Bridgestone Blizzak 6 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
- TR Score
- 9.4/10
- Owners say
- 88% · 9
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 87% · 33
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 11 times and the Blizzak 6 not once. The Blizzak 6 had 4.2% lower rolling resistance; the Pilot Alpin 5 stopped 4.9% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 if you want the most consistently top-ranked winter tyre with standout dry braking and stronger snow performance-ideal for drivers who face regular snowfall and still drive briskly on cold, dry roads. Choose the Bridgestone Blizzak 6 if efficiency (lower rolling resistance/consumption, EV range) and stable wet-cold behaviour are priorities, and you're happy to trade a bit of outright dry-braking sharpness and some snow 'top-end' for a more energy-conscious package.
Where the Blizzak 6 is stronger
- Lower rolling resistance/efficiency is a consistent advantage (wins 5/5 where compared; as large as 6.8 vs 7.7 kg/t in Auto Bild Allrad SUV 2026)
- Can be very strong on wet circuits and braking in some tests (e.g., Auto Bild Sportscars 2026 wet handling 71.1 vs 70.4 km/h; wet braking 52.0 vs 52.8 m)
- Stable, confidence-oriented behaviour often noted by testers; safe in evasive manoeuvres and predictable at the limit
Where the Pilot Alpin 5 is stronger
- Best overall performer across shared tests (ahead in all 10 shared overall results; frequent test winner)
- Shorter dry braking is a repeating, meaningful advantage (~4-6% typical: e.g., 40.8 vs 42.5 m; 42.4 vs 45.2 m)
- Stronger and more repeatable snow performance across braking/traction/handling (wins the majority of snow metrics across tests)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Blizzak 6 vs Pilot Alpin 5 at a glance
| Category | Blizzak 6 | Gap | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won11 shared tests | 0 | 11 | |
| Dry18 measurements | 5 | The Pilot Alpin 5 stopped 4.9% shorter in the dry (8 tests) | 12 |
| Wet42 measurements | 19 | The Pilot Alpin 5 stopped 1.6% shorter in the wet (10 tests) | 21 |
| Snow33 measurements | 7 | The Pilot Alpin 5 stopped 1.4% shorter on snow (10 tests) | 26 |
| Ice2 measurements | 1 | Level between the two. | 1 |
| Comfort14 measurements | 0 | The Pilot Alpin 5 was 1.6 dB quieter (8 tests) | 11 |
| Value15 measurements | 8 | The Blizzak 6 had 4.2% lower rolling resistance (7 tests) | 5 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.4/10 | The Pilot Alpin 5 by 0.1 | 9.5/10 |
| Owner rating9 and 33 reviews | 88% | Too close to call | 87% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 75% | The Pilot Alpin 5 by 10 points | 85% |
| Pricein the 10 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Pilot Alpin 5 was dearer in 10 of 10 | +10.2% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 193 | 69 sizes made in both | 81 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 11 tests, 2024 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Blizzak 6 | Field | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 12 | P1 of 12 | |
| 2026 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 50 Sets | P5 of 50 | P3 of 50 | |
| 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 10 | P2 of 10 | |
| 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 6 | P1 of 6 | |
| 2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 6 | P1 of 6 | |
| 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 10 | P2 of 10 | |
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P6 of 51 | P2 of 51 | |
| 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 31 | P2 of 31 | |
| 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 12 | P1 of 12 |
Performance profile
19 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Blizzak 6
Pilot Alpin 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 95%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 12 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Blizzak 6
Pilot Alpin 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Blizzak 6
Pilot Alpin 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Blizzak 6 88% from 9 reviews and the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Blizzak 6 | Gap | Pilot Alpin 5 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.82 | 4.9% | 41.66 | 0-8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 76.3 | 0.5% | 75.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 110.9 | 0.3% | 111.2 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 15% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 66.7% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73 | 1.4% | 74 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 43.2 | 1.6% | 42.45 | 4-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 36.5 | 1.1% | 36.9 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 88.1 | 1.9% | 86.4 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 79.57 | = | 79.6 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 1.5% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.59 | 10.5% | 5.33 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.96 | 0.2% | 13.95 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 80.52 | 1.2% | 81.5 | 3-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2.51 | 1.1% | 2.51 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 25.19 | 1.4% | 24.86 | 1-9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2,570 | 1.2% | 2,625 | 1-7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 68.1 | 0.1% | 68 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 60.37 | 1.3% | 61.08 | 1-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 25.3% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.86 | 2.7% | 3.76 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.69 | 1% | 3.73 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 16.2 | 0.6% | 16.3 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 25% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 3.4% | scored | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.3 | 1.6 dB | 70.68 | 0-8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50,700 | 7.3% | 54,355 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.75 | 4.2% | 8.09 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.91 | 1.5% | 6 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 62 | 19.4% | 50 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0.15 | 15.6% | 0.12 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak 6 scores 9.4 and the Pilot Alpin 5 9.5 out of 10.
