Michelin Alpin 5 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 finished ahead 11 times and the Alpin 5 not once. The WinterContact TS 860 was stronger in snow.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Alpin 5
WinterContact TS 860
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 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
Alpin 5
WinterContact TS 860
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
Alpin 5
WinterContact TS 860
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Alpin 5 86% from 33 reviews and the WinterContact TS 860 86% from 50. 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. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | Alpin 5 | Gap | WinterContact TS 860 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 45.45 | 0.9% | 45.05 | 1-1 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 107.8 | 0.6% | 108.4 | 1-1 |
| Wet Level | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 35.2 | 3.2% | 34 | 1-1 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 73.2 | 0.7% | 73.7 | 1-1 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 86.25 | 0.9% | 86.95 | 1-1 |
| Snow WinterContact TS 860 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 28.55 | 3.5% | 27.55 | 0-2 |
| Snow Handling km/h | 50.9 | 2.3% | 52.05 | 0-2 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Noise dB | 70.2 | 0.6 dB | 69.65 | 1-1 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear km | 58,350 | 40.8% | 40,875 | 2-0 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.83 | 9.5% | 7.99 | 0-2 |
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.
Head to head in 11 tests, 2016 to 2018
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 | Alpin 5 | Field | WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P11 of 20 | P2 of 20 | |
| 2018 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | P5 of 16 | P1 of 16 | |
| 2018 51 Winter Tyre Shootout | P17 of 52 | P1 of 52 | |
| 2017 50 Winter Tyre Shoot Out | P7 of 50 | P2 of 50 | |
| 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2017 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 195/65 R15 | P12 of 16 | P1 of 16 | |
| 2017 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| 2016 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| 2016 AutoBild Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2016 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P3 of 49 | P1 of 49 | |
| 2016 AZ Winter Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | P4 of 14 | P1 of 14 |
Alpin 5 vs WinterContact TS 860: your questions
Is the Michelin Alpin 5 or the Continental WinterContact TS 860 the better tyre?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 finished ahead 11 times and the Alpin 5 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Alpin 5 scores 8.6 and the WinterContact TS 860 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Alpin 5 or the WinterContact TS 860?
Across the shared tests the wet measurements are split 3-3 between the Alpin 5 and the WinterContact TS 860.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Alpin 5 and the WinterContact TS 860.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterContact TS 860 led 4 of the 4 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.5% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Alpin 5 lasted 40.8% longer in the wear tests (2 tests); the WinterContact TS 860 had 9.5% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 9/10 for the Alpin 5 and 8.4/10 for the WinterContact TS 860.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.6/10 for the Alpin 5 and 8.6/10 for the WinterContact TS 860.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Alpin 5 86% from 33 reviews and the WinterContact TS 860 86% from 50. 87% of Alpin 5 owners would buy it again, against 86% for the WinterContact TS 860.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Alpin 5 is made in 17 sizes (15 to 20 inch) and the WinterContact TS 860 in 47 (13 to 17 inch). 7 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Alpin 5 is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the WinterContact TS 860 B and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The WinterContact TS 860 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2016, the Alpin 5 in 2014. The Alpin 5 replaced the Michelin Alpin A4. The WinterContact TS 860 replaced the Continental WinterContact TS 850.
More comparisons with these tyres
Every Michelin vs Continental test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tyres →
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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.