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Winter tire Updated October 2026

Michelin Alpin 5 review

± 6

Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners

Better than 92% of the winter tires we score.

Owners 81 · 33 reviews analysed Road tests 74 · 3 tests

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Michelin Alpin 5 has a Relative Score of 77 out of 100 among winter tires. In 20 road tests with an overall ranking it finished first 0 times and in the top three 5 times. Testers rate it best for treadwear (83) and weakest for efficiency (59). 33 owner reviews rate it 81 out of 100. 87% would buy it again.

Projected tread life in 2 wear tests: about 58,000 km (36,000 miles) on average, newest 2018.

Michelin Alpin 5

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

How scores work
Relative score
0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
Road tests
0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
Owner reviews
0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.

Full methodology

By owner reviews

81/100

From 33 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.

Would buy again 87%
Dry
Overall dry
77
Wet
Overall wet
87
Snow & ice
Overall snow & ice
79
Comfort
Overall comfort
79
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
83
Handling
Overall handling
77

Own these tires? Write a review →

By road tests

74/100

Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.

Dry
70
Wet
80
Snow
69
Noise
60
Treadwear
83
Efficiency
59
By discipline (% of best in test)
Dry Braking
94%
Dry Handling
94%
Subj. Dry Handling
94%
Wet Braking
81%
Wet Handling
81%
Straight Aquaplaning
81%
Curved Aquaplaning
81%
Side G-Force on Wet surface
81%
Snow Braking
58%
Snow Handling
58%
Snow Traction
58%
Ice Braking
90%
Ice Handling
90%
Inside Noise level
67%
Outside Noise
63%
Rolling Resistance
56%
Wear
100%

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 33 owner reviews found online.

The Michelin Alpin 5 is widely praised by users for its exceptional traction in snow and outstanding performance in wet, cold conditions. While it offers high comfort, low noise, and strong durability early in its lifespan, some drivers note that performance and noise levels can degrade after several years or when driven in warm weather.

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
  • Good overall durability and tread longevity

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
  • Premium price point compared to some competitors

Worth knowing

  • Users with front-wheel-drive vehicles (such as a Hyundai Tucson and Skoda Yeti) reported exceptional snow mobility, feeling confident enough to forgo a 4x4.
  • Drivers of compact hatchbacks and sedans like the Mini Cooper S Clubman and BMW 3 Series noted a significant boost in driving comfort and precision without the typical harshness of winter tires.

20 published test appearances (3 in the score)

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2019 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/55R17

2nd of 13

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Zeitung

2018 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 195/65 R15

11th of 20
Best: Wear · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 20th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking17th of 20
Wet Handling8th of 20
Dry Braking7th of 20
Dry Handling5th of 20
Snow Braking17th of 20
Snow Handling18th of 20
Rolling Resistance20th of 20
Straight Aquaplaning4th of 20
Noise19th of 20
Value1st of 20
Price19th of 20
Wear1st of 20
Total Cost of Ownership13th of 20

Source: Auto Bild

2018 ADAC Winter tire Test - 205/55 R16 · 205/55 R16

5th of 16

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: ADAC

2018 51 Winter tire Shootout · 195/65 R15

17th of 52

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter tire Test · 225/55 R17

3rd of 10
Best: Straight Aquaplaning · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 10
Wet Handling5th of 10
Dry Braking6th of 10
Dry Handling5th of 10
Snow Braking4th of 10
Snow Handling4th of 10
Rolling Resistance6th of 10
Straight Aquaplaning1st of 10
Noise5th of 10

Source: Auto Bild

2017 50 Winter tire Shoot Out · 225/50 R17

7th of 45

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2017 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17

2nd of 20
Best: Wet Handling · 2nd Weakest: Snow Braking · 18th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 20
Wet Handling2nd of 20
Dry Braking11th of 20
Dry Handling8th of 20
Snow Braking18th of 20
Snow Handling10th of 20
Rolling Resistance17th of 20
Straight Aquaplaning6th of 20
Noise6th of 20
Value10th of 20
Wear3rd of 20
Total Cost of Ownership13th of 20

Source: Auto Bild

2017 ADAC SUV Winter tire Test - 215/65 R16 · 215/65 R16

5th of 16

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: ADAC

2017 ADAC Winter tire Test - 195/65 R15 · 195/65 R15

12th of 16

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: ADAC

2017 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

7th of 8

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Express

2016 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

5th of 8

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Express

2016 AutoBild Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

2nd of 20

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Bild

2016 Winter tire Market Overview · 205/55 R16

3rd of 43

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2016 AZ Winter tire Test - 205/55 R16 · 205/55 R16

6th of 14

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2015 ACE 17 Inch Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17

5th of 8

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: ACE

2015 Auto Bild SUV Winter tire Test · 215/65 R16

5th of 8

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Bild

2015 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

5th of 8

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Express

2015 ADAC Winter tire Test - 205/55 R16 · 205/55 R16

12th of 19

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: ADAC

2014 AMS Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

4th of 10

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Motor und Sport

2014 ADAC Winter tire Test - 195/65 R15 · 195/65 R15

7th of 14

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: ADAC

Michelin Alpin 5 specs & sizes

Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.

Specifications
EU label: wet gripB
EU label: energyD in 61% of sizes
EU label: external noise68–71 dB
SizeRetailer
185/65 R15 Amazon
195/65 R15 Amazon
205/65 R15 Amazon
205/55 R16 Amazon
205/60 R16 Amazon
215/60 R16 Amazon
215/65 R16 Amazon
225/55 R16 Amazon
205/50 R17 Amazon
205/55 R17 Amazon
215/55 R17 Amazon
215/60 R17 Amazon
215/65 R17 Amazon
225/45 R17 Amazon
225/50 R17 Amazon
205/55 R19 Amazon

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Reviews from our readers

Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.

No reviews from our readers yet

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Michelin Alpin 5 compared

Michelin Alpin 5VSMichelin CrossClimate 2
Michelin Alpin 5VSPirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Continental WinterContact TS 870 PVSMichelin Alpin 5
Continental WinterContact TS 850 PVSMichelin Alpin 5
Michelin Alpin 5VSMichelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
Michelin Alpin 5VSMichelin Pilot Alpin 5
Michelin Alpin 5VSMichelin Alpin 6
Michelin Alpin 5VSVredestein Wintrac Pro
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001VSMichelin Alpin 5
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005VSMichelin Alpin 5

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