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Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 View Gallery (4)
205-315/30-65 R16-22 71 sizes 2018 Winter rated
Tested by Tire Reviews 5 Tests
The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025 2023/24 Tire Reviews UHP Winter Tire Test 2023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test 2021 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test The Best Winter Tires for 2020

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

Previous Michelin Tires Ultra High Performance Winter

The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is a premium ultra high performance winter tire that delivers a notably sporty, near summer-tire feel in cold conditions. It stands out for confident snow performance, strong dry-road braking and handling, and reassuring high-speed stability. Drivers also report very good wet grip and precise steering, while many tests repeatedly place it at or near the top of the class. Its compromises are focused around wet aquaplaning resistance, plus limited ice-specialist ability compared with dedicated Nordic-style winter tires.

9.9
Tire Reviews Score Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews
High Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
90%
Wet Grip
90%
Road Feedback
88%
Handling
89%
Wear
88%
Comfort
81%
Buy again
82%
Snow Grip
88%
Ice Grip
78%
29 Reviews
86% Average
309,350 miles driven
23 Tests (avg: 2nd)
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

Winter Premium
BETA
9.9 / 10
Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews · High Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tire Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tire scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Category Scores
Ice
96.1
1.2x / 3 tests
Snow
94.2
1.5x / 73 tests
Comfort
91.6
0.32x / 23 tests
Dry
89.8
1.13x / 39 tests
Wet
82.7
1.93x / 89 tests
Value
77.2
0.42x / 39 tests
Cross-Category Performance

Cross-category scores are derived metrics that combine data from multiple test disciplines to evaluate real-world performance characteristics.

Traction
93.9
19 tests
Handling
90.5
63 tests
Braking
90.2
66 tests
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 23
Publications: 8
Period: 2020 - 2025
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 29
Avg Rating: 85.9%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.45
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tire tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
Data Sources
TestPublicationDateSizePositionMetrics
2025 High Performance Winter Tire Test Sport Auto 2025 275/35 R19 1/7 13 metrics
2025 AZ Performance Winter Tire Test Auto Zeitung 2025 245/45 R19 2/10 19 metrics
2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2025 225/40 R18 1/22 16 metrics
2025 Winter Tire Braking Test - 52 Sets! Auto Bild 2025 225/40 R18 2/52 2 metrics
2025 ADAC Winter Tire Test ADAC 2025 225/40 R18 2/31 12 metrics
2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Allrad 2024 245/45 R18 1/13 12 metrics
2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2024 235/35 R19 1/11 12 metrics
The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025 Tire Reviews 2024 235/35 R19 1/9 18 metrics
2023/24 Tire Reviews UHP Winter Tire Test Tire Reviews 2023 255/40 R19 2/6 22 metrics
2023 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test Sport Auto 2023 225/40 R18 3/9 14 metrics
2023 Sports Cars Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2023 225/40 R18 1/12 12 metrics
2023 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2023 225/45 R18 1/22 15 metrics
2023 Winter Tire Test 54 Set Braking Test Auto Bild 2023 225/45 R18 2/54 2 metrics
2023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test Tire Reviews 2023 225/45 R18 1/13 14 metrics
2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2022 245/40 R19 4/10 14 metrics
2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Allrad 2022 225/45 R19 1/10 14 metrics
2022 AMS Winter Tire Test Auto Motor Und Sport 2022 245/45 R19 1/8 13 metrics
2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2021 245/40 R18 1/14 14 metrics
2021 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test Tire Reviews 2021 225/40 R18 1/10 14 metrics
The Best Winter Tires for 2020 Tire Reviews 2020 205/55 R16 2/19 0 metrics
2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 235/55 R17 ADAC 2020 235/55 R17 1/13 0 metrics
2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2020 245/45 R18 1/21 12 metrics
2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test Auto Bild 2020 245/45 R18 2/49 2 metrics

Videos

The BEST Winter Tires for 2024/25 - Michelin vs Goodyear vs Pirelli & More!

The BEST Winter Tires for 2024/25 - Michelin vs Goodyear vs Pirelli & More!

