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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Pirelli Scorpion Winter — 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
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
77/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
80/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — better treadwear, handling and comfort. Pick the Pirelli Scorpion Winter if noise 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 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Alpin 5 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 94 | 94 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 100% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 100% | 100% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Alpin 5 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | 81 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 90 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 88% | 87% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 87% | 100% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Alpin 5 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 79 | 81 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 99% | 100% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 90% | 97% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Alpin 5 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 81 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Scorpion Winter leads by 38
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Alpin 5 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 47 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 73 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Alpin 5 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 72 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 73 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 5 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Alpin 5 | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | Pirelli Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 81 |
| Dry | 92 | 91 |
| Wet | 86 | 82 |
| Snow | 83 | 78 |
| Comfort | 87 | 80 |
| Noise | 47 | 85 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 73 |
| Handling | 89 | 80 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
83
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 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 | 100% #1/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #2/6 · 2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 93% #4/6 · 2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test | 86% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +6.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 94% #3/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | -3.3 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 100% #9/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 94% #7/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | +5.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | 13% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +37.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #3/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 95% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #2/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 100% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -1 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 90% #1/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -6.5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 98% #5/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | 88% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +9.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 88% #4/6 · 2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test | 87% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 87% #2/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | -12.9 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
The Pirelli Scorpion Winter is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, often mimicking the handling characteristics of a summer tire. While many users praise its confidence-inspiring grip on highways and in heavy rain, consensus is mixed regarding its performance in severe ice and deep slush, where some drivers report a lack of traction.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to aquaplaning
- Strong dry road handling and stability at high speeds
- Comfortable and quiet ride quality for long-distance cruising
- Predictable and confidence-inspiring grip in light to moderate snow
Cons
- Inconsistent performance on hard ice and slushy conditions
- Faster tread wear compared to standard summer tires
- Reduced snow traction as the tire ages and tread depth decreases
- High-speed stability can feel vague at extreme velocities
Observations
- Users with heavy SUVs and performance crossovers report high satisfaction with highway handling but note faster tread wear.
- Drivers utilizing staggered fitments on 20-inch wheels report good feedback and handling, though some note the design is aging compared to newer iterations.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | B · Pirelli Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | — | 44 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Michelin
81
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — better treadwear, handling and comfort. Pick the Pirelli Scorpion Winter if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Scorpion Winter scores 85 vs 47 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 88 vs 73 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 89 vs 80 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 87 vs 80 on comfort.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Tire B · Pirelli Scorpion Winter
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 also compared with
Pirelli Scorpion Winter 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.