Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
Michelin counters with standout pure-ice grip from its studs-particularly in straight-line braking and traction-yet is held back by slower wet handling, higher fuel use, and less precision when steering inputs grow. The result is a clear split: Goodyear wins the all-rounder brief; Michelin excels when ice bite is the top priority.
Test Results
Independent comparison tyre tests are the best source of data to get tyre information from, and the good news is there have been three tests which compare both tyres directly!
| Tyre | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 | three |
While it might look like the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 is better than the Michelin X Ice North 4 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tyres are very complicated objects which means where one tyre is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.
Key Strengths
- Best-in-test wet performance and aquaplaning resistance for a Nordic friction tyre
- Lower fuel consumption/rolling resistance (~4.8% better vs Michelin in shared test)
- Balanced, predictable handling with precise steering and high comfort (+80% subjective comfort)
- Consistently strong overall results (2nd, 3rd, 2nd) with no major weaknesses
- Class-leading ice braking (−24.9% distance vs Goodyear in R16) and ice traction
- Good straight-line ice/snow grip typical of quality studded tyres
- Stable rear-end behavior in extremes despite slower steering
- Comfort and stability remain acceptable for a studded tyre
Dry Braking
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one dry braking tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 stopped the vehicle in 1.87% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Dry Braking: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 and Michelin X Ice North 4 performed equally well in subj. dry handling tests.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one wet braking tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 stopped the vehicle in 0.26% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Wet Braking: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was 3.39% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 scored 13.33% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one straight aqua tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 floated at a 3.25% higher speed than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Straight Aqua: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one snow braking tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 stopped the vehicle in 0.6% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Snow Braking: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 accelerated 1.67% faster than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one subj. snow handling tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 scored 10% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one ice braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 stopped the vehicle 24.9% shorter than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Ice Braking: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Ice Traction
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one ice traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 accelerated 29.17% faster than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Ice Traction: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Ice Traction winner was calculated >>
Subj. Ice Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 and Michelin X Ice North 4 performed equally well in subj. ice handling tests.
Best In Subj. Ice Handling: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Subj. Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 scored 44.44% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Subj. Noise
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one subj. noise tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 scored 22.22% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Noise: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 used 4.66% less fuel than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 and Michelin X Ice North 4.
In total the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 has been reviewed 3 times and drivers have given the tyre 75% overall.
The Michelin X Ice North 4 has been reviewed 10 times and drivers have given the tyre 84% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Snow grip is good and very predictable, ice grip is good for a friction tire but if you need ice grip studded tires are the way to go.
Where the tire really shines is the comfort and noise part. Very quiet impression and the comfort has a rounded/isolated feel to it.
Overall a very... Continue reading this review using the link below
Conclusion
Choose Michelin if you frequently drive on polished, strictly icy roads and will trade economy and steering sharpness for maximum studded ice bite. For mixed winter with regular wet, slush, packed snow, and dry intervals-or if efficiency, refinement, and stability matter-Goodyear is the safer, more versatile pick. The practical takeaway: unless your winter is predominantly ice, the UltraGrip Ice 3 delivers broader capability and value.
Key Differences
- Ice performance: Michelin decisively ahead in ice braking/traction; Goodyear mediocre on ice vs studs
- Wet and aquaplaning: Goodyear clearly superior (faster wet laps, better subjective control, +3.36% aqua)
- Fuel efficiency: Goodyear lower consumption/rolling resistance; Michelin notably higher
- Steering/precision: Goodyear precise and predictable; Michelin slower steering with understeer on asphalt
- Comfort/Noise: Goodyear significantly more comfortable (+80% subjective comfort in one test)
- Overall results: Goodyear finishes ahead in all shared tests (2nd/3rd/2nd vs 5th/4th/3rd)
Overall Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tyre has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tyre buying choice.Similar Comparisons
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Footnote
This page has been developed using tyre industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tyres in the same test.
Why is this important? Tyre testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tyre test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tyre tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tyre Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tyre comparison, Tyre Reviews doesn't.