If snow traction and ice grip is the top priority, this tire is your choice. It ranked highest in snow traction and ability to stop on ice among a very capable field of winter / snow tires.

Short braking distance on snow and ice. Good stability on dry pavement. Relatively weak lateral stability on ice and snow. Long braking distance on wet pavement.

Very good riding comfort. Decent handling response on ice and snow. Low rolling resistance. Poor braking performance on wet pavement. Worst longitudinal traction on ice.

Positive: Good longitudinal grip on ice. Good handling on ice and snow.
Negative: Poor dry performance. Long braking distances on wet roads.

The new X–Ice Snow model is not very much different from its predecessor, the X–Ice 3. Essentially, it is a hard winter tire, designed to tackle speeds over 200 km/h, with a good road holding ability on clear pavement. It has the lowest rolling resistance on test, but a long stopping distance on wet pavement. On snow and ice, the Michelin model ensures good longitudinal traction during acceleration and braking, but its lateral grip is much worse than that of the leaders. In addition, when driving on these Michelin tires, one will have a harder time feeling the brink of the grip, which disappears more abruptly than on other, softer winter models. Such a behavior repeats when cornering on wet pavement. In spite of its good road holding ability on clear pavement, low fuel consumption, and short braking distances on winter surfaces, the Michelin X–Ice Snow cornering performance did not allow it to rise higher than the sixth place.

Positive: Short braking distance on ice (for non-studded tires). Good handling response and high safety level on snow. The tires keep up reliable grip on asphalt during an emergency maneuver (even though the steering response is somewhat inaccurate).
Negative: The steering response on ice is somewhat delayed — but the tires ensure stable performance in any situation. Relatively long braking distance on asphalt.

The new X-Ice Snow is, just like the outgoing X-Ice 3, a rigid tire classified for speeds above 200 km / h - with good stability and a firm driving feeling on bare ground.
Positive: Stability and steering feel on asphalt. Braking distance on snow and ice.
Negative: Slightly poorer side grip on all surfaces. Braking on wet asphalt.