Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 73% · 115
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 87% · 33
In the 16 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 10 times and the Blizzak LM005 5 times, with one level. The Blizzak LM005 stopped 6.1% shorter in the wet; the Pilot Alpin 5 lasted 40.1% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 for rainy, mild winters, frequent motorway driving, and value/efficiency priorities. Choose Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 for regular snow, colder climates, or performance-focused driving where dry precision, snow traction, and longevity matter most.
Where the Blizzak LM005 is stronger
- Class-leading wet braking and wet handling across tests (14/14 wet braking wins)
- Strong aquaplaning resistance (straight and curved) and low rolling resistance
- Competitive snow capability for a wet specialist; predictable, easy control
Where the Pilot Alpin 5 is stronger
- Best-in-class on snow (braking, traction, handling) with precise steering
- Consistently shorter dry braking and higher dry handling speeds
- Lower noise and excellent wear/mileage, improving long-term value
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 Pilot Alpin 5 at a glance
| Category | Blizzak LM005 | Gap | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won16 shared tests | 5 | 1 level | 10 |
| Dry26 measurements | 4 | The Pilot Alpin 5 stopped 4.9% shorter in the dry (12 tests) | 22 |
| Wet58 measurements | 50 | The Blizzak LM005 stopped 6.1% shorter in the wet (14 tests) | 8 |
| Snow50 measurements | 6 | The Pilot Alpin 5 was 4.9% quicker in the snow traction test (3 tests) | 44 |
| Comfort14 measurements | 1 | The Pilot Alpin 5 was 1 dB quieter (11 tests) | 11 |
| Value15 measurements | 10 | The Blizzak LM005 had 4.7% lower rolling resistance (12 tests) | 5 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.9/10 | The Pilot Alpin 5 by 0.6 | 9.5/10 |
| Owner rating115 and 33 reviews | 73% | The Pilot Alpin 5 by 14 points | 87% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 56% | The Pilot Alpin 5 by 28 points | 84% |
| Pricein the 11 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Pilot Alpin 5 was dearer in 11 of 11 | +14.2% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 165 | 55 sizes made in both | 81 |
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 16 tests, 2020 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.
| Test | Blizzak LM005 | Field | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test | P5 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2023/24 Tire Reviews UHP Winter Tire Test | P5 of 6 | P2 of 6 | |
| 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test | P1 of 9 | P3 of 9 | |
| 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tire Test | P5 of 11 | P1 of 11 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P10 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2023 Winter Tire Test 54 Set Braking Test | P1 of 54 | P2 of 54 | |
| 2023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test | P1 of 11 | P1 of 11 | |
| 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tire Test | P1 of 9 | P4 of 9 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test | P4 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2022 AMS Winter Tire Test | P4 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tire Test | P4 of 13 | P1 of 13 | |
| 2021 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test | P4 of 9 | P1 of 9 | |
| The Best Winter Tires for 2020 | P1 of 19 | P2 of 19 | |
| 2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 235/55 R17 | P7 of 13 | P1 of 13 | |
| 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test | P2 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test | P1 of 51 | P2 of 51 |
Performance profile
23 measurements from the 16 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Blizzak LM005
Pilot Alpin 5
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 94%: 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
Pilot Alpin 5
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
Pilot Alpin 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33. 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.
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 Pilot Alpin 5 9.5 out of 10.
| Blizzak LM005 | Category | Pilot Alpin 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | Dry | 99 | ||
| 99 | Wet | 90 | ||
| 64 | Comfort | 89 | ||
| 43 | Value | 59 | ||
| 66 | Snow | 92 | ||
| 13 | Ice | 80 | ||
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 | Pilot Alpin 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.8 | Dry Grip | 9 | ||
| 8.4 | Wet Grip | 9 | ||
| 7.5 | Road Feedback | 8.8 | ||
| 7.3 | Handling | 8.9 | ||
| 5.9 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 7.5 | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
| 7.4 | Snow Grip | 9 | ||
| 6.3 | Ice Grip | 8 | ||
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33. 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 Pilot Alpin 5
- 87%from 33 reviews
- 84%would buy again
- 357,850 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 highly overall (average 82.7%), with the clearest consensus around strong snow traction and unusually capable dry-road performance for a winter tire. Wet grip also earns plenty of praise, and a smaller group highlights sharp steering feel and secure snow handling. Complaints are more mixed, but around a quarter of owners mention either firmer-than-expected ride comfort or disappointing ice performance, and a smaller minority report noticeable road noise and weak slush behavior.
