81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
85/100
14 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Michelin Pilot 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
83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
94/100
21 professional tests
User signal (40%)
86/100
29 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — better wet, noise and dry. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if snow 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)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 93 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 90 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 90 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 95% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 93% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 88 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 96% | 100% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 93% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 81 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 42 | 47 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 88 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 89 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 83 |
| Dry | 89 | 92 |
| Wet | 81 | 86 |
| Snow | 87 | 83 |
| Comfort | 88 | 87 |
| Noise | 42 | 47 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 88 |
| Handling | 87 | 89 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
81
/ 100
Tire A
83
/ 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% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #1/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | +2.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #2/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | +2.5 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 87% #5/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | +13 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 94% #3/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 97% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #11/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | -2.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 7% #14/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 100% #1/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | -92.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | -4.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #1/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | +5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 94% #14/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | -4.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #5/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -4 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #3/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | +4.7 | 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 860 S is widely regarded as a premium performance winter tire that excels in cold, dry, and wet conditions, often mimicking the handling characteristics of a summer tire. While the majority of users praise its sporty feedback and snow traction, some owners report specific issues with lateral grip in wet conditions and potential compatibility challenges with staggered wheel setups.
Pros
- Exceptional handling and feedback on dry and wet roads in cold temperatures
- Strong performance and confidence in snow and icy conditions
- Stiffer sidewalls compared to predecessors, offering improved cornering stability
- High durability and slow tread wear over multiple seasons
Cons
- Long break-in period required before optimal grip is achieved
- Potential for traction control interference on staggered RWD setups due to circumference variances
- Limited lateral grip in wet conditions compared to some competitors
- High price point relative to other winter tire options
Observations
- Users with staggered RWD setups reported significant issues with traction control systems when using non-OEM specific tire variants.
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., BMW M2) noted that the stiffer sidewalls provide a more precise, less 'squishy' feel during spirited driving.
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is widely regarded as a premier Ultra-High Performance (UHP) winter tire, excelling in dry and wet handling while maintaining strong snow traction. While it offers a driving experience comparable to summer tires, some users find it sacrifices ride comfort and noise levels for its sporty, responsive characteristics.
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet road handling
- Strong traction and stability in snow
- High level of steering feedback and responsiveness
- Excellent tread wear longevity for a performance tire
Cons
- Mediocre performance on pure ice
- Noticeable road noise and humming at highway speeds
- Stiffer ride quality compared to comfort-oriented winter tires
- Poor performance in deep slush
Observations
- Drivers of heavy vehicles, such as the Audi A8L, report excellent lateral stability but note that braking on hard-packed snow can be compromised compared to dedicated Nordic-style winter tires.
- Users with staggered wheel setups (e.g., 225 front/255 rear) have reported increased cabin noise and resonance at highway speeds.
- Performance enthusiasts note that the tire's sidewall design and responsiveness make it ideal for spirited driving, though it may feel 'bumpy' on uneven road surfaces.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 4 | — |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 22″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Continental
83
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — better wet, noise and dry. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 86 vs 81 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 47 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 83 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 92 vs 89 on dry.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S also compared with
Michelin Pilot 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.