Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2
- TR Score
- 8.6/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 12
- TR Score
- 8.4/10
- Owners say
- 64% · 3
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin X Ice North 4 finished ahead 4 times and the Ice Zero 2 3 times. The X Ice North 4 stopped 18.7% shorter on ice; the Ice Zero 2 stopped 7.8% shorter in the wet.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
If you regularly face polished ice, rural roads, or long periods of compacted snow, pick the Michelin X-Ice North 4 for its consistently shorter ice stops and stronger ice traction. If your winter is mostly cleared but wet (rain/slush/highway spray) and you value confident wet braking, aquaplaning resistance, and crisp steering on bare asphalt, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 is the better match-even if it gives up meaningful grip once the surface becomes truly icy.
Where the X Ice North 4 is stronger
- Stronger ice braking and traction across every shared objective ice metric (e.g., 11.39 m vs 15.19 m ice braking in 2026; 3.47 m vs 5.20 m in 2020)
- Typically better snow-road behaviour, with multiple wins in snow handling/braking across shared tests and consistently high subjective snow scores
- More “winter-first” confidence when surfaces are genuinely icy, with repeated wins in ice handling times (e.g., 54.5 s vs 62.7 s in 2021)
Where the Ice Zero 2 is stronger
- Clearly superior wet performance across the dataset: wins all shared wet braking and wet handling comparisons (often by meaningful margins, e.g., 60.95 m vs 54.06 m wet braking in 2026)
- Best-in-comparison aquaplaning resistance in every shared straight-aquaplaning result (up to ~8% higher speeds in several tests)
- Stronger bare-road manners for a studded tyre: sharper steering, higher subjective road score, and strong lane-change/elk-test results noted by testers
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
X Ice North 4 vs Ice Zero 2 at a glance
| Category | X Ice North 4 | Gap | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won7 shared tests | 4 | 3 | |
| Dry9 measurements | 1 | The Ice Zero 2 stopped 2.8% shorter in the dry (4 tests) | 6 |
| Wet15 measurements | 0 | The Ice Zero 2 stopped 7.8% shorter in the wet (4 tests) | 15 |
| Snow13 measurements | 7 | The X Ice North 4 stopped 1.1% shorter on snow (4 tests) | 3 |
| Ice13 measurements | 12 | The X Ice North 4 stopped 18.7% shorter on ice (4 tests) | 0 |
| Comfort7 measurements | 1 | 3 | |
| Value4 measurements | 1 | 2 | |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.6/10 | The X Ice North 4 by 0.2 | 8.4/10 |
| Owner rating12 and 3 reviews | 84% | The X Ice North 4 by 20 points | 64% |
| Pricein the 4 tests that listed prices | +8% | The X Ice North 4 was dearer in 3 of 4 | Cheaper |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 7 tests, 2020 to 2026
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 North 4 | Field | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 7 | P1 of 7 | |
| 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | P3 of 8 | P4 of 8 | |
| 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 8 | P4 of 8 | |
| 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 7 | P6 of 7 | |
| The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tyres for 2024 | P3 of 6 | P1 of 6 | |
| 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 9 | P4 of 9 | |
| 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 8 | P5 of 8 |
Performance profile
17 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
X Ice North 4
Ice Zero 2
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. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
X Ice North 4
Ice Zero 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
X Ice North 4
Ice Zero 2
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the X Ice North 4 84% from 12 reviews and the Ice Zero 2 64% from 3. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | X Ice North 4 | Gap | Ice Zero 2 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36.95 | 2.8% | 35.95 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 16.7% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 69 | 1.4% | 70 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 42.78 | 7.8% | 39.19 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 41.22 | 2.3% | 40.24 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 23.7% | scored | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 62.33 | 7.8% | 67.2 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 31.39 | 1.1% | 31.57 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.06 | 0.5% | 5.04 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 65.83 | 1.2% | 66.6 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 22.84 | 18.7% | 25.95 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.34 | 13% | 6.15 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 61.6 | 9.4% | 67.77 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 16.7% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 20% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.3% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 70.9 | = | 70.9 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 6.07 | 0.4% | 6.05 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the X Ice North 4 scores 8.6 and the Ice Zero 2 8.4 out of 10.
| X Ice North 4 | Category | Ice Zero 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Dry | 86 | ||
| 25 | Wet | 94 | ||
| 57 | Comfort | 80 | ||
| 52 | Value | 65 | ||
| 78 | Snow | 56 | ||
| 86 | Ice | 33 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| X Ice North 4 | Category | Ice Zero 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | Dry Grip | 7.7 | ||
| 7.3 | Wet Grip | 7.3 | ||
| 7.7 | Road Feedback | 6.3 | ||
| 8.2 | Handling | 6 | ||
| 8.9 | Wear | 5.7 | ||
| 8.3 | Comfort | 5.7 | ||
| 9.2 | Snow Grip | 8 | ||
| 9.8 | Ice Grip | 6.3 | ||
Owners rate the X Ice North 4 84% from 12 reviews and the Ice Zero 2 64% from 3. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Michelin X Ice North 4
- 84%from 12 reviews
- 92%would buy again
- 132,021 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers rate the Michelin X Ice North 4 very highly overall, most often praising outstanding traction and braking on ice and snow along with impressively low road noise for a studded tyre. Several reviews also highlight confident handling/feedback and generally strong longevity, with some users reporting long tread life and good stud seating after proper break-in. A smaller minority note trade-offs such as weaker grip on wet/dry pavement and occasional stud loss or faster wear later in the tyre's life.
