Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Michelin Alpin 6
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 73% · 115
- TR Score
- 9.1/10
- Owners say
- 85% · 35
In the 24 independent tests that ran both tires, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 finished ahead 15 times and the Alpin 6 9 times. The Blizzak LM005 stopped 5.9% shorter in the wet; the Alpin 6 lasted 40.4% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if you drive mostly in wet, mild winters and want the shortest rain-stopping distances, confident handling and a lower purchase price. Choose Michelin Alpin 6 if you prioritize long tread life, balanced winter manners with better ice braking, and lowest total cost over multiple seasons.
Where the Blizzak LM005 is stronger
- Class-leading wet braking and wet handling across most tests
- Very competitive snow braking with strong aquaplaning resistance
- Lower purchase price and often lower rolling resistance
Where the Alpin 6 is stronger
- Outstanding tread life and low wear (often 30-70% higher mileage)
- Balanced winter performance with stronger ice braking
- Smooth ride quality and precise, safe dry-road behavior
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Blizzak LM005 vs Alpin 6 at a glance
| Category | Blizzak LM005 | Gap | Alpin 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won24 shared tests | 15 | 9 | |
| Dry25 measurements | 15 | The Blizzak LM005 lapped the dry handling course 1.3% faster (3 tests) | 5 |
| Wet51 measurements | 44 | The Blizzak LM005 stopped 5.9% shorter in the wet (15 tests) | 6 |
| Snow40 measurements | 24 | The Blizzak LM005 stopped 2.6% shorter on snow (15 tests) | 11 |
| Ice2 measurements | 0 | The Alpin 6 stopped 9% shorter on ice (2 tests) | 2 |
| Comfort15 measurements | 6 | The Blizzak LM005 was 0.5 dB quieter (11 tests) | 5 |
| Value19 measurements | 11 | The Blizzak LM005 had 5.7% lower rolling resistance (10 tests) | 7 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.9/10 | The Alpin 6 by 0.2 | 9.1/10 |
| Owner rating115 and 35 reviews | 73% | The Alpin 6 by 12 points | 85% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 56% | The Alpin 6 by 20 points | 76% |
| Pricein the 11 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Alpin 6 was dearer in 11 of 11 | +14.5% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 165 | 30 sizes made in both | 42 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 24 tests, 2019 to 2024
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
Performance profile
23 measurements from the 24 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Blizzak LM005
Alpin 6
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 4 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Blizzak LM005
Alpin 6
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Blizzak LM005
Not ahead in any category
Alpin 6
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Alpin 6 85% from 35. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Blizzak LM005 | Gap | Alpin 6 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 146 | 1.1% | 144 | 5-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.23 | 1.3% | 73.13 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69.4 | 0.8% | 68.9 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 25.2% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 126 | 5.9% | 134 | 15-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 119 | 6.4% | 128 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 91.23 | 2.5% | 93.57 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 46.8 | 1.2% | 46.2 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 9.3% | scored | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.26 | 3.1% | 12.66 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 49 | 1.9% | 48.1 | 8-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.3 | 6.6% | 11.8 | 5-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 80 | 2.6% | 82 | 14-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.1 | = | 5.1 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 408 | 0.7% | 410 | 5-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 89.03 | 0.9% | 88.27 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 35.7 | 0.3% | 35.6 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.2% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 15.1 | = | 15.1 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.1 | 0.3% | 12.1 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71 | 9% | 64 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.8% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.24 | 0.5 dB | 71.71 | 6-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 21,852 | 40.4% | 30,644 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.02 | 5.7% | 8.51 | 10-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | 0.9% | 5.75 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 90.75 | 40.9% | 53.5 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak LM005 scores 8.9 and the Alpin 6 9.1 out of 10.
| Blizzak LM005 | Category | Alpin 6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | Dry | 68 | ||
| 99 | Wet | 88 | ||
| 64 | Comfort | 56 | ||
| 43 | Value | 67 | ||
| 66 | Snow | 59 | ||
| 13 | Ice | 43 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Blizzak LM005 | Category | Alpin 6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.8 | Dry Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 8.4 | Wet Grip | 9.1 | ||
| 7.5 | Road Feedback | 8.5 | ||
| 7.3 | Handling | 8.4 | ||
| 5.9 | Wear | 8.7 | ||
| 7.5 | Comfort | 9 | ||
| 7.4 | Snow Grip | 8.1 | ||
| 6.3 | Ice Grip | 7.3 | ||
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Alpin 6 85% from 35. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
- 73%from 115 reviews
- 56%would buy again
- 1,170,613 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners most consistently praise the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 for strong wet-road performance, with around half highlighting secure wet grip and only a handful disagreeing. Dry grip is also commonly rated better than expected for a winter tire, while opinion on snow traction is far more mixed, splitting owners almost evenly depending on conditions and expectations. The biggest drawback is durability: around two in five owners report fast wear (often with performance dropping as the tire ages), and roughly three in ten mention noticeable road noise, with a smaller group also finding it weak on ice.
- Very strong wet grip and confidence in heavy rain
- Impressive dry grip for a winter tire
- Comfortable, compliant ride
- Secure and predictable wet handling
- Fast tread wear and short overall life
- Grip drops off noticeably as the tire wears
- Uneven/abnormal wear reported by some owners
Summarised by AI from 102 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 115 Blizzak LM005 reviewsOverall very good tires for snow. I have a heavy vehicle with big tires (20 inch on sedan). Very good snow and ice grip. However they are quite noisy in the cabin despite BMW insulation.
