Michelin X Ice Snow rated
76% while driving a Alfa Romeo 159
Driving on
mostly country roads for 50
average miles
Fitted the x ice snow as they were one of few nordic winter tyres available in my size. The other one was Hakkapeliitta R5. I have had hakkas before with great success, but decided to go for michelin this time because of better longevity, since these alfas are known for eating front tires. The x ices was 1250 euros fitted on car.
Where i live there are either tarmac or ice. Rarely snow. And the snow get to slush, and then ice again. So that is the conditions these tyres are tested on.
Asphalt, dry or wet. Very reassuring, and calm feeling trough the tires. Good grip, with early signals when pushing the car too much. The general comfort and rolling is great....maybe a little bit more noise than i expected. More than pirellis fr's for example. But i think that is to blame for the knobby, tractor like tread pattern of the x-snows.
Ice.... terrible! I don't know if that is just me being used to studded nordic tyres, but even the studless hakka r3 i remember was better on ice than these. I suspect that has to to with harder compound. That is just not for michelin, but a trend that seems to be in almost all tyres nowadays. Maybe because of high torque cars. I miss the really soft rubbery tyres for like 10 years ago. I have a car with bf ko2' and they are just a little bit worse than x ice snow on the same hill.
I know x ice snow was best with r5 in ice grip, so don't take my opinion for granted, but at least on black ice of western norway, there was not much grip to be found.
But then the snow came, at least for 2 days. And wow! I understand the name x ice SNOW. The pattern just paks down the snow and grip. No need to explain. Other than a 4x4 volvo struggled where i drove straight up a snowy hill with fwd.
So these tyres are great at snow and overall driving on asphalt. Wet asphalt are my 80% driving so that is good. The only drawback are grip on ice. But maybe my only option for that should have been the x ice north 4 studded. But studless tyres is because i don't have to pay stud taxes in the cities.
After 300 miles the tyres settled more in i can feel. Will try on ice again.
Will report later on wear.