Tests – · none yet Owners 77 · 38 reviews
Best test result: #4 of 14 in 2011 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D 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: #3 of 7 in 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Winter Tire Test R18 (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +176Why this score
Source SP Winter Sport 4D Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 75 Reviews found online 79 78 -
80
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +181Why this score
Source SP Winter Sport 4D Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 81 Reviews found online 83 81 -
70
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1383Why this score
Source SP Winter Sport 4D Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 88 Reviews found online 70 76 -
74
Comfort
SP Winter Sport 4D +173Why this score
Source SP Winter Sport 4D Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 80 76 -
70
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1888Why this score
Source SP Winter Sport 4D Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 99 Reviews found online 74 72 -
71
Treadwear
SP Winter Sport 4D +170Why this score
Source SP Winter Sport 4D Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 75 74 -
80
Handling
SP Winter Sport 4D +773Why this score
Source SP Winter Sport 4D Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Reviews found online 80 73
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 77 |
| Dry | 75 | 76 |
| Wet | 80 | 81 |
| Snow | 70 | 83 |
| Comfort | 74 | 73 |
| Noise | 70 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 70 |
| Handling | 80 | 73 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
SP Winter Sport 4D
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 | SP Winter Sport 4D | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/14 · 2011 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 71% #3/7 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Winter Tire Test R18 | −46.4 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A SP Winter Sport 4D
Pros
- Exceptional grip and stability in wet, slushy, and cold dry conditions.
- Remarkably low road noise, often quieter than summer tire counterparts.
- High level of ride comfort and refined road manners.
Cons
- Noticeable 'squirm' or lack of sharpness during high-speed cornering.
- Occasional reports of understeer in specific wet or icy conditions.
- Some users noted a 'hard' ride quality compared to previous iterations like the 3D.
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 · Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 20 | 71 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 17″ – 23″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — better noise and snow. Pick the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D if handling matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 88 vs 70 on noise.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 83 vs 70 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D scores 80 vs 73 on handling.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D
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.