Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Nordman North 9: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Michelin X Ice North 4 and Nordman North 9 appear in 9 tests, 1 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 Michelin X Ice North 4 performs. It takes the win in dry, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 8 tests.
How the Nordman North 9 performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, ice, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 1 test.
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 Nordman North 9 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet 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?
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise efficiency
Choose Nordman North 9 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Test profile
| Metric | Michelin X Ice North 4 | Nordman North 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Studded Winter | Studded Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 8 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.8 | 4.6 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2024 |
| Tire Lab Score | 89.2 | 91.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Michelin X Ice North 4
Nordman North 9
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Michelin X Ice North 4 | Nordman North 9 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.3 422 | Avg rank 3.5 1 | Nordman North 9 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.4 23 | Avg rank 6.0 | Michelin X Ice North 4 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.8 111 | Avg rank 2.3 12 | Nordman North 9 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 5.7 232 | Avg rank 3.5 1 | Nordman North 9 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 7.5 312 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nordman North 9 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 5.3 1 | Avg rank 7.0 | Michelin X Ice North 4 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:
💧 Wet: Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Nordman North 9
The Nordman North 9 wins this category with an average rank of 3.5, compared to 5.3 for the Michelin X Ice North 4.
☀️ Dry: Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Nordman North 9
The Michelin X Ice North 4 wins this category with an average rank of 4.4, compared to 6.0 for the Nordman North 9.
❄️ Snow: Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Nordman North 9
The Nordman North 9 wins this category with an average rank of 2.3, compared to 6.8 for the Michelin X Ice North 4.
🧊 Ice: Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Nordman North 9
The Nordman North 9 wins this category with an average rank of 3.5, compared to 5.7 for the Michelin X Ice North 4.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Nordman North 9
The Nordman North 9 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 7.5 for the Michelin X Ice North 4.
🔋 Efficiency: Michelin X Ice North 4 vs Nordman North 9
The Michelin X Ice North 4 wins this category with an average rank of 5.3, compared to 7.0 for the Nordman North 9.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Michelin X Ice North 4 or Nordman North 9?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Nordman North 9 ranks higher on average than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Michelin X Ice North 4 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nordman North 9 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Nordman North 9 ranks better than the Michelin X Ice North 4.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Michelin X Ice North 4 appears in 8 independent tests, Nordman North 9 in 1, with 1 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 →