Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners
Owners 79 · 30 reviews analysed Road tests 86 · 22 tests
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The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is a sporty directional tire for high-performance passenger vehicles, designed for intensive use during the coldest months of the year. They feature steering stability in snow, excellent maneuverability in dry conditions, and effective braking on wet asphalt, as well as ride comfort and optimum fuel consumption. New for the Winter 2017/18 season.
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.
By owner reviews
79/100From 30 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
86/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 30 owner reviews found online.
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is widely praised as a top-tier performance winter tire, offering exceptional dry and wet handling that mimics an Ultra-High-Performance (UHP) summer tire. While it delivers impressive confidence and traction in cold, wet, and snowy conditions, some users note compromises in ice performance, ride comfort, and fuel economy.
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
- Respectable tread wear and durability even under sporty driving styles
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
- Occasional reports of increased road noise or humming depending on vehicle setup
Worth knowing
- Drivers of heavy, high-powered vehicles like the Audi A8L and BMW Alpina note excellent control and high lateral stability.
- Enthusiast cars such as the GR Corolla and Civic Type R tested 18-inch sizes, with one user noting a narrower actual tread width relative to the listed size.
- A staggered setup (e.g., 225 front and 255 rear) on certain vehicles was noted to potentially create a loud humming noise due to resonance frequency.
Reviews from our readers
Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.
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22 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter tire Test · 235/45 R18
2nd of 18
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 18 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd of 18 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 1st of 18 | |
| Subj. Road Score | 6th of 18 | |
| Fuel Consumption | 5th of 18 | |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 2nd of 18 | |
| Dry Lane Change | 2nd of 18 | |
| Subj. Ice Handling | 3rd of 18 |
Source: Teknikens Värld
2025 High Performance Winter tire Test · 275/35 R19
1st of 6
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 6 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 6 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 6 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 6 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 6 | |
| Snow Traction | 6th of 6 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 6 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 6 | |
| Noise | 1st of 6 |
Source: Sport Auto
2025 AZ Performance Winter tire Test · 245/45 R19
2nd of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 4th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 1st of 10 | |
| Noise | 4th of 10 | |
| Value | 6th of 10 | |
| Wear | 1st of 10 | |
| Abrasion | 1st of 10 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 4th of 10 |
Source: Auto Zeitung
2025 Autobild Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
1st of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 4th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 9th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 2nd of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 10th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 12th of 20 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 15th of 20 | |
| Noise | 1st of 20 | |
| Value | 19th of 20 | |
| Wear | 9th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 16th of 20 |
Source: Auto Bild
2025 Winter tire Braking Test - 52 Sets! · 225/40 R18
2nd of 51
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 51 | |
| Snow Braking | 4th of 51 |
Source: Auto Bild
2025 ADAC Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
2nd of 31
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 31 | |
| Wet Circle | 22nd of 31 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 31 | |
| Snow Braking | 3rd of 31 | |
| Snow Traction | 3rd of 31 | |
| Ice Braking | 8th of 31 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 31 | |
| Noise | 6th of 31 | |
| Wear | 4th of 31 | |
| Fuel Consumption | 26th of 31 | |
| Abrasion | 2nd of 31 | |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 5th of 31 |
Source: ADAC
2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test R18 · 245/40R18
2nd of 10
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter tire Test · 245/45 R18
1st of 12
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 12 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 12 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 12 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 12 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 12 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 12 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 12 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 12 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 12 | |
| Noise | 1st of 12 |
Source: Auto Bild Allrad
2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter tire Test · 235/35 R19
1st of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 10 | |
| Noise | 8th of 10 |
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
2023 Sport Auto Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
3rd of 9
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 9 | |
| Wet Handling | 6th of 9 | |
| Wet Circle | 6th of 9 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 9 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 9 | |
| Snow Braking | 4th of 9 | |
| Snow Traction | 2nd of 9 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 9 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 9 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 9 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 7th of 9 | |
| Noise | 1st of 9 | |
| Price | 9th of 9 | |
| Snow Slalom | 5th of 9 |
Source: Sport Auto
2023 Sports Cars Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
2nd of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 11 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 11 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 2nd of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 11 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 9th of 11 | |
| Noise | 1st of 11 | |
| Snow Slalom | 2nd of 11 |
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
2023 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 225/45 R18
1st of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 20 | |
| Wet Circle | 1st of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 12th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 10th of 20 | |
| Noise | 1st of 20 | |
| Value | 17th of 20 | |
| Wear | 5th of 20 | |
| Snow Slalom | 3rd of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 17th of 20 |
Source: Auto Bild
2023 Winter tire Test 54 Set Braking Test · 225/45 R18
2nd of 54
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 54 | |
| Snow Braking | 2nd of 54 |
Source: Auto Bild
2022 Sports Car UHP Winter tire Test · 245/40 R19
4th of 9
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 6th of 9 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 9 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 9 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 9 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 9 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 9 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 9 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 9 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 9 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 9 | |
| Price | 9th of 9 |
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter tire Test · 225/45 R19
1st of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 7th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 6th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 10 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 6th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 7th of 10 | |
| Noise | 1st of 10 | |
| Price | 10th of 10 |
Source: Auto Bild Allrad
2022 AMS Winter tire Test · 245/45 R19
1st of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 8 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 8 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 8 | |
| Dry Handling | 3rd of 8 | |
| Snow Braking | 3rd of 8 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 8 | |
| Snow Handling | 2nd of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 6th of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 8 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 8 | |
| Price | 8th of 8 |
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter tire Test · 245/40 R18
2nd of 13
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 13 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 13 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 13 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 13 | |
| Snow Braking | 5th of 13 | |
| Snow Traction | 8th of 13 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 13 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 13 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 13 | |
| Noise | 3rd of 13 | |
| Price | 13th of 13 |
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
2020 ADAC Winter tire Test - 235/55 R17 · 235/55 R17
1st of 13
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: ADAC
2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter tire Test · 245/45 R18
1st of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 5th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 10th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 14th of 20 | |
| Noise | 3rd of 20 | |
| Value | 19th of 20 | |
| Wear | 1st of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 15th of 20 |
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test · 245/45 R18
2nd of 48
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 48 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 48 |
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18
3rd of 11
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18
3rd of 10
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
About the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Michelin Pilot Alpin PA5 studless tires replace the 2011 Pilot Alpin PA4. The asymmetric pattern of its predecessor was replaced by an asymmetric directional pattern - the "classics of the genre" for winter tires. This has improved the fifth-generation model's traction in wet and snowy conditions.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 tread design helps you confidently overcome snowy stretches of road, which is aided by the tire's negative profile, represented by numerous wide drainage grooves.
The Pilot Alpin 5's tread beads are dotted with a new type of lamellas, says TireWheelGuide's technical specialist. Their unique shape helps to reduce the deformation of blocks during high-speed driving, which, in turn, positively affects the vehicle's handling on winter surfaces.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 compared
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