Tests 91 · 23 tests Owners 85 · 34 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 31 in 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 — 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 23 + 6 road tests and 34 + 5 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Alpin 5 is ahead, 88–78
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Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 73 · 5 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 225/50 R17 (straight aquaplaning)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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89
Dry
Pilot Alpin 5 +1277Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 Cinturato Winter 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 6 tests 91 81 Reviews found online 86 72 Dry Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 99% 97% Dry Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 99% 98% Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 90.7 + 40% × 86.3 = 89
Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 80.7 + 40% × 71.5 = 77
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93
Wet
Pilot Alpin 5 +291Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 Cinturato Winter 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 6 tests 95 100 Reviews found online 89 77 Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 87% 85% Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 97% 96% Wet Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 94% 100% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 99% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 99% 99% Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 95.4 + 40% × 88.8 = 93
Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 100 + 40% × 76.9 = 91
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88
Snow
Pilot Alpin 5 +1078Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 Cinturato Winter 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 22 / 6 tests 93 80 Reviews found online 80 76 Snow Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 100% 97% Snow Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 99% 97% Snow Slalom (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 99% 96% Snow Traction (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 100% 98% Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 93.4 + 40% × 79.5 = 88
Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 79.7 + 40% × 75.7 = 78
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85
Comfort
Pilot Alpin 5 +1867Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 Cinturato Winter 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests 94 75 Reviews found online 80 61 Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 100% 93% Pilot Alpin 5: 40% × 93.8 + 60% × 79.5 = 85
Cinturato Winter 3: 40% × 74.9 + 60% × 61.4 = 67
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84
Noise
Pilot Alpin 5 +876Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 Cinturato Winter 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 4 tests 95 83 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 99% 98% Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 95.2 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 84
Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 82.8 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 76
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Alpin 5 or Cinturato Winter 3. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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85
Treadwear
Pilot Alpin 5 +1372Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 Cinturato Winter 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests 84 73 Reviews found online 85 71 Pilot Alpin 5: 60% × 84.4 + 40% × 84.8 = 85
Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 73 + 40% × 71.1 = 72
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88
Handling (owners)
Pilot Alpin 5 +1969Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 Cinturato Winter 3 Reviews found online 88 69 -
72
Efficiency
Pilot Alpin 5 +171Why this score
Source Pilot Alpin 5 Cinturato Winter 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 6 tests 72 71 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 88% 90%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 88 | 78 |
| Dry | 89 | 77 |
| Wet | 93 | 91 |
| Snow | 88 | 78 |
| Comfort | 85 | 67 |
| Noise | 84 | 76 |
| Treadwear | 85 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 88 | 69 |
| Efficiency | 72 | 71 |
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
88
/ 100
Pilot Alpin 5
78
/ 100
Cinturato Winter 3
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.
In the overall rankings of 2 tests that ran both, Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 1 times and Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Alpin 5 | Cinturato Winter 3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% | 97% | +2.0 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 98% | +0.9 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 87% | 85% | +1.9 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% | 96% | +1.3 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 94% | 100% | −6.2 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Wet Braking (concrete) | Wet | 99% #5/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 225/50 R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 99% | 100% | −1.5 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tyre Test · 225/55 R18 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% | 99% | −0.3 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 93% #8/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 91% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 225/50 R17 | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% | 97% | +3.4 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% | 97% | +2.0 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Snow Slalom | Snow | 99% | 96% | +2.8 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% | 98% | +2.1 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 100% | 93% | +7.3 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Noise | Noise | 99% | 98% | +0.5 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Abrasion | Treadwear | 100% #2/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 68% #11/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 225/50 R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wear | Treadwear | 100% #1/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 80% #4/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 93% #5/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | 95% #5/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 225/50 R17 | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 88% | 90% | −2.1 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Value | Cost | 56% #18/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 63% #14/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/12 | #4/12 | – | 1–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
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 for a winter tire, offering summer-tire-like handling characteristics
- Excellent traction, stability, and handling in snow and alpine conditions
- Crisp steering response, high precision, and great road feedback
Cons
- Subpar performance on pure ice and certain slush conditions
- Stiffer sidewalls can translate to a bumpy ride that transmits minor road imperfections
- Potential for increased cabin noise or humming at highway speeds
Tire B Cinturato Winter 3
Pros
- Outstanding grip and confidence in deep snow, ice, and mountain passes
- Remarkably quiet and comfortable ride quality at low to moderate speeds
- Surprising dry and wet handling upgrades compared to certain summer or OE tires
Cons
- Noticeable increase in tire noise at higher speeds (typically above 100-110 km/h)
- Higher energy or fuel consumption noted on electric vehicles
- Loss of steering precision under high lateral forces due to narrow tread blocks
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | B · Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 81 | 36 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 23″ | 16″ – 20″ |
| Sizes in common | 15 | 15 |
Which one should you actually buy?
88
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
78
/ 100
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — better handling, comfort and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 88 vs 69 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 85 vs 67 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 85 vs 72 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores 89 vs 77 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet braking
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 won 2 of 2 shared wet braking tests.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Tire B · Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
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Pilot Alpin 5 or Cinturato Winter 3?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Alpin 5 or Cinturato Winter 3?
Neither, by our numbers: 93 vs 91 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Alpin 5 or Cinturato Winter 3?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 89 vs 77 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Pilot Alpin 5 or Cinturato Winter 3?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 88 vs 78 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Pilot Alpin 5 or Cinturato Winter 3?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 84 vs 76 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Alpin 5 or Cinturato Winter 3?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 85 vs 67 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Alpin 5 or Cinturato Winter 3?
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, 85 vs 72 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Pilot Alpin 5 or Cinturato Winter 3?
Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 71 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.
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