Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 76 · 15 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Sport 4 SUV leads, 77–76 Narrow edge
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Tests 79 · 9 tests Owners 76 · 1,369 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2024 Summer SUV Tyre Test (curved aquaplaning)
“Quote: Originally Posted by robtr8 I like to use the tire size calculator on 1010Tires.com. Shows 285/40's as being almost 3% bigger than the OE size. Generally speaking you want no more than a 1% different. The PS 4 SUV's are available in a 295/35. Rocketcar - if you had P-Zero's then yup. They suck. Took them off the F Type immediately if not sooner. Quote: Originally Posted by RAudi Driver That's why they are called P-Zeros. If they were good Pirelli would have named them P-10's. Quote: Originally Posted by BrettIsAwesomer Not a fan of the LS3 on my Cayenne. They came on the car when I bought it but will replace with Pilot Sport 4 SUV later this year. There are some stretches of road where the surface conditions change and I get a terrible droning noise in the cabin with the LS3. However, in my Cayman with PS4S in the same areas you can barely tell the road surface changed. The wear on both sets is about the same. 2016 Cayenne S e-Hybrid with 21" Latitude Sport 3 (295/35) 2014 Cayman with 20" Pilot Sport 4S (235-265/35) I am putting an OPC warranty on the Cayenne, so for me the LS3 is is best N rated tyre available...”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
76
Dry
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +783Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 75 85 Reviews found online 78 81 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) 100% 98% -
81
Wet
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +788Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 81 92 Reviews found online 81 81 Wet Braking (% of best) 92% 100% Wet Circle (% of best) 96% 99% Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 99% -
83
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 88 – Reviews found online 76 – -
73
Comfort
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +1360Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 54 Reviews found online 76 70 -
88
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +2860Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 99 50 Reviews found online 72 74 -
70
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +171Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 76 Reviews found online 74 65 -
73
Handling
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +578Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 SUV Pilot Sport 4 SUV Reviews found online 73 78
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 77 |
| Dry | 76 | 83 |
| Wet | 81 | 88 |
| Snow | 83 | – |
| Comfort | 73 | 60 |
| Noise | 88 | 60 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 71 |
| Handling | 73 | 78 |
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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Neutral
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
77
/ 100
Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | Pilot Sport 4 SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 85% #7/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2024 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −14.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/10 · 2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres | +2.0 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #1/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/10 · 2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres | +2.0 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 96% #3/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 88% #8/12 · 2023 Best SUV Tyres Tested | +8.5 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #1/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/9 · 2024 EV Tyre Test | +2.0 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 45% #7/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 44% #10/10 · 2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres | +0.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test | −50.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #3/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2024 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −3.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 92% #7/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2025 Autobild SUV Off-Road Summer Tyre Test | −8.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 96% #7/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test | −3.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #3/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/10 · 2025 Autobild SUV Off-Road Summer Tyre Test | +0.5 | 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 Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Pros
- Outstanding grip and safety in both wet and dry conditions
- Precise steering response and enhanced cornering stability for heavy SUVs
- Noticeable improvement in ride comfort and overall handling
Cons
- Higher-than-average purchase price
- Increased road noise reported by some users as the tread wears down
- Faster tread wear and shorter mileage lifespan under aggressive driving or heavy vehicle loads
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Community sentiment toward the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV is generally very positive, with owners highlighting its strong grip, handling precision, and suitability for heavy performance SUVs. Users frequently compare it favorably to older Latitude Sport 3 and standard passenger tires, though they emphasize its summer-only limitation below 40°F and note trade-offs in price and tread life.
r/Howsmytire
·1 upvote ·2026-07-15
“Used Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV I am looking to buy these used Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires. They have 7+ mm thread left, DOT 0923. I am wondering why the two tires on the right are so rough / full of small holes, while the ones on the left are so smooth. Probably the right ones were on the front, but still what could this condition be indicating? I still haven't been to the shop to see them and feel how is the rubber, wanted to hear an advice first.”
r/CX5
·103 upvotes ·2021-05-15
“Loving my new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires and Enkei Raijin wheels”
bobistheoilguy.com
·2022-02-01
“From 3 model you mention, only Alenza is designed for heavy vehicle/SUV, so longevity is better than other 2 for your Envoy even though the traction may not be the best. If you can find Pilot Sport 4 SUV, then it may be the best to replace Latitude Sport 3. I like Latitude Sport 3, the best in wet weather and great in dry, but it is true it is only 25000 miles lifetime.”
Top themes
#Summer temperature limitations#Grip and handling performance#Tread life and wear#Comparison with Latitude Sport 3#Ride comfort and firmness#SUV-specific load design
Based on 37 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Summer |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 71 | 65 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 23″ | 17″ – 23″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Too close to call: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV are within 2 points overall. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV is stronger on noise and comfort. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV is stronger on dry, wet and handling.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 88 vs 60 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 73 vs 60 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 83 vs 76 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 88 vs 81 on wet.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
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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.