Tests 72 · 3 tests Owners 71 · 5 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 9 in 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV is ahead, 77–71
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Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 76 · 15 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
71
Dry
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +576Why this score
Source Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 68 75 Reviews found online 74 78 Dry Braking (% of best) 94% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 100% -
75
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +681Why this score
Source Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 76 81 Reviews found online 73 81 Wet Braking (% of best) 98% 93% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 100% -
70
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1383Why this score
Source Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 76 88 Reviews found online 62 76 Snow Braking (% of best) 100% 95% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 100% Snow Traction (% of best) 93% 100% -
73
Comfort
Level73Why this score
Source Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 76 76 -
64
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +2488Why this score
Source Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 62 99 Reviews found online – 72 -
69
Treadwear
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +170Why this score
Source Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 72 74 -
73
Handling
Level73Why this score
Source Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 73 73
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 77 |
| Dry | 71 | 76 |
| Wet | 75 | 81 |
| Snow | 70 | 83 |
| Comfort | 73 | 73 |
| Noise | 64 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 70 |
| Handling | 73 | 73 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
71
/ 100
Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
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 | Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% #8/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 98% #5/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | −3.8 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #7/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −0.9 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 87% #9/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | +13.1 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −4.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 56% #6/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 45% #7/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +10.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 50% #2/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | −16.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 95% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +5.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #2/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −0.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 93% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | −6.6 | Same test |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 88% #10/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | 96% #3/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −8.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 98% #3/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 93% #6/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | +4.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #4/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | −2.5 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
Pros
- Balanced performance across dry and wet conditions
- Secure handling and positive steering feedback on snow and ice
- Good overall traction in cold weather environments
Cons
- Subpar aquaplaning resistance reported by some users
- Inconsistent grip leading to rear-wheel spin in non-dry conditions
- Mixed snow and winter slush performance depending on severity
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 Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | — | 71 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 23″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — better noise, snow and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 88 vs 64 on noise.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 83 vs 70 on snow.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 81 vs 75 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 76 vs 71 on dry.
Tire A · Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
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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.