Michelin Alpin 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Alpin 5 finished ahead 4 times and the Cinturato Winter 3 times. The Alpin 5 was stronger in dry, the Cinturato Winter in wet, snow and comfort.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Alpin 5
Cinturato Winter
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 95%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
Alpin 5
Cinturato Winter
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
Alpin 5
Cinturato Winter
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Alpin 5 86% from 33 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 78% from 7. 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 | Alpin 5 | Gap | Cinturato Winter | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 149 | 0.4% | 150 | 1-0 |
| Dry Handling mph | 66.1 | 1.1% | 65.4 | 1-0 |
| Wet Cinturato Winter ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 122 | 3.2% | 118 | 0-1 |
| Wet Handling mph | 44.4 | 1.4% | 45 | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 52.1 | 0.4% | 51.9 | 1-0 |
| Snow Cinturato Winter ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 93 | 3.5% | 90 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling mph | 31.4 | 4% | 32.7 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Cinturato Winter ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 68.2 | 2.6 dB | 65.6 | 0-1 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear miles | 45,018 | 151.6% | 17,895 | 1-0 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 9.14 | 2.8% | 8.88 | 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 7 tests, 2016 to 2018
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 | Alpin 5 | Field | Cinturato Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P11 of 20 | P13 of 20 | |
| 2018 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 | P5 of 16 | P14 of 16 | |
| 2018 51 Winter Tire Shootout | P17 of 52 | P7 of 52 | |
| 2016 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P5 of 8 | P3 of 8 | |
| 2016 AutoBild Winter Tire Test | P2 of 20 | P5 of 20 | |
| 2016 Winter Tire Market Overview | P3 of 49 | P6 of 49 | |
| 2016 AZ Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 | P4 of 14 | P3 of 14 |
Alpin 5 vs Cinturato Winter: your questions
Is the Michelin Alpin 5 or the Pirelli Cinturato Winter the better tire?
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Alpin 5 finished ahead 4 times and the Cinturato Winter 3 times. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Alpin 5 scores 8.6 and the Cinturato Winter 7.7 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Alpin 5 or the Cinturato Winter?
The Cinturato Winter led 2 of the 3 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The Alpin 5 led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Cinturato Winter led 2 of the 2 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.6/10 for the Alpin 5 and 8.1/10 for the Cinturato Winter.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Alpin 5 86% from 33 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 78% from 7. 87% of Alpin 5 owners would buy it again, against 83% for the Cinturato Winter.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Alpin 5 is made in 17 sizes (15 to 20 inch) and the Cinturato Winter in 33 (14 to 17 inch). 9 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Alpin 5 is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Cinturato Winter B and D.
Which is the newer tire?
The Cinturato Winter is the newer design: it reached the market in 2015, the Alpin 5 in 2014. The Alpin 5 replaced the Michelin Alpin A4. The Cinturato Winter replaced the Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3.
More comparisons with these tires
Every Michelin vs Pirelli test → All comparisons → Compare three or more 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.