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Winter tire Updated October 2026

Michelin X Ice Snow review

± 5

Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners

Better than 77% of the winter tires we score.

Owners 78 · 20 reviews analysed Road tests 70 · 13 tests

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Michelin X Ice Snow has a Relative Score of 73 out of 100 among winter tires. In 26 road tests with an overall ranking it finished first 0 times and in the top three 6 times. Testers rate it best for comfort (81) and weakest for wet (65). 20 owner reviews rate it 78 out of 100. 88% would buy it again.

Owners rate it 8 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

Michelin X Ice Snow

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

How scores work
Relative score
0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
Road tests
0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
Owner reviews
0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.

Full methodology

By owner reviews

78/100

From 20 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.

Would buy again 88%
Dry
Overall dry
71
Wet
Overall wet
79
Snow & ice
Overall snow & ice
81
Comfort
Overall comfort
79
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
81
Handling
Overall handling
75

Own these tires? Write a review →

By road tests

70/100

Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.

Dry
65
Wet
65
Snow
73
Comfort
81
Noise
81
Efficiency
77

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 20 owner reviews found online.

The Michelin X Ice Snow receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from drivers facing harsh winter conditions, offering exceptional traction in deep snow, slush, and ice. Users frequently highlight its confident handling and longevity, making it a top-tier choice for cold-weather climates compared to both competitors and previous Michelin iterations.

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
  • Relatively quiet and comfortable ride for a dedicated winter tire

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

Worth knowing

  • Users driving quiet electric vehicles like the Tesla noted that road noise remains unobtrusive.
  • Drivers of smaller or front-wheel-drive cars like the Fiat Panda Cross, Buick LaCrosse, and Mazda MX-5 reported high confidence through extreme sub-zero road trips and mountain trails.
  • Owners of 19-inch low-profile sizes on luxury sedans like the Lexus IS 350 found the ride to be comfortable and quiet despite the large wheel diameter.

26 published test appearances (13 in the score)

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter tire Test · 215/55 R17

7th of 10
Best: Snow Braking · 6th Weakest: Wet Braking · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking10th of 10
Wet Circle10th of 10
Dry Braking10th of 10
Snow Braking6th of 10
Snow Handling8th of 10
Ice Braking7th of 10
Comfort (tester's mark)7th of 10
Ice Traction7th of 10
Noise (tester's mark)9th of 10
Road Rating (tester's mark)6th of 10
Snow Handling (tester's mark)7th of 10
Dry Circle10th of 10

Source: Tire Rack

2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter tire Test · 235/45 R18

9th of 20
Best: Comfort (tester's mark) · 1st Weakest: Straight Aquaplaning · 13th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Straight Aquaplaning13th of 20
Comfort (tester's mark)1st of 20
Wet Handling (tester's mark)6th of 20
Fuel Consumption1st of 20
Snow Handling (tester's mark)11th of 20
Ice Handling (tester's mark)11th of 20

2025 Friction and Studded Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

6th of 14
Best: Ice Braking · 1st Weakest: Wet Braking · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking7th of 14
Wet Handling6th of 14
Dry Braking6th of 14
Snow Braking4th of 14
Snow Traction7th of 14
Ice Braking1st of 14
Dry Handling (tester's mark)5th of 14
Wet Handling (tester's mark)5th of 14
Ice Traction3rd of 14
Noise (tester's mark)1st of 14

Source: Tekniikan Maailma

2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17

4th of 8
Best: Ice Braking · 1st Weakest: Snow Traction · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 8
Dry Braking3rd of 8
Dry Handling4th of 8
Snow Braking3rd of 8
Snow Traction6th of 8
Snow Handling4th of 8
Ice Braking1st of 8
Ice Handling5th of 8
Exterior Noise2nd of 8
Rolling Resistance3rd of 8
Straight Aquaplaning3rd of 8
Wet Handling (tester's mark)3rd of 8
Ice Traction1st of 8

Source: NAF Motor

2025 Teknikens Värld Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/50R17

16th of 16

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Teknikens Värld

2025 UTAC Ivalo Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

4th of 9

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: UTAC Ivalo

2025 Moottori Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

3rd of 7

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Moottori

2024 Nordic Friction Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

4th of 8
Best: Ice Traction · 1st Weakest: Noise · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling4th of 8
Snow Traction6th of 8
Snow Handling4th of 8
Ice Handling5th of 8
Straight Aquaplaning3rd of 8
Dry Handling (tester's mark)3rd of 8
Noise7th of 8
Ice Traction1st of 8
Fuel Consumption5th of 8

Source: Vi Bilägare

The Best Studded / Friction Winter tires for 2024 · 225/50 R17

13th of 17

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2024 Moottori Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

3rd of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 2nd Weakest: Snow Braking · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 8
Wet Handling2nd of 8
Dry Braking3rd of 8
Snow Braking6th of 8
Snow Traction5th of 8
Snow Handling6th of 8
Ice Braking5th of 8
Ice Handling6th of 8
Ice Traction2nd of 8

