Tests 67 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 19 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 5 in 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 (ice braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin X Ice Snow vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
X Ice Snow leads, 71–67 Narrow edge
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Tests 77 · 6 tests Owners 58 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #4 of 16 in 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
62
Dry
Ice Zero 2 +1072Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 56 81 Reviews found online 70 58 Dry Braking (% of best) 80% 97% -
68
Wet
Ice Zero 2 +573Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 62 80 Reviews found online 77 62 Wet Braking (% of best) 80% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 97% -
76
Snow
X Ice Snow +571Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 76 Reviews found online 80 64 Snow Braking (% of best) 99% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) 96% 98% -
80
Comfort
X Ice Snow +1763Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 82 72 Reviews found online 78 50 -
75
Noise
X Ice Snow +966Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 81 65 -
72
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +1458Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Ice Zero 2 Reviews found online 76 52 -
74
Handling
X Ice Snow +1856Why this score
Source X Ice Snow Ice Zero 2 Reviews found online 74 56
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin X Ice Snow | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 67 |
| Dry | 62 | 72 |
| Wet | 68 | 73 |
| Snow | 76 | 71 |
| Comfort | 80 | 63 |
| Noise | 75 | 66 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 58 |
| Handling | 74 | 56 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
71
/ 100
X Ice Snow
67
/ 100
Ice Zero 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 Snow | Ice Zero 2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 80% #5/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 97% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −17.5 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 96% #5/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 93% #14/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | +3.0 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 87% #7/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +12.9 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Ice | 95% #5/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 92% #7/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | +2.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 71% #13/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +29.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #7/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | +0.9 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 50% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 55% #10/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −4.5 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 57% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 8% #12/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | +48.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 99% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 98% #4/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −0.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 96% #6/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 98% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −2.8 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 75% #3/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 84% #14/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | −9.2 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 97% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 60% #12/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +36.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #4/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 89% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −8.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Ice Handling | Subj | 60% #11/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | 70% #7/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −10.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 90% #3/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 70% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +20.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Road Score | Subj | 97% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 70% #12/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | +27.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 56% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 90% #6/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −33.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 78% #5/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 89% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −11.1 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −20.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #4/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.1 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A X Ice Snow
Pros
- Exceptional traction and lateral grip in deep snow and slush
- High level of confidence and stability on icy surfaces
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
Cons
- Average performance and handling on dry or wet pavement
- Increased road noise as the tires wear over time
- Can feel slightly 'twitchy' or less stable at the absolute limit of handling
Tire B Ice Zero 2
Pros
- Very good traction and performance on snow
- Reasonably quiet for a studded winter tire
- Adequate performance on wet and salty roads
Cons
- Dangerous slipping on ice at low speeds in cold climates
- Strong, intrusive howling noise at speeds above 95 km/h
- Poor overall handling compared to competing studded winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin X Ice Snow | B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 100 | — |
| Rim diameters | 13″ – 21″ | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
67
/ 100
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Winner: Michelin X Ice Snow — better handling, comfort and treadwear. Pick the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 if dry and wet matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 74 vs 56 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 72 vs 58 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 72 vs 62 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin X Ice Snow
Tire B · Pirelli Ice Zero 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.