Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 4 times and the WinterContact TS 850 P not once. The Pilot Alpin 5 was stronger in dry, snow, comfort and value.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WinterContact TS 850 P
Not ahead on any measurement here
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 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 4 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
WinterContact TS 850 P
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
WinterContact TS 850 P
Not ahead in any category
Pilot Alpin 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 850 P 81% from 20 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 | WinterContact TS 850 P | Gap | Pilot Alpin 5 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 45.35 | 8.1% | 41.65 | 0-2 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 105.7 | 1% | 106.7 | 0-2 |
| Wet Level | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 43.9 | = | 43.87 | 2-1 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 73.15 | 0.1% | 73.2 | 0-1 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.44 | 1% | 12.57 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 90.55 | 1.3% | 91.8 | 1-1 |
| Curved Aquaplaning m/sec2 | 3.62 | 5.5% | 3.82 | 0-1 |
| Snow Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 27.7 | 3.1% | 26.87 | 0-3 |
| Snow Traction N | 2,827 | 0.6% | 2,846 | 1-1 |
| Snow Handling km/h | 51.75 | 1.4% | 52.25 | 1-1 |
| Snow Slalom m/sec2 | 3.46 | 12.4% | 3.89 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 72.55 | 1.1 dB | 71.45 | 0-2 |
| Value Pilot Alpin 5 ahead | ||||
| Wear km | 43,460 | 10.4% | 47,970 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.59 | 4.4% | 8.2 | 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 4 tests, 2020 to 2021
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 | WinterContact TS 850 P | Field | Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 13 | P1 of 13 | |
| 2020 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 235/55 R17 | P12 of 13 | P1 of 13 | |
| 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | P4 of 51 | P2 of 51 |
WinterContact TS 850 P vs Pilot Alpin 5: your questions
Is the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P or the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 the better tyre?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 finished ahead 4 times and the WinterContact TS 850 P not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterContact TS 850 P scores 8.9 and the Pilot Alpin 5 9.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinterContact TS 850 P or the Pilot Alpin 5?
Across the shared tests the wet measurements are split 4-4 between the WinterContact TS 850 P and the Pilot Alpin 5.
Which is better in the dry?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 4 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.1% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Pilot Alpin 5 led 6 of the 8 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.1% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Pilot Alpin 5 had 4.4% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.2/10 for the WinterContact TS 850 P and 9/10 for the Pilot Alpin 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Pilot Alpin 5 was 1.1 dB quieter (2 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.9/10 for the WinterContact TS 850 P and 8.3/10 for the Pilot Alpin 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 850 P 81% from 20 reviews and the Pilot Alpin 5 87% from 33. 75% of WinterContact TS 850 P owners would buy it again, against 85% for the Pilot Alpin 5.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The WinterContact TS 850 P is made in 122 sizes (15 to 22 inch) and the Pilot Alpin 5 in 81 (16 to 23 inch). 41 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WinterContact TS 850 P is graded C 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 WinterContact TS 850 P in 2014. The WinterContact TS 850 P replaced the Continental WinterContact TS 830 P. The Pilot Alpin 5 replaced the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4.
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Every Continental vs Michelin test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tyres →
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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.
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.