Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 77 · 14 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Sport 4 SUV leads, 79–77 Narrow edge
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Tests 80 · 9 tests Owners 77 · 1,356 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)
“Loving my new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires and Enkei Raijin wheels”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
77
Dry
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +784Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 76 85 Reviews found online 79 83 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 100% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 100% -
83
Wet
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +790Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 84 94 Reviews found online 82 83 Wet Braking (% of best) 93% 95% Wet Circle (% of best) 96% 98% Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 97% -
82
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 86 – Reviews found online 76 – -
72
Comfort
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1557Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 48 Reviews found online 75 70 -
88
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +2860Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 100 51 Reviews found online 71 73 -
71
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +273Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 78 Reviews found online 74 65 -
75
Handling
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +580Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Reviews found online 75 80
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 79 |
| Dry | 77 | 84 |
| Wet | 83 | 90 |
| Snow | 82 | – |
| Comfort | 72 | 57 |
| Noise | 88 | 60 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 73 |
| Handling | 75 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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.
Important
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Neutral
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
79
/ 100
Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Pilot Sport 4 SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 85% #7/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −13.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #7/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | −1.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 87% #9/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 86% #6/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 93% #6/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | +6.6 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 42% #10/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 57% #10/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | −15.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 71% #3/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 20% #5/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | +51.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 97% #7/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −3.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #5/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 95% #5/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −1.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 96% #7/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −1.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #9/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
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
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
Tire B Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Pros
- Outstanding grip and safety in both wet and dry conditions
- Precise steering response and enhanced cornering stability for heavy SUVs
- Noticeable improvement in ride comfort and overall handling
Cons
- Higher-than-average purchase price
- Increased road noise reported by some users as the tread wears down
- Faster tread wear and shorter mileage lifespan under aggressive driving or heavy vehicle loads
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV is widely regarded as a high-performance tire option for luxury and sport utility vehicles, often compared against alternatives like Pirelli Scorpions and Michelin's own Latitude series. Users appreciate its strong grip and dynamic capabilities, though questions regarding tread wear, run-flat options, and comparisons with all-season variants are common.
r/PorscheMacan
·1 upvote ·2026-04-04
“I'm leaning towards the Pilot Sport 4 SUV over the LS3. I'd really like to see how much better these tires grip. Although it sounds like I'll be sacrificing a little comfort, but with air suspension I'm not too worried.”
r/Audi
·1 upvote ·2026-07-09
“Nope nope nope. I live in the SE and my RWD sports car get squirrelly with normal driving when it drops below 40 on my PS4Ss. You’d be in a ditch first bit of snow.”
r/Howsmytire
·1 upvote ·2026-07-15
“Used Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV I am looking to buy these used Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires. They have 7+ mm thread left, DOT 0923. I am wondering why the two tires on the right are so rough / full of small holes, while the ones on the left are so smooth. Probably the right ones were on the front, but still what could this condition be indicating? I still haven't been to the shop to see them and feel how is the rubber, wanted to hear an advice first.”
Top themes
#handling and grip#tread life and wear#comparison with other tires#luxury SUV fitment#seasonal performance
Based on 9 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
79
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV — better dry, wet and handling. Pick the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV if noise and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 88 vs 60 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 72 vs 57 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 84 vs 77 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 90 vs 83 on wet.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.