Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Expect clear separation in critical safety metrics: Michelin repeatedly delivers shorter stopping distances on dry, wet, and snow, sharper handling, quieter running, and markedly better wear. The Maxxis counters with strong aquaplaning reserves in a few tests and a lower purchase price, giving it pockets of value for budget-led buyers driving mainly in heavy-standing-water scenarios.
Test Results
Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been six tests which compare both tires directly!
| Tire | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | six |
While it might look like the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is better than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tires are very complicated objects which means where one tire is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tires compare across multiple tire test categories.
Key Strengths
- Strong straight and curved aquaplaning resistance in multiple tests
- Competitive snow traction/braking for the price
- Lower purchase price and better headline value scores
- Acceptable noise levels
- Class-leading wet and dry braking (often 8-19% shorter)
- Superior snow traction and handling with precise steering
- High mileage, low wear and rolling resistance (excellent cost per km)
- Lower noise and higher comfort
Dry Braking
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during four dry braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 6.74% less distance than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Dry Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 0.91% faster around a lap than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during two dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 1.73% faster around a lap than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scored 10% more points than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from six tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during six wet braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 9.96% less distance than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Wet Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 10% less distance than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 5.57% faster around a wet lap than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during two wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 2.3% faster around a wet lap than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scored 42.42% more points than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 had 11.11% higher lateral wet grip than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Wet Circle: Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 was better during two straight aqua tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 floated at a 1.89% higher speed than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Straight Aqua: Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 was better during one curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 slipped out at a 2.66% higher speed than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during four snow braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 3.98% less distance than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Snow Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during four snow traction tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 had 5.81% better snow traction than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 4.49% faster around a lap than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during two snow handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 4.83% faster around a lap than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one subj. snow handling tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scored 28% more points than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Circle
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one snow circle tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 provided 7.71% more lateral grip than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Snow Circle: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Circle winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one snow slalom tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 7.57% faster through a slalom than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Snow Slalom: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one ice braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle 6.86% shorter than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Ice Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scored 25% more points than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during four noise tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 measured 1.3% quieter than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Noise: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during two wear tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is predicted to cover 18.33% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Wear: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 was better during one value tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 proved to have a 17.67% better value based on price/1000km than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Value: Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 was better during one price tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 cost 43.12% less than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Price: Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during three rolling resistance tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 had a 7.03% lower rolling resistance than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 used 3.45% less fuel than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one abrasion tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 wore 42.86% less per 1000km driven than the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6.
Best In Abrasion: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tire Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 and Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
In total the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 has been reviewed 8 times and drivers have given the tire 78% overall.
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 has been reviewed 29 times and drivers have given the tire 86% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Conclusion
The Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 shows isolated strengths-especially straight/curved aquaplaning resistance and a lower price-and achieves decent snow traction in some tests. But its extended wet and dry stopping distances, weaker handling precision, and higher rolling resistance make it hard to recommend for mixed or demanding winter use. Choose Michelin if you value top-tier safety, steering precision, and longevity; consider Maxxis only if budget is tight and your priority is aquaplaning safety on highways rather than ultimate grip or shortest braking.
Practical takeaway: in real-world emergencies, the Michelin's shorter braking and stability margins are the difference you feel-and the one that matters most in winter.
Key Differences
- Wet braking: Michelin consistently shorter (e.g., 56.8 m vs 50.6 m; 41.0 m vs 33.2 m)
- Dry braking: Michelin ~6-11% advantage across sizes
- Snow performance: Michelin better braking, traction, and handling
- Handling/feedback: Michelin more precise and stable; Maxxis shows delayed response and corrections
- Wear/longevity: Michelin markedly higher projected mileage and lower abrasion
- Efficiency/noise: Michelin lower rolling resistance and quieter; Maxxis sometimes better fuel result in one ADAC run
- Aquaplaning: Maxxis occasionally stronger in straight/curved tests
- Price/value framing: Maxxis cheaper upfront; Michelin better lifetime value
Overall Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Based on the tire test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tire has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tire buying choice.Similar Comparisons
Looking for more tire comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tires:
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 Top Comparisons
No other comparisons available for this tire.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 Top Comparisons
No other comparisons available for this tire.
Footnote
This page has been developed using tire industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tires in the same test.
Why is this important? Tire testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tire test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tire tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tire Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tire comparison, Tire Reviews doesn't.