Apollo Alnac 4G Winter vs Barum Polaris 5
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Apollo Alnac 4G Winter finished ahead 2 times and the Polaris 5 once. The Alnac 4G Winter was stronger in wet and comfort, the Polaris 5 in snow.
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Alnac 4G Winter
Polaris 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 97%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
Alnac 4G Winter
Polaris 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
Alnac 4G Winter
Polaris 5
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Alnac 4G Winter 89% from 4 reviews and the Polaris 5 61% from 16. 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. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.
| Measurement | Alnac 4G Winter | Gap | Polaris 5 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 146 | 2.4% | 149 | 1-0 |
| Dry Handling mph | 67.8 | 0.7% | 68.3 | 0-1 |
| Wet Alnac 4G Winter ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 144 | 0.6% | 145 | 2-1 |
| Wet Handling mph | 46.1 | 1.6% | 45.4 | 1-0 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.56 | 1.3% | 12.72 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 49 | 4.5% | 46.9 | 1-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 9.6 | 1.7% | 9.4 | 1-0 |
| Snow Polaris 5 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 99 | 2.1% | 97 | 0-3 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 551 | 3% | 568 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling mph | 36.4 | 1.7% | 37 | 0-1 |
| Snow Slalom ft/s² | 10.3 | 2.5% | 10.6 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Alnac 4G Winter ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 70.9 | 1.2 dB | 72.1 | 1-0 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear miles | 24,755 | 0.9% | 24,544 | 1-0 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.44 | 13.7% | 7.28 | 0-1 |
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.
Head to head in 3 tests, 2021 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 | Alnac 4G Winter | Field | Polaris 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P12 of 20 | P16 of 20 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test | P15 of 55 | P18 of 55 | |
| 2021 Winter Tire Market Overview | P30 of 50 | P15 of 50 |
Alnac 4G Winter vs Polaris 5: your questions
Is the Apollo Alnac 4G Winter or the Barum Polaris 5 the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Apollo Alnac 4G Winter finished ahead 2 times and the Polaris 5 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Alnac 4G Winter scores 8.3 and the Polaris 5 7.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Alnac 4G Winter or the Polaris 5?
The Alnac 4G Winter led 6 of the 7 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.6% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 1-1 between the Alnac 4G Winter and the Polaris 5.
Which is better in snow?
The Polaris 5 led 6 of the 6 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.1% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 9/10 for the Alnac 4G Winter and 6.8/10 for the Polaris 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Alnac 4G Winter 89% from 4 reviews and the Polaris 5 61% from 16.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Alnac 4G Winter is made in 26 sizes (13 to 16 inch) and the Polaris 5 in 81 (13 to 19 inch). 25 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Alnac 4G Winter is graded C for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Polaris 5 C and D.
Which is the newer tire?
The Polaris 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2018, the Alnac 4G Winter in 2014. The Polaris 5 replaced the Barum Polaris 3.
More comparisons with these tires
Run either of these?
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.