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 Pirelli Cinturato 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
72
/ 100
Objective (60%)
64/100
5 professional tests
User signal (40%)
78/100
7 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Alpin 5 — better comfort, noise and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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)
Alpin 5 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 74 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 87 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 92% | 84% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 100% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 90 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 95% | 93% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 96% | 96% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 52
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 1 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 81 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 96 | 78 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 72 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Alpin 5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Alpin 5 | Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 74 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Alpin 5 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 87 | 72 |
| Dry | 87 | 70 |
| Wet | 87 | 85 |
| Snow | 84 | 84 |
| Comfort | 85 | 33 |
| Noise | 96 | 78 |
| Treadwear | 90 | 72 |
| Handling | 78 | 74 |
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
87
/ 100
Tire A
72
/ 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% #9/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | Same test |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 76% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 91% #9/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | -14.6 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 92% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 59% #10/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +33.2 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 41% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -59.3 | Same test |
| Wear | Other | 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 40% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +60.2 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 9% #11/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 33% #3/16 · 2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tyre Test | -24.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 95% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 93% #23/35 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | +1.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 96% #18/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -0.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 97% #2/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -2.1 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 92% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 84% #4/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +8.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -1.4 | Same test |
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 Pirelli Cinturato Winter is generally regarded as a highly capable winter tire, particularly excelling in wet, icy, and snowy conditions. While users praise its initial comfort and winter-weather traction, there is a consensus that performance, particularly regarding dry-road grip and noise levels, tends to degrade noticeably as the tire ages.
Pros
- Exceptional traction on snow and ice
- Strong performance in wet conditions
- Competitive pricing compared to premium rivals
- Comfortable ride quality when new
Cons
- Noticeable increase in road noise over time
- Average to poor dry-road handling and emergency braking
- Significant degradation of performance characteristics after several seasons
- Soft sidewall construction affecting steering feedback
Observations
- Users driving smaller, efficiency-focused vehicles like the Toyota Prius report high satisfaction with the tire's wet and icy road performance.
- Drivers note that the tire's soft sidewall design may not be ideal for those seeking sharp, sporty handling characteristics.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Alpin 5 | B · Pirelli Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
87
/ 100
Michelin
72
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Michelin Alpin 5 — better comfort, noise and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 85 vs 33 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 96 vs 78 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 90 vs 72 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 87 vs 70 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin Alpin 5
Tire B · Pirelli Cinturato Winter
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin Alpin 5 also compared with
Pirelli Cinturato 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.