Michelin Alpin 5 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 finished ahead 11 times and the Alpin 5 not once. The WinterContact TS 860 was stronger in snow.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Alpin 5
WinterContact TS 860
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 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
Alpin 5
WinterContact TS 860
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
WinterContact TS 860
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Alpin 5 86% from 33 reviews and the WinterContact TS 860 86% from 50. 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 | WinterContact TS 860 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 149 | 0.9% | 148 | 1-1 |
| Dry Handling mph | 67 | 0.6% | 67.4 | 1-1 |
| Wet Level | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 115 | 3.2% | 112 | 1-1 |
| Wet Handling mph | 45.5 | 0.7% | 45.8 | 1-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 53.6 | 0.9% | 54 | 1-1 |
| Snow WinterContact TS 860 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 94 | 3.5% | 90 | 0-2 |
| Snow Handling mph | 31.6 | 2.3% | 32.3 | 0-2 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Noise dB | 70.2 | 0.6 dB | 69.65 | 1-1 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear miles | 36,257 | 40.8% | 25,399 | 2-0 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.83 | 9.5% | 7.99 | 0-2 |
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 11 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 | WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P11 of 20 | P2 of 20 | |
| 2018 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 | P5 of 16 | P1 of 16 | |
| 2018 51 Winter Tire Shootout | P17 of 52 | P1 of 52 | |
| 2017 50 Winter Tire Shoot Out | P7 of 50 | P2 of 50 | |
| 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P2 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 195/65 R15 | P12 of 16 | P1 of 16 | |
| 2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P7 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| 2016 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P5 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| 2016 AutoBild Winter Tire Test | P2 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2016 Winter Tire Market Overview | P3 of 49 | P1 of 49 | |
| 2016 AZ Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 | P4 of 14 | P1 of 14 |
Alpin 5 vs WinterContact TS 860: your questions
Is the Michelin Alpin 5 or the Continental WinterContact TS 860 the better tire?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 finished ahead 11 times and the Alpin 5 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Alpin 5 scores 8.6 and the WinterContact TS 860 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Alpin 5 or the WinterContact TS 860?
Across the shared tests the wet measurements are split 3-3 between the Alpin 5 and the WinterContact TS 860.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Alpin 5 and the WinterContact TS 860.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterContact TS 860 led 4 of the 4 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.5% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Alpin 5 lasted 40.8% longer in the wear tests (2 tests); the WinterContact TS 860 had 9.5% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 9/10 for the Alpin 5 and 8.4/10 for the WinterContact TS 860.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.6/10 for the Alpin 5 and 8.6/10 for the WinterContact TS 860.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Alpin 5 86% from 33 reviews and the WinterContact TS 860 86% from 50. 87% of Alpin 5 owners would buy it again, against 86% for the WinterContact TS 860.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Alpin 5 is made in 17 sizes (15 to 20 inch) and the WinterContact TS 860 in 47 (13 to 17 inch). 7 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 WinterContact TS 860 B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The WinterContact TS 860 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2016, the Alpin 5 in 2014. The Alpin 5 replaced the Michelin Alpin A4. The WinterContact TS 860 replaced the Continental WinterContact TS 850.
More comparisons with these tires
Every Michelin vs Continental test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →
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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.