- Excellent grip and braking on ice and snow
- Low noise levels for a studded winter tyre
- Confident handling/control and good road feedback in low-friction conditions
- Generally good durability/longevity for winter use (tread and/or studs)
- Wet/dry grip is not as strong as its winter (ice/snow) performance
- Some users report stud loss over time or after multiple seasons
Summarised by AI from 9 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 12 X Ice North 4 reviewsVery good on ice - probably one of the very best. But I wouldn't buy them if most of the driving is on wet or dry roads. The amount of studs in them contributes to a great amount of noise, but in return you'll get very good grip on ice. I have used them mostly on ice tracks with 3 different cars and the speed and grip you can get with these is on another level. Probably only comparable to Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3, but these have longer studs and lose studs easily. Compared to the Blizzaks, straight line grip is not as good, but generally they perform exceptionally well. Have no comparison to newer tyres.
Snow grip is also really good. On dry and wet, feels a little spongy as you would expect from a winter tyre. Haven't really driven them much on the road.
My experience is purely based on RWD cars: 1990 BMW 318i; 1995 BMW 328i; 2004 Smart Roadster. Used the same size with all of them.
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
- 64%from 3 reviews
- 11,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Ice Zero 2 reviewsAt it tires are an important shortcoming: aftet 95 km/h strongly hoots "whuuuuuuuuuu"!
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | X Ice North 4 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Replaced | - | Pirelli Ice Zero |
| Price in the shared tests | The X Ice North 4 was the dearer tyre in 3 of the 4 tests that listed prices, by 8% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Michelin X-Ice North 4 and Pirelli Ice Zero 2 sit in the same “premium studded winter” niche, but the shared test data shows they chase very different priorities. Across seven common tests (multiple sizes and years), the Michelin repeatedly leans into the classic studded-tyre brief: maximize grip and controllability when conditions turn properly icy and snow-covered. The Pirelli, by contrast, is consistently tuned to feel more like a strong cold-weather road tyre that happens to have studs-prioritising wet-road security, aquaplaning resistance, and steering precision on cleared asphalt.
That split shows up clearly in the rankings: Pirelli is frequently the studded-class winner when tests reward bare-road balance (e.g., 1/7 in the 2026 Teknikens Värld studded class and 1/6 in the 2024 studded class), while Michelin tends to climb when ice/snow performance carries more weight (including a 1/8 overall win in a 2020 studded test). The real question for buyers isn't “which is better?” in the abstract, but which matches the winter you actually drive through-wet-cleared roads with occasional ice, or long stretches of polished ice and packed snow.
Conclusion
Across the shared data, the performance pattern is remarkably consistent: Michelin X-Ice North 4 is the stronger winter-grip tool on ice (and often snow), while Pirelli Ice Zero 2 is the stronger everyday tyre on wet and dry asphalt. The Michelin's advantage on ice is not subtle-Vi Bilagare 2026 ice braking is 11.39 m vs 15.19 m (about 25% shorter), and the 2020 test shows an even bigger gap (3.47 m vs 5.20 m, about 33% shorter). Michelin also tends to lead snow handling and snow braking more often than Pirelli across the shared tests, reinforcing that it's the safer bet when the road surface is frequently frozen rather than merely cold.
Pirelli's counterpunch is equally clear on cleared roads: it wins every shared wet braking and wet handling comparison in the dataset, and it's repeatedly best for straight-line aquaplaning resistance (e.g., 73.5 vs 67.9 km/h in Vi Bilagare 2026, and 63.9 vs 59.5 km/h in Teknikens Värld 2026). In practice, that means Ice Zero 2 is the easier tyre to live with in “coastal/urban winter” conditions-rain, slush, standing water, and long bare-asphalt stretches-where it can feel more stable, steer more sharply, and stop shorter than the Michelin.
Takeaway: choose Michelin X-Ice North 4 if your winter risk is glare ice and compacted snow (where metres matter most), and choose Pirelli Ice Zero 2 if your winter is dominated by wet, cold asphalt and slush (where its wet braking and aquaplaning margin can be a major real-world safety advantage). Both are credible studded options, but they are optimised for different winters.
X Ice North 4 vs Ice Zero 2: your questions
Is the Michelin X Ice North 4 or the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 the better tyre?
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin X Ice North 4 finished ahead 4 times and the Ice Zero 2 3 times. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the X Ice North 4 scores 8.6 and the Ice Zero 2 8.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the X Ice North 4 or the Ice Zero 2?
The Ice Zero 2 led 15 of the 15 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 7.8% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ice Zero 2 led 6 of the 9 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.8% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The X Ice North 4 led 7 of the 13 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.1% shorter on snow across 4 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.3/10 for the X Ice North 4 and 5.7/10 for the Ice Zero 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the X Ice North 4 84% from 12 reviews and the Ice Zero 2 64% from 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the X Ice North 4 was the dearer tyre in 3 of them, by 8% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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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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