Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Michelin Alpin 6
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 26
- TR Score
- 9.1/10
- Owners say
- 85% · 35
In the 14 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 13 times and the Alpin 6 once. The WinterContact TS 870 had 8.1% lower rolling resistance; the Alpin 6 lasted 5.7% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Continental WinterContact TS 870 for harsh or variable winters, prioritising safety in wet, slush, and snow. Choose Michelin Alpin 6 for high-mileage, comfort-oriented driving in milder winters where longevity and refinement matter most.
Where the WinterContact TS 870 is stronger
- Outstanding wet and snow braking with high safety reserves
- Best-in-class aquaplaning resistance (straight and curved)
- Consistently strong handling across dry, wet, and snow
Where the Alpin 6 is stronger
- Very high mileage and low abrasion (top-tier longevity)
- Comfortable and refined ride with good subjective scores
- Strong dry performance and competitive wet braking
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
WinterContact TS 870 vs Alpin 6 at a glance
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 | Gap | Alpin 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won14 shared tests | 13 | 1 | |
| Dry14 measurements | 10 | The WinterContact TS 870 stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry (7 tests) | 3 |
| Wet33 measurements | 28 | The WinterContact TS 870 held 12.3% more grip in curved aquaplaning (7 tests) | 4 |
| Snow24 measurements | 18 | The WinterContact TS 870 stopped 3.7% shorter on snow (9 tests) | 5 |
| Ice2 measurements | 2 | The WinterContact TS 870 stopped 6.5% shorter on ice (2 tests) | 0 |
| Comfort9 measurements | 7 | The WinterContact TS 870 was 0.5 dB quieter (7 tests) | 1 |
| Value13 measurements | 8 | The WinterContact TS 870 had 8.1% lower rolling resistance (5 tests) | 5 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.2/10 | The WinterContact TS 870 by 0.1 | 9.1/10 |
| Owner rating26 and 35 reviews | 83% | The Alpin 6 by 2 points | 85% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 83% | The WinterContact TS 870 by 7 points | 76% |
| Pricein the 6 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Alpin 6 was dearer in 5 of 6 | +5.4% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 44 | 22 sizes made in both | 42 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 14 tests, 2020 to 2024
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 | WinterContact TS 870 | Field | Alpin 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P1 of 20 | P5 of 20 | |
| The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 | P1 of 5 | P2 of 5 | |
| 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test | P1 of 12 | P3 of 12 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test | P8 of 55 | P5 of 55 | |
| 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test | P1 of 15 | P2 of 15 | |
| 2022 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P1 of 15 | P4 of 15 | |
| 2022 ADAC SUV Winter Tire Test - 215/60 R16 | P1 of 17 | P3 of 17 | |
| 2022/23 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test | P2 of 9 | P7 of 9 | |
| 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test | P1 of 8 | P3 of 8 | |
| 2021 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P2 of 8 | P4 of 8 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P1 of 20 | P2 of 20 | |
| 2021 AMS Winter Tire Test | P2 of 10 | P5 of 10 | |
| 2021 Winter Tire Market Overview | P4 of 50 | P12 of 50 | |
| 2020 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P1 of 9 | P3 of 9 |
Performance profile
23 measurements from the 14 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WinterContact TS 870
Alpin 6
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 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
WinterContact TS 870
Alpin 6
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
WinterContact TS 870
Alpin 6
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the Alpin 6 85% from 35. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | WinterContact TS 870 | Gap | Alpin 6 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 145 | 1.4% | 143 | 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.75 | 1.2% | 72.6 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 75.3 | 1% | 74.5 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 12.5% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 134 | 1.6% | 136 | 6-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 126 | 1.5% | 128 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 93.7 | 2.3% | 95.9 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 45 | = | 45 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 10.8% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.53 | 1.6% | 12.74 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50.9 | 4.8% | 48.5 | 7-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.4 | 12.3% | 12 | 7-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 80 | 3.7% | 83 | 9-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.1 | = | 5.1 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 320 | 0.4% | 323 | 3-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 99.15 | 0.3% | 99.25 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 35.4 | 2.3% | 34.6 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 15.2% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 10.8 | 3.1% | 10.4 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 62 | 6.5% | 66 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 5.6% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 70.86 | 0.5 dB | 71.4 | 7-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 29,992 | 5.7% | 31,814 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.05 | 8.1% | 8.77 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.4 | 1.8% | 5.5 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 62.15 | 16.4% | 52 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterContact TS 870 scores 9.2 and the Alpin 6 9.1 out of 10.
