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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 6 road tests and 14 + 15 owner reviews. How we score

Pilot Alpin 5 SUV is ahead, 80–74

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Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 860 S

Winter

± 7Provisional

Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 78 · 14 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Tire BMichelin

Pilot Alpin 5 SUV

Winter

± 5

Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 78 · 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.

  1. 74

    Dry

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +4
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SPilot Alpin 5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests7376
    Reviews found online7680

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73 + 40% × 76.1 = 74

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 76.2 + 40% × 80.1 = 78

  2. 74

    Wet

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +8
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SPilot Alpin 5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests7082
    Reviews found online8082

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70 + 40% × 79.9 = 74

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 81.8 + 40% × 82 = 82

  3. 73

    Snow

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +10
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SPilot Alpin 5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests7189
    Reviews found online7674

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 76.3 = 73

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 88.6 + 40% × 74.3 = 83

  4. 75

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 860 S +1
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SPilot Alpin 5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online7977

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 40% × 70.8 (est.) + 60% × 78.5 = 75

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 40% × 70.5 (est.) + 60% × 77 = 74

    No road tests of comfort for WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 71

    Noise

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +14
    85
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SPilot Alpin 5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7397
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73.4 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 71

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 97 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 85

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 74

    Treadwear

    WinterContact TS 860 S +2
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SPilot Alpin 5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online7976

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 71 (est.) + 40% × 79.3 = 74

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 69.7 (est.) + 40% × 75.5 = 72

    No road tests of treadwear for WinterContact TS 860 S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

    No road tests of treadwear for Pilot Alpin 5 SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 81

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 860 S +2
    79
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SPilot Alpin 5 SUV
    Reviews found online8179
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 860 S +14
    63
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SPilot Alpin 5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests7763
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SMichelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Relative Score 74 80
Dry 74 78
Wet 74 82
Snow 73 83
Comfort 75 74
Noise 71 85
Treadwear 74 72
Handling (owners) 81 79
Efficiency 77 63

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

WinterContact TS 860 S

± 5

Pilot Alpin 5 SUV

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryWinterContact TS 860 SPilot Alpin 5 SUVΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 99% #5/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 87% #7/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 93% #4/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 – 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 – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 96% #3/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 45% #7/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test #1/10 2025 Auto Motor und Sport Winter Tire Test R18 – 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
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 860 S review

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
All owner themes in the Pilot Alpin 5 SUV review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available9271
Rim diameters16″ – 23″17″ – 23″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common2525

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV

Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — better noise, snow and wet. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if efficiency matters most to you. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 14 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 77 vs 63 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 85 vs 71 on noise.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 83 vs 73 on snow.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 82 vs 74 on wet.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
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WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, 82 vs 74 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, 78 vs 74 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, 83 vs 73 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, 85 vs 71 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 74 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 72 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 S or Pilot Alpin 5 SUV?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 77 vs 63 on our efficiency score.

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.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology