Michelin Alpin A4 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Alpin A4 finished ahead 2 times and the Winguard Snow G WH2 not once. The Alpin A4 was stronger in dry, wet and ice, the Winguard Snow G WH2 in value.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Alpin A4
Winguard Snow G WH2
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.
Where each scores higher
Alpin A4
Winguard Snow G WH2
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 A4
Winguard Snow G WH2
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Alpin A4 92% from 55 reviews and the Winguard Snow G WH2 76% from 12. 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 A4 | Gap | Winguard Snow G WH2 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Alpin A4 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 93 | 6.4% | 99 | 1-0 |
| Wet Alpin A4 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 98 | 9% | 108 | 1-0 |
| Wet Handling s | 14 | = | 14 | 0-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 52.9 | 10.1% | 48 | 1-0 |
| Snow Level | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 53 | 3.9% | 55 | 1-0 |
| Snow Traction s | 5.06 | 2% | 4.96 | 0-1 |
| Ice Alpin A4 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 75 | 3.8% | 78 | 1-0 |
| Ice Traction s | 7.32 | 11.1% | 8.23 | 1-0 |
| Ice Handling s | 30 | 6% | 28.2 | 0-1 |
| Value Winguard Snow G WH2 ahead | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 9.07 | 1.3% | 8.95 | 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 2 tests, 2016 to 2017
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 A4 | Field | Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 AC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P3 of 8 | P6 of 8 | |
| 2016 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P2 of 15 | P10 of 15 |
Alpin A4 vs Winguard Snow G WH2: your questions
Is the Michelin Alpin A4 or the Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 the better tire?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Alpin A4 finished ahead 2 times and the Winguard Snow G WH2 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Alpin A4 scores 8.5 and the Winguard Snow G WH2 6.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Alpin A4 or the Winguard Snow G WH2?
The Alpin A4 led 2 of the 3 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The Alpin A4 led 1 of the 1 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 1-1 between the Alpin A4 and the Winguard Snow G WH2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 9.2/10 for the Alpin A4 and 7.8/10 for the Winguard Snow G WH2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Alpin A4 92% from 55 reviews and the Winguard Snow G WH2 76% from 12. 96% of Alpin A4 owners would buy it again, against 83% for the Winguard Snow G WH2.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Alpin A4 is made in 9 sizes (14 to 17 inch) and the Winguard Snow G WH2 in 44 (13 to 17 inch). 7 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Alpin A4 is graded C for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winguard Snow G WH2 C and D.
Which is the newer tire?
The Winguard Snow G WH2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2014, the Alpin A4 in 2010. The Alpin A4 replaced the Michelin Alpin.
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.