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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Michelin Alpin 5 vs Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV — 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%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
88/100
29 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Michelin Alpin 5 and Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV are within 2 points overall. Michelin Alpin 5 is stronger on noise, treadwear and handling. Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV is stronger on comfort, dry and snow.
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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)
Winguard Sport 2 SUV leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Winguard Sport 2 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 85 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winguard Sport 2 SUV leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Winguard Sport 2 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 83 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winguard Sport 2 SUV leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Winguard Sport 2 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 88 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winguard Sport 2 SUV leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Winguard Sport 2 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 90 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Winguard Sport 2 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 96 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Winguard Sport 2 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 75 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Winguard Sport 2 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 75 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Alpin 5 | Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 87 | 87 |
| Dry | 87 | 92 |
| Wet | 87 | 91 |
| Snow | 84 | 89 |
| Comfort | 85 | 92 |
| Noise | 96 | 85 |
| Treadwear | 90 | 86 |
| Handling | 78 | 75 |
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
87
/ 100
Tire A
87
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
The Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that offers a compelling balance of comfort, wet-weather performance, and snow traction. While most users praise its quiet ride and affordability compared to premium competitors, a small subset of users reports inconsistent traction in severe winter conditions.
Pros
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Superior ride comfort and low road noise
- Strong traction in wet and slushy conditions
- Reliable performance in light to moderate snow
- Good tread longevity for a winter-compound tire
Cons
- Handling can feel 'soft' or less precise during spirited cornering
- Performance may decline as the tire ages over several seasons
- Polarizing traction results in extreme ice or deep snow for some users
- Potential for uneven tread wear reported by some owners
Observations
- BMW owners (550i, 128, X5) frequently report the tire as a comfortable, quieter alternative to premium brands like Blizzaks.
- Performance-oriented vehicles (WRX, Lancer Ralliart) note the tire provides significant improvements over summer tires in cold climates, though some find the sidewall too soft for aggressive driving.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Alpin 5 | B · Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
87
/ 100
Michelin
87
/ 100
Nexen
Too close to call: Michelin Alpin 5 and Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV are within 2 points overall. Michelin Alpin 5 is stronger on noise, treadwear and handling. Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV is stronger on comfort, dry and snow.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 96 vs 85 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV scores 92 vs 85 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV scores 92 vs 87 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV scores 89 vs 84 on snow.
Tire A · Michelin Alpin 5
Tire B · Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin Alpin 5 also compared with
Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV 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.