| Blizzak 6 | Category | Pilot Alpin 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Dry | 99 | ||
| 92 | Wet | 90 | ||
| 49 | Comfort | 89 | ||
| 67 | Value | 59 | ||
| 74 | Snow | 92 | ||
| 61 | Ice | 80 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Blizzak 6 | Category | Pilot Alpin 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.2 | Dry Grip | 9 | ||
| 9.2 | Wet Grip | 9 | ||
| 8.7 | Road Feedback | 8.8 | ||
| 8.9 | Handling | 8.9 | ||
| 8.3 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 8.6 | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
| 9.1 | Snow Grip | 9 | ||
| 9.1 | Ice Grip | 8 | ||
Owners rate the Blizzak 6 88% from 9 reviews and the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Bridgestone Blizzak 6
- 88%from 9 reviews
- 75%would buy again
- 75,369 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers report the Bridgestone Blizzak 6 delivers excellent winter performance, with strong grip on snow and ice and confident climbing and cornering in cold, mountain conditions. Multiple reviewers describe it as very stable and among the best winter tyres they've used. Overall sentiment is strongly positive across all reviews.
- Strong grip on snow and ice
- Confident traction in cold/mountain conditions
- Stable, secure feel
- High overall satisfaction as a winter tyre
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 9 Blizzak 6 reviewsI might be one of the first people to buy Bridgestone winter tires and I've never regretted it. I used them for 2 years, and now I'm thinking of switching to all-season tires, so I'll be looking for other options. After 40,000 km, the insides of the rear tires wore out; I think it's related to the alignment and balance, so I'll be replacing them.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
- 87%from 33 reviews
- 85%would buy again
- 357,850 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 highly overall (average 82.7%), with the clearest consensus around strong snow traction and unusually capable dry-road performance for a winter tyre. Wet grip also earns plenty of praise, and a smaller group highlights sharp steering feel and secure snow handling. Complaints are more mixed, but around a quarter of owners mention either firmer-than-expected ride comfort or disappointing ice performance, and a smaller minority report noticeable road noise and weak slush behaviour.
- Strong snow traction and confidence in winter conditions
- Outstanding dry grip for a winter tyre
- Very good wet grip
- Secure, sporty handling on dry roads
- Ice grip can be poor and unpredictable for some
- Firm or bumpy ride comfort for a winter tyre
- Noticeable road noise at speed
Summarised by AI from 27 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 33 Pilot Alpin 5 reviewsGreat tyre, i replaced my GY Ultragrip performance 3 with this and i can say they are even better on snow than GY. Where Michelin lacks to GY is on wet. I find goodyear a bit better on wet surfaces but both tyres are excepional.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 193 sizes of the Blizzak 6 and 81 of the Pilot Alpin 5, 69 of them made in both.
| Category | Blizzak 6 | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 193 sizes, 16 to 22 inch | 81 sizes, 16 to 23 inch |
| Made in both | 69 sizes 205/60 R16215/65 R16225/50 R17235/45 R17235/55 R17245/45 R17245/55 R17205/40 R18215/40 R18215/50 R18215/55 R18225/40 R18and 57 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B100% | B58%C40%D2% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C75%B25% | C60%D30%B9% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B87%A13% | 68-75 dB B70%A30% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 275 of 275 | 96 of 96 |
| On the market since | - | 2017 |
| Replaced | Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 (2019) | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 (2012) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Pilot Alpin 5 was the dearer tyre in 10 of the 10 tests that listed prices, by 10.2% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Previous generation: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 (16 shared tests)
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Bridgestone's Blizzak 6 and Michelin's Pilot Alpin 5 sit at the sharp end of the European “performance winter” market, but they come from slightly different angles: the Blizzak 6 leans premium-touring/efficiency with Bridgestone's lightweight Enliten focus, while the Pilot Alpin 5 is a more explicitly ultra-high-performance winter tyre aimed at drivers who want sporty response without giving up winter capability.
