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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV vs Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 6 + 2 road tests and 15 + 4 owner reviews. How we score

Pilot Alpin 5 SUV is ahead, 80–72

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Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Tire AMichelin

Pilot Alpin 5 SUV

Winter

± 5

Tests 84 · 6 tests Owners 78 · 15 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Tire BMichelin

X-Ice Snow SUV

Winter

± 6

Tests 68 · 2 tests Owners 77 · 4 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 78

    Dry

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +6
    72
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5 SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests7670
    Reviews found online8175

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 76 + 40% × 80.5 = 78

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 70.4 + 40% × 74.5 = 72

  2. 82

    Wet

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +16
    66
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5 SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests8257
    Reviews found online8281

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 81.8 + 40% × 82.2 = 82

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 56.8 + 40% × 80.8 = 66

  3. 83

    Snow

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +7
    76
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5 SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests8873
    Reviews found online7581

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 88.5 + 40% × 75 = 83

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 73.3 + 40% × 81.2 = 76

  4. 75

    Comfort

    Level
    75
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5 SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online7778

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 40% × 70.6 (est.) + 60% × 77.2 = 75

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 40% × 70.7 (est.) + 60% × 77.8 = 75

    No road tests of comfort for Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 86

    Noise

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +13
    73
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5 SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 2 tests9877
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 98.2 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 86

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 77.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 73

    No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 72

    Treadwear

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +2
    70
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5 SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online7572

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV: 60% × 69.3 (est.) + 40% × 75.2 = 72

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 68.2 (est.) + 40% × 72.2 = 70

    No road tests of treadwear for Pilot Alpin 5 SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

    No road tests of treadwear for X-Ice Snow SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 79

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Alpin 5 SUV +6
    73
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5 SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Reviews found online7973
  8. 63

    Efficiency

    X-Ice Snow SUV +10
    73
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5 SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests6373
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUVMichelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Relative Score 80 72
Dry 78 72
Wet 82 66
Snow 83 76
Comfort 75 75
Noise 86 73
Treadwear 72 70
Handling (owners) 79 73
Efficiency 63 73

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
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Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

Pilot Alpin 5 SUV

± 6

X-Ice Snow SUV

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryPilot Alpin 5 SUVX-Ice Snow SUVΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 100% #2/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 93% #7/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 87% #7/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 92% #8/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 93% #4/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 88% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #1/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 96% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 100% #1/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 99% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 92% #7/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 99% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #1/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 96% #3/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 96% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 45% #7/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 61% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #1/10 2025 Auto Motor und Sport Winter Tire Test R18 #5/8 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – 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
All owner themes in the Pilot Alpin 5 SUV review

Tire B X-Ice Snow SUV

Pros

  • Outstanding traction on snow and ice
  • Remarkably low road noise for a winter tire
  • Excellent ride comfort

Cons

  • Unsuitable for year-round use due to soft compound in warm temperatures
  • Reduced handling precision compared to dedicated summer tires
All owner themes in the X-Ice Snow SUV review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available7190
Rim diameters17″ – 23″16″ – 22″
Sizes in common5454

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV

Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV — better wet, noise and snow. Pick the Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV if efficiency matters most to you.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 82 vs 66 on wet.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 86 vs 73 on noise.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 73 vs 63 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV scores 83 vs 76 on snow.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
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Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
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Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Which is better in the wet, Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, 82 vs 66 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, 78 vs 72 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, 83 vs 76 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, 86 vs 73 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 75 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 70 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, Pilot Alpin 5 SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 73 vs 63 on our efficiency score.

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.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology