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Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3

Replaced by the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 Replaces the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2

The Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 is a High Performance Winter tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

The quick answer

Owners say 86% from 11 owner reviews 100% would buy again Read the reviews
Tests say 6th average finish across 1 independent tests Latest: P6 of 7 · 2011 See every test

Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated January 2025.

  • 11owner reviews
  • 104,303miles driven
  • 1professional tests
  • 1sizes available

Tire Reviews Score

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3

8.1/10

From owner reviews only: no measured test results yet.

  • Limited Confidence
  • 11 owner reviews

How this score is built

Source Better than Weight
Independent testsNo measured test results yet – 0%
Owner reviews11 owner reviews · rated 86% 97% 42%
Typical tireWhere every score starts before its own data counts – 58%
Combined 68% 8.1

A fixed curve turns the combined figure into the 0 to 10 score, so roughly the top 10% of a group score 9 or more.

Confidence

  1. Limited
  2. Medium
  3. High

Owner reviews decide 42% of this score. The other 58% is the typical starting point, and it shrinks as more reviews arrive.

Scored on owner reviews alone, a tire is High once the reviews decide 90% or more, and Medium from 70%. Anything less is Limited: expect the number to move as reviews arrive.

The tests behind it

Only measured results count. A test that published its placings alone is listed, but not scored.

  1. 2011 2011 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test Auto Bild · 225/40 R18 P6 / 7 Placing only
1 Tests
0 Test Wins
6th Average
6th Best
6th Worst
Every independent test of the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3, newest first
YearTestResultAward
20112011 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire TestAuto Bild · 225/40 R18P6 / 7
Dimensions & Label Scores
View All

Size Range

185Width70Profile14Rim88TLoad/Speed Index2008First On Market

EU Label

Noise

71dB B

3PMSF on every size

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3's EU tire label rating?
Across its range, the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 most commonly carries EU label ratings of D for fuel efficiency, C for wet grip and 71 dB for noise.
How comfortable and quiet are the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3?
Owners rate the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 9.5 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 10 reviews.
How well do the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 9.2 out of 10 for wear across 10 reviews. 4 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 4,000 miles.
Would owners buy the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 again?
100% of owners say they would buy the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 again, based on the 11 owner reviews that answered the question. 73% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
What does the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 replace?
The Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 is the successor to the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2 in Michelin's range.
More questions about the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 (2)
Has the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 been replaced?
The Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 has been replaced by the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4.
What sizes does the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 come in?
The Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 is available in 1 sizes, ranging from 185/70 R14.
Owner Questions
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Questions and Answers for the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3

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Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 Owner Reviews

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What owners say

Across 11 owner ratings the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 averages 86%. Owners rate Comfort highest at 9.5 out of 10 and Ice Grip lowest at 6. 4 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 100% of owners score it 70% or better.

Owner ratings averaged from 11 ratings

  • Owner score 86%
  • Comfort 95%
  • Dry Grip 93%
  • Wear 92%
  • Wet Grip 91%
  • Road Feedback 91%
  • Handling 90%
  • Snow Grip 70%
  • Ice Grip 60%

Featured reviews

Most helpful 99%

“Hi I'm a sales rep and have done over 35,000 miles on these tires. I'd ordered Primacy Alpin PA3 but these turned up by mistake and I think they are less manufactured for deep snow and more 3-4 inches, slush, wet and...”

  • Skoda Superb II combi 2.0 tdi cr
  • 35,000 miles
Read full review → 650 found this helpful
Longest term 99%

“On a moderate winter conditions this is the best tire I've driven ever, dry and wet, and little icy for ~20 K miles on them it was difficult for me to get these tires to the limit. Still look like brand new with 7mm...”

  • Skoda Octavia
  • 20,000 miles
Read full review → 567 found this helpful

All 10 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 reviews

Score spread across 10 written reviews
87%
Member
Had Michelin Alpin A3 for 10 years for winter season. All around excellent tire.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 9
  • Handling 9
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 9
  • Buy again 10
  • Snow Grip 7
  • Ice Grip 6
Helpful 837
76%
Member
Definitely not good value for money
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 8
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 6
  • Buy again 7
Helpful 623
91%
Member
  • Audi S4
  • 235/35 R18 W
  • 3,000 miles
  • Mostly Motorways
  • Average
fantastic on the ice and snow. not cheap, but keeps my AUDI S4 out of the ditches.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 638

Which tires do you drive?

Researching the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.

Own the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3?
99%
Member
Hi I'm a sales rep and have done over 35,000 miles on these tires. I'd ordered Primacy Alpin PA3 but these turned up by mistake and I think they are less manufactured for deep snow and more 3-4 inches, slush, wet and ice.

