Tests 68 · 3 tests Owners 64 · 27 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (noise)
Head-to-head
Updated
Nexen Winguard Sport vs Michelin X Ice Snow — 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 3 + 13 road tests and 27 + 20 owner reviews. How we score
X Ice Snow is ahead, 73–66
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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))
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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64
Dry
X Ice Snow +367Why this score
Source Winguard Sport X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 11 tests 68 65 Reviews found online 58 71 Winguard Sport: 60% × 68.3 + 40% × 57.5 = 64
X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 70.7 = 67
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68
Wet
X Ice Snow +371Why this score
Source Winguard Sport X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 12 tests 70 65 Reviews found online 65 79 Winguard Sport: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 64.9 = 68
X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 79.2 = 71
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71
Snow
X Ice Snow +576Why this score
Source Winguard Sport X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 12 tests 72 73 Reviews found online 70 81 Winguard Sport: 60% × 71.5 + 40% × 69.6 = 71
X Ice Snow: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 81.1 = 76
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63
Comfort
X Ice Snow +1780Why this score
Source Winguard Sport X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests ≈ 67 (est.) 81 Reviews found online 61 79 Winguard Sport: 40% × 67 (est.) + 60% × 60.5 = 63
X Ice Snow: 40% × 81 + 60% × 78.8 = 80
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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71
Noise
X Ice Snow +475Why this score
Source Winguard Sport X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests 80 81 Reviews found online 58 ≈ 66 (est.) Winguard Sport: 60% × 80.1 + 40% × 58.4 = 71
X Ice Snow: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 75
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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64
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +1276Why this score
Source Winguard Sport X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 60 ≈ 72 (est.) Reviews found online 69 81 Winguard Sport: 60% × 60.2 + 40% × 68.8 = 64
X Ice Snow: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 81.4 = 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).
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57
Handling (owners)
X Ice Snow +1875Why this score
Source Winguard Sport X Ice Snow Reviews found online 57 75 -
53
Efficiency
X Ice Snow +2477Why this score
Source Winguard Sport X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests 53 77
Scores at a glance
| Category | Nexen Winguard Sport | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 66 | 73 |
| Dry | 64 | 67 |
| Wet | 68 | 71 |
| Snow | 71 | 76 |
| Comfort | 63 | 80 |
| Noise | 71 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 76 |
| Handling (owners) | 57 | 75 |
| Efficiency | 53 | 77 |
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
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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
66
/ 100
Winguard Sport
73
/ 100
X Ice Snow
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 | Winguard Sport | X Ice Snow | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #15/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 81% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #7/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 92% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 92% #16/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 75% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 76% #48/54 · 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | 72% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #10/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 95% #6/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #19/30 · 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | 69% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% #19/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 86% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 99% #4/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 100% #1/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 71% #18/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 97% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 98% #2/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 50% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #48/54 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | #7/10 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A 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
Tire B 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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Nexen Winguard Sport | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 37 | 100 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | 13″ – 21″ |
| 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?
66
/ 100
Nexen Winguard Sport
73
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
Winner: Michelin X Ice Snow — better efficiency, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want lower fuel or energy use
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 77 vs 53 on efficiency.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 75 vs 57 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 80 vs 63 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 64 on treadwear.
Tire A · Nexen Winguard Sport
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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Winguard Sport or X Ice Snow?
Which is better in the wet, Winguard Sport or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 71 vs 68 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winguard Sport or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 67 vs 64 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Winguard Sport or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 71 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Winguard Sport or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 75 vs 71 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Winguard Sport or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 80 vs 63 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Winguard Sport or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 64 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Winguard Sport or X Ice Snow?
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