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Michelin X Ice Snow vs Hankook Winter i cept IZ3

Michelin X Ice Snow P6 of 7
Tested side by side in 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test Tekniikan Maailma · 205/55 R16 · VW Golf
Hankook Winter i cept IZ3 P4 of 7 Finished ahead

The Michelin X Ice Snow and the Hankook Winter i cept IZ3 have met in one independent test so far, and the Winter i cept IZ3 finished ahead. The X Ice Snow was stronger in ice and comfort, the Winter i cept IZ3 in dry and wet.

Performance profile

10 measurements from the one shared test, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure.

Dry BrakingSubj. Dry HandlingWet BrakingWet HandlingSubj. Wet HandlingSnow BrakingSnow TractionIce BrakingIce TractionSubj. Noise

Where each is furthest ahead

X Ice Snow

Winter i cept IZ3

Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.

In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it.

Every measurement, side by side

Both tyres' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tyre that did better.

Measurement X Ice Snow Gap Winter i cept IZ3
Dry Winter i cept IZ3 ahead
Dry Braking m 32.2 2.8% 31.3
Subj. Dry Handling pts 7 14.3% 8
Wet Winter i cept IZ3 ahead
Wet Braking m 41.1 8.8% 37.5
Wet Handling s 41.8 4.3% 40
Subj. Wet Handling pts 7 14.3% 8
Snow Level
Snow Braking m 49.9 1% 50.4
Snow Traction s 6.1 1.6% 6
Ice X Ice Snow ahead
Ice Braking m 45.6 14.8% 53.5
Ice Traction s 6.8 10.5% 7.6
Comfort X Ice Snow ahead
Subj. Noise pts 10 11.1% 9

Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared.

Head to head in 1 test in 2025

Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.

Test X Ice Snow Field Winter i cept IZ3
2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test Tekniikan Maailma · 2025 · 205/55 R16 · VW GolfNordic Friction Winter Tyres P6 of 7 P4 of 7

X Ice Snow vs Winter i cept IZ3: your questions

Is the Michelin X Ice Snow or the Hankook Winter i cept IZ3 the better tyre?

The Michelin X Ice Snow and the Hankook Winter i cept IZ3 have met in one independent test so far, and the Winter i cept IZ3 finished ahead. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the X Ice Snow scores 7.9 and the Winter i cept IZ3 7.3 out of 10.

Which is better in the wet, the X Ice Snow or the Winter i cept IZ3?

The Winter i cept IZ3 led 3 of the 3 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.

Which is better in the dry?

The Winter i cept IZ3 led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.

Which is better in snow?

Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 1-1 between the X Ice Snow and the Winter i cept IZ3.

What do owners say?

Owners rate the X Ice Snow 85% from 19 reviews; the Winter i cept IZ3 has no owner reviews yet.

Are they available in the same sizes?

The X Ice Snow is made in 100 sizes (13 to 21 inch) and the Winter i cept IZ3 in 33 (15 to 20 inch). 33 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the X Ice Snow is graded E for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter i cept IZ3 D and C.

Which is the newer tyre?

The Winter i cept IZ3 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2024, the X Ice Snow in 2020. The X Ice Snow replaced the Michelin X Ice Xi3.

Run either of these?

Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.

Review the X Ice Snow Review the Winter i cept IZ3

Where this data comes from

Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.

About the TR Score

The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.

Who does the testing

Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.

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