Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter 2
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 3 times and the P Zero Winter 2 once, with one level. The Pilot Alpin 5 was stronger in snow, ice and value, the P Zero Winter 2 in dry, wet and comfort.
Performance profile
17 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Pilot Alpin 5
P Zero Winter 2
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. 14 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Pilot Alpin 5
P Zero Winter 2
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 5
P Zero Winter 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33 reviews and the P Zero Winter 2 91% from 4. 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 5 | Gap | P Zero Winter 2 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry P Zero Winter 2 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 137 | 1.2% | 139 | 3-0 |
| Dry Handling (s) | 81.61 | 0.4% | 81.31 | 0-2 |
| Dry Handling (mph) | 68.9 | 0.7% | 69.4 | 0-1 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 12.4% | scored | 1-1 |
| Subj. Road Score pts | scored | 50% | scored | 0-1 |
| Dry Lane Change mph | 46 | = | 46 | 0-0 |
| Wet P Zero Winter 2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 142 | 4.9% | 135 | 1-3 |
| Wet Braking - Cool ft | 91 | 0.2% | 92 | 1-0 |
| Wet Handling (s) | 97.64 | 1.6% | 96.13 | 0-2 |
| Wet Handling (mph) | 50.8 | 1.2% | 51.4 | 0-1 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 13.9% | scored | 0-2 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.51 | 2.5% | 12.2 | 0-2 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 50.7 | 1.4% | 49.9 | 3-1 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 7.5 | 0.4% | 7.5 | 1-1 |
| Snow Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 83 | 0.7% | 84 | 3-1 |
| Snow Traction s | 5.18 | 0.4% | 5.16 | 0-1 |
| Snow Traction (lbf) | 999 | 3.8% | 963 | 2-0 |
| Snow Handling s | 73.64 | 1.3% | 74.54 | 1-1 |
| Snow Handling (mph) | 35.9 | 1.6% | 35.4 | 1-0 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | 14.7% | scored | 2-0 |
| Snow Circle ft/s² | 12.3 | 4.7% | 11.8 | 1-0 |
| Snow Slalom ft/s² | 11.5 | 1.2% | 11.3 | 1-0 |
| Ice Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 31 | 0.5% | 31 | 1-0 |
| Ice Traction s | 4.5 | = | 4.5 | 0-0 |
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | scored | 66.7% | scored | 1-0 |
| Comfort P Zero Winter 2 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 2.2% | scored | 1-1 |
| Noise dB | 71.5 | 0.3 dB | 71.17 | 0-3 |
| Value Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 32,078 | 13.5% | 28,366 | 2-0 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.25 | 1.5% | 8.38 | 2-1 |
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 6.2 | 1.4% | 6.29 | 1-0 |
| Abrasion mm/1000km | 0.12 | 19.5% | 0.15 | 1-0 |
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 5 tests, 2024 to 2026
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 5 | Field | P Zero Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P1 of 20 | P3 of 20 | |
| 2026 Winter Tire Braking Test - 50 Sets | P3 of 50 | P1 of 50 | |
| 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test | P1 of 6 | P4 of 6 | |
| 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tire Test | P2 of 10 | P3 of 10 | |
| The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025 | P1 of 6 | P1 of 6 |
Pilot Alpin 5 vs P Zero Winter 2: your questions
Is the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 or the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 the better tire?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 3 times and the P Zero Winter 2 once, with one level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Alpin 5 scores 9.5 and the P Zero Winter 2 9.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Pilot Alpin 5 or the P Zero Winter 2?
The P Zero Winter 2 led 12 of the 19 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.9% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The P Zero Winter 2 led 5 of the 10 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 11 of the 15 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.7% shorter on snow across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Pilot Alpin 5 lasted 13.5% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) and had 1.5% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 9/10 for the Pilot Alpin 5 and 8/10 for the P Zero Winter 2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.3/10 for the Pilot Alpin 5 and 9/10 for the P Zero Winter 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33 reviews and the P Zero Winter 2 91% from 4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the Pilot Alpin 5 was the dearer tire in 4 of them, by 6.6% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Pilot Alpin 5 is made in 81 sizes (16 to 23 inch) and the P Zero Winter 2 in 66 (18 to 23 inch). 36 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Pilot Alpin 5 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the P Zero Winter 2 A and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The P Zero Winter 2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2023, the Pilot Alpin 5 in 2017. The Pilot Alpin 5 replaced the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4. The P Zero Winter 2 replaced the Pirelli P Zero Winter.
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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.