| WinterContact TS 870 | Category | Alpin 6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Dry | 68 | ||
| 98 | Wet | 88 | ||
| 53 | Comfort | 56 | ||
| 68 | Value | 67 | ||
| 70 | Snow | 59 | ||
| 16 | Ice | 43 | ||
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.
What owners say
| WinterContact TS 870 | Category | Alpin 6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | Dry Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 9.1 | ||
| 7.3 | Road Feedback | 8.5 | ||
| 8.1 | Handling | 8.4 | ||
| 8.8 | Wear | 8.7 | ||
| 8.4 | Comfort | 9 | ||
| 7.9 | Snow Grip | 8.1 | ||
| 7.3 | Ice Grip | 7.3 | ||
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the Alpin 6 85% from 35. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental WinterContact TS 870
- 83%from 26 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 166,321 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the Continental WinterContact TS 870 very highly, highlighting strong wet-road grip, impressive aquaplaning resistance, and a secure, confidence-inspiring feel at speed. Many also report good comfort/low noise and solid all-round performance across typical European winter conditions, with several noting decent wear. A smaller but noticeable group reports weaker traction on hard-packed snow/ice (especially hill starts/climbing) and a few mention efficiency/range penalties and some wet-surface noise/whistling.
- Excellent wet grip and wet braking
- Strong resistance to aquaplaning/standing water
- High stability and confidence at motorway speeds
- Comfortable ride with generally low noise
- Hard-packed snow/ice traction and hill-start/climbing can be disappointing for some
- Efficiency/rolling resistance concerns (reduced EV range or worse fuel economy) mentioned by a few
- Some report noticeable noise/whistling, particularly on wet roads
Summarised by AI from 22 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 26 WinterContact TS 870 reviewsBeen a few years with these tires now and they are ok. Not as great as everyone makes them out to be, but a solid winter tire nonetheless.
The pros:
-Quiet
-Economic (no difference in fuel consumption compared to my summer tires)
- Good grip in all conditions but snow.The cons:
-Not very good on snow. I've had cheap tires that performed the same for half of the price. They are fine on Ice though.
-I got them on sale for 70ish Euros and that's a good price for what you are getting. But I have seen them go for 140 and more (same size and all) and that is honestly a rip-off. Check that you are getting a decent price.Would I buy them again? At 70 euros maybe. But I think I will opt for Nordic Winter Tires next time.
Michelin Alpin 6
- 85%from 35 reviews
- 76%would buy again
- 257,110 milesdriven by reviewers
Across 30 reviews, the Michelin Alpin 6 is most often praised for strong dry and especially wet-road grip, high comfort, and generally low noise, with many drivers highlighting excellent longevity and slow wear over multiple seasons. Most users describe it as a confidence-inspiring winter tire for cold, wet, and highway driving. The main recurring complaint is that snow and ice performance can be only average (and for some, notably weak in braking/traction and lateral stability), making it feel better suited to mild winters than frequent deep-snow conditions.
- Strong wet grip and wet-road stability (including aquaplaning resistance)
- Good dry/cold grip and confident roadholding
- High comfort/ride quality
- Long tread life / excellent wear resistance
- Mixed to weak snow/ice performance for a notable share of drivers (traction/braking/lateral stability), better suited to mild-winter conditions
Summarised by AI from 30 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 35 Alpin 6 reviewsAfter 6 years and ~37.000km of use, the tire still looks good, has a usable tread left. From the beginning till now it performance excellent in dry and wet conditions. Yesterday I've covert 300km of motorway in a very strong storm and they felt really good on a tarmac that was soaked.
