83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
93/100
29 professional tests
User signal (40%)
87/100
28 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — 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
91
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
94/100
1,962 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — better noise, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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 4 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 92 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 97% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 95 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 94% | 97% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 94% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 92 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 86% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 97% | 96% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 91 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 29
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 59 | 85 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 93 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 95 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 91 |
| Dry | 89 | 91 |
| Wet | 86 | 91 |
| Snow | 82 | 86 |
| Comfort | 85 | 94 |
| Noise | 59 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 89 | 91 |
| Handling | 88 | 96 |
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
83
/ 100
Tire A
91
/ 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% #6/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | 95% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.9 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 97% #3/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -1.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% #2/6 · 2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test | 86% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +12.5 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #4/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 99% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -2.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 88% #7/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 100% #11/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -12.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 17% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 86% #4/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -10.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #8/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 96% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #2/6 · 2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test | 93% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 94% #6/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 97% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -3.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 94% #4/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | 97% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -3.8 | 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 870 P is widely regarded as a premium, highly balanced winter tire that excels in wet and slushy conditions while offering exceptional comfort and low noise levels. Most users report high levels of confidence in varied winter weather, though a small minority of users report inconsistent performance in severe snow and ice, and some note that steering response is less sharp than dedicated performance-focused alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of cabin comfort and low road noise
- Strong, predictable grip on snow and slush
- Good balance of dry handling and rolling resistance
- Solid tread life and durability for a performance winter tire
Cons
- Premium price point compared to competitors
- Steering feel can be perceived as 'soft' or 'jelly' compared to summer tires
- Performance can drop off in temperatures above 8-10°C
- Inconsistent feedback regarding extreme ice traction
Observations
- EV and hybrid owners frequently praise the tire for its low rolling resistance and quiet operation.
- Drivers of high-performance RWD vehicles report that while the tire provides excellent grip, it may feel less stiff and sharp during aggressive cornering compared to summer counterparts.
- Users on larger wheel diameters (20-inch) report that the tire maintains high comfort levels without sacrificing handling.
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 is widely regarded as a premier performance winter tire, offering an exceptional balance of cold-weather safety and dry-road handling characteristics. Users consistently praise its ability to maintain sporty driving dynamics in snow, ice, and wet conditions, often noting that it feels remarkably similar to a summer tire in terms of feedback and stability.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and confidence in snow, ice, and freezing wet conditions.
- Superior dry-road handling and steering feedback compared to typical winter tires.
- High level of comfort and relatively low road noise for a performance-oriented winter compound.
- Excellent longevity and tread life, with many users reporting multiple seasons of use.
Cons
- Premium price point compared to competitors.
- Some reports of increased noise levels at high highway speeds.
- Not intended for high-speed sustained driving (above 190-200 km/h) due to deep tread patterns.
- Can feel slightly 'mushy' or soft in initial steering response compared to dedicated summer performance tires.
Observations
- Users with high-performance RWD vehicles (e.g., BMW, Mustang) report significantly improved winter drivability and confidence.
- Drivers of performance-oriented SUVs (e.g., Audi SQ5, BMW X3) note that the tire maintains vehicle agility while providing necessary winter safety.
- Some users noted that the tire's performance is best suited for high-torque, sporty vehicles, and may be 'overkill' or too expensive for standard commuter cars.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Continental
91
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — better noise, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 88 vs 59 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 94 vs 85 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 96 vs 88 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 91 vs 86 on wet.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P also compared with
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 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.