Tests 75 · 8 tests Owners 60 · 32 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 5 in 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental VikingContact 7 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV is ahead, 77–66
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 76 · 15 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test (noise)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
65
Dry
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1176Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 76 75 Reviews found online 49 78 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 99% -
66
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1581Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 69 81 Reviews found online 62 81 Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) 80% 87% Wet Braking (% of best) 80% 93% Wet Handling (% of best) 95% 98% -
75
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +883Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 79 88 Reviews found online 70 76 Snow Braking (% of best) 99% 93% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 97% Snow Traction (% of best) 98% 100% -
70
Comfort
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +373Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 70 – Reviews found online 71 76 -
79
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +988Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 86 99 Reviews found online 67 72 Exterior Noise (% of best) 100% 99% -
59
Treadwear
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1170Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 54 74 -
60
Handling
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1373Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 60 73
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 66 | 77 |
| Dry | 65 | 76 |
| Wet | 66 | 81 |
| Snow | 75 | 83 |
| Comfort | 70 | 73 |
| Noise | 79 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 70 |
| Handling | 60 | 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 and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
66
/ 100
VikingContact 7
77
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | VikingContact 7 | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 99% #4/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 76% #10/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +24.1 | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 99% #3/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | −2.8 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 69% #5/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 42% #10/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +27.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 71% #3/7 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Winter Tire Test R18 | +28.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 93% #6/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | +5.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #6/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #3/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 98% #3/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −2.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 87% #4/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −7.6 | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 87% #7/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | −7.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 93% #5/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | −13.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #8/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | −3.4 | 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 SUV
Pros
- Exceptional traction and handling on wet and slushy roads
- High tread life and durability over long distances
- Excellent dry road comfort and low noise levels
Cons
- Abrupt loss of grip when reaching the limit on hard-packed snow
- Higher price point compared to some competitors
- Performance can feel less predictable than dedicated Nordic winter tires in extreme ice/snow conditions
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 134 | 71 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 22″ | 17″ – 23″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
66
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 7
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 81 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 73 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 76 vs 65 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 70 vs 59 on treadwear.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.