Tests 81 · 19 tests Owners 81 · 35 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (wear)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Alpin 6 vs Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — 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 19 + 27 road tests and 35 + 31 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: Alpin 6 80, WinterContact TS 870 P 81.
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 81 · 31 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
Key facts
- In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, Alpin 6 won 3 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 1 (average 96% vs 94% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured snow braking for both, Alpin 6 won 1 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 3 (average 96% vs 99% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured dry braking for both, Alpin 6 won 1 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 2 (average 94% vs 95% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, Alpin 6 won 0 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 3 (average 94% vs 95% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured snow traction for both, Alpin 6 won 2 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 1 (average 99% vs 96% of the best).
-
77
Dry
WinterContact TS 870 P +481Why this score
Source Alpin 6 WinterContact TS 870 P Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 22 tests 74 82 Reviews found online 82 79 Dry Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–2 94% 95% Dry Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 98% 99% Alpin 6: 60% × 74.2 + 40% × 82 = 77
WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 82.4 + 40% × 79 = 81
-
89
Wet
WinterContact TS 870 P +190Why this score
Source Alpin 6 WinterContact TS 870 P Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 27 tests 90 93 Reviews found online 87 86 Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 82% 90% Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–3 94% 95% Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 3–1 96% 94% Wet Braking (concrete) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 94% 92% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 96% 98% Wet Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–1 98% 99% Alpin 6: 60% × 90.4 + 40% × 87 = 89
WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 92.8 + 40% × 86.2 = 90
-
75
Snow
WinterContact TS 870 P +378Why this score
Source Alpin 6 WinterContact TS 870 P Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 26 tests 77 79 Reviews found online 74 76 Ice Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 95% 92% Snow Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–3 96% 99% Snow Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 98% Snow Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 98% 97% Snow Traction (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–1 99% 96% Alpin 6: 60% × 76.7 + 40% × 73.6 = 75
WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.7 + 40% × 76.2 = 78
-
84
Comfort
Alpin 6 +282Why this score
Source Alpin 6 WinterContact TS 870 P Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 5 tests 86 84 Reviews found online 82 81 Alpin 6: 40% × 86.4 + 60% × 82 = 84
WinterContact TS 870 P: 40% × 83.9 + 60% × 81.1 = 82
-
60
Noise
WinterContact TS 870 P +1474Why this score
Source Alpin 6 WinterContact TS 870 P Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 19 tests 56 78 Reviews found online ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 67 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–3 98% 99% Alpin 6: 60% × 56 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 60
WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 74
No owner ratings of noise for Alpin 6 or WinterContact TS 870 P. 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.
-
85
Treadwear
Alpin 6 +1174Why this score
Source Alpin 6 WinterContact TS 870 P Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 7 tests 89 71 Reviews found online 80 80 Abrasion (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 72% Wear (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 96% 74% Alpin 6: 60% × 88.6 + 40% × 80.1 = 85
WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 70.6 + 40% × 79.9 = 74
-
82
Handling (owners)
WinterContact TS 870 P +183Why this score
Source Alpin 6 WinterContact TS 870 P Reviews found online 82 83 -
63
Efficiency
WinterContact TS 870 P +2386Why this score
Source Alpin 6 WinterContact TS 870 P Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 21 tests 63 86 Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 97% 97% Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 81% 91%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Alpin 6 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 81 |
| Dry | 77 | 81 |
| Wet | 89 | 90 |
| Snow | 75 | 78 |
| Comfort | 84 | 82 |
| Noise | 60 | 74 |
| Treadwear | 85 | 74 |
| Handling (owners) | 82 | 83 |
| Efficiency | 63 | 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.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
80
/ 100
Alpin 6
81
/ 100
WinterContact TS 870 P
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.
In the overall rankings of 4 tests that ran both, Michelin Alpin 6 finished ahead 2 times and Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 2 times.
| Discipline | Category | Alpin 6 | WinterContact TS 870 P | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Dry | 98% #6/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 99% #2/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% | 95% | −1.0 | 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% | 99% | −1.0 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 87% #4/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 82% | 90% | −7.6 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 94% | 95% | −1.3 | 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Wet | Wet | 97% #3/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 97% #2/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 96% | 94% | +1.7 | 3–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Wet Braking (concrete) | Wet | 94% | 92% | +1.2 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 96% | 98% | −1.8 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% | 99% | −1.1 | 0–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 82% #3/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 95% | 92% | +3.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Snow | Snow | 99% #3/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 94% #4/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% | 99% | −3.0 | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Snow Circle | Snow | 99% | 98% | +0.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% | 97% | +0.7 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Snow Handling (tester's mark) | Snow | 70% #6/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 50% #3/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 99% | 96% | +2.5 | 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 80% #1/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 97% #7/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 98% #7/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 98% | 99% | −1.2 | 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Abrasion | Treadwear | 100% | 72% | +28.2 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 96% | 74% | +22.7 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 97% | 97% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 81% | 91% | −10.6 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 61% | 61% | +0.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #9/20 | #14/20 | – | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Value | Cost | 64% | 47% | +17.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #9/10 | #5/10 | – | 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Alpin 6
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry road grip in cold temperatures
- High levels of ride comfort and low cabin noise
- Impressive tread life and long-term durability
Cons
- Inconsistent performance in deep snow and on ice
- Some reports of sluggish steering feedback or 'soft' sidewall feel
- Higher price point compared to some performance-oriented winter alternatives
Tire B WinterContact TS 870 P
Pros
- Exceptionally low noise levels and high ride comfort
- Outstanding wet weather and slush performance, cutting through heavy rain effortlessly
- Balanced dry and cold-weather handling with impressive cornering stability
Cons
- Higher price point compared to some competitors
- Steering response and initial stiffness are slightly softer and less sporty than dedicated summer tires or some rivals
- Snow and ice traction can feel less exceptional or borderline inadequate for a small subset of users
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Alpin 6 | B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 42 | 121 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | 16″ – 23″ |
| Sizes in common | 17 | 17 |
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Michelin Alpin 6
81
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Too close to call: Michelin Alpin 6 and Continental WinterContact TS 870 P are within 2 points overall. Michelin Alpin 6 is stronger on treadwear. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P is stronger on efficiency, noise and dry.
Pick tire B
You want lower fuel or energy use
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 86 vs 63 on efficiency.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 74 vs 60 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Alpin 6 scores 85 vs 74 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 81 vs 77 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin Alpin 6
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Alpin 6 or WinterContact TS 870 P?
Which is better in the wet, Alpin 6 or WinterContact TS 870 P?
Neither, by our numbers: 89 vs 90 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Alpin 6 or WinterContact TS 870 P?
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 81 vs 77 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Alpin 6 or WinterContact TS 870 P?
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 78 vs 75 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Alpin 6 or WinterContact TS 870 P?
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 74 vs 60 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Alpin 6 or WinterContact TS 870 P?
Neither, by our numbers: 84 vs 82 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, Alpin 6 or WinterContact TS 870 P?
Michelin Alpin 6, 85 vs 74 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Alpin 6 or WinterContact TS 870 P?
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 86 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