Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Continental WinterContact TS 810 S vs Michelin Pilot 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.
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 810 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 90 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 810 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 90 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 810 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 28 | 88 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 810 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 81 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 810 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 47 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 810 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 88 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 810 S | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 89 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 810 S | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 87 |
| Dry | 79 | 92 |
| Wet | 77 | 86 |
| Snow | 28 | 83 |
| Comfort | 79 | 87 |
| Noise | – | 47 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 88 |
| Handling | 73 | 89 |
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.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental WinterContact TS 810 S receives highly polarized feedback, with users divided between praising its comfort and dry-weather performance and criticizing its significant lack of traction in snow and ice. While some drivers find it a capable winter performer, a notable portion of the user base reports that it fails to meet expectations in genuine wintry conditions.
Pros
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise levels
- Good braking performance on dry surfaces
- Strong resistance to tramlining
- Solid durability and tread life in moderate climates
Cons
- Poor traction and cornering grip in snow and ice
- Significant understeer and wheel spin in wet conditions
- Inconsistent performance in extreme cold temperatures
- Reported issues with air retention/deflation in sub-zero conditions
Observations
- Users driving compact vehicles reported satisfactory performance over multiple seasons in varied European winter climates.
- The tire is noted for being quieter and smoother than performance-oriented summer tires like the Conti Sport Contact 2.
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is widely regarded as a premier Ultra-High Performance (UHP) winter tire, excelling in dry and wet handling while maintaining strong snow traction. While it offers a driving experience comparable to summer tires, some users find it sacrifices ride comfort and noise levels for its sporty, responsive characteristics.
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet road handling
- Strong traction and stability in snow
- High level of steering feedback and responsiveness
- Excellent tread wear longevity for a performance tire
Cons
- Mediocre performance on pure ice
- Noticeable road noise and humming at highway speeds
- Stiffer ride quality compared to comfort-oriented winter tires
- Poor performance in deep slush
Observations
- Drivers of heavy vehicles, such as the Audi A8L, report excellent lateral stability but note that braking on hard-packed snow can be compromised compared to dedicated Nordic-style winter tires.
- Users with staggered wheel setups (e.g., 225 front/255 rear) have reported increased cabin noise and resonance at highway speeds.
- Performance enthusiasts note that the tire's sidewall design and responsiveness make it ideal for spirited driving, though it may feel 'bumpy' on uneven road surfaces.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 810 S | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter High Performance tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Continental
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — better snow, treadwear and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 83 vs 28 on snow.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 88 vs 68 on treadwear.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 89 vs 73 on handling.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 92 vs 79 on dry.
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.