Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV and Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 appear in 23 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV performs. It takes the win in wet, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 3 tests.
How the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 performs. It takes the win in dry, snow, ice, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 95/100, based on 20 tests.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in dry and Tire Lab Score. The Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Choose Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 if
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Test profile
| Metric | Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 3 | 20 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Latest test | 2021 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.7 | 95.4 |
Tire Lab Score
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 4.0 112 | Avg rank 5.6 197 | Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 6.2 1 | Avg rank 2.7 17112 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 4.8 112 | Avg rank 3.2 24106 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
| 🧊Ice | No data | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 4.7 2 | Avg rank 6.2 765 | Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV |
| 📏Mileage | No data | Avg rank 7.5 3 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.3 | Avg rank 7.3 3 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
💧 Wet: Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 5.6 for the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
☀️ Dry: Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 2.7, compared to 6.2 for the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV.
❄️ Snow: Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 3.2