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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Alpin 5 vs Michelin Alpin A4 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Alpin A4 leads, 78–76 Narrow edge

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Tire AMichelin

Alpin 5

Winter

Tests 74 · 3 tests Owners 77 · 31 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 11 in 2019 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test R17 (overall ranking)

Tire BMichelin

Alpin A4

Winter

Tests 73 · 1 test Owners 83 · 54 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (wet braking)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 72

    Dry

    Alpin A4 +6
    78
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 5Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)7075
    Reviews found online7482
  2. 81

    Wet

    Alpin 5 +1
    80
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 5Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)7975
    Reviews found online8387
  3. 72

    Snow

    Alpin A4 +2
    74
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 5Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)6969
    Reviews found online7782
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Alpin A4 +4
    77
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 5Alpin A4
    Reviews found online7784
  5. 63

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 5Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)60–
  6. 79

    Treadwear

    Alpin 5 +4
    75
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 5Alpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)80–
    Reviews found online7681
  7. 76

    Handling

    Alpin A4 +10
    86
    Why this score
    SourceAlpin 5Alpin A4
    Reviews found online7686
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Alpin 5Michelin Alpin A4
Relative Score 76 78
Dry 72 78
Wet 81 80
Snow 72 74
Comfort 73 77
Noise 63 –
Treadwear 79 75
Handling 76 86

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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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Alpin 5

Alpin A4

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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.

DisciplineCategoryAlpin 5Alpin A4ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 96% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 98% #2/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 −1.8 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 76% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 88% #8/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 −11.9 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #2/11 2019 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test R17 #6/16 2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 95% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 −2.6 Different tests
Straight Aqua Wet 95% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 96% #2/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 −0.9 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 92% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 −7.5 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 98% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 99% #2/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 −0.4 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A 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
All owner themes in the Alpin 5 review

Tire B Alpin A4

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and braking performance on snow and ice
  • High level of confidence and stability in wet, cold conditions
  • Impressive tread life and durability over multiple seasons

Cons

  • Reduced steering feedback and 'numb' handling feel
  • Performance decline in dry conditions when temperatures exceed 10°C
  • Occasional reports of increased rolling resistance
All owner themes in the Alpin A4 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Alpin 5 B · Michelin Alpin A4
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available179
Rim diameters15″ – 20″14″ – 17″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Alpin 5

Michelin Alpin A4

Winner: Michelin Alpin A4 — better handling, dry and comfort. Pick the Michelin Alpin 5 if treadwear matters most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 86 vs 76 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 78 vs 72 on dry.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Alpin 5 scores 79 vs 75 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 77 vs 73 on comfort.

Tire A · Michelin Alpin 5
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin Alpin A4
Check price on Amazon

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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.

78

Narrow edge

Alpin A4

Amazon