91
/ 100
Objective (60%)
75/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
90/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 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
82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
88/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
83/100
13 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV — better noise, wet and treadwear. Pick the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV if dry 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 SUV leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 SUV | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 96 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 91 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 97% | 99% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 SUV leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 SUV | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 94 | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 85 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 99% | 90% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 SUV | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 76 | 79 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 82 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 92% | 95% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 97% | 92% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 SUV leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 SUV | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 100 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 98 | 85 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 SUV leads by 49
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 SUV | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 93 | 44 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 SUV leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 SUV | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 SUV leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 SUV | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 91 | 82 |
| Dry | 91 | 94 |
| Wet | 92 | 86 |
| Snow | 81 | 81 |
| Comfort | 98 | 94 |
| Noise | 93 | 44 |
| Treadwear | 90 | 85 |
| Handling | 88 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
91
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 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 | 97% #5/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -1.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #5/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 99% #5/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.2 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 90% #8/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 93% #4/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | -2.8 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #8/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 96% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 99% #9/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 100% #10/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -1.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/13 · 2020 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 235/55 R17 | 33% #3/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | -8.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 92% #7/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 95% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -2.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #8/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 92% #1/9 · 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test | +5.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 95% #5/9 · 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test | +5.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% #4/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 90% #9/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +9.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #4/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 97% #4/9 · 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV is widely regarded as a high-performing winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. While it provides excellent all-around reliability for daily commuting, some users note that its performance on ice and in warmer temperatures is less optimal compared to its cold-weather capabilities.
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry road handling
- Low noise levels and high ride comfort
- Strong tread longevity and durability
- Reliable performance in varied winter weather conditions
Cons
- Reduced grip and 'spongy' handling in warmer temperatures
- Suboptimal traction during ice braking and acceleration
- Not suitable for year-round use due to rapid degradation in heat
Observations
- EV owners, such as those driving the Hyundai Ioniq 5, report strong overall performance but highlight specific limitations regarding ice traction.
- High-mileage users (15k miles/year) confirm the tire's durability and suitability for demanding, long-distance winter commuting.
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, particularly excelling in wet, slushy, and snowy conditions. Users frequently praise its impressive longevity and balanced performance, though some note a distinct limit to its grip threshold in deep or hard-packed snow compared to dedicated Nordic-style winter tires.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and handling on wet and slushy roads
- High tread life and durability over long distances
- Excellent dry road comfort and low noise levels
- Strong performance in snow-covered cornering and braking
Cons
- Abrupt loss of grip when reaching the limit on hard-packed snow
- Higher price point compared to some competitors
- Performance can feel less predictable than dedicated Nordic winter tires in extreme ice/snow conditions
Observations
- Drivers of heavy SUVs report high confidence in handling and agility, noting the tire makes the vehicle feel more responsive.
- Users transitioning from Nokian tires noted a significant improvement in quietness and dry-road refinement, though some missed the specific snow-traction characteristics of the previous brand.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
91
/ 100
Dunlop
82
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV — better noise, wet and treadwear. Pick the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV if dry matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV scores 93 vs 44 on noise.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV scores 92 vs 86 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV scores 90 vs 85 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV scores 98 vs 94 on comfort.
Tire A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV also compared with
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 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.