Tests 75 · 8 tests Owners 63 · 32 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental VikingContact 7 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 8 + 21 road tests and 32 + 30 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Alpin 5 is ahead, 87–69
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Tests 91 · 21 tests Owners 82 · 30 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 31 in 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
67
Dry
Pilot Alpin 5 +2188Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 16 tests 77 91 Reviews found online 52 83 VikingContact 7: 60% × 76.6 + 40% × 52.4 = 67
Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 91.1 + 40% × 83.4 = 88
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68
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 +2391Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 21 tests 69 95 Reviews found online 66 86 VikingContact 7: 60% × 68.7 + 40% × 66.3 = 68
Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 94.8 + 40% × 86.2 = 91
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76
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 +1187Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 20 tests 79 93 Reviews found online 72 77 VikingContact 7: 60% × 79 + 40% × 71.7 = 76
Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 93.4 + 40% × 77.1 = 87
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71
Comfort
Pilot Alpin 5 +1182Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests 70 90 Reviews found online 71 77 VikingContact 7: 40% × 70 + 60% × 71.1 = 71
Pilot Alpin 5: 40% × 90.2 + 60% × 76.6 = 82
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80
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 +484Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 16 tests 88 95 Reviews found online 68 ≈ 67 (est.) VikingContact 7: 60% × 88 + 40% × 68.4 = 80
Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 95.3 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 84
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Alpin 5. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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60
Treadwear
Pilot Alpin 5 +2484Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests ≈ 63 (est.) 85 Reviews found online 56 83 VikingContact 7: 60% × 62.9 (est.) + 40% × 56.1 = 60
Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 84.6 + 40% × 82.7 = 84
No road tests of treadwear for VikingContact 7. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
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64
Handling (owners)
Pilot Alpin 5 +2185Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 Reviews found online 64 85 -
77
Efficiency
VikingContact 7 +473Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 16 tests 77 73
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 87 |
| Dry | 67 | 88 |
| Wet | 68 | 91 |
| Snow | 76 | 87 |
| Comfort | 71 | 82 |
| Noise | 80 | 84 |
| Treadwear | 60 | 84 |
| Handling (owners) | 64 | 85 |
| Efficiency | 77 | 73 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
VikingContact 7
87
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | VikingContact 7 | Pilot Alpin 5 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 98% #3/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 93% #7/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 80% #3/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 99% #2/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 70% #5/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 93% #8/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 90% #3/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 100% #3/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 96% #4/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 93% #5/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 87% #10/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 69% #5/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 72% #9/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/15 2025 Teknikens Värld Winter Tire Test R17 | #1/12 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A VikingContact 7
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
Tire B Pilot Alpin 5
Pros
- Outstanding dry and wet grip and handling, feeling similar to a UHP summer tire
- Great snow traction and stability for mountain driving and aggressive winter cornering
- Excellent steering response and high feedback compared to traditional winter tires
Cons
- Subpar performance and braking on pure ice or severe slush
- Stiffer sidewalls can lead to a firmer, sometimes bumpy ride quality and transfer road imperfections
- Fuel economy can be negatively impacted
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 134 | 81 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 22″ | 16″ – 23″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 48 | 48 |
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 7
87
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — better treadwear, wet and dry. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if efficiency matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 84 vs 60 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 91 vs 68 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 88 vs 67 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 85 vs 64 on handling.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
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VikingContact 7 or Pilot Alpin 5?
Which is better in the wet, VikingContact 7 or Pilot Alpin 5?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 91 vs 68 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, VikingContact 7 or Pilot Alpin 5?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 88 vs 67 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, VikingContact 7 or Pilot Alpin 5?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 87 vs 76 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, VikingContact 7 or Pilot Alpin 5?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 84 vs 80 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, VikingContact 7 or Pilot Alpin 5?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 82 vs 71 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, VikingContact 7 or Pilot Alpin 5?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 84 vs 60 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, VikingContact 7 or Pilot Alpin 5?
Continental VikingContact 7, 77 vs 73 on our efficiency score.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology