Menu

Michelin Alpin 6 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52

Michelin Alpin 6 Finished ahead
Head to head 4-1 wins in 5 shared tests

In the 5 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Alpin 6 finished ahead 4 times and the Winter Craft WP52 once. The Alpin 6 was stronger in wet, snow, comfort and value, the Winter Craft WP52 in dry.

Performance profile

14 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.

Dry BrakingDry HandlingWet BrakingWet HandlingWet CircleStraight AquaCurved AquaplaningSnow BrakingSnow TractionSnow HandlingSnow SlalomNoiseWearRolling Resistance

Where each is furthest ahead

Alpin 6

Winter Craft WP52

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 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.

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 6 Gap Winter Craft WP52 Wins
Dry Winter Craft WP52 ahead
Dry Braking m 43.87 2% 42.97 1-2
Dry Handling km/h 115.9 0.6% 116.6 0-2
Wet Alpin 6 ahead
Wet Braking m 43.4 1% 43.8 3-2
Wet Handling km/h 73.56 1.7% 72.37 2-0
Wet Circle s 12.43 1.8% 12.67 2-0
Straight Aqua km/h 78.33 5.9% 73.97 3-0
Curved Aquaplaning m/sec2 2.89 30.2% 2.28 3-0
Snow Alpin 6 ahead
Snow Braking m 24.44 2.3% 25.06 5-0
Snow Traction N 1,771 3.6% 1,710 3-0
Snow Handling km/h 56.2 0.5% 56.5 1-1
Snow Slalom m/sec2 3.44 0.1% 3.44 1-1
Ice Level
Ice Braking m 19.7 = 19.7 0-0
Comfort Alpin 6 ahead
Noise dB 72.17 0.3 dB 71.87 2-1
Value Alpin 6 ahead
Wear km 50,811 9.5% 47,688 1-2
Rolling Resistance kg / t 8.22 9.2% 9.05 2-0
Fuel Consumption l/100km 5.8 1.7% 5.7 0-1
Abrasion mg/km/t 56 4.8% 58.8 1-0

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 5 tests, 2022 to 2024

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 6 Field Winter Craft WP52
2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild · 2024 · 205/55 R16 P5 of 20 P15 of 20
2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test Auto Bild · 2024 · 205/55 R16 P5 of 55 P2 of 55
2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test ADAC · 2023 · 225/45 R17 P2 of 15 P9 of 15
2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild · 2022 · 215/55 R17 P1 of 20 P17 of 20
2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview Auto Bild · 2022 · 215/55 R17 P3 of 56 P19 of 56

Alpin 6 vs Winter Craft WP52: your questions

Is the Michelin Alpin 6 or the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 the better tyre?

In the 5 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Alpin 6 finished ahead 4 times and the Winter Craft WP52 once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Alpin 6 scores 9.1 and the Winter Craft WP52 8.3 out of 10.

Which is better in the wet, the Alpin 6 or the Winter Craft WP52?

The Alpin 6 led 13 of the 15 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 30.2% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 3 tests.

Which is better in the dry?

The Winter Craft WP52 led 4 of the 5 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.

Which is better in snow?

The Alpin 6 led 10 of the 12 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.3% shorter on snow across 5 tests.

Which lasts longer and costs less to run?

The Alpin 6 had 9.2% lower rolling resistance (2 tests); the Winter Craft WP52 lasted 9.5% longer in the wear tests (3 tests). Owners rate wear 8.7/10 for the Alpin 6 and 6.8/10 for the Winter Craft WP52.

Which is quieter and more comfortable?

Owners rate comfort 9/10 for the Alpin 6 and 7.3/10 for the Winter Craft WP52.

What do owners say?

Owners rate the Alpin 6 85% from 35 reviews and the Winter Craft WP52 68% from 9. 76% of Alpin 6 owners would buy it again, against 63% for the Winter Craft WP52.

Which is more expensive?

In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Alpin 6 was the dearer tyre in 3 of them, by 57.9% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.

Are they available in the same sizes?

The Alpin 6 is made in 42 sizes (15 to 20 inch) and the Winter Craft WP52 in 84 (13 to 21 inch). 28 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Alpin 6 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter Craft WP52 B and C.

Run either of these?

Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.

Review the Alpin 6 Review the Winter Craft WP52

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.

Rate your tyres

My tyres

Saved in this browser on this site. No account needed. Clearing browser data removes your choices.

Vehicle and size

Check the size, load and speed ratings on your vehicle. Saving a size does not confirm fitment.

Saved tyres

Save tyres from a tyre page, test or comparison to keep them here.

Select 2–8 saved tyres. Ranked comparisons require at least two shared tests.