Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 3 times and the Pilot Alpin 4 not once. The Pilot Alpin 4 was stronger in comfort, the Winter Sport 5 in dry, wet, snow and value.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Pilot Alpin 4
Winter Sport 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.
Where each scores higher
Pilot Alpin 4
Winter Sport 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
Pilot Alpin 4
Winter Sport 5
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Pilot Alpin 4 94% from 28 reviews and the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47. 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 | Pilot Alpin 4 | Gap | Winter Sport 5 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Winter Sport 5 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 153 | 1.3% | 151 | 0-1 |
| Dry Handling mph | 72.8 | 0.9% | 73.4 | 0-1 |
| Wet Winter Sport 5 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 117 | 3.4% | 113 | 0-1 |
| Wet Handling mph | 45.9 | 1.2% | 46.4 | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 53.3 | 0.3% | 53.5 | 0-1 |
| Snow Winter Sport 5 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 94 | 3.5% | 91 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling mph | 34.4 | 0.4% | 34.5 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Pilot Alpin 4 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 72.5 | 0.5 dB | 73 | 1-0 |
| Value Winter Sport 5 ahead | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 9 | 4.4% | 8.6 | 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, 2015 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 | Pilot Alpin 4 | Field | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tire Test | P4 of 10 | P2 of 10 | |
| 2016 AutoBild Winter UHP Tire Test | P5 of 8 | P3 of 8 | |
| 2015 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test | P4 of 8 | P1 of 8 |
Pilot Alpin 4 vs Winter Sport 5: your questions
Is the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 or the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 3 times and the Pilot Alpin 4 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Alpin 4 scores 8.3 and the Winter Sport 5 8.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Pilot Alpin 4 or the Winter Sport 5?
The Winter Sport 5 led 3 of the 3 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter Sport 5 led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter Sport 5 led 2 of the 2 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 9.1/10 for the Pilot Alpin 4 and 8.4/10 for the Winter Sport 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Pilot Alpin 4 94% from 28 reviews and the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47. 100% of Pilot Alpin 4 owners would buy it again, against 83% for the Winter Sport 5.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Pilot Alpin 4 is made in 47 sizes (17 to 21 inch) and the Winter Sport 5 in 49 (15 to 21 inch). 13 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Pilot Alpin 4 is graded C for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter Sport 5 B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The Winter Sport 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Pilot Alpin 4 in 2012. The Pilot Alpin 4 replaced the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3. The Winter Sport 5 replaced the Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D.
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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.