83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
86/100
31 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 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.
VS
83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
94/100
21 professional tests
User signal (40%)
86/100
29 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 and Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 are within 2 points overall. Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 is stronger on wet and snow. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is stronger on handling.
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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 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 92 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 90 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 90 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 95% | 95% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 93% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 88 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 95% | 100% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 99% | 93% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 81 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 47 | 47 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 88 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 89 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 83 |
| Dry | 90 | 92 |
| Wet | 89 | 86 |
| Snow | 86 | 83 |
| Comfort | 87 | 87 |
| Noise | 47 | 47 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 88 |
| Handling | 85 | 89 |
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
83
/ 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% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 95% #1/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | +3.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 97% #2/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | +1.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 96% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 87% #5/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | +9.4 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 94% #3/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.4 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 94% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #11/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | -5.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | -80 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 95% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | -4.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 93% #1/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | +5.6 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 97% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 94% #14/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% #3/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 95% #5/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -0.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #3/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 93% #3/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | +5.2 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 is widely regarded as a high-performing winter tire, particularly excelling in cold, wet, and slushy conditions. While most users praise its confidence-inspiring grip and longevity, some report mixed experiences regarding road noise and dry-weather handling precision.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather and slush performance
- Strong traction and braking capabilities in snow
- High durability and long tread life
- Comfortable ride quality compared to summer or run-flat tires
Cons
- Increased road noise reported by some users at higher speeds
- Vague steering feedback and sidewall flex during spirited dry-road driving
- Occasional loss of grip in dry conditions or when temperatures exceed 7°C
- Tendency to oversteer on certain rear-wheel-drive platforms
Observations
- Users on BMW and other rear-wheel-drive platforms noted a tendency for the rear to slide or oversteer in corners.
- Drivers transitioning from run-flat tires to these winter tires frequently reported a significant improvement in ride comfort.
- Owners of smaller, balanced vehicles like the Mazda MX-5 noted that the tire maintains good handling characteristics despite the softer winter compound.
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.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Ultra High Performance Winter tire | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 9 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Raised Black Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Goodyear
83
/ 100
Michelin
Too close to call: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 and Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 are within 2 points overall. Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 is stronger on wet and snow. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is stronger on handling.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 89 vs 85 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 scores 89 vs 86 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 scores 86 vs 83 on snow.
Tire A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 also compared with
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 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.