Best 11 Winter Tires for 2023/24 - Tested and Rated

Best 11 Winter Tires for 2023/24 - Tested and Rated

In Depth Tire Comparisons
View More Comparisons
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Awards
The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025
2023/24 Tire Reviews UHP Winter Tire Test
2021 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test
All Tests
View Test Results
23
Tests
2nd
Average
1st
Best
4th
Worst
Latest Tire Test Results
2025 Winter Tire Braking Test - 52 Sets!
225/40 R18 • 2025
2nd/52
2025 AZ Performance Winter Tire Test
245/45 R19 • 2025
2nd/10
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 secures second place overall and earns the environmental recommendation as the most sustainable tire in the test. On snow, it achieves the shortest braking distance at 25.9 meters and delivers the highest traction force of 3575 Newtons, though testers note it lacks some feedback and precision at the limit, scoring 25/30 for driving safety. In wet conditions, the Michelin provides solid and reliable grip with good handling, though it struggles slightly with feedback during dynamic maneuvers, earning 33/45 for safety. The tire truly excels in dry performance with the absolute shortest braking distance of 42.4 meters and clear, precise responses scoring 20/30 for handling character. With an outstanding projected mileage of 46,750 km, the lowest wear rate of 0.124 mm per 1000 km, very low rolling resistance, and quiet operation at 71.2 dB(A), it represents the best long-term value proposition. The tire's efficiency and longevity mean that despite its premium price, it offers excellent cost per kilometer.
2025 High Performance Winter Tire Test
275/35 R19 • 2025
1st/7
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 emerges as the test winner, proving itself to be a highly reliable, grip-strong tire with broad safety reserves on snow. Testers found it delivered precisely what a rear-wheel-drive car needs in winter: grip and more grip. On wet surfaces, the tire exhibits very safe handling characteristics, though with pronounced understeer. The dry performance impressed with agile steering response and strong cornering stability, complemented by low noise levels and excellent fuel efficiency. The only minor criticisms were a somewhat nervous rear axle during evasive maneuvers and quick lane changes on asphalt, along with marginal damping weaknesses when driving over joints and edges. Despite commanding the highest price in the test, the Michelin justified its premium with outstanding all-round snow performance combined with minimal wet-weather deficits.
View Test Results
Size Fuel Wet Noise
17 inch
225/50R17 98 H XL D B 68
18 inch
245/45R18 100 V XL C B 72
245/40R18 97 W XL D B 72
225/40R18 92 V XL D B 70
245/40R18 97 V XL D B 72
225/40R18 92 W XL D B 70
19 inch
235/35R19 91 W XL D B 70
View All Sizes and EU Label Scores for the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 >>

Questions and Answers for the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

Ask a question
November 4, 2021

Hello, I am mounted with 225/40 R18 92Y, I have a sporty driving and feedback from the road is important for me. I am living in Fribourg, Switzerland, snow will be there but not everyday. I do 70 % highway, 20% nationals, 10% urban. What would you suggest between the TS870 P, TS860 S and the Pilot Alpin 5 considering my driving style and situation ? Thank you in advance, Simon

I've no experience of the TS860S in that size, however I have tested the PA5 and TS870P in my winter test this year, which can be <a href="/Article/2021-Tire-Review-Winter-Tire-Test.htm">found here</a>.
September 30, 2022

Hi,<br> I’m struggling to decide whether I should take a Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 or a Michelin Crossclimate 2… <br> I would like to equip my 2019 Seat Leon Cupra ST 4Drive with tires for the winter season here in the north of France (Lille) where we have what you call a Mild Winter (between 7-0 degrees, often wet but rarely snowy). <br> If they were available in my car’s size in Frnace (235/35 r19 91y), I would probably take the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S which seems to fit exactly what I’m looking for: a sporty “summer tire” with winter capabilities. From what I understand, it was the philosophy of the previous Crossclimate+ (without the sporty handling…) but they’re no longer available. <br> My questions are the followings. <br> Under 7 degrees Celsius, between the Pilot Alpin 5 and the Crossclimate 2:<br> - on dry roads, which one will have the best handling (for a sport car)? Which one will have the shortest braking distance?<br> - same thing for wet conditions<br> - how about aquaplaning? <br> I guess it would be a useful review as your YouTube guest promote all season tires for mild winter condition but I can’t find any in the web. <br> Thanks a lot for your excellent website and work!

The CC2 should have the advantage in dry braking, however wet I'm not so sure about. Handling is another difficult one to answer as I've not directly compared them, generally more sipes mean more block movement which means less direct handling, so again the CC2 should have the edge.
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Size Price Range  
Available in 7 tire sizes - View all.

Review Summary

Based on 25 user 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.

