Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 3 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 not once. The Pilot Alpin 5 was stronger in dry, wet, snow and comfort.
Performance profile
11 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter Sottozero 3
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.
Where each scores higher
Winter Sottozero 3
Not ahead in any category
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
Winter Sottozero 3
Not ahead in any category
Pilot Alpin 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 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. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | Winter Sottozero 3 | Gap | Pilot Alpin 5 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 43.7 | 4.1% | 41.9 | 0-1 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 109.5 | 0.9% | 110.5 | 0-1 |
| Wet Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 45.1 | 9.3% | 40.9 | 0-2 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 70.5 | 5.5% | 74.4 | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 86 | 0.1% | 86.1 | 0-1 |
| Snow Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 25.8 | 5.8% | 24.3 | 0-2 |
| Snow Traction N | 2,825 | 6.4% | 3,005 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling km/h | 59.9 | 0.5% | 60.2 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 71.7 | 1.6 dB | 70.1 | 0-1 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear km | 39,770 | 20.6% | 47,970 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 6.95 | 12.8% | 7.97 | 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 3 tests in 2020
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 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Field | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 235/55 R17 | P9 of 13 | P1 of 13 | |
| 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | P19 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | P20 of 51 | P2 of 51 |
Winter Sottozero 3 vs Pilot Alpin 5: your questions
Is the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 or the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 the better tyre?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 3 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter Sottozero 3 scores 7.9 and the Pilot Alpin 5 9.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter Sottozero 3 or the Pilot Alpin 5?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 4 of the 4 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 9.3% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 4 of the 4 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.8% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3 and 8.3/10 for the Pilot Alpin 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 reviews and the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33. 81% of Winter Sottozero 3 owners would buy it again, against 85% for the Pilot Alpin 5.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter Sottozero 3 is made in 98 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the Pilot Alpin 5 in 81 (16 to 23 inch). 53 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter Sottozero 3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Pilot Alpin 5 B and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Pilot Alpin 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2017, the Winter Sottozero 3 in 2013. The Pilot Alpin 5 replaced the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4.
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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.