Source: Moottori

2024 Aftonbladet Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

11th of 17

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Aftonbladet

2024 Teknikens Värld Big Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/50R17

9th of 18

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Teknikens Värld

2023 Studless Friction Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

4th of 8
Best: Ice Traction · 1st Weakest: Noise · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling4th of 8
Snow Traction4th of 8
Snow Handling6th of 8
Ice Handling6th of 8
Straight Aquaplaning2nd of 8
Dry Handling (tester's mark)4th of 8
Noise7th of 8
Ice Traction1st of 8
Fuel Consumption7th of 8

Source: Vi Bilägare

2023 Studless vs Studded Snow tire Test · 205/55 R16

3rd of 8
Best: Snow Braking · 3rd Weakest: Wet Handling · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling7th of 8
Snow Braking3rd of 8
Snow Traction4th of 8
Snow Handling3rd of 8
Ice Handling3rd of 8
Ice Traction7th of 8

2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

9th of 19
Best: Snow Braking · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 12th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking9th of 19
Wet Handling7th of 19
Dry Braking12th of 19
Snow Braking1st of 19
Snow Traction7th of 19
Snow Handling1st of 19
Ice Braking8th of 19
Ice Handling8th of 19
Exterior Noise1st of 19
Rolling Resistance1st of 19
Dry Handling (tester's mark)9th of 19
Wet Handling (tester's mark)5th of 19
Ice Traction9th of 19

Source: UTAC

2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/60R16

4th of 5
Best: Snow Braking · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 5
Dry Braking5th of 5
Snow Braking1st of 5
Snow Traction1st of 5
Snow Handling4th of 5
Ice Braking1st of 5
Ice Handling5th of 5
Straight Aquaplaning2nd of 5
Comfort (tester's mark)1st of 5
Ice Traction1st of 5
Deep Snow Traction1st of 5

Source: Autoreview

2023 Moottori Studless Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

2nd of 8

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Moottori

2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires · 215/60R16

2nd of 16

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Consumer Reports

2021 Studless and Studded Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

8th of 16
Best: Noise (tester's mark) · 3rd Weakest: Wet Braking · 14th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking14th of 16
Wet Handling9th of 16
Dry Braking8th of 16
Snow Braking13th of 16
Snow Traction10th of 16
Snow Handling12th of 16
Ice Braking10th of 16
Ice Handling13th of 16
Ice Traction11th of 16
Noise (tester's mark)3rd of 16
Price14th of 16

2021 Test World Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

13th of 16

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Test World

2021 Za Rulem Winter Tire Test R16 · 215/65R16

4th of 7

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Za Rulem

2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter tire Test · 205/60 R16

6th of 8
Best: Rolling Resistance · 1st Weakest: Ice Handling · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling3rd of 8
Snow Handling5th of 8
Ice Handling7th of 8
Rolling Resistance1st of 8
Straight Aquaplaning2nd of 8
Dry Handling (tester's mark)4th of 8
Noise (tester's mark)6th of 8
Price6th of 8

Source: Vi Bilägare

2020 Nordic and Studded Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

8th of 20
Best: Snow Braking · 2nd Weakest: Dry Braking · 16th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking15th of 20
Wet Handling13th of 20
Dry Braking16th of 20
Snow Braking2nd of 20
Snow Traction7th of 20
Snow Handling4th of 20
Ice Braking8th of 20
Ice Handling8th of 20
Ice Traction7th of 20
Noise (tester's mark)12th of 20

2020 Motor Winter Studless Tire Test R16 · 205/60R16

6th of 7

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Motor

2020 Teknikens Värld Studless Winter Tire Test R17

2nd of 6

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Teknikens Värld

2020 Test World Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

8th of 19

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Test World

Michelin X Ice Snow specs & sizes

Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.

Specifications
EU label: wet gripE
EU label: energyC in 73% of sizes
EU label: external noise67–71 dB
SizeRetailer
155/65 R13 Amazon
155/65 R14 Amazon
165/70 R14 Amazon
175/65 R14 Amazon
175/70 R14 Amazon
185/65 R14 Amazon
185/70 R14 Amazon
165/55 R15 Amazon
175/65 R15 Amazon
185/60 R15 Amazon
185/65 R15 Amazon
195/60 R15 Amazon
195/65 R15 Amazon
205/65 R15 Amazon
175/60 R16 Amazon
185/55 R16 Amazon

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Reviews from our readers

Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.

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Michelin X Ice Snow compared

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2VSMichelin X Ice Snow
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90VSMichelin X Ice Snow
Michelin X Ice SnowVSMichelin X-Ice Xi3
Michelin CrossClimate 2VSMichelin X Ice Snow
Michelin CrossClimateVSMichelin X Ice Snow
Michelin X Ice SnowVSMichelin X-Ice Snow SUV
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Michelin X Ice SnowVSPirelli Ice Zero 2
Hankook Winter i cept evo3VSMichelin X Ice Snow

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