Nonetheless, they got me through thousands of miles of really poor conditions including the bad snow of 2010. I also kept them on alway through the summer and they wore 5mm and would have got me through two winters if not for a puncture. If you do similar mileage but swap to summer tires you will easily get through 3 or 4 winters with them.

In the dry you will notice a little more road noise but not intrusive. In the summer you do notice that the stopping distances are a little longer but better in wet and wintery conditions.

In conclusion, these tires are best for all but deep snow where I think you will want something with a more 'snow' focus.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 10
  • Handling 10
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 9
Helpful 650
96%
Member
  • Audi A5
  • 255/35 R19 V
  • 500 miles
  • Mostly Town
  • Average
We had to decide on winter tires for our audi a5, as we live in a city and not out in the sticks we decided on this tire. From the moment we left the garage with our new tires on you never know for sure how your car will feel. Our first thoughts were these tires suit the car as its comfortable as summer tires. They grip dry roads just as good wet ones and give you absolute confidence in cold conditions. Its worth the money for a decent set of winter tires, ask your self this question.. How much is your car worth!! Bring on the snow!!
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 8
  • Road Feedback 10
  • Handling 9
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 612
90%
Member
There should be a snow and ice score which would be 10. With 200+ bhp through the front wheels traction is always tricky, on snow it was as if I were driving on a dry road - absolutely awesome. There's some loss of braking I feel on dry roads although with the poor state of most roads I may be a bit unkind here. very quiet compared to my summer tires and after 3,600 miles there didn't seem to be any sign of wear. I figure I got at least 2 mpg extra with these tires too.
About to refit for the winter ahead.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 617
92%
Member
  • Lexus GS300
  • 225/50 R17 V
  • 300 miles
  • A Combination of Roads
  • Average
Bought these a few weeks ago online winter tires are very hard to get becauase of the extreme (for Holland) winter conditions which came early this year.

I Just bought my car in the beginning of november and it was fitted with Vredestein Sportrac 2 Tires wich are dreadful in every aspect.

Dry Performance:

Traction: Great, better than my old summer tires can accelerate and corner faster
Breaking: Awesome
Steering\Handling: Very accurate and progressive, you can slightly feel load changes in long fast corners when the rear end of the car is setting. Good feedback in the steering wheel.
Comfort: Very Impressive, Quiet(better than the Vredesteins and not to hard

WetPerformance:
Traction: Great
Braking: Awesome
Steering\Handling: Equally impressive

Snow: Good traction and breaking. I can only compare them ro my summer tires and what a difference. Off course traction isn't endless but it's easy to control even a heavy car like mine and you're quite able to steer with the gas pedal (that's why I love RWD. Haven't got stuck yet(with summer tires i did)
All in all a good performance.

Ice: We've quite some ice on the road these past two weeks and i mean Ice not 'icy conditios). This is where the tire let me down a bit, but i don't know what tire can excell on pure Ice. Breaking and traction were minimal, steering was still ok (although I was sliding over 4 wheels onc or twice on roundabouts.

Wear: Cannot say anything about wear yet, just fiited 300 miles. But my experince with Michelin is that they offer great wear and great performance over the entire lifespan of the tire not only
Conclusion: Great in the dry and wet, good in the snow. Not so good on ice.
All in all a comfortable sporty tire with good handling characteristics.
It does trade some of its winter capablities for this.
This tire does what it is designed for.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 10
  • Handling 8
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 8
Helpful 531
91%
Member
  • Jaguar XJR
  • 255/40 R19 W
  • 5,000 miles
  • A Combination of Roads
  • Average
I've had these on my 2004 XJR the last 2 winters running and they are outstanding.

On regular dry or wet winter roads they feel, grip and sound like any other premium tire would during the summer. Once snow and ice comes in they still just keep going. I haven't yet managed to get the Jag stuck anywhere and I'm driving past other vehicles spinning their wheels away.

For reference my summer tire of choice is the Continental SportContact 5P - great at everything, except winter!

Tip: don't try buying them once you see snow - it's too late, you won't find any. Order them by October ideally.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 9
  • Handling 10
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 9
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 584
99%
Member
On a moderate winter conditions this is the best tire I've driven ever, dry and wet, and little icy for ~20 K miles on them it was difficult for me to get these tires to the limit. Still look like brand new with 7mm tread depth.

However, this is not the proper tire to be driven in deep snow at low speed. Climbing a "white" road in a village in a mountains will not be an easy task while the car is fitted with them. It is intended for a sporty winter driving on the highway.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 10
  • Handling 10
  • Wear 9
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 567
93%
Member
Just fitted these tires recently instead of the original Michelin Pilot Sport 2's.
Seem to be a better tire , improved ride comfort, less noise and i think an improvement in fuel consumption of about 5%, although it is early days yet for a definative answer. No idea about wear rates.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 9
  • Handling 9
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 597
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