Tests 89 · 18 tests Owners 79 · 30 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Goodyear UltraGrip 9 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Alpin 5 is ahead, 84–75
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Tests 74 · 3 tests Owners 76 · 39 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (snow braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
86
Dry
Pilot Alpin 5 +1571Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 89 70 Reviews found online 80 72 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 95% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% -
88
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 +682Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 92 82 Reviews found online 82 81 Wet Braking (% of best) 95% 97% Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 99% -
86
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 +1175Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 93 73 Reviews found online 75 77 Snow Braking (% of best) 100% 100% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 95% Snow Traction (% of best) 100% 100% -
77
Comfort
Pilot Alpin 5 +374Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 79 – Reviews found online 74 79 -
87
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 +2265Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 100 65 -
79
Treadwear
Pilot Alpin 5 +772Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 81 72 Reviews found online 76 72 -
82
Handling
Pilot Alpin 5 +577Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 UltraGrip 9 Reviews found online 82 77
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | Goodyear UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 84 | 75 |
| Dry | 86 | 71 |
| Wet | 88 | 82 |
| Snow | 86 | 75 |
| Comfort | 77 | 74 |
| Noise | 87 | 65 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 72 |
| Handling | 82 | 77 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
84
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5
75
/ 100
UltraGrip 9
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 | UltraGrip 9 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 95% #14/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +5.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #3/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 88% #12/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 91% #6/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | −2.7 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 93% #8/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 90% #3/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | +2.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #1/6 · 2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 63% #8/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 71% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −8.4 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 58% #17/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 71% #11/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −12.7 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 67% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +32.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/54 · 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | 25% #4/12 · 2018 ACE All Season and Winter Tyre Test | +25.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #3/6 · 2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #8/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +4.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #5/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 94% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #16/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% #4/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 97% #6/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −1.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #3/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −0.6 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Alpin 5
Pros
- Outstanding dry and wet grip and handling, feeling similar to a UHP summer tire
- Great snow traction and stability for mountain driving and aggressive winter cornering
- Excellent steering response and high feedback compared to traditional winter tires
Cons
- Subpar performance and braking on pure ice or severe slush
- Stiffer sidewalls can lead to a firmer, sometimes bumpy ride quality and transfer road imperfections
- Fuel economy can be negatively impacted
Tire B UltraGrip 9
Pros
- Exceptional snow and ice traction
- High level of ride comfort and low road noise
- Excellent wet and dry weather performance in cold temperatures
Cons
- Reduced performance on dry, warm asphalt (above 12°C)
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a less sporty or 'wallowy' handling feel
- Reports of premature tread wear or chunking in specific heavy-use cases
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 81 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 23″ | 15″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
84
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
75
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — better noise, dry and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 87 vs 65 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 86 vs 71 on dry.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 86 vs 75 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 79 vs 72 on treadwear.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9
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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.