Tests – · none yet Owners 75 · 57 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 42 in 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 850 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Alpin 4 is ahead, 78–73
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Tests 71 · 3 tests Owners 85 · 28 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 14 in 2011 AMS Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
73
Dry
Pilot Alpin 4 +275Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 Pilot Alpin 4 Professional tests (TWG score) – 67 Reviews found online 77 87 -
78
Wet
Pilot Alpin 4 +482Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 Pilot Alpin 4 Professional tests (TWG score) – 78 Reviews found online 81 88 -
70
Snow
Pilot Alpin 4 +575Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 Pilot Alpin 4 Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 Reviews found online 70 80 -
73
Comfort
Pilot Alpin 4 +376Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 Pilot Alpin 4 Reviews found online 77 84 -
–
Noise
No comparison62Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 Pilot Alpin 4 Professional tests (TWG score) – 59 -
70
Treadwear
Pilot Alpin 4 +474Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 Pilot Alpin 4 Reviews found online 73 81 -
78
Handling
Pilot Alpin 4 +1290Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 Pilot Alpin 4 Reviews found online 78 90
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 850 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 78 |
| Dry | 73 | 75 |
| Wet | 78 | 82 |
| Snow | 70 | 75 |
| Comfort | 73 | 76 |
| Noise | – | 62 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 74 |
| Handling | 78 | 90 |
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
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Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
WinterContact TS 850
78
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 4
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | Pilot Alpin 4 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/42 · 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test | 33% #3/14 · 2011 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +66.7 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinterContact TS 850
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and icy conditions
- Outstanding performance in wet weather with strong resistance to aquaplaning
- High levels of ride comfort and low cabin noise
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can result in a 'floating' or vague steering feel during cornering
- Performance degrades noticeably in temperatures above 10-15°C
- Reports of accelerated shoulder wear, particularly on heavier or RWD vehicles
Tire B Pilot Alpin 4
Pros
- Exceptional grip and handling in snow and ice
- Sporty, responsive handling on dry and wet pavement
- High level of comfort and low road noise for a winter tire
Cons
- Higher price point compared to some competitors
- Above-average noise level reported by a few users due to the aggressive tread pattern
- Slight initial tread squirm when brand new before settling in
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 5 | — |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 16″ | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 850
78
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — better handling, snow and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 90 vs 78 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 75 vs 70 on snow.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 82 vs 78 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 74 vs 70 on treadwear.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
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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.