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Michelin X Ice Snow vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 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 + 9 road tests and 20 + 61 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: X Ice Snow 73, WinGuard Sport 2 72.

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Michelin X Ice Snow
Tire AMichelin

X Ice Snow

Winter

± 5

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))

Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
Tire BNexen

WinGuard Sport 2

Winter

± 5

Tests 73 · 9 tests Owners 71 · 61 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (noise)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 67

    Dry

    WinGuard Sport 2 +3
    70
    Why this score
    SourceX Ice SnowWinGuard Sport 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 6 tests6571
    Reviews found online7169

    X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 70.7 = 67

    WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 69.4 = 70

  2. 71

    Wet

    WinGuard Sport 2 +4
    75
    Why this score
    SourceX Ice SnowWinGuard Sport 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 9 tests6573
    Reviews found online7977

    X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 79.2 = 71

    WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 73.5 + 40% × 77.4 = 75

  3. 76

    Snow

    X Ice Snow +6
    70
    Why this score
    SourceX Ice SnowWinGuard Sport 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 9 tests7370
    Reviews found online8170

    X Ice Snow: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 81.1 = 76

    WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 69.6 = 70

  4. 80

    Comfort

    X Ice Snow +12
    68
    Why this score
    SourceX Ice SnowWinGuard Sport 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests8164
    Reviews found online7971

    X Ice Snow: 40% × 81 + 60% × 78.8 = 80

    WinGuard Sport 2: 40% × 64.4 + 60% × 70.6 = 68

  5. 75

    Noise

    WinGuard Sport 2 +6
    81
    Why this score
    SourceX Ice SnowWinGuard Sport 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 6 tests8194
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)61

    X Ice Snow: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 75

    WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 94.3 + 40% × 61.3 = 81

    No owner ratings of noise for 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.

  6. 76

    Treadwear

    X Ice Snow +3
    73
    Why this score
    SourceX Ice SnowWinGuard Sport 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 72 (est.)75
    Reviews found online8171

    X Ice Snow: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 81.4 = 76

    WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 74.8 + 40% × 71.3 = 73

    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).

  7. 75

    Handling (owners)

    X Ice Snow +5
    70
    Why this score
    SourceX Ice SnowWinGuard Sport 2
    Reviews found online7570
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    X Ice Snow +43
    34
    Why this score
    SourceX Ice SnowWinGuard Sport 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 6 tests7734
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin X Ice SnowNexen WinGuard Sport 2
Relative Score 73 72
Dry 67 70
Wet 71 75
Snow 76 70
Comfort 80 68
Noise 75 81
Treadwear 76 73
Handling (owners) 75 70
Efficiency 77 34

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
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Not important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

X Ice Snow

± 5

WinGuard Sport 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.

DisciplineCategoryX Ice SnowWinGuard Sport 2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 81% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 100% #5/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 92% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 99% #5/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 78% #5/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test 80% #6/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 75% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 91% #7/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 72% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 90% #4/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 95% #6/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test 99% #3/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 69% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 96% #7/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 86% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 96% #7/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 96% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 92% #8/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 97% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test 93% #6/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Exterior Noise Noise 99% #2/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 100% #1/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 97% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 78% #8/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 50% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #7/10 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test #10/10 2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test R18 – Different tests

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
All owner themes in the X Ice Snow review

Tire B WinGuard Sport 2

Pros

  • Excellent value and affordable price point compared to premium winter tires
  • Low noise levels and high comfort, often rivaling all-season or summer tires
  • Strong grip and stability on cold dry and wet pavement

Cons

  • Subpar performance on hard-packed ice and deep snow compared to dedicated heavy-duty winter tires
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to slightly vague handling or a 'rolly' feeling in hard cornering
  • Reports of higher rolling resistance resulting in a minor drop in fuel economy
All owner themes in the WinGuard Sport 2 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin X Ice Snow B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available10080
Rim diameters13″ – 21″15″ – 20″
Tread depth—11/32″
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—51 psi
Sizes in common5151

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin X Ice Snow

Nexen WinGuard Sport 2

Too close to call: Michelin X Ice Snow and Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 are within 2 points overall. Michelin X Ice Snow is stronger on efficiency, comfort and snow. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 is stronger on noise, wet and dry.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin X Ice Snow scores 77 vs 34 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin X Ice Snow scores 80 vs 68 on comfort.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 70 on snow.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 81 vs 75 on noise.

Tire A · Michelin X Ice Snow
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Tire B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
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X Ice Snow or WinGuard Sport 2?

Which is better in the wet, X Ice Snow or WinGuard Sport 2?

Nexen WinGuard Sport 2, 75 vs 71 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, X Ice Snow or WinGuard Sport 2?

Nexen WinGuard Sport 2, 70 vs 67 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, X Ice Snow or WinGuard Sport 2?

Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 70 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, X Ice Snow or WinGuard Sport 2?

Nexen WinGuard Sport 2, 81 vs 75 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, X Ice Snow or WinGuard Sport 2?

Michelin X Ice Snow, 80 vs 68 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, X Ice Snow or WinGuard Sport 2?

Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 73 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, X Ice Snow or WinGuard Sport 2?

Michelin X Ice Snow, 77 vs 34 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