Strengths
  • Dry grip
  • Wet grip
  • Precise handling and steering feedback
  • High-speed stability
  • Good snow traction (light/packed)
  • Tread life/wear longevity
Areas for Improvement
  • Weak ice traction and braking
  • Firm/harsh ride comfort

Top 3 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 Reviews

Given 88% while driving a Mercedes Benz B200 (205/55 R17) on mostly town for 10,000 average miles
After i bought this tires, there is no snow in my city due to climate changes. So no snow or ice experience so far. Best benefit of this tire is comfort. In dry and wet handling, i am satisfied with tire. Near performance to my hp summer tire in corners. Only thing i hate about tire is, it easily skids in standing start from standing start both in dry and wet. Which reduces tire life. Standing start from wet high inclined road is not so fun but still good compared to lots of tires. But it must be improved.
Helpful 1033
December 13, 2024
Given 88% while driving a Hyundai Sonata N Line (245/40 R19) on a combination of roads for 4,000 spirited miles
This tire feels like a UHP summer tire but in winter. Outstanding performance in dry and wet when cold. Starts to soften above 15 degrees C. Good snow performance - almost as good as X-ice. Ice performance is meh. Michelin sacrificed comfort for handling characteristics; feels too sporty and bumpy for my preference.
Helpful 901
December 13, 2024
Given 85% while driving a Mercedes Benz GLA 200d sport (235/55 R19) on for 15,000 miles
The best in winter tires.
Helpful 937
August 22, 2024

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Latest Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 Reviews

Initial Impressions Review
Given 93% while driving a Audi A4 b9 2.0 tdi (245/40 R18) on for 300 miles
A wonderful tire, initially I bought two pieces for the front axle because on the back I had hankook and cept evo 3 that still had life in them, after two days of driving I couldn't resist and bought two more :)), magnificent in 300 km I had the chance to test them only at temperatures below 0 in all conditions: wet, dry, icy, snowy. It is the most complete tire I have put on my car so far and it is clear to me that from now on I will only buy pa5 for the winter. It's surprising to me because from the reviews I saw that the tires would actually be narrower, for me it's the other way around and I don't have rim protection on them, it's surprising how a 245 tire is wider than an 8.5 j rim, and one more thing is surprising, how this tire at the same time is extremely comfortable but has an extremely stiff sidewall, in turns the car holds itself and it seems to me that the roll has decreased when switching from Hankook to Michelin for winter including the summer Pilot Sport 5 ones have a slightly softer sidewall.
In conclusion, a wonderful tire in all road conditions, it remains to be seen with wear.

I RECOMMEND
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 image
Helpful 97
January 21, 2026
Given 81% while driving a Toyota 2023 Toyota GR Corolla (235/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 6,000 spirited miles
I ran the PA5 as a dedicated winter tire on a GR Corolla in winter 2023 (~3000 miles) and then transferred the same set of tires to a Civic Type R for winter 23/24 (another ~3000 miles.)

My most notable findings:
This 235/40/18 had an actual tread width more like a 225 or ever a 215, by eye. They looked super stretched on the OEM 18x8.5 GRC wheel where the same size PS4 looked almost pinched. My theory is that they bank on the very textured sidewall to play in deep snow traction thanks to the stretch.

Wow, is the tread shallow. I had to double check the sidewall to confirm that these are indeed 3PMSF rated.

And then.. they did great in the snow. Of course not as well as Blizzaks or other dedicated snow tires I've used, especially in the deeper stuff. But light snow and even the packed-down snow/ice stuff, they did significantly better than any all-season I've run. I will say they struggled for grip under acceleration in the CTR in all conditions, but that is reasonable.

It was a bit of a shock to switch over to my summer tires from the PA5s and not feel an immense improvement in performance. That is to say it is crazy how close in performance the Pilot Alpin 5 is to the PS4's of the GRC. I have a few friends who have nice cars but are lazy and run snow tires year-round. Boy did I have a recommendation for them!

