Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 76 · 15 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 7 in 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Winter Tire Test R18 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV vs Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV leads, 77–74 Narrow edge
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Tests – · none yet Owners 77 · 38 reviews
Best test result: #4 of 14 in 2011 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
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 +175Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV SP Winter Sport 4D Professional tests (TWG score) 75 – Reviews found online 78 79 -
81
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +180Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV SP Winter Sport 4D Professional tests (TWG score) 81 – Reviews found online 81 83 -
83
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1370Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV SP Winter Sport 4D Professional tests (TWG score) 88 – Reviews found online 76 70 -
73
Comfort
SP Winter Sport 4D +174Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV SP Winter Sport 4D Reviews found online 76 80 -
88
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1870Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV SP Winter Sport 4D Professional tests (TWG score) 99 – Reviews found online 72 74 -
70
Treadwear
SP Winter Sport 4D +171Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV SP Winter Sport 4D Reviews found online 74 75 -
73
Handling
SP Winter Sport 4D +780Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV SP Winter Sport 4D Reviews found online 73 80
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 74 |
| Dry | 76 | 75 |
| Wet | 81 | 80 |
| Snow | 83 | 70 |
| Comfort | 73 | 74 |
| Noise | 88 | 70 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 71 |
| Handling | 73 | 80 |
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
77
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
74
/ 100
SP Winter Sport 4D
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 | SP Winter Sport 4D | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 71% #3/7 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Winter Tire Test R18 | 25% #4/14 · 2011 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +46.4 | 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 SP Winter Sport 4D
Pros
- Exceptional grip and stability in wet, slushy, and cold dry conditions.
- Remarkably low road noise, often quieter than summer tire counterparts.
- High level of ride comfort and refined road manners.
Cons
- Noticeable 'squirm' or lack of sharpness during high-speed cornering.
- Occasional reports of understeer in specific wet or icy conditions.
- Some users noted a 'hard' ride quality compared to previous iterations like the 3D.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | B · Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 71 | 20 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 23″ | 16″ – 21″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
74
/ 100
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — better noise and snow. Pick the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D if handling 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 drive through snowy winters
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 83 vs 70 on snow.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D scores 80 vs 73 on handling.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Tire B · Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D
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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.