Here s my 2 cents based on our nokian michelin experience on our 16 forester.
Michelin x ice xi2 vs nokian hakkapeliitta r2 suv.
However it s fairly safe to say that michelin x ice are more popular snow tires based on their reviews.
The x ice snow tire provides driver confidence in all kinds of winter weather.
Best winter tires for suvs and trucks michelin latitude x ice xi2.
Lately however many reviewers have been pointing at michelin s x ice xi2 as at least the equal of nokian s flagship hakka r.
The current unavailable price was 1030 incl tax for 4 of the michelin ice xi3 and 1089 for the nokian hakka r2.
So nokian hakkapeliitta r2 suv tends to get more favorable reviews than michelin x ice as seen on the chart below.
The studs sink into ice and limit slipping which translates into the finest handling one can get.
For comparison michelin provided an identical vehicle fitted with nokian hakkapeliitta r3 tires a respected competitor.
The one category this tire didn t win is price.
The hakkapeliitta 8 boasts the most advanced studded tire on the market for all weather conditions and has made improvements on downside to studded tires the noise.
The r3 may have been more predictable.
That has tended to leave everybody else who makes winter tires chasing after nokian for technological advances and generally trying to make themselves a hakkapeliitta of their own.
Deep snow the r3 is noticeably better ice hard pack very similar.
Think of it as added insurance for your vehicle this winter.
The x ice comes with a premium price but with that comes excellent quality.
In this size the r2 costs 48 more per tire than the second place michelin.
Michelin x ice 3 xi3.
He strongly recommended the michelins as he stated that they found the nokians to be a difficult tire to work with and to balance correctly.
Michelin s snow tires particularly the x ice line are consistently among the top 3 on the market.
And saying hakkapeliitta out loud is nearly as enjoyable as driving them.
Not as grippy as its hakkapeliitta 9 sibling in deep snow the r3 is a knockout on.
The latitude x ice xi2 michelin s flagship winter tire aimed at light trucks suv s and crossover vehicles competes with nokian s hakka r2 suv and bridgestone s blizzak dm v1 in a massive 3 cornered dogfight for the top spot.