Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Pirelli repeatedly tops wet performance among studded tyres, posting shorter wet braking and quicker wet handling laps, plus stronger straight-line aquaplaning resistance. Michelin, by contrast, consistently dominates ice metrics-braking, traction and handling-often by meaningful margins. Snow results are closer and mixed, while efficiency and comfort show small swings rather than decisive gaps. The value angle tends to favor Pirelli on price, but Michelin counters with peak safety on polished ice.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin X Ice North 4 | three | |
| Pirelli Ice Zero 2 | two |
While it might look like the Michelin X Ice North 4 is better than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 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 ice braking, traction and handling across tests
- Strong snow braking and stable snow handling
- Good stability in extreme maneuvers despite slower steering
- Lower cabin noise than many studded rivals in some tests
- Best-in-class wet braking/handling for a studded tyre
- Superior straight-line aquaplaning resistance
- Precise steering and better on-road manners on cleared pavement
- Generally better value/pricing in comparisons
Dry Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 was better during three dry braking tests. On average the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 stopped the vehicle in 3.14% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Dry Braking: Pirelli Ice Zero 2
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 scored 7.69% more points than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 was better during three wet braking tests. On average the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 stopped the vehicle in 6.78% less distance than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Wet Braking: Pirelli Ice Zero 2
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 was better during three wet handling [s] tests. On average the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 was 1.97% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Pirelli Ice Zero 2
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scored 7.14% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Pirelli Ice Zero 2
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 was better during two straight aqua tests. On average the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 floated at a 7.23% higher speed than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Straight Aqua: Pirelli Ice Zero 2
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during two snow braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 stopped the vehicle in 0.37% less distance than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
Best In Snow Braking: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 was better during two snow traction tests. On average the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 accelerated 0.98% faster than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Snow Traction: Pirelli Ice Zero 2
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during two snow handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 was 0.65% faster around a lap than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 and Pirelli Ice Zero 2 performed equally well in subj. snow handling tests.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during three ice braking tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 stopped the vehicle 9.72% shorter than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
Best In Ice Braking: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Ice Traction
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during three ice traction tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 accelerated 10.89% faster than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
Best In Ice Traction: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Ice Traction winner was calculated >>
Ice Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during two ice handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 was 11.23% faster around a lap than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
Best In Ice Handling [s]: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Ice Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 and Pirelli Ice Zero 2 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 Pirelli Ice Zero 2 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scored 16.67% more points than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Pirelli Ice Zero 2
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Subj. Noise
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one subj. noise tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 scored 10.43% more points than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
Best In Subj. Noise: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 was better during one price tests. On average the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 cost 15.38% less than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Best In Price: Pirelli Ice Zero 2
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Michelin X Ice North 4 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Michelin X Ice North 4 used 0.17% less fuel than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Michelin X Ice North 4
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Michelin X Ice North 4 and Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
In total the Michelin X Ice North 4 has been reviewed 10 times and drivers have given the tyre 84% overall.
The Pirelli Ice Zero 2 has been reviewed 3 times and drivers have given the tyre 64% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Conclusion
For mixed or mostly cleared roads with frequent wet conditions, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 stands out. It repeatedly delivers the best studded-tyre wet braking and handling, stronger aquaplaning resistance, sharper steering on tarmac, and generally a more composed everyday feel. While its absolute ice grip trails Michelin's, its on-road balance and typical price advantage make it an excellent daily-driver choice where ice extremes are less frequent.
Key Differences
- Ice performance: Michelin consistently superior (e.g., +9-33% ice braking advantages in multiple tests).
- Wet performance: Pirelli repeatedly shorter wet braking (≈+9-10% vs Michelin in key sizes) and quicker wet handling.
- Aquaplaning: Pirelli leads straight aquaplaning in shared tests.
- Snow balance: Michelin edges snow braking/handling more often; Pirelli occasionally bests in snow traction.
- Asphalt feel: Pirelli steers more precisely; Michelin can feel slower/imprecise, with more understeer in evasive tests.
- Value/ownership: Pirelli often cheaper; Michelin can show higher rolling resistance in some tests.
Similar Comparisons
Looking for more tyre comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tyres:
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 Top Comparisons
No other comparisons available for this tyre.
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.