Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Pilot Alpin 5 leads, 84–83 Narrow edge

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Tire AMichelin

Pilot Alpin 5

Winter

Tests 89 · 18 tests Owners 79 · 30 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 13 in 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)

Tire BMichelin

CrossClimate 3 Sport

All Season

Tests 80 · 5 tests Owners 86 · 1,255 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 4 in 2026 AutoView All-Season Tyre Test (dry braking)

“I recently purchased a set of 799M alloys with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, with the intention of fitting a set of all season tyres to them. Last week I had fitted the rears in the standard 275/35 R19 Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sports and I'm, to say a little disappointed, nay worried by what has been supplied. I'll let the photos do the talking. So to say it looks stretched is an understatement, it really does look like they've been labelled incorrectly and the should be 235/35 R19's as the tread width is about 230mm. However, they have a slight rim protection so they are probably correct. I've contacted Michelin for some re-assurance and have replied quite quickly, stating, that they're not star marked, and to fit Alpine 5's instead! I'm not sure what else to do, I'm not confident that it can be resolved through Michelin. There are not many options for 275/35 R19 all season tyres, Goodyear Vector 4Season. Anyhoo, be warned”

Category by category

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

  1. 86

    Dry

    CrossClimate 3 Sport +4
    90
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5CrossClimate 3 Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score)8991
    Reviews found online8088
    Dry Braking (% of best)100%100%
    Dry Handling (% of best)99%100%
  2. 88

    Wet

    Level
    88
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5CrossClimate 3 Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score)9286
    Reviews found online8289
    Wet Braking (% of best)98%89%
    Wet Circle (% of best)97%96%
    Wet Handling (% of best)100%94%
  3. 86

    Snow

    Pilot Alpin 5 +4
    82
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5CrossClimate 3 Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score)9381
    Reviews found online7585
    Snow Braking (% of best)99%93%
    Snow Handling (% of best)98%99%
    Snow Slalom (% of best)86%97%
    Snow Traction (% of best)100%98%
  4. 77

    Comfort

    CrossClimate 3 Sport +1
    78
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5CrossClimate 3 Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score)7970
    Reviews found online7489
  5. 87

    Noise

    Pilot Alpin 5 +16
    71
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5CrossClimate 3 Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score)10075
  6. 79

    Treadwear

    Pilot Alpin 5 +7
    72
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5CrossClimate 3 Sport
    Professional tests (TWG score)8167
    Reviews found online7680
  7. 82

    Handling

    CrossClimate 3 Sport +7
    89
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Alpin 5CrossClimate 3 Sport
    Reviews found online8289
Scores at a glance
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Pilot Alpin 5Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport
Relative Score 84 83
Dry 86 90
Wet 88 88
Snow 86 82
Comfort 77 78
Noise 87 71
Treadwear 79 72
Handling 82 89

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

Pilot Alpin 5

CrossClimate 3 Sport

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.

DisciplineCategoryPilot Alpin 5CrossClimate 3 SportΔBoth?
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 78% #9/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test 86% #5/9 · 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 225/40 R18 −8.6 Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 100% #1/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/4 · 2026 AutoView All-Season Tyre Test 0.0 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #4/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/4 · 2026 AutoView All-Season Tyre Test −0.9 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 81% #6/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 99% #2/15 · 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test −18.1 Different tests
Abrasion Other 100% #2/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test 84% #6/15 · 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test +15.8 Different tests
Noise Other 100% #1/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/5 · 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test 0.0 Different tests
Value Other 55% #19/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test 46% #15/15 · 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test +8.7 Different tests
Wear Other 83% #4/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test 68% #11/15 · 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test +14.9 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 50% #2/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test 17% #6/30 · 2025 All Season 30 Tyre Braking Test +33.3 Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 99% #4/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test 93% #6/15 · 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test +6.4 Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #3/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test 99% #4/15 · 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test −1.0 Different tests
Snow Slalom Snow 86% #2/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test 97% #3/5 · 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test −10.5 Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 100% #1/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test 98% #2/5 · 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test +1.7 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 94% #7/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 95% #4/5 · 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test −1.2 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 100% #1/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 89% #7/9 · 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 225/40 R18 +11.0 Different tests
Subj. Snow Handling Subj 50% #2/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 96% #4/9 · 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 225/40 R18 −46.2 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 100% #1/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 92% #5/9 · 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 225/40 R18 +8.2 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test 0% #12/15 · 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test 0.0 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 98% #3/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test 89% #3/4 · Michelin CrossClimate 3 & 3 Sport vs Pilot Sport 5 vs Primacy 5 +9.4 Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 97% #6/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 96% #5/5 · 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test +0.6 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test 94% #3/4 · Michelin CrossClimate 3 & 3 Sport vs Pilot Sport 5 vs Primacy 5 +6.0 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
All owner themes in the Pilot Alpin 5 review

