Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Michelin X Ice North 4: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 and Michelin X Ice North 4 appear in 14 tests, 5 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 performs. It takes the win in snow, ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 91/100, based on 6 tests.
How the Michelin X Ice North 4 performs. It takes the win in dry. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 8 tests.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in snow and Tire Lab Score. The Michelin X Ice North 4 still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 if
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise dry
Test profile
| Metric | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 | Michelin X Ice North 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Studded Winter | Studded Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 6 | 8 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.4 | 5.8 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 90.8 | 89.2 |
Tire Lab Score
Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
Michelin X Ice North 4
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 | Michelin X Ice North 4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.3 222 | Avg rank 5.3 422 | Tie |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 5.9 11 | Avg rank 4.4 23 | Michelin X Ice North 4 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.4 12 | Avg rank 6.8 111 | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 4.6 212 | Avg rank 5.7 232 | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.4 | Avg rank 7.5 312 | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 1.3 21 | Avg rank 5.3 1 | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 5 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
Both tires perform similarly in wet, with average ranks of 5.3 and 5.3.
☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
The Michelin X Ice North 4 wins this category with an average rank of 4.4, compared to 5.9 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to 6.8 for the Michelin X Ice North 4.
🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 wins this category with an average rank of 4.6, compared to 5.7 for the Michelin X Ice North 4.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to 7.5 for the Michelin X Ice North 4.
🔋 Efficiency: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Michelin X Ice North 4
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 wins this category with an average rank of 1.3, compared to 5.3 for the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Michelin X Ice North 4 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 ranks better than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 appears in 6 independent tests, Michelin X Ice North 4 in 8, with 5 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →