80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
81/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
79/100
20 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Alpin 5 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
87
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
85/100
30 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Alpin 5 — better noise, snow and treadwear. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P if handling matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 84 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 96% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 90 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 89% | 92% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 74 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 91 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 95% | 95% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 99% | 96% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 85 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 35
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 61 | 96 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 P leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 78 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P | Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 87 |
| Dry | 85 | 87 |
| Wet | 87 | 87 |
| Snow | 75 | 84 |
| Comfort | 78 | 85 |
| Noise | 61 | 96 |
| Treadwear | 82 | 90 |
| Handling | 84 | 78 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
80
/ 100
Tire A
87
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #7/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -0.8 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 76% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +23.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #8/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 100% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -1.7 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 50% #10/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 92% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -42.2 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 91% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 41% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +50.1 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 91% #4/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -9.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 14% #7/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 6% #17/51 · 2018 51 Winter Tyre Shootout | +8.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 95% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 95% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #18/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #10/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 89% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 92% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -3.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #5/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 98% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.8 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental WinterContact TS 850 P is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. While most users praise its predictability and grip on snow and ice, a minority of drivers report inconsistent performance in extreme cold or icy conditions and concerns regarding tread longevity.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and handling in wet and dry conditions
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise output
- Predictable and confidence-inspiring performance on snow
- Strong braking performance on mixed surfaces
Cons
- Reports of rapid tread wear for some users
- Inconsistent lateral grip on ice and deep snow for some drivers
- High price point compared to competitors
- Stiff sidewall construction noted by some as harsh
Observations
- Performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., BMW, Golf GTI) report excellent dry/wet handling, though some note a loss of steering feedback compared to summer tires.
- Heavy vehicles like the Mercedes E350 and Volvo XC70 report stable, comfortable, and balanced performance, particularly with larger wheel setups.
- Users with front-wheel-drive vehicles noted the tire provides surprising capability in challenging winter conditions, often keeping pace with 4x4 vehicles.
The Michelin Alpin 5 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, praised for its exceptional traction in snow and wet conditions. While users consistently highlight its longevity and comfort, some note that its performance degrades after three years and that the soft compound is not suitable for warm, dry weather.
Pros
- Exceptional snow and ice traction
- Outstanding wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
- High durability and long tread life
- Excellent ride comfort and low noise levels
Cons
- Performance degradation after 3 years of use
- Soft sidewalls lead to vague handling in corners
- Poor performance and 'smearing' in temperatures above 20°C
- Lack of rim protection
Observations
- Drivers of smaller, lighter vehicles like the Mini Cooper S and Skoda Yeti report significant improvements in driving feel and comfort.
- Users note that the tire's soft sidewalls are beneficial for comfort but detrimental to handling precision on sportier vehicle setups.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P | B · Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Continental
87
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Alpin 5 — better noise, snow and treadwear. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P if handling matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 96 vs 61 on noise.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 84 vs 75 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 90 vs 82 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 85 vs 78 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Tire B · Michelin Alpin 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P also compared with
Michelin Alpin 5 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.