On the other hand, the tire really disappointed on snow covered roads. We live in the mountains and when the roads are covered with snow, the tire loses traction very easily uphill.
So, the tire is really great if you live in areas that don't see a lot of snow.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 44 sizes of the WinterContact TS 870 and 42 of the Alpin 6, 22 of them made in both.
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 | Alpin 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 44 sizes, 14 to 19 inch | 42 sizes, 15 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 22 sizes 185/65 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15205/60 R15185/50 R16185/60 R16195/45 R16195/55 R16195/60 R16205/45 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16and 10 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B82%C18% | B100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C78%D22% | C74%D26% |
| EU label noise | 69-72 dB B100% | 69 dB A90%B10% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 90 of 90 | 72 of 72 |
| On the market since | - | 2018 |
| Replaced | Continental WinterContact TS 860 (2016) | Michelin Alpin 5 (2014) |
| Awards | Winner: Best Winter Tire (DriverReviews, 2025/26) Highly Recommended: Best Winter Tires (DriverReviews, 2024/25) | Winner: Best Winter Tires (DriverReviews, 2024/25) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Alpin 6 was the dearer tire in 5 of the 6 tests that listed prices, by 5.4% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pits two benchmark Central European winter touring tires: Continental's WinterContact TS 870 versus Michelin's Alpin 6. Across 14 shared professional tests from 2020-2024, the TS 870 dominates overall results and consistently tops objective safety metrics in wet and snow, while the Alpin 6 builds its case on longevity, comfort, and strong dry-road manners.
Expect the Continental to lead where winter tires matter most-shorter braking on snow and ice, superior aquaplaning resistance, and confident wet grip-often by meaningful margins. The Michelin counters with the highest predicted mileage, lower abrasion, and a more comfortable, refined drive, offering strong value over a long service life despite its typically higher purchase price.
Conclusion
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 is the more complete winter performer and frequent test winner. It repeatedly stops shorter on snow and ice, feels more secure in heavy rain thanks to class-leading straight-line and curved aquaplaning resistance, and maintains low rolling resistance. If your winters bring regular cold, slush, and snow-or you prioritize maximum safety margins in poor weather-the Continental is the clear pick.
The Michelin Alpin 6 appeals to high-mileage and comfort-focused drivers. It delivers excellent wear life and low abrasion, refined ride quality, and dependable dry and wet road manners. In milder winters with fewer snow days, where total cost over time and comfort rank highly, the Alpin 6 becomes compelling. Bottom line: choose Continental for peak winter safety; choose Michelin for durability and day-to-day comfort.
WinterContact TS 870 vs Alpin 6: your questions
Is the Continental WinterContact TS 870 or the Michelin Alpin 6 the better tire?
In the 14 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 13 times and the Alpin 6 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterContact TS 870 scores 9.2 and the Alpin 6 9.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinterContact TS 870 or the Alpin 6?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 28 of the 33 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 12.3% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 7 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 10 of the 14 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry across 7 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 18 of the 24 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.7% shorter on snow across 9 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WinterContact TS 870 had 8.1% lower rolling resistance (5 tests) and used 1.8% less fuel (2 tests); the Alpin 6 lasted 5.7% longer in the wear tests (4 tests) and shed 16.4% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.8/10 for the WinterContact TS 870 and 8.7/10 for the Alpin 6.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The WinterContact TS 870 was 0.5 dB quieter (7 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.4/10 for the WinterContact TS 870 and 9/10 for the Alpin 6.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the Alpin 6 85% from 35. 83% of WinterContact TS 870 owners would buy it again, against 76% for the Alpin 6.
Which is more expensive?
In the 6 tests that listed prices, the Alpin 6 was the dearer tire in 5 of them, by 5.4% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The WinterContact TS 870 is made in 44 sizes (14 to 19 inch) and the Alpin 6 in 42 (15 to 20 inch). 22 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WinterContact TS 870 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Alpin 6 B and C.
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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.
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