Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 76 · 15 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test (noise)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV vs Continental VikingContact 7 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV is ahead, 77–66
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 75 · 8 tests Owners 60 · 32 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 5 in 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 (dry braking)
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 +1165Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 75 76 Reviews found online 78 49 Dry Braking (% of best) 99% 100% -
81
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1566Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 81 69 Reviews found online 81 62 Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) 87% 80% Wet Braking (% of best) 93% 80% Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 95% -
83
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +875Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 88 79 Reviews found online 76 70 Snow Braking (% of best) 93% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 97% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) 100% 98% -
73
Comfort
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +370Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) – 70 Reviews found online 76 71 -
88
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +979Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV VikingContact 7 Professional tests (TWG score) 99 86 Reviews found online 72 67 Exterior Noise (% of best) 99% 100% -
70
Treadwear
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1159Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV VikingContact 7 Reviews found online 74 54 -
73
Handling
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1360Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV VikingContact 7 Reviews found online 73 60
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Continental VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 66 |
| Dry | 76 | 65 |
| Wet | 81 | 66 |
| Snow | 83 | 75 |
| Comfort | 73 | 70 |
| Noise | 88 | 79 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 59 |
| Handling | 73 | 60 |
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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
66
/ 100
VikingContact 7
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 | VikingContact 7 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #4/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | −1.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 76% #10/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −24.1 | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 99% #3/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −1.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | +2.8 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 42% #10/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 69% #5/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | −27.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 71% #3/7 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Winter Tire Test R18 | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | −28.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 93% #6/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 99% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −5.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #3/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | −1.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | +2.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 87% #4/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +7.6 | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 87% #7/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | +7.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #5/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | +13.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #5/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 95% #8/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +3.4 | 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 VikingContact 7
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | B · Continental VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 71 | 134 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 23″ | 14″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | — | 44 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
66
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 7
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 81 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 73 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 76 vs 65 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 70 vs 59 on treadwear.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Tire B · Continental VikingContact 7
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.