- Strong snow traction and confidence in winter conditions
- Outstanding dry grip for a winter tire
- Very good wet grip
- Secure, sporty handling on dry roads
- Ice grip can be poor and unpredictable for some
- Firm or bumpy ride comfort for a winter tire
- Noticeable road noise at speed
Summarised by AI from 27 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 33 Pilot Alpin 5 reviewsGreat tire, i replaced my GY Ultragrip performance 3 with this and i can say they are even better on snow than GY. Where Michelin lacks to GY is on wet. I find goodyear a bit better on wet surfaces but both tires are excepional.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 165 sizes of the Blizzak LM005 and 81 of the Pilot Alpin 5, 55 of them made in both.
| Category | Blizzak LM005 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 165 sizes, 14 to 22 inch | 81 sizes, 16 to 23 inch |
| Made in both | 55 sizes 205/60 R16215/65 R16225/50 R17235/45 R17235/55 R17245/45 R17215/50 R18215/55 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18225/50 R18225/55 R18and 43 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A88%B12% | B58%C40%D2% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C80%B19%D1% | C60%D30%B9% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B99%A1% | 68-75 dB B70%A30% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 360 of 360 | 96 of 96 |
| On the market since | 2019 | 2017 |
| Replaced | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO (2017) | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 (2012) |
| 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) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Pilot Alpin 5 was the dearer tire in 11 of the 11 tests that listed prices, by 14.2% 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 comparison pits two class leaders with different missions against each other: Bridgestone's Blizzak LM005, a premium-touring winter tire tuned for everyday security, and Michelin's Pilot Alpin 5, an ultra-high-performance winter tire aimed at drivers who value precision and speed in cold conditions. Across 16 shared tests, both consistently finish at the sharp end, but they win in different weather domains.
Pattern-wise, the LM005 dominates the wet: it wins wet braking in every shared event (14/14) and usually edges wet handling and aquaplaning. The Pilot Alpin 5 counters with clear superiority in the dry and on snow, frequently topping overall rankings and offering better noise comfort and wear. Expect the Bridgestone to be the rain-season benchmark, and the Michelin to lead when the road is dry or snow-covered.
Conclusion
If your winter is predominantly wet and mild, the Blizzak LM005 is the safer bet: it repeatedly stops shorter in the wet (often by 5-12%) and resists aquaplaning more effectively. It's typically cheaper to buy and often lower in rolling resistance, aiding fuel economy. Its main compromise is longer dry stops and being outclassed on packed snow versus the best.
If you drive performance cars or face regular snow, the Pilot Alpin 5 is the all-round athlete. It wins most dry braking/handling and the majority of snow tests, often by small but meaningful margins, and it's usually quieter with markedly better wear life (e.g., +80% in one UHP test). While its wet braking can be mid-pack, overall balance and longevity make it the stronger long-term value for drivers who see mixed or snowy winters and care about precision. The simple takeaway: LM005 for wet-winter confidence and economy; Pilot Alpin 5 for snow mastery, dry precision, and durability.
Blizzak LM005 vs Pilot Alpin 5: your questions
Is the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 or the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 the better tire?
In the 16 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 10 times and the Blizzak LM005 5 times, with one level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak LM005 scores 8.9 and the Pilot Alpin 5 9.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Blizzak LM005 or the Pilot Alpin 5?
The Blizzak LM005 led 50 of the 58 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.1% shorter in the wet across 14 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 22 of the 26 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.9% shorter in the dry across 12 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 44 of the 50 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it was 4.9% quicker in the snow traction test across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Blizzak LM005 had 4.7% lower rolling resistance (12 tests); the Pilot Alpin 5 lasted 40.1% longer in the wear tests (3 tests). Owners rate wear 5.9/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 9/10 for the Pilot Alpin 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Pilot Alpin 5 was 1 dB quieter (11 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the Blizzak LM005 and 8.3/10 for the Pilot Alpin 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Blizzak LM005 73% from 115 reviews and the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33. 56% of Blizzak LM005 owners would buy it again, against 84% for the Pilot Alpin 5.
Which is more expensive?
In the 11 tests that listed prices, the Pilot Alpin 5 was the dearer tire in 11 of them, by 14.2% 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 Pilot Alpin 5 in 81 (16 to 23 inch). 55 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 Pilot Alpin 5 B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The Blizzak LM005 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2019, the Pilot Alpin 5 in 2017. The Blizzak LM005 replaced the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO. The Pilot Alpin 5 replaced the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4.
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Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
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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