Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Ahead in each discipline
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 and the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S have met in one independent test so far, and the WinterContact TS 860 S finished ahead. The Pilot Alpin 4 was stronger in wet, the WinterContact TS 860 S in dry, comfort and value.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the one shared test, each tire shown as its share of the better figure.
Where each is furthest ahead
Pilot Alpin 4
WinterContact TS 860 S
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
Pilot Alpin 4
WinterContact TS 860 S
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
WinterContact TS 860 S
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 WinterContact TS 860 S 87% from 16. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tires' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tire that did better.
| Measurement | Pilot Alpin 4 | Gap | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry WinterContact TS 860 S ahead | |||
| Dry Braking ft | 138 | 2.1% | 135 |
| Dry Handling mph | 74.9 | 0.2% | 75 |
| Wet Pilot Alpin 4 ahead | |||
| Wet Braking ft | 155 | 5.8% | 164 |
| Wet Handling mph | 57.7 | = | 57.7 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 42.6 | 3.6% | 41.1 |
| Snow Level | |||
| Snow Braking ft | 94 | 0.3% | 95 |
| Snow Handling mph | 29.5 | 2.1% | 30.1 |
| Comfort WinterContact TS 860 S ahead | |||
| Noise dB | 74.9 | 2.4 dB | 72.5 |
| Value WinterContact TS 860 S ahead | |||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 9.39 | 14.2% | 8.06 |
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 1 test in 2019
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 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tire Test | P6 of 11 | P4 of 11 |
Pilot Alpin 4 vs WinterContact TS 860 S: your questions
Is the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 or the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S the better tire?
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 and the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S have met in one independent test so far, and the WinterContact TS 860 S finished ahead. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Alpin 4 scores 8.3 and the WinterContact TS 860 S 8.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Pilot Alpin 4 or the WinterContact TS 860 S?
The Pilot Alpin 4 led 2 of the 3 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterContact TS 860 S led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 1-1 between the Pilot Alpin 4 and the WinterContact TS 860 S.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 9.1/10 for the Pilot Alpin 4 and 9/10 for the WinterContact TS 860 S.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Pilot Alpin 4 94% from 28 reviews and the WinterContact TS 860 S 87% from 16. 100% of Pilot Alpin 4 owners would buy it again, against 81% for the WinterContact TS 860 S.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Pilot Alpin 4 is made in 47 sizes (17 to 21 inch) and the WinterContact TS 860 S in 92 (16 to 23 inch). 23 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 WinterContact TS 860 S C and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The WinterContact TS 860 S is the newer design: it reached the market in 2017, the Pilot Alpin 4 in 2012. The Pilot Alpin 4 replaced the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3. The WinterContact TS 860 S replaced the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P.
More comparisons with these tires
Every Michelin vs Continental 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.