cinturato Winter 2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 67 Reviews found online 69 60 -
63
Handling
Level63Why this score
Source X-Ice North 4 Cinturato Winter 2 Reviews found online 63 63
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin X-Ice North 4 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 71 |
| Dry | 70 | 69 |
| Wet | 60 | 83 |
| Snow | 82 | 74 |
| Comfort | 72 | 70 |
| Noise | 60 | 61 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 64 |
| Handling | 63 | 63 |
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
69
/ 100
X-Ice North 4
71
/ 100
Cinturato Winter 2
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 | X-Ice North 4 | Cinturato Winter 2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 80% #3/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 97% #11/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −16.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 92% #7/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 82% #16/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +9.4 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 95% #3/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 96% #7/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | −1.0 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 82% #4/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 100% #1/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | −17.6 | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 60% #11/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 95% #8/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | −34.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #8/8 · 2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #12/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −1.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 46% #15/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 63% #6/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | −16.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | 14% #7/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | +19.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 93% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 94% #22/31 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | −1.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #5/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 96% #8/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +2.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 70% #14/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 96% #6/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | −25.9 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 94% #4/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 95% #6/12 · 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test | −2.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 60% #4/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 88% #6/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | −27.5 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 89% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 80% #6/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | +8.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 90% #17/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | −8.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 60% #6/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | 64% #4/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | −4.4 | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 94% #4/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 96% #4/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | −2.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 70% #9/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 92% #8/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test | −22.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 97% #8/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 98% #4/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test | −1.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #20/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −3.3 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A X-Ice North 4
Pros
- Outstanding grip and traction on ice and snow
- Significantly lower road noise compared to competing studded tires
- Comfortable ride quality
Cons
- Premature stud loss reported by some users over multiple seasons
- Slightly slippery feel on rain and dry concrete
- Light studs can struggle to penetrate loose snow sitting on top of hard ice
Tire B Cinturato Winter 2
Pros
- Excellent traction and confidence in wet and snowy conditions
- Strong braking performance on dry surfaces
- High level of subjective road feedback and handling security
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and concerns regarding overall tire longevity
- Less precise handling and feedback compared to sportier winter tires
- Increased road noise and fuel consumption noted by some users
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin X-Ice North 4 | B · Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 41 |
| Rim diameters | — | 16″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | — | 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Michelin X-Ice North 4
71
/ 100
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
Winner: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 — better wet. Pick the Michelin X-Ice North 4 if snow and treadwear matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 scores 83 vs 60 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 82 vs 74 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 68 vs 64 on treadwear.
Tire A · Michelin X-Ice North 4
Tire B · Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
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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.