I didn't put enough miles on them to judge the wear before selling them (due to no longer needing them) but the Civic seemed to be burning through the fronts a bit quickly.
Helpful 208
December 11, 2025
Given 89% while driving a Subaru 2024 WRX GT (245/55 R18) on mostly motorways for 4,000 spirited miles
Been using them for 2 seasons now on a Subaru wrx. Slush category - 7 Snow they drive great! In slush theres a bit of understeer but controllable in a awd car with a bit of power. Ice, I've only driven on a iced over driveway and it faired pretty well. Updated: road ice, the tires will slip soo be careful.
Helpful 162
December 1, 2025
Given 38% while driving a Lexus Rx450h (235/35 R20) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
this is last time buying michelin. Im change snow tires a hankook.
Helpful 233
October 17, 2025
Given 100% while driving a Tesla 2024 Model 3 RWD (235/45 R18) on a combination of roads for 11,000 average miles
I have been driving with these on for almost a year now. Their performance is outstanding even during breaking during summertime.
Helpful 336
September 21, 2025
Given 70% while driving a BMW 330 (225/45 R18) on mostly country roads for 0 average miles
Very good dry and wet grip (like summer Pilot Sport 4) good level of comfort, but unfortunately very noisy! Maybe due to staggered setup of wheels (225 front / 255 rear) and symetrical "V" shape design, tires produced loud humming noise at 100 km/h, probably some resonance frequency between front and rear... Excellent tire behaviour but noise level was not acceptable and lead me to unfortunately get rid of them... Changed for used Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 and these were much more quiet despite runflats...
Helpful 818
January 17, 2024
Given 69% while driving a Audi S3 (225/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 5,000 miles
After a set of nexen winguard I decided to go with what is supposed to be the best winter tire according to reviews around the web. I am disillusioned...the cheaper nexen were better by far, expecially on dry road and sport driving on dry roads. On the snow the michelin are only slightly worse than the nexen but still worse. For sure not buying again
Helpful 977
May 1, 2023
Given 91% while driving a BMW 335i (235/45 R18) on mostly country roads for 10,000 spirited miles
I use these as my winter tires on my E92 BMW Alpina B3S Allrad which is based on the 335ix They are quite a brilliant tire that reassure me on and through the the worst of winter conditions. I have driven my car across The Alps and other mountain ranges during quite bleak blizzard conditions with these tires on and they simply don’t put a foot wrong. Although it’s not compulsory and there’s no legal obligation upon me to use winter tires on my car where I currently reside, I am convinced that every car, even those with 4WD or AWD should change to winter tires when the temperature drops to +7C or below. Just talk to my friend who recently put his 4WD BMW X5 through a ditch after it slid on ice, after swearing to me that very day that he didn’t need winter tires as all four of the wheels on his X5 are driven. He now uses winter tires….. Now, the Alpin 5 tires are very supple and provide me with all that I want or need for winter driving. Good under braking and accelerating, good on turning and direction changes and quite simply excellent on even the heaviest of snow covered navigable roads.
Helpful 801
February 21, 2023
Given 70% while driving a Lotus Evora 40 (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 1,000 average miles
Have driven them ca 1500 km in a Nordic country (Estonia) with my Lotus Evora 400. As seen in the rating, very good if not excellent if there is no snow or ice. If there is snow, they will do the job OK(ish) in the city, not the highway. If there is ice, these things are pretty much useless, borderline dangerous. Braking is hilariously poor. Would not recommend or buy them for a winter tire. Great tire for +10 to -5 temperature countries that don't experience much snow or ice.
Helpful 901
January 21, 2022
Given 84% while driving a BMW 140i xdrive (225/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 2,000 spirited miles
Very convincing as a Sport tire in winter time. Side walls are not hard as I had them in my own hands when not on the rims. Thus at least 2.5 "bar" tire pressure required. Car reacts very good on steering wheel inputs for a winter tire. Did a lot of abuse last two months driving agressivly curvy roads at the limit (standard adaptive chassis but same tire dimension all around). Tires managed this very good with low wear. Dry grip is outstanding for winter tire and wet grip on an high level and good controllable. Feels sure footed. Conti 850P had slightly better grip in wet but dry was average. Comfort is below average (a bit hard for a winter tire and some unexpected noise at 120km/h / Limit in Switzerland) but overall still quiet for a winter tire.
Helpful 917
January 15, 2022
Given 80% while driving a Kia Motors Stinger 2.0 RWD (225/45 R18) on mostly country roads for 5,000 spirited miles
I've had the tires since November and would say that I'm fairly satisfied with performance but, they seem to have a super hard sidewall because you can feel every single imperfection from the road. And not necessarily in a nice way. They give you some good confidence in the snow and traction control barely steps in under acceleration on snow. I only once felt the rear go loose while driving on a wet-oily road. Other than that, vey stable. Super poor fuel economy. About 0.5l/100km more for constant highway driving (at 140km/h). Comparing them to the previous Pirelli Sottozero 3.
Helpful 928
January 14, 2022
Given 97% while driving a BMW M135i X Drive (225/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 12,000 spirited miles
Amazing grip in the dry for a winter tire. Only negative is the comfort that is not as good as other winter tires. But then this is more responsive with better feedback than other winter tires.
Helpful 1048
January 11, 2022
Rate the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5