Across 10 shared professional tests (spanning 18-19" fitments and including both passenger-car and SUV-oriented test programs), the headline is consistency. The Michelin is repeatedly the top overall finisher (1st in many group tests and ahead of the Bridgestone in every shared overall result here), while the Bridgestone regularly lands in the leading pack and often counters with lower rolling resistance and several wet-grip sub-discipline wins. The interesting part of this matchup is that the Michelin's advantage is usually about “small but everywhere” in core safety metrics-especially dry braking and snow-whereas the Bridgestone's case is “efficiency + stability” with occasional wet and aquaplaning bright spots depending on the test.
Conclusion
If you want the most complete winter performance package, the data points strongly to the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5. It goes 10/10 on shared overall placements, and it repeatedly delivers meaningful margins in the two areas that most often decide safety outcomes: dry braking (typically ~4-6% shorter; e.g., 40.8 m vs 42.5 m in Auto Bild Sportscars 2026, 42.4 m vs 45.2 m in AZ 2025) and snow performance (frequently best-in-test or near it; e.g., 20.5 m vs 21.3 m snow braking in Auto Bild SUV 2024, plus consistent traction/handling edges). It's also consistently quieter (often ~1-3 dB lower) and is regularly praised for comfort and refined road manners-at the cost of being among the most expensive tyres in its tests.
The Bridgestone Blizzak 6 is the smart alternative when your winter is more wet/variable than deeply snowy and you care about efficiency. It wins rolling resistance in 5 shared datasets and sometimes by a lot (e.g., 6.8 vs 7.7 kg/t in Auto Bild Allrad SUV 2026), and it can be excellent in wet handling/braking in certain test programs (e.g., it tops wet braking/handling in Auto Bild Sportscars 2026: 52.0 m vs 52.8 m and 71.1 vs 70.4 km/h). The trade-off is that it's more inconsistent test-to-test in aquaplaning and wet dynamic grip, and it's regularly behind the Michelin in dry braking and in the aggregate of snow disciplines.
Practical takeaway: if you're buying one premium winter tyre to cover “everything” with the fewest compromises, the Pilot Alpin 5 is the safer bet-particularly for drivers who see real snow and still care about sporty dry-road security. If you prioritize low energy consumption (or EV range), want a stable winter tyre for cold rain and mixed conditions, and are willing to give up some dry-braking sharpness and some snow 'top-end', the Blizzak 6 makes a compelling efficiency-led case.
Blizzak 6 vs Pilot Alpin 5: your questions
Is the Bridgestone Blizzak 6 or the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 the better tyre?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 11 times and the Blizzak 6 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Blizzak 6 scores 9.4 and the Pilot Alpin 5 9.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Blizzak 6 or the Pilot Alpin 5?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 21 of the 42 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.6% shorter in the wet across 10 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 12 of the 18 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.9% shorter in the dry across 8 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 26 of the 33 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.4% shorter on snow across 10 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Blizzak 6 had 4.2% lower rolling resistance (7 tests) and used 1.5% less fuel (2 tests); the Pilot Alpin 5 lasted 7.3% longer in the wear tests (4 tests). Owners rate wear 8.3/10 for the Blizzak 6 and 9/10 for the Pilot Alpin 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Pilot Alpin 5 was 1.6 dB quieter (8 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.6/10 for the Blizzak 6 and 8.3/10 for the Pilot Alpin 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Blizzak 6 88% from 9 reviews and the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33. 75% of Blizzak 6 owners would buy it again, against 85% for the Pilot Alpin 5.
Which is more expensive?
In the 10 tests that listed prices, the Pilot Alpin 5 was the dearer tyre in 10 of them, by 10.2% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Blizzak 6 is made in 193 sizes (16 to 22 inch) and the Pilot Alpin 5 in 81 (16 to 23 inch). 69 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Blizzak 6 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Pilot Alpin 5 B and C.
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Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.
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