Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Michelin Alpin 6
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.
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 fourteen tests which compare both tires directly!
| Tire | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Continental WinterContact TS 870 | thirteen | |
| Michelin Alpin 6 | one |
While it might look like the Continental WinterContact TS 870 is better than the Michelin Alpin 6 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 and snow braking with high safety reserves
- Best-in-class aquaplaning resistance (straight and curved)
- Consistently strong handling across dry, wet, and snow
- Low rolling resistance with competitive fuel economy
- Very high mileage and low abrasion (top-tier longevity)
- Comfortable and refined ride with good subjective scores
- Strong dry performance and competitive wet braking
- Balanced, predictable behaviour across conditions
Dry Braking
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Michelin Alpin 6 was better during three dry braking tests. On average the Michelin Alpin 6 stopped the vehicle in 1.36% less distance than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Dry Braking: Michelin Alpin 6
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two dry handling [s] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 1.17% faster around a lap than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during three dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 0.96% faster around a lap than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 scored 5% more points than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from nine tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during six wet braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stopped the vehicle in 1.28% less distance than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Wet Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stopped the vehicle in 1.53% less distance than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two wet handling [s] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 2.29% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin Alpin 6 was better during one wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Alpin 6 was 0.03% faster around a wet lap than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Alpin 6
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 scored 5.93% more points than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two wet circle tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 1.65% faster around a wet circle than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Wet Circle: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during seven straight aqua tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 floated at a 4.62% higher speed than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Straight Aqua: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from seven tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during seven curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 slipped out at a 10.29% higher speed than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from nine tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during nine snow braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stopped the vehicle in 3.55% less distance than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Snow Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 and Michelin Alpin 6 performed equally well in snow traction tests.
Best In Snow Traction: Both tires performed equally well
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from six tire tests, the Michelin Alpin 6 was better during three snow traction tests. On average the Michelin Alpin 6 had 0.72% better snow traction than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin Alpin 6
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 0.1% faster around a lap than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during three snow handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 2.23% faster around a lap than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one subj. snow handling tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 scored 2.61% more points than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one snow slalom tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 3.05% faster through a slalom than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Snow Slalom: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two ice braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stopped the vehicle 6.67% shorter than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Ice Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Alpin 6 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Michelin Alpin 6 scored 9.35% more points than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Michelin Alpin 6
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from six tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during six noise tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 measured 0.82% quieter than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Noise: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one noise tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 measured 0.43% quieter than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Noise: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Michelin Alpin 6 was better during three wear tests. On average the Michelin Alpin 6 is predicted to cover 5.73% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Wear: Michelin Alpin 6
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two value tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 proved to have a 7.67% better value based on price/1000km than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Value: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during four price tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 cost 3% less than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Price: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during five rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 had a 8.21% lower rolling resistance than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two fuel consumption tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 used 1.82% less fuel than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Alpin 6 was better during two abrasion tests. On average the Michelin Alpin 6 emitted 16.33% less particle wear matter than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Abrasion: Michelin Alpin 6
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Continental WinterContact TS 870 Driver Reviews
Drivers of the Continental WinterContact TS 870 overwhelmingly praise its exceptional wet grip and braking, superb aquaplaning resistance, and confident dry-road handling for a winter tire. Comfort and low noise are frequently highlighted, and many report strong traction in fresh or soft snow. A minority note that traction can be weaker on hard-packed snow or ice-particularly on steep hills or heavier vehicles-compared to expectations. Overall sentiment is strongly positive, with most users feeling safe and confident in varied winter conditions.
Based on 22 reviews with an average rating of 84%
Michelin Alpin 6 Driver Reviews
Drivers largely praise the Michelin Alpin 6 for excellent wet and dry cold grip, strong braking, high comfort, low noise, and outstanding longevity/wear. Snow performance is mixed: many report very good traction and control in snow, while a notable minority criticize snow/ice grip and especially snow braking as average or poor. Handling feel is generally stable, though a few note softness or vague steering at higher speeds. Overall sentiment is positive, with the Alpin 6 seen as a durable, refined winter tire that excels in wet/dry but can be inconsistent on deep snow/ice.
Based on 35 reviews with an average rating of 85%
Conclusion
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.
Key Differences
- Overall results: TS 870 leads decisively (13 test wins vs 1)
- Wet safety: TS 870 typically stops shorter and resists aquaplaning better
- Snow/ice: TS 870 generally brakes and handles better in wintry conditions
- Longevity: Alpin 6 delivers higher mileage and lower abrasion
- Comfort/refinement: Alpin 6 scores higher subjectively for comfort
- Efficiency/rolling resistance: TS 870 usually lower, aiding fuel use
Overall Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870
Based on the tire test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 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:
Continental WinterContact TS 870 Top Comparisons
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Michelin Alpin 6 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.