Tire B CrossClimate 3 Sport

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and confidence in wet and winter weather conditions
  • Noticeably lower road noise and quieter cabin ride
  • Sharp steering response and stable sporty handling

Cons

  • High premium price point with increasing costs
  • Smaller or less protective rim/kerb protector compared to some competitors
  • Slight initial reduction in fuel efficiency or rolling resistance for some vehicles
All owner themes in the CrossClimate 3 Sport review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport

Positive

Community sentiment toward the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport is largely positive, with owners praising its cold, wet, and snow traction as well as low noise and ride comfort comparable to dedicated summer tires. Key concerns focus on limited size availability in staggered setups, narrow or stretched visual tread widths in specific fitments, and warranty implications of lacking BMW star-marking.

r/Mustang ·1 upvote ·2025-08-07

“Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport. Thoughts Vs the PS4AS? As the title suggests, the new Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport is available in Europe and I'm currently in the position to change out the Pirelli P Zero's that came with the car. I'm based in the UK so all weather tyres just seem like a more reliable option as it's currently August and has been raining for most of the last week. We have winters that reach freezing and below, seasons that come and go as they please on a week by week basis and heatwaves in autumn/hailstone in the spring or summer. I haven't had the car long but I've realised already that these tyres suck for grip, and any amount of rain means I'm slipping almost immediately. I've been digging into all weather tyres and the cream of the crop that I see time and time again is the Michelin P4SAS. But when I went onto the official Michelin site to find a local dealer/fitter, all I could see for all season tyres is the new Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport. But so far I'm liking what I'm seeing. I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with these yet? As I can't find a whole lot online and nowhere that's comparing these to the P4SAS I'm leaning heavily towards them so if anything, I'd be happy to be the first to report back but my only reference point will be vs. the P Zero's. Read more”

r/TeslaModel3 ·3 upvotes ·2025-09-10

“Japan Racing SL-02 and Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport Today i have mounted Japan Racing SL-02(~9.3kg per rim) and Michelin CC3S on M3P. I have went a size down from 20" and 7cm less offset, but have kept the same rim width. Went with 245/40R19 and 275/35R19. I can already say that the ride comfort is better. Will see about the consumption.”

r/CarTalkUK ·1 upvote ·2026-07-03

“Messed up my tyre order, mix of cross climate 3 and cross climate 3 sport!?? I have an E class estate with staggered wheel sizes for the rear. I needed 4 new tyres so went with cross climate 3's they were hard to find for the rears in my size Michelin Cross climate was the only brand that seems to do it in all weather. I didn't notice when ordering but looks like I ordered and fitted cross climate 3 sport to the fronts but standard cross climate 3's on rear. I don't think the non sports were available on the fronts and I don't think the sports were available on the rear either so I've obviously just picked the only availability Michelin all weather tyres on the filter. I know it's fine as they are all matching on the axles but I'm really annoyed at myself as they were not cheap! Luckily I don't have a 4matic E350 just standard RWD What is the difference in theae tyres? Sport vs non sport”

Top themes
#Cold and wet traction#Winter and snow performance#Ride comfort and noise#Size availability and staggered setups#Narrow tread appearance#BMW star marking warranty

Based on 34 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 B · Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport
CategoryWinterAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available8163
Rim diameters16″ – 23″18″ – 23″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport

Too close to call: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 and Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport are within 2 points overall. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is stronger on noise, treadwear and snow. Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport is stronger on handling and dry.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 87 vs 71 on noise.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 79 vs 72 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport scores 89 vs 82 on handling.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 86 vs 82 on snow.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Tire B · Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport

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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.

84

Narrow edge

Pilot Alpin 5

Amazon