Continental VikingContact 8 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
Across three shared professional tests, the Continental swept overall victories (3/3), driven by standout balance on wet and dry asphalt, strong snow performance, best-in-class rolling efficiency, and high comfort. Michelin countered with decisive wins on pure ice metrics, but inconsistencies in handling and higher rolling resistance tempered its results. The core trade-off is clear: everyday versatility and efficiency (Continental) versus maximum straight-line ice bite (Michelin).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Continental VikingContact 8 | three |
While it might look like the Continental VikingContact 8 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
- Class-leading overall consistency with 3/3 test wins
- Excellent wet performance and aquaplaning resistance (e.g., 76.6 km/h vs 62.5 km/h straight aqua)
- Lowest rolling resistance and strong fuel economy
- High comfort and low noise with stable, predictable handling
- Outstanding ice braking and traction (e.g., ~20% shorter ice stops, faster ice traction)
- Good snow grip with stable rear-end composure
- Maintains usable winter grip as it wears
- Studded security for extreme, persistent ice conditions
Dry Braking
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one dry braking tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 stopped the vehicle in 2.18% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Dry Braking: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 11.11% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one wet braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 stopped the vehicle in 4.3% less distance than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Wet Braking: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 2.42% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 7.14% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one straight aqua tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 floated at a 9.28% higher speed than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Straight Aqua: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one snow braking tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 stopped the vehicle in 1% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Snow Braking: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 accelerated 1.69% faster than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Snow Traction: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one subj. snow handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 10% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
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 19.96% shorter than the Continental VikingContact 8.
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 19.05% faster than the Continental VikingContact 8.
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 Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one subj. ice handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 12.5% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Ice Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 44.44% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Subj. Noise
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one subj. noise tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 22.22% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Noise: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 used 4.66% less fuel than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Continental VikingContact 8 and Michelin X Ice North 4.
In total the Continental VikingContact 8 has been reviewed 4 times and drivers have given the tyre 78% 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.
Conclusion
The X-Ice North 4 shines where studs matter most: it dominates ice braking and traction and remains competent on snow. However, slower steering, weaker wet/aquaplaning capability, and higher rolling resistance reduce its appeal for daily mixed conditions. Choose Michelin if your priority is maximum ice grip on repeatedly glassy surfaces; otherwise, Continental is the smarter, more rounded choice with better value through efficiency and broader capability.
Key Differences
- Overall results: Continental 1st in all three tests; Michelin 3rd-5th range
- Ice performance: Michelin wins ice braking/traction; Continental trails significantly on pure ice
- Wet capability: Continental clearly better (handling and aquaplaning); Michelin struggles more in water/slush
- Efficiency: Continental leads rolling resistance; Michelin notably poorer fuel economy
- Comfort/noise: Continental quieter and more composed; Michelin more stud-typical harshness
- Steering/handling feel: Continental precise and calm; Michelin slower steering with understeer on asphalt
Overall Winner: Continental VikingContact 8
Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Continental VikingContact 8 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.