Tests 75 · 9 tests Owners 71 · 20 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Alpin 5 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Alpin 5 leads, 75–74 Narrow edge
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Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
71
Dry
Alpin 5 +172Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 71 70 Reviews found online 71 74 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 96% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% -
83
Wet
WinterContact TS 850 P +380Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 87 79 Reviews found online 77 83 Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 98% Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 99% -
73
Snow
WinterContact TS 850 P +172Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 69 Reviews found online 69 77 Snow Braking (% of best) 94% 90% Snow Handling (% of best) 96% 97% -
71
Comfort
Alpin 5 +273Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 69 77 -
64
Noise
WinterContact TS 850 P +163Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 65 60 Reviews found online 64 – -
71
Treadwear
Alpin 5 +879Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 80 Reviews found online 69 76 -
74
Handling
Alpin 5 +276Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P Alpin 5 Reviews found online 74 76
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P | Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 75 |
| Dry | 71 | 72 |
| Wet | 83 | 80 |
| Snow | 73 | 72 |
| Comfort | 71 | 73 |
| Noise | 64 | 63 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 79 |
| Handling | 74 | 76 |
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
74
/ 100
WinterContact TS 850 P
75
/ 100
Alpin 5
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 | WinterContact TS 850 P | Alpin 5 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #3/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +2.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 76% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +23.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #8/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.9 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 61% #12/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 68% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −6.4 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 71% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 61% #10/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +9.9 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 91% #4/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 91% #3/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −0.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 14% #7/8 · 2017 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | +5.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #9/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 90% #18/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +3.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 96% #9/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −1.8 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #6/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.8 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #1/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinterContact TS 850 P
Pros
- Exceptional grip and stability in wet and dry conditions
- Low noise levels and high ride comfort
- Predictable handling and good feedback on cold, ungritted roads
Cons
- Faster than expected tread wear reported by some users
- High initial purchase price
- Mixed performance on ice and slush for certain drivers
Tire B Alpin 5
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and winter conditions
- Outstanding wet-weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
- High ride comfort and remarkably low noise levels for a winter tire
Cons
- Soft rubber compound struggles in warm temperatures (above 20°C–25°C), causing cornering smear
- Soft sidewalls reduce precision during aggressive dry handling
- Potential increase in noise and hardening of the rubber compound after 3 years of use
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P | B · Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 122 | 17 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
75
/ 100
Michelin Alpin 5
Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P and Michelin Alpin 5 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 850 P is stronger on wet. Michelin Alpin 5 is stronger on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 79 vs 71 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 83 vs 80 on wet.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Tire B · Michelin Alpin 5
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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.