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 Nexen Winguard Sport — 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 + 3 road tests and 20 + 27 owner reviews. How we score
X Ice Snow is ahead, 73–66
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Tests 68 · 3 tests Owners 64 · 27 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (noise)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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67
Dry
X Ice Snow +364Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Winguard Sport Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 1 tests 65 68 Reviews found online 71 58 X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 70.7 = 67
Winguard Sport: 60% × 68.3 + 40% × 57.5 = 64
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71
Wet
X Ice Snow +368Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Winguard Sport Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 3 tests 65 70 Reviews found online 79 65 X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 79.2 = 71
Winguard Sport: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 64.9 = 68
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76
Snow
X Ice Snow +571Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Winguard Sport Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 2 tests 73 72 Reviews found online 81 70 X Ice Snow: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 81.1 = 76
Winguard Sport: 60% × 71.5 + 40% × 69.6 = 71
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80
Comfort
X Ice Snow +1763Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Winguard Sport Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / – tests 81 ≈ 67 (est.) Reviews found online 79 61 X Ice Snow: 40% × 81 + 60% × 78.8 = 80
Winguard Sport: 40% × 67 (est.) + 60% × 60.5 = 63
No road tests of comfort for Winguard Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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75
Noise
X Ice Snow +471Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Winguard Sport Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 1 tests 81 80 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) 58 X Ice Snow: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 75
Winguard Sport: 60% × 80.1 + 40% × 58.4 = 71
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.
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76
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +1264Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Winguard Sport Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 72 (est.) 60 Reviews found online 81 69 X Ice Snow: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 81.4 = 76
Winguard Sport: 60% × 60.2 + 40% × 68.8 = 64
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).
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75
Handling (owners)
X Ice Snow +1857Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Winguard Sport Reviews found online 75 57 -
77
Efficiency
X Ice Snow +2453Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Winguard Sport Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 1 tests 77 53
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin X Ice Snow | Nexen Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 66 |
| Dry | 67 | 64 |
| Wet | 71 | 68 |
| Snow | 76 | 71 |
| Comfort | 80 | 63 |
| Noise | 75 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 76 | 64 |
| Handling (owners) | 75 | 57 |
| Efficiency | 77 | 53 |
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
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Less important
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Not important
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
X Ice Snow
66
/ 100
Winguard Sport
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.
| Discipline | Category | X Ice Snow | Winguard Sport | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 81% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 95% #15/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 92% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 99% #7/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 75% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 92% #16/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 72% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 76% #48/54 · 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #6/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #10/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 69% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 96% #19/30 · 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 86% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 95% #19/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 96% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 99% #4/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 97% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 71% #18/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 50% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #7/10 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | #48/54 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | – | 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
Tire B Winguard Sport
Pros
- Exceptional value and budget-friendly pricing compared to major brand alternatives
- Strong traction and control in snow, slush, and compacted winter conditions
- Remarkably quiet and smooth ride with low road noise
Cons
- Occasional understeer or reduced grip on semi-dry or wet roads
- Performance degrades in warmer transition temperatures (around 4-13°C)
- Some mixed feedback regarding ice performance compared to dedicated Scandinavian winter tires
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin X Ice Snow | B · Nexen Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 100 | 37 |
| Rim diameters | 13″ – 21″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | — | 11/32″ |
| Treadwear warranty | — | 25,000 mi |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 44 psi |
| Sizes in common | 30 | 30 |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
66
/ 100
Nexen Winguard Sport
Winner: Michelin X Ice Snow — better efficiency, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 77 vs 53 on efficiency.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 75 vs 57 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 80 vs 63 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 64 on treadwear.
Tire A · Michelin X Ice Snow
Tire B · Nexen Winguard Sport
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X Ice Snow or Winguard Sport?
Which is better in the wet, X Ice Snow or Winguard Sport?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 71 vs 68 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, X Ice Snow or Winguard Sport?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 67 vs 64 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, X Ice Snow or Winguard Sport?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 71 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, X Ice Snow or Winguard Sport?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 75 vs 71 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, X Ice Snow or Winguard Sport?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 80 vs 63 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, X Ice Snow or Winguard Sport?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 64 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, X Ice Snow or Winguard Sport?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 77 vs 53 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