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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D 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.

Tire A Dunlop

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
86/100
38 owner reviews
Dry
90
Wet
93
Snow
75
Comfort
93
Noise
–
Treadwear
88
Handling
88
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Michelin

Michelin Alpin 5

Winter Premium Touring tires

Michelin Alpin 5 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
85/100
30 owner reviews
Dry
87
Wet
87
Snow
84
Comfort
85
Noise
96
Treadwear
90
Handling
78
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D — better handling, comfort and wet. Pick the Michelin Alpin 5 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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SP Winter Sport 4D leads by 3
A
90
B
87
Why this score
SourceSP Winter Sport 4DAlpin 5
Professional tests (TWG score) – 89
Tyre Reviews owners 90 84

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) SP Winter Sport 4D leads by 6
A
93
B
87
Why this score
SourceSP Winter Sport 4DAlpin 5
Professional tests (TWG score) – 86
Tyre Reviews owners 93 90

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Alpin 5 leads by 9
A
75
B
84
Why this score
SourceSP Winter Sport 4DAlpin 5
Professional tests (TWG score) – 80
Tyre Reviews owners 75 91

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SP Winter Sport 4D leads by 8
A
93
B
85
Why this score
SourceSP Winter Sport 4DAlpin 5
Tyre Reviews owners 93 85

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A
–
B
96
Why this score
SourceSP Winter Sport 4DAlpin 5
Professional tests (TWG score) – 96

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Alpin 5 leads by 2
A
88
B
90
Why this score
SourceSP Winter Sport 4DAlpin 5
Tyre Reviews owners 88 90

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) SP Winter Sport 4D leads by 10
A
88
B
78
Why this score
SourceSP Winter Sport 4DAlpin 5
Tyre Reviews owners 88 78

Scores at a glance

CategoryDunlop SP Winter Sport 4DMichelin Alpin 5
Relative Score 88 86
Dry 90 87
Wet 93 87
Snow 75 84
Comfort 93 85
Noise – 96
Treadwear 88 90
Handling 88 78

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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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

Tire A

Tire B

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D

The Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in cold, wet, and slushy conditions while maintaining impressive comfort and low noise levels. While most users praise its stability and traction in snow and ice, a minority of drivers report a 'squirmy' handling sensation during high-speed cornering, likely due to the softer tread compound.

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and stability in wet, slushy, and cold dry conditions.
  • Remarkably low road noise, often quieter than summer tire counterparts.
  • High level of ride comfort and refined road manners.
  • Strong performance in deep snow and on icy inclines.
  • Good tread longevity for a dedicated winter compound.

Cons

  • Noticeable 'squirm' or lack of sharpness during high-speed cornering.
  • Occasional reports of understeer in specific wet or icy conditions.
  • Some users noted a 'hard' ride quality compared to previous iterations like the 3D.
  • Potential for clearance issues if incorrect aspect ratios are selected for specific vehicle fitments.

Observations

  • Users with wider tire setups noted that while traction is excellent, they may be slightly less effective in deep snow compared to narrower configurations.
  • Drivers of heavier vehicles (e.g., Mercedes S-Class, E-Class) reported high satisfaction with comfort and grip, though they noted the 'squirm' sensation more prominently during aggressive maneuvers.
  • Fitment caution: Owners of vehicles like the Mercedes W213 should ensure correct aspect ratios to avoid clearance issues with suspension components.
Tire B Michelin Alpin 5

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 · Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D B · Michelin Alpin 5
Category—Winter Premium Touring tires
Vehicle type—Passenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop

Michelin

Winner: Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D — better handling, comfort and wet. Pick the Michelin Alpin 5 if snow matters most to you.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D scores 88 vs 78 on handling.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Alpin 5 scores 84 vs 75 on snow.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D scores 93 vs 85 on comfort.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D scores 93 vs 87 on wet.

Tire A · Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin Alpin 5
Check price on Amazon

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.