81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
82/100
2 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Falken Eurowinter HS435 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
86
/ 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 wet, handling and treadwear. Pick the Falken Eurowinter HS435 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)
Alpin 5 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS435 | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 84 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS435 | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 90 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Eurowinter HS435 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS435 | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 91 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS435 | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 85 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS435 | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 96 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS435 | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS435 | Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 78 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Falken Eurowinter HS435 | Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 86 |
| Dry | 85 | 87 |
| Wet | 75 | 87 |
| Snow | 90 | 84 |
| Comfort | 85 | 85 |
| Noise | – | 96 |
| Treadwear | 85 | 90 |
| Handling | 70 | 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
81
/ 100
Tire A
86
/ 100
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.
The Falken Eurowinter HS435 is regarded as a competent and reliable winter tire option. While it performs adequately for daily driving needs, users suggest it falls short of being a top-tier performer in its category.
Pros
- Reliable and decent overall performance
- Suitable for multi-season winter use
Cons
- Performance is not class-leading compared to premium alternatives
Observations
- Reported as a functional choice for older, lightweight compact vehicles like the Toyota Starlet.
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 · Falken Eurowinter HS435 | B · Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Falken
86
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Alpin 5 — better wet, handling and treadwear. Pick the Falken Eurowinter HS435 if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 87 vs 75 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 78 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Falken Eurowinter HS435 scores 90 vs 84 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 90 vs 85 on treadwear.
Tire A · Falken Eurowinter HS435
Tire B · Michelin Alpin 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Falken Eurowinter HS435 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.