Tests 71 · 3 tests Owners 85 · 28 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test (snow handling)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Alpin 5 is ahead, 84–77
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Tests 89 · 18 tests Owners 79 · 30 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild 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.
-
75
Dry
Pilot Alpin 5 +1186Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 4 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 67 89 Reviews found online 87 80 Dry Braking (% of best) 95% 100% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% -
82
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 +688Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 4 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 78 92 Reviews found online 88 82 Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 95% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 100% -
75
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 +1186Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 4 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 93 Reviews found online 80 75 Snow Braking (% of best) 96% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 100% 99% -
76
Comfort
Pilot Alpin 5 +177Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 4 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) – 79 Reviews found online 84 74 -
62
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 +2587Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 4 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 59 100 -
74
Treadwear
Pilot Alpin 5 +579Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 4 Pilot Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) – 81 Reviews found online 81 76 -
90
Handling
Pilot Alpin 4 +882Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 4 Pilot Alpin 5 Reviews found online 90 82
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 84 |
| Dry | 75 | 86 |
| Wet | 82 | 88 |
| Snow | 75 | 86 |
| Comfort | 76 | 77 |
| Noise | 62 | 87 |
| Treadwear | 74 | 79 |
| Handling | 90 | 82 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
77
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 4
84
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5
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 | Pilot Alpin 4 | Pilot Alpin 5 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −4.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | −0.2 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 86% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/6 · 2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test | −13.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #2/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 54% #11/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 61% #13/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | −7.8 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/14 · 2011 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 50% #2/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | −16.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/31 · 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | −3.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #1/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 98% #6/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 96% #10/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | +5.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | −2.6 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Alpin 4
Pros
- Exceptional grip and handling in snow and ice
- Sporty, responsive handling on dry and wet pavement
- High level of comfort and low road noise for a winter tire
Cons
- Higher price point compared to some competitors
- Above-average noise level reported by a few users due to the aggressive tread pattern
- Slight initial tread squirm when brand new before settling in
Tire B Pilot Alpin 5
Pros
- Outstanding dry and wet grip and handling, feeling similar to a UHP summer tire
- Great snow traction and stability for mountain driving and aggressive winter cornering
- Excellent steering response and high feedback compared to traditional winter tires
Cons
- Subpar performance and braking on pure ice or severe slush
- Stiffer sidewalls can lead to a firmer, sometimes bumpy ride quality and transfer road imperfections
- Fuel economy can be negatively impacted
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 81 |
| Rim diameters | — | 16″ – 23″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
84
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — better noise, dry and snow. Pick the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 if handling matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 87 vs 62 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 86 vs 75 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 86 vs 75 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 90 vs 82 on handling.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
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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.