Michelin Alpin 6
- 85%from 35 reviews
- 76%would buy again
- 257,110 milesdriven by reviewers
Across 30 reviews, the Michelin Alpin 6 is most often praised for strong dry and especially wet-road grip, high comfort, and generally low noise, with many drivers highlighting excellent longevity and slow wear over multiple seasons. Most users describe it as a confidence-inspiring winter tire for cold, wet, and highway driving. The main recurring complaint is that snow and ice performance can be only average (and for some, notably weak in braking/traction and lateral stability), making it feel better suited to mild winters than frequent deep-snow conditions.
- Strong wet grip and wet-road stability (including aquaplaning resistance)
- Good dry/cold grip and confident roadholding
- High comfort/ride quality
- Long tread life / excellent wear resistance
- Mixed to weak snow/ice performance for a notable share of drivers (traction/braking/lateral stability), better suited to mild-winter conditions
Summarised by AI from 30 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 35 Alpin 6 reviewsAfter 6 years and ~37.000km of use, the tire still looks good, has a usable tread left. From the beginning till now it performance excellent in dry and wet conditions. Yesterday I've covert 300km of motorway in a very strong storm and they felt really good on a tarmac that was soaked.
On the other hand, the tire really disappointed on snow covered roads. We live in the mountains and when the roads are covered with snow, the tire loses traction very easily uphill.
So, the tire is really great if you live in areas that don't see a lot of snow.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 165 sizes of the Blizzak LM005 and 42 of the Alpin 6, 30 of them made in both.
| Category | Blizzak LM005 | Alpin 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 165 sizes, 14 to 22 inch | 42 sizes, 15 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 30 sizes 185/65 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15185/60 R16195/45 R16195/50 R16195/55 R16195/60 R16205/45 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/55 R16and 18 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A88%B12% | B100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C80%B19%D1% | C74%D26% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B99%A1% | 69 dB A90%B10% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 360 of 360 | 72 of 72 |
| On the market since | 2019 | 2018 |
| Replaced | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO (2017) | Michelin Alpin 5 (2014) |
| Replaced by | Bridgestone Blizzak 6 | - |
| Awards | Commended: Best Winter SUV Tires (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Winter Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2023) Winner: Winter Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2022) Winner: Winter Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2021) | Winner: Best Winter Tires (DriverReviews, 2024/25) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Alpin 6 was the dearer tire in 11 of the 11 tests that listed prices, by 14.5% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pitches two proven premium winter touring tires against each other: Bridgestone's Blizzak LM005 and Michelin's Alpin 6. Across 24 shared professional tests, both have strong reputations, but they go about winter performance differently. The LM005 has built its name on class-leading wet grip and confident, intuitive handling; the Alpin 6 counters with excellent longevity and consistently solid performance across wintry surfaces.
Expect a clear split in priorities. The Bridgestone repeatedly delivers the shortest wet braking and sharpest wet handling, often by meaningful margins (for example, up to 14% shorter wet braking in 2022/23). The Michelin tends to brake better on ice, rides smoothly, and dominates wear and predicted mileage (often 30-70% longer tread life), making it a value leader over the life of the tire despite a higher purchase price.
Conclusion
Patterns across multiple tests are consistent: the Blizzak LM005 is the wet-road benchmark with strong aquaplaning resistance and reliable snow braking, while the Alpin 6 trades a little ultimate wet grip for excellent durability, balanced winter manners, and stronger ice braking. In mixed UK/Western European winters that are predominantly wet with occasional snow, the Bridgestone's grip advantage and typically lower price make it the performance pick. In regions where winters are longer and colder, or where buyers value fewer replacements and robust ice performance, the Michelin's longevity and balance pay off.
If you prioritize stopping distances in rain, crisp responses and low rolling resistance, choose the LM005. If you want the best overall wear, calmer behavior at the limit, and better ice braking, choose the Alpin 6. The practical takeaway: LM005 for peak wet safety and value up-front; Alpin 6 for total-cost value and endurance over multiple seasons.
Blizzak LM005 vs Alpin 6: your questions
Is the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 or the Michelin Alpin 6 the better tire?
In the 24 independent tests that ran both tires, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 finished ahead 15 times and the Alpin 6 9 times. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak LM005 scores 8.9 and the Alpin 6 9.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Blizzak LM005 or the Alpin 6?
The Blizzak LM005 led 44 of the 51 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.9% shorter in the wet across 15 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Blizzak LM005 led 15 of the 25 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it lapped the dry handling course 1.3% faster across 3 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Blizzak LM005 led 24 of the 40 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.6% shorter on snow across 15 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Blizzak LM005 had 5.7% lower rolling resistance (10 tests) and used 0.9% less fuel (2 tests); the Alpin 6 lasted 40.4% longer in the wear tests (5 tests) and shed 40.9% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 5.9/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 8.7/10 for the Alpin 6.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Blizzak LM005 was 0.5 dB quieter (11 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 9/10 for the Alpin 6.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Alpin 6 85% from 35. 56% of Blizzak LM005 owners would buy it again, against 76% for the Alpin 6.
Which is more expensive?
In the 11 tests that listed prices, the Alpin 6 was the dearer tire in 11 of them, by 14.5% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Blizzak LM005 is made in 165 sizes (14 to 22 inch) and the Alpin 6 in 42 (15 to 20 inch). 30 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Blizzak LM005 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Alpin 6 B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The Blizzak LM005 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2019, the Alpin 6 in 2018. The Blizzak LM005 replaced the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO. The Alpin 6 replaced the Michelin Alpin 5.
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Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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