Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Expect the Michelin to lead on objective grip and control: shorter braking on dry, wet, snow and ice, sharper steering, lower noise, and strong longevity. The Dunlop counters with superior curved-aquaplaning resistance, competitive straight aquaplaning in several tests, often lower fuel consumption/rolling resistance, and a friendlier purchase price-appealing for drivers prioritizing wet-weather safety margins in standing water and total running cost.
Test Results
Independent comparison tyre tests are the best source of data to get tyre information from, and the good news is there have been nine tests which compare both tyres directly!
| Tyre | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | nine |
While it might look like the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is better than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tyres are very complicated objects which means where one tyre is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.
Key Strengths
- Best-in-group curved aquaplaning resistance across multiple tests
- Often lower fuel use/rolling resistance and better value pricing
- Stable, balanced winter performance with good safety reserves
- Competitive aquaplaning and occasional wet-braking wins
- Consistently shorter braking on dry, wet, snow, and ice
- Precise steering, strong dry/wet handling and feedback
- Lower noise and high predicted mileage/low wear
- Strong straight-line aquaplaning and overall test dominance
Dry Braking
Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during six dry braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 6.05% less distance than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Dry Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 2.63% faster around a lap than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during four dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 2.08% faster around a lap than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from eight tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during six wet braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 4.2% less distance than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Wet Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 5.14% less distance than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 1.81% faster around a wet lap than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during three wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 1.45% faster around a wet lap than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 had 20% higher lateral wet grip than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Wet Circle: Dunlop Winter Sport 5
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during four straight aqua tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 floated at a 1.38% higher speed than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Straight Aqua: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during four curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 slipped out at a 3.6% higher speed than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Dunlop Winter Sport 5
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from eight tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during seven snow braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle in 3% less distance than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Snow Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 accelerated 2.41% faster than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during four snow traction tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 had 2.15% better snow traction than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Snow Traction: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 3.34% faster around a lap than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during three snow handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 0.65% faster around a lap than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Circle
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one snow circle tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 provided 3.36% more lateral grip than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Snow Circle: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Circle winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during two snow slalom tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was 5.25% faster through a slalom than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Snow Slalom: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one ice braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stopped the vehicle 2.98% shorter than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Ice Braking: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scored 10% more points than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Dunlop Winter Sport 5
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during six noise tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 measured 3.69% quieter than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Noise: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during three wear tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is predicted to cover 8.36% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Wear: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during two value tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 proved to have a 11.1% better value based on price/1000km than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Value: Dunlop Winter Sport 5
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during two price tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 cost 16.37% less than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Price: Dunlop Winter Sport 5
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during three rolling resistance tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 had a 0.59% lower rolling resistance than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 used 1.72% less fuel than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Dunlop Winter Sport 5
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was better during one abrasion tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 emitted 25.37% less particle wear matter than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Best In Abrasion: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 Driver Reviews
Drivers largely praise the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 for outstanding snow and ice traction, strong wet grip in cold conditions, predictable handling, good comfort/low noise (for a winter tyre), and excellent tread life. A minority report softer sidewalls and reduced dry performance or understeer as temperatures rise, with a few notes on noise increase over time and isolated quality/balance issues. Overall sentiment is strongly positive, with most buyers willing to repurchase.
Based on 43 reviews with an average rating of 84%
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 Driver Reviews
Drivers largely praise the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 for delivering near-summer-tyre performance in winter, with excellent dry and wet grip, precise handling, and strong stability. Snow traction is reported as confidently good (especially on packed or light snow), and several high-scoring reviews note impressive tread life. However, multiple users caution that ice traction and braking are weaker than dedicated snow/ice tyres, and the firm sidewall can make the ride feel harsh for some. Overall sentiment is strongly positive, especially for moderate winters and performance-oriented driving.
Based on 29 reviews with an average rating of 86%
Conclusion
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is the savvy budget-conscious pick. It shines in aquaplaning-especially curved-and often posts lower consumption, while maintaining solid all-round winter ability. However, its longer braking distances on dry/wet and higher noise cap its ultimate safety/comfort ceiling versus Michelin. If your priority is ultimate grip and refinement, choose Michelin; if you want robust wet safety in deep water and lower running/entry cost, Dunlop is compelling.
Key Differences
- Braking performance: Michelin stops shorter in most dry, wet, snow, and ice tests (e.g., ADAC dry 41.4 m vs 44 m; wet 32.2 m vs 34.4 m).
- Handling precision: Michelin offers sharper steering and higher average handling speeds.
- Aquaplaning profile: Dunlop leads curved aquaplaning in most tests; Michelin often leads straight aquaplaning.
- Noise and comfort: Michelin is consistently quieter; Dunlop occasionally scores higher on subjective comfort.
- Wear/longevity: Michelin shows higher predicted mileage and lower abrasion.
- Cost/efficiency: Dunlop generally cheaper with slightly better fuel economy/rolling resistance in several tests.
Overall Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tyre has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tyre buying choice.Similar Comparisons
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Footnote
This page has been developed using tyre industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tyres in the same test.
Why is this important? Tyre testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tyre test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tyre tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tyre Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tyre comparison, Tyre Reviews doesn't.