When Michelin designed the X-Ice Snow tire, their goal was to develop a completely modern iteration of a winter tire – one that has up-to-date features and performance with low rolling resistance, low noise, long tread life, great handling, and compatibility with hybrid and EV vehicles. The X-Ice Snow definitely checks all those boxes, with shorter braking distances, enhanced steering response and handling, and a 40,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

How does Michelin get so much value with the tire? Let’s dig in and take a closer look with this Michelin X-Ice Snow review.

Features and Benefits

Here’s some of the innovations and design features that Michelin has baked into with the X-Ice Snow:

• Two separate types of full-depth 3D sipes for an enhanced claw effect in snow, slush and ice
• Deep sipes still are effective even as the tire wears down
• Flex-Ice 2.0 rubber compound and EverWinterGrip rubber inclusion technology mean there’s always a rough tread surface for traction on snow and slush
• V-shaped directional tread pattern with increased void ratio to eject snow and slush, and channel water away to resist hydroplaning
• Contact patch is optimized to put more rubber in contact with the road at all times
• Lower rolling resistance for enhanced fuel economy
• Tread pitch is computer tuned to keep road noise low
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rated for severe snow service
• 40,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty with 60-day satisfaction guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance
• Shorter braking distances

Pros and Cons

The Pros truly outweigh the Cons when it comes to the Michelin X-Ice Snow:

PROS:

• Generous warranty coverage
• Shorter braking distances and more confident handling in deep snow or ice
• Stable, with good road manners at highway speed

CONS:

• Not pre-drilled for installation of studs
• Noisy on dry pavement
• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit

SimpleTire’s view on Michelin X-Ice Snow tires

Michelin definitely did their homework when it came to the X-Ice Snow. Lots of winter tires can deliver good traction but with handling that can be a little clumsy and cumbersome on dry pavement – not so with the X-Ice Snow. This tire’s handling and road manners rival the best all-season or touring tires on the market, and the innovative rubber formulation stays flexible and supple for traction even in subfreezing weather. Michelin backs the X-Ice Snow with a 40,000 mile tread life warranty, which is unusual for a category of tire that often does not come with treadwear coverage at all.

As for the Cons listed above, studded tires are designed for the worst icy conditions and are not even legal to use in many states because they’re rough on pavement (check your state laws). If you’re not expecting to try to claw your way across glare ice, the Michelin X-Ice Snow will definitely get the job done for you even without studs or pre-drilled holes for studs. Noise levels on dry pavement can be a little high, but that’s not what this tire was designed for. Tire manufacturers advise that winter tires shouldn’t be used when temperatures are above 40-45 degrees, as that softer, specialized tread compound wears quickly on dry roads and in warmer temperatures.

Bottom line is this: if you live in a part of the country that often sees tough winters with several inches of snow that sticks around for weeks at a time, all-season tires are just not going to cut it for you. If you need a winter tire, the Michelin X-Ice Snow presents a great value and great performance for your winter driving needs.

Vehicles the Michelin X-Ice Snow is a replacement tire for

The Michelin X-Ice Snow is designed for sedans, coupes, minivans and crossovers and could be a great fit for vehicles like the Buick Envision, Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Explorer, Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Forte, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Murano, Subaru Forester, Toyota Highlander, or Volkswagen Passat.