Continental VikingContact 8 vs Michelin X Ice Snow
Across five shared professional tests in 2024-2025, the Continental dominated overall (5/5 test wins), repeatedly pairing strong dry/wet control with class-leading snow/ice consistency and notably low rolling resistance. The Michelin counters with standout comfort and competitive straight-line ice braking, but its wet and dry asphalt performance and aquaplaning balance lag behind the class leader.
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 five tests which compare both tyres directly!
| Tyre | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Continental VikingContact 8 | five |
While it might look like the Continental VikingContact 8 is better than the Michelin X Ice Snow 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 balance with 5/5 test wins
- Shorter dry and wet braking; sharper handling on asphalt
- Best-in-test snow/ice consistency and stable limit behavior
- Low rolling resistance with low external noise
- Excellent ride comfort and very low cabin noise
- Strong straight-line ice braking performance
- Good straight aquaplaning and curved aquaplaning resistance
- Stable, predictable behavior at moderate pace
Dry Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during three dry braking tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 stopped the vehicle in 3.71% less distance than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Dry Braking: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 0.85% faster around a lap than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two subj. dry handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 11.99% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two wet braking tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 stopped the vehicle in 3.47% less distance than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Wet Braking: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during three wet handling [s] tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 3.79% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two subj. wet handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 6.39% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 6.15% faster around a wet circle than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Wet Circle: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during three straight aqua tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow floated at a 5.92% higher speed than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Straight Aqua: Michelin X Ice Snow
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during one curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow slipped out at a 10.65% higher speed than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Michelin X Ice Snow
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during two snow braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow stopped the vehicle in 0.08% less distance than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Snow Braking: Michelin X Ice Snow
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during three snow traction tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 accelerated 3.35% faster than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Snow Traction: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two snow handling [s] tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 1.33% faster around a lap than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two subj. snow handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 15% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one snow slalom tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 3.54% faster through a slalom than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Snow Slalom: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during three ice braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow stopped the vehicle 4.7% shorter than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Ice Braking: Michelin X Ice Snow
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Ice Traction
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during two ice traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow accelerated 1.98% faster than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Ice Traction: Michelin X Ice Snow
See how the Ice Traction winner was calculated >>
Ice Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two ice handling [s] tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 3.86% faster around a lap than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Ice Handling [s]: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Ice Handling
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two subj. ice handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 19.23% more points than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Subj. Ice Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow scored 5.06% more points than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Michelin X Ice Snow
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Subj. Noise
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice Snow was better during one subj. noise tests. On average the Michelin X Ice Snow scored 10% more points than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Subj. Noise: Michelin X Ice Snow
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two noise tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 measured 0.56% quieter than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Noise: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 had a 10.44% lower rolling resistance than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 used 1.43% less fuel than the Michelin X Ice Snow.
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 Snow.
In total the Continental VikingContact 8 has been reviewed 4 times and drivers have given the tyre 78% overall.
The Michelin X Ice Snow has been reviewed 16 times and drivers have given the tyre 84% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin X Ice Snow.
Conclusion
The X-Ice Snow shines for ride refinement and low noise and can deliver very strong straight-line ice braking. However, recurring weaknesses in wet and dry grip, longer stopping distances on asphalt, and lower lateral ice/snow grip limit its all-round capability. If your priority is maximum cabin quiet and comfort with acceptable winter traction and you rarely face hard ice or evasive wet maneuvers, the Michelin fits. For drivers seeking broad, confidence-inspiring performance throughout freeze-thaw, slush, wet, and packed-snow conditions, the Continental is the clear choice.
Key Differences
- Overall results: Continental won all 5 shared tests; Michelin had none
- Asphalt performance: Continental consistently shorter wet braking (e.g., 42.4 m vs 46.2 m) and faster wet handling; Michelin weakest in dry/wet in multiple tests
- Snow/ice balance: Michelin often best in ice braking, but Continental leads ice/snow handling and traction more often, yielding better control at the limit
- Efficiency: Continental shows lower rolling resistance (e.g., 7.29 vs 8.14 kg/t) and competitive fuel use; Michelin averages higher
- Comfort/noise: Michelin is quieter in-cabin and scores top comfort; Continental is quiet externally but slightly firmer
- Aquaplaning: Michelin usually better in straight/curved aquaplaning; Continental's main weakness is aquaplaning despite superior wet grip/braking
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
Looking for more tyre comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tyres:
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.