Tests 80 · 19 tests Owners 77 · 35 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (wear)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Alpin 6 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Alpin 6 is ahead, 78–64
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Tests 68 · 4 tests Owners 59 · 8 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (price)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
76
Dry
Alpin 6 +1363Why this score
Source Alpin 6 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 74 67 Reviews found online 79 58 Dry Braking (% of best) 85% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 98% -
86
Wet
Alpin 6 +2363Why this score
Source Alpin 6 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 89 64 Reviews found online 83 62 Wet Braking (% of best) 95% 89% Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 95% -
75
Snow
Alpin 6 +1065Why this score
Source Alpin 6 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 71 Reviews found online 73 56 Snow Braking (% of best) 98% 97% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 96% -
83
Comfort
Alpin 6 +1964Why this score
Source Alpin 6 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 86 – Reviews found online 79 60 -
61
Noise
Winterhawk 3 +667Why this score
Source Alpin 6 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 58 67 -
80
Treadwear
Alpin 6 +1466Why this score
Source Alpin 6 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 85 70 Reviews found online 73 62 -
79
Handling
Alpin 6 +2158Why this score
Source Alpin 6 Winterhawk 3 Reviews found online 79 58
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Alpin 6 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 78 | 64 |
| Dry | 76 | 63 |
| Wet | 86 | 63 |
| Snow | 75 | 65 |
| Comfort | 83 | 64 |
| Noise | 61 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 66 |
| Handling | 79 | 58 |
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
78
/ 100
Alpin 6
64
/ 100
Winterhawk 3
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 | Alpin 6 | Winterhawk 3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 85% #9/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −12.2 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #11/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #14/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 85% #5/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 84% #19/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 98% #5/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −0.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 61% #9/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 87% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −26.0 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 64% #18/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 80% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −15.2 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 100% #1/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 62% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +37.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | 13% #8/19 · 2015 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | +37.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #13/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #6/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 96% #17/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #6/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test | 92% #15/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #12/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% #3/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 89% #18/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +5.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 95% #13/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +4.7 | Different tests |
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 Winterhawk 3
Pros
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise
- Good longevity and tread wear resistance
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Inconsistent or poor grip on snow and ice
- Unreliable wet weather performance and braking
- Pronounced understeering tendencies
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Alpin 6 | B · Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 42 | 39 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | 13″ – 18″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
78
/ 100
Michelin Alpin 6
64
/ 100
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Winner: Michelin Alpin 6 — better wet, handling and comfort. Pick the Firestone Winterhawk 3 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Alpin 6 scores 86 vs 63 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Alpin 6 scores 79 vs 58 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Alpin 6 scores 83 vs 64 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Alpin 6 scores 80 vs 66 on treadwear.
Tire A · Michelin Alpin 6
Tire B · Firestone Winterhawk 3
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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.