Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 76 · 15 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (noise)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV vs Continental IceContact 3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV is ahead, 77–71
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Tests 79 · 13 tests Owners 66 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 6 in 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 (rolling resistance)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
76
Dry
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +373Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 75 76 Reviews found online 78 69 Dry Braking (% of best) 99% 70% -
81
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1071Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 81 74 Reviews found online 81 67 Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) 87% 92% Wet Braking (% of best) 90% 99% Wet Circle (% of best) 99% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 99% 98% -
83
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +479Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 88 83 Reviews found online 76 72 Snow Braking (% of best) 100% 90% Snow Handling (% of best) 100% 90% Snow Traction (% of best) 100% 98% -
73
Comfort
IceContact 3 +1083Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 98 Reviews found online 76 60 -
88
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1870Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV IceContact 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 99 72 Reviews found online 72 – Exterior Noise (% of best) 99% 97% -
70
Treadwear
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1159Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV IceContact 3 Reviews found online 74 54 -
73
Handling
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +469Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV IceContact 3 Reviews found online 73 69
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Continental IceContact 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 71 |
| Dry | 76 | 73 |
| Wet | 81 | 71 |
| Snow | 83 | 79 |
| Comfort | 73 | 83 |
| Noise | 88 | 70 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 59 |
| Handling | 73 | 69 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
71
/ 100
IceContact 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 | Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | IceContact 3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #4/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 70% #12/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | +28.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 87% #9/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | −13.1 | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 99% #3/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 97% #2/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #1/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 45% #7/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 50% #13/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −5.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 11% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +88.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #1/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 90% #7/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #10/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 93% #4/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/8 · 2022 Studded Winter Tyre Test | −6.0 | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 87% #7/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 92% #5/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | −4.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 90% #9/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | −8.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 99% #4/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | −1.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #2/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A 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
Tire B IceContact 3
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on packed snow and ice
- Predictable handling in severe winter conditions
- Strong performance on lake ice tracks
Cons
- Premature stud wear or loss reported after moderate mileage
- Potential for reduced stability in deeper snow (4-5 cm) depending on tire width
- Unpredictable handling characteristics when paired with certain electronic stability control systems
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | B · Continental IceContact 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 71 | — |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 23″ | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
71
/ 100
Continental IceContact 3
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — better noise, treadwear and wet. Pick the Continental IceContact 3 if comfort matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 88 vs 70 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 70 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 81 vs 71 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental IceContact 3 scores 83 vs 73 on comfort.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Tire B · Continental IceContact 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.