Tests 67 · 10 tests Owners 80 · 68 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Michelin Alpin 5 — 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 10 + 3 road tests and 68 + 32 owner reviews. How we score
Alpin 5 leads, 77–73 Narrow edge
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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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76
Dry
Winter Sottozero 3 +373Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 3 tests 73 70 Reviews found online 82 77 Dry Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 100% 96% Dry Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 99% 99% Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 81.7 = 76
Alpin 5: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 76.6 = 73
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83
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +182Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 3 tests 81 80 Reviews found online 87 87 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 95% 98% Wet Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 100% 97% Wet Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 100% 99% Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 86.6 = 83
Alpin 5: 60% × 79.6 + 40% × 86.7 = 82
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65
Snow
Alpin 5 +873Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 3 tests 56 69 Reviews found online 79 79 Snow Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 92% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 97% 98% Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.3 + 40% × 78.8 = 65
Alpin 5: 60% × 68.7 + 40% × 79.1 = 73
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74
Comfort
Alpin 5 +276Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 72 ≈ 71 (est.) Reviews found online 75 79 Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.2 + 60% × 74.8 = 74
Alpin 5: 40% × 70.9 (est.) + 60% × 79 = 76
No road tests of comfort for Alpin 5. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
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71
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +962Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 3 tests 64 60 Reviews found online 82 ≈ 66 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 98% 98% Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.3 + 40% × 81.5 = 71
Alpin 5: 60% × 59.7 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 62
No owner ratings of noise for Alpin 5. 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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64
Treadwear
Alpin 5 +1983Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests 57 83 Reviews found online 75 83 Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 61% 92% Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 57.1 + 40% × 74.7 = 64
Alpin 5: 60% × 83.1 + 40% × 83.1 = 83
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82
Handling (owners)
Winter Sottozero 3 +478Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Reviews found online 82 78 -
76
Efficiency
Winter Sottozero 3 +1759Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 3 tests 76 59 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 89% 87%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 77 |
| Dry | 76 | 73 |
| Wet | 83 | 82 |
| Snow | 65 | 73 |
| Comfort | 74 | 76 |
| Noise | 71 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 83 |
| Handling (owners) | 82 | 78 |
| Efficiency | 76 | 59 |
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
73
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
77
/ 100
Alpin 5
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 7 tests that ran both, Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 finished ahead 1 times and Michelin Alpin 5 6 times.
| Discipline | Category | Winter Sottozero 3 | Alpin 5 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% | 96% | +3.6 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 99% | −0.2 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 95% | 98% | −2.6 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% | 97% | +2.3 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% | 99% | +0.6 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 92% | 94% | −2.7 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% | 98% | −0.9 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Noise | Noise | 98% | 98% | −0.7 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 61% | 92% | −30.3 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 89% | 87% | +1.7 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 54% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 68% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #20/20 | #13/20 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Value | Cost | 45% | 61% | −16.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #5/11 | #2/11 | – | 1–6 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/55R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winter Sottozero 3
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to hydroplaning.
- Strong dry-road handling and steering precision for a winter tire.
- Excellent traction and stability in snow and slush.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, particularly if driven in temperatures above 15°C or year-round.
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage and bubbling when encountering road hazards.
- Increased noise levels as the tire ages and tread depth decreases.
Tire B Alpin 5
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and winter conditions
- Outstanding wet-weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
- High ride comfort and remarkably low noise levels for a winter tire
Cons
- Soft rubber compound struggles in warm temperatures (above 20°C–25°C), causing cornering smear
- Soft sidewalls reduce precision during aggressive dry handling
- Potential increase in noise and hardening of the rubber compound after 3 years of use
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 98 | 17 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 13 | 13 |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
77
/ 100
Michelin Alpin 5
Narrow edge: Michelin Alpin 5 — better treadwear and snow. Pick the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 if efficiency, noise and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 83 vs 64 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 76 vs 59 on efficiency.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 71 vs 62 on noise.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 73 vs 65 on snow.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Michelin Alpin 5
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Winter Sottozero 3 or Alpin 5?
Which is better in the wet, Winter Sottozero 3 or Alpin 5?
Neither, by our numbers: 83 vs 82 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Sottozero 3 or Alpin 5?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 73 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Winter Sottozero 3 or Alpin 5?
Michelin Alpin 5, 73 vs 65 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Winter Sottozero 3 or Alpin 5?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 71 vs 62 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Winter Sottozero 3 or Alpin 5?
Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 76 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, Winter Sottozero 3 or Alpin 5?
Michelin Alpin 5, 83 vs 64 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Winter Sottozero 3 or Alpin 5?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 59 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