Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 78 · 14 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV leads, 77–74 Narrow edge
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Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 76 · 15 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2024 AS SUV 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.
-
74
Dry
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +276Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 72 75 Reviews found online 77 78 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 100% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 98% -
73
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +881Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 69 81 Reviews found online 79 81 Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 93% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 99% -
73
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +982Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 70 87 Reviews found online 78 76 Snow Braking (% of best) 96% 93% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 100% -
74
Comfort
WinterContact TS 860 S +173Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 79 76 -
72
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1688Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 73 99 Reviews found online 71 72 -
72
Treadwear
WinterContact TS 860 S +270Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 76 74 -
81
Handling
WinterContact TS 860 S +873Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 81 73
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 77 |
| Dry | 74 | 76 |
| Wet | 73 | 81 |
| Snow | 73 | 82 |
| Comfort | 74 | 73 |
| Noise | 72 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 70 |
| Handling | 81 | 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
74
/ 100
WinterContact TS 860 S
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 | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | −2.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 76% #10/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +24.1 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | −2.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 42% #10/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +13.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 33% #3/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | −8.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #6/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | +2.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −2.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −5.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #6/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | −1.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −1.8 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinterContact TS 860 S
Pros
- Exceptional handling and feedback on dry and wet roads in cold temperatures
- Strong performance and confidence in snow and icy conditions
- Stiffer sidewalls compared to predecessors, offering improved cornering stability
Cons
- Long break-in period required before optimal grip is achieved
- Potential for traction control interference on staggered RWD setups due to circumference variances
- Limited lateral grip in wet conditions compared to some competitors
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 WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 92 | 71 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 23″ | 17″ – 23″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — better noise, snow and wet. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if handling matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 88 vs 72 on noise.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 82 vs 73 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 81 vs 73 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 81 vs 73 on wet.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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.