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))
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin X Ice Snow vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 — 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 13 + 6 road tests and 20 + 9 owner reviews. How we score
UltraGrip Ice 2 leads, 77–73 Narrow edge
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Tests 77 · 6 tests Owners 77 · 9 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (exterior noise)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
Key facts
- In 5 tests that measured ice handling for both, X Ice Snow won 3 and UltraGrip Ice 2 won 2 (average 80% vs 82% of the best).
- In 5 tests that measured snow handling for both, X Ice Snow won 3 and UltraGrip Ice 2 won 2 (average 95% vs 97% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured dry braking for both, X Ice Snow won 1 and UltraGrip Ice 2 won 3 (average 84% vs 92% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, X Ice Snow won 0 and UltraGrip Ice 2 won 4 (average 77% vs 87% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured wet handling for both, X Ice Snow won 0 and UltraGrip Ice 2 won 4 (average 89% vs 93% of the best).
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67
Dry
UltraGrip Ice 2 +976Why this score
Source X Ice Snow UltraGrip Ice 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 6 tests 65 77 Reviews found online 71 75 Dry Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–3 84% 92% Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 75% 90% X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 70.7 = 67
UltraGrip Ice 2: 60% × 77.1 + 40% × 74.9 = 76
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71
Wet
UltraGrip Ice 2 +1182Why this score
Source X Ice Snow UltraGrip Ice 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 6 tests 65 83 Reviews found online 79 81 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 85% 100% Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 70% 70% Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–4 77% 87% Wet Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–4 89% 93% X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 79.2 = 71
UltraGrip Ice 2: 60% × 82.8 + 40% × 81.1 = 82
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76
Snow
X Ice Snow +472Why this score
Source X Ice Snow UltraGrip Ice 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 6 tests 73 71 Reviews found online 81 72 Ice Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 3–0 85% 81% Ice Handling (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 3–2 80% 82% Ice Traction (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 3–0 75% 71% Snow Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–1 99% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 3–2 95% 97% Snow Traction (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–1 94% 94% Deep Snow Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 100% 100% X Ice Snow: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 81.1 = 76
UltraGrip Ice 2: 60% × 71.1 + 40% × 72.3 = 72
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80
Comfort
X Ice Snow +674Why this score
Source X Ice Snow UltraGrip Ice 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests 81 70 Reviews found online 79 76 Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 100% 100% X Ice Snow: 40% × 81 + 60% × 78.8 = 80
UltraGrip Ice 2: 40% × 70 + 60% × 76.3 = 74
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75
Noise
UltraGrip Ice 2 +580Why this score
Source X Ice Snow UltraGrip Ice 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 5 tests 81 89 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Exterior Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 100% 100% Noise (tester's mark) (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–1 80% 86% X Ice Snow: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 75
UltraGrip Ice 2: 60% × 88.8 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 80
No owner ratings of noise for X Ice Snow or UltraGrip Ice 2. 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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76
Treadwear
Level76Why this score
Source X Ice Snow UltraGrip Ice 2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 72 (est.) ≈ 72 (est.) Reviews found online 81 82 X Ice Snow: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 81.4 = 76
UltraGrip Ice 2: 60% × 72.1 (est.) + 40% × 82 = 76
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).
No road tests of treadwear for UltraGrip Ice 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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75
Handling (owners)
UltraGrip Ice 2 +277Why this score
Source X Ice Snow UltraGrip Ice 2 Reviews found online 75 77 -
77
Efficiency
X Ice Snow +572Why this score
Source X Ice Snow UltraGrip Ice 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 3 tests 77 72 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 100% 90%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin X Ice Snow | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 77 |
| Dry | 67 | 76 |
| Wet | 71 | 82 |
| Snow | 76 | 72 |
| Comfort | 80 | 74 |
| Noise | 75 | 80 |
| Treadwear | 76 | 76 |
| Handling (owners) | 75 | 77 |
| Efficiency | 77 | 72 |
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
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
X Ice Snow
77
/ 100
UltraGrip Ice 2
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 11 tests that ran both, Michelin X Ice Snow finished ahead 5 times and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 6 times.
| Discipline | Category | X Ice Snow | UltraGrip Ice 2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 84% | 92% | −7.6 | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 75% | 90% | −15.0 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 85% | 100% | −15.5 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 77% | 87% | −10.2 | 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 89% | 93% | −4.1 | 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 70% | 70% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Deep Snow Traction | Snow | 100% | 100% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 85% | 81% | +3.7 | 3–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Ice Handling | Snow | 80% | 82% | −2.5 | 3–2 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Ice Traction | Snow | 75% | 71% | +3.8 | 3–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% | 94% | +4.7 | 2–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% | 97% | −1.7 | 3–2 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 94% | 94% | −0.5 | 1–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 100% | 100% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16 |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 100% | 100% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise (tester's mark) | Noise | 80% | 86% | −6.7 | 0–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% | 90% | +10.4 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 47% | 56% | −8.9 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #13/17 | #17/17 | – | 5–6 in 11 shared tests Newest: The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tyres for 2024 · 225/50 R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A 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
Tire B UltraGrip Ice 2
Pros
- Excellent traction and reliability in deep snow conditions
- High level of ride comfort and low cabin noise
- Impressive tread life and durability over multiple seasons
Cons
- Limited grip on polished ice compared to studded tires
- Lack of steering feedback and informative handling
- Potential for aquaplaning in heavy slush or deep water
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin X Ice Snow | B · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 100 | 39 |
| Rim diameters | 13″ – 21″ | 13″ – 19″ |
| Sizes in common | 36 | 36 |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
77
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
Narrow edge: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 — better wet, dry and noise. Pick the Michelin X Ice Snow if comfort, efficiency and snow matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 scores 82 vs 71 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 scores 76 vs 67 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 80 vs 74 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 77 vs 72 on efficiency.
Tire A · Michelin X Ice Snow
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
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X Ice Snow or UltraGrip Ice 2?
Which is better in the wet, X Ice Snow or UltraGrip Ice 2?
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, 82 vs 71 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, X Ice Snow or UltraGrip Ice 2?
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, 76 vs 67 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, X Ice Snow or UltraGrip Ice 2?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 72 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, X Ice Snow or UltraGrip Ice 2?
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, 80 vs 75 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, X Ice Snow or UltraGrip Ice 2?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 80 vs 74 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, X Ice Snow or UltraGrip Ice 2?
Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 76 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
Which rolls more easily, X Ice Snow or UltraGrip Ice 2?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 77 vs 72 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