87
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
85/100
30 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Michelin Alpin 5 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.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Alpin 5 — better noise. Pick the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 if handling and dry matter most to you.
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 5 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 90 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 90 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 92% | 94% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 88 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 95% | 100% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 96% | 93% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 81 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 49
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 96 | 47 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 88 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 89 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Alpin 5 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 87 | 83 |
| Dry | 87 | 92 |
| Wet | 87 | 86 |
| Snow | 84 | 83 |
| Comfort | 85 | 87 |
| Noise | 96 | 47 |
| Treadwear | 90 | 88 |
| Handling | 78 | 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
87
/ 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 | 96% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 95% #1/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 76% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | -23.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 95% #2/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | +4.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 92% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #9/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | -7.8 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 41% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 89% #19/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | -48.1 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 6% #17/51 · 2018 51 Winter Tyre Shootout | 50% #2/54 · 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | -44.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 95% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/6 · 2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test | -4.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 96% #18/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 93% #1/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | +2.9 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | -5.1 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #4/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 92% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 94% #5/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | -1.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | -0.5 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Michelin Alpin 5 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, praised for its exceptional traction in snow and wet conditions. While users consistently highlight its longevity and comfort, some note that its performance degrades after three years and that the soft compound is not suitable for warm, dry weather.
Pros
- Exceptional snow and ice traction
- Outstanding wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
- High durability and long tread life
- Excellent ride comfort and low noise levels
Cons
- Performance degradation after 3 years of use
- Soft sidewalls lead to vague handling in corners
- Poor performance and 'smearing' in temperatures above 20°C
- Lack of rim protection
Observations
- Drivers of smaller, lighter vehicles like the Mini Cooper S and Skoda Yeti report significant improvements in driving feel and comfort.
- Users note that the tire's soft sidewalls are beneficial for comfort but detrimental to handling precision on sportier vehicle setups.
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 · Michelin Alpin 5 | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
87
/ 100
Michelin
83
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Alpin 5 — better noise. Pick the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 if handling and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 96 vs 47 on noise.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 89 vs 78 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 92 vs 87 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin Alpin 5
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin Alpin 5 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.