Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Looking deeper into the data, a clear pattern emerges. Michelin leads convincingly in dry braking (10 category wins to 1), snow braking (12 to 1), snow traction and snow handling, and is also usually quieter and more comfortable. Goodyear counters with a near-clean sweep in wet braking (11 to 2), wet handling (8 to 2) and aquaplaning resistance, frequently stopping shorter and maintaining control at higher speeds in standing water. Add to this that Goodyear is generally cheaper and often shows excellent projected mileage, while Michelin brings lower rolling resistance and strong environmental scores, and you're looking at two top-tier but differently focused answers to winter driving.
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 thirteen tests which compare both tires directly!
| Tire | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 | three | |
| Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | nine | |
| one draws in one tests | ||
While it might look like the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is better than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 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
- Outstanding wet-road security: class-leading in wet braking (11 wins vs 2) and wet handling (8 vs 2) plus consistently superior aquaplaning resistance, often allowing higher speeds in standing water and curves.
- Balanced, confidence-inspiring handling on dry and wet surfaces with precise steering; frequently scores at or near the top in subjective dry and wet handling assessments.
- Very strong value proposition: generally lower purchase price than Michelin and often excellent projected mileage and wear performance, giving a low cost per kilometre in several major tests.
- Solid winter capability with short snow braking and good traction by absolute standards, plus safe, predictable behaviour on snow and ice even if usually a step behind Michelin in pure snow/ice metrics.
- Benchmark in snow and ice: dominant in snow braking (12 wins vs 1), snow handling (9 vs 0), snow traction and all measured ice tests, often combining the shortest stopping distances with the highest traction and best subjective control.
- Superior dry-road performance for a winter tire, with consistently shorter dry braking (10 wins vs 1) and very high dry handling speeds, making it particularly suitable for powerful cars driven quickly on cold, dry roads.
- Strong efficiency and environmental profile: generally lower rolling resistance (8 wins vs 2), often paired with very good projected mileage and low wear rates, leading to excellent long-term efficiency despite a higher purchase price.
- Refined comfort and noise levels: frequently rated as extremely quiet and comfortable with precise, stable steering, giving a distinctly premium driving feel in everyday use.
Dry Braking
Looking at data from eleven tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during ten dry braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 2.03% less distance than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Dry Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during two dry handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 0.69% faster around a lap than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
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 seven tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during six dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 0.69% faster around a lap than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
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 three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during two subj. dry handling tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 scored 10.06% more points than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from thirteen tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during eleven wet braking tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped the vehicle in 1.95% less distance than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Wet Braking: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Cool
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one wet braking - cool tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped the vehicle in 1% less distance than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Wet Braking - Cool: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Braking - Cool winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped the vehicle in 0.81% less distance than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during two wet handling [s] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was 0.62% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during six wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was 1.47% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during two subj. wet handling tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 scored 6.34% more points than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during three wet circle tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 had 3.85% higher lateral wet grip than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Wet Circle: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from eleven tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during eight straight aqua tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 floated at a 0.66% higher speed than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Straight Aqua: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from eight tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during six curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 slipped out at a 6.61% higher speed than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from thirteen tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during twelve snow braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 2.73% less distance than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Snow Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during two snow traction tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 accelerated 3.42% faster than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from nine tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during seven snow traction tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 had 2.83% better snow traction than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during three snow handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 0.78% faster around a lap than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
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 seven tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during six snow handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 0.99% faster around a lap than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
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 three tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during three subj. snow handling tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scored 5.56% more points than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Circle
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one snow circle tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 provided 0.88% more lateral grip than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Snow Circle: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Snow Circle winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during four snow slalom tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 1.92% faster through a slalom than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Snow Slalom: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during two ice braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle 7.27% shorter than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Ice Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Ice Traction
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one ice traction tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 accelerated 12.45% faster than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Ice Traction: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Ice Traction winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during two subj. comfort tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scored 1.19% more points than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from ten tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during five noise tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 measured 0.38% quieter than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Noise: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during three wear tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is predicted to cover 7.52% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Wear: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during three value tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 proved to have a 14.07% better value based on price/1000km than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Value: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during two price tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 cost 15.01% less than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Price: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from ten tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during eight rolling resistance tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 had a 2.33% lower rolling resistance than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
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 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 and Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 performed equally well in fuel consumption tests.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Both tires performed equally well
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 14.29% less per 1000km driven than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Abrasion: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 Driver Reviews
Drivers rate the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 very highly, praising its excellent grip and braking on dry and wet roads, strong traction in snow, and a quiet, comfortable, and predictable ride. Handling is often described as stable and confidence-inspiring, with several noting good highway manners. A minority mention weaker performance on pure ice and a softer, less sporty steering feel at the limit. Overall sentiment is strongly positive with only a few caveats.
Based on 13 reviews with an average rating of 87%
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 Driver Reviews
Drivers largely praise the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 for delivering near-summer-tire performance in winter, with excellent dry and wet grip, precise handling, and strong stability. Snow traction is reported as confidently good (especially on packed or light snow), and several high-scoring reviews note impressive tread life. However, multiple users caution that ice traction and braking are weaker than dedicated snow/ice tires, and the firm sidewall can make the ride feel harsh for some. Overall sentiment is strongly positive, especially for moderate winters and performance-oriented driving.
Based on 29 reviews with an average rating of 86%
Conclusion
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, however, makes a compelling case in climates where winter mostly means cold rain, wet motorways and occasional slush. It is repeatedly described as the wet-grip specialist, with shorter wet braking in the vast majority of tests and often markedly better curved aquaplaning resistance - sometimes by 10-20%. It also regularly scores very high for mileage and value, helped by a noticeably lower purchase price. If your priority is maximum safety in heavy rain and standing water, combined with strong all-round performance and long life at a lower cost per kilometre, the Goodyear is the smarter buy. The practical takeaway: choose Michelin if your worst-case scenario is snow and ice, and choose Goodyear if your worst-case scenario is heavy, cold rain.
Key Differences
- Performance bias: Goodyear is clearly tuned towards wet-road security and aquaplaning resistance, while Michelin is biased toward maximum grip and control on snow, ice and cold dry tarmac.
- Braking hierarchy: Michelin generally stops shorter on dry roads, snow and ice (often by 2-7% in dry/snow and more on ice), whereas Goodyear more often delivers the shortest stopping distances in the wet (11 wet-braking wins vs 2).
- Aquaplaning and heavy rain: Goodyear offers noticeably better straight-line and especially curved aquaplaning resistance, with differences in some tests exceeding 10-20%, giving it a clear edge in deep water and heavy rain.
- Winter-surface behaviour: Michelin typically offers higher traction and stronger, more precise handling on snow and ice, while Goodyear is described as safe and predictable but with slightly longer snow and ice braking in most head-to-head tests.
- Efficiency and durability balance: Michelin usually has lower rolling resistance and often wins environmental awards, whereas Goodyear often shows equal or better projected mileage and, combined with its lower price, can deliver a better cost-per-kilometre in many tests.
- Comfort, noise and price: Michelin tends to be marginally quieter and more refined but is consistently the more expensive option; Goodyear is a bit firmer and slightly noisier in some sizes but notably cheaper and repeatedly rated as the better value buy.
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:
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 Top Comparisons
No other comparisons available for this tire.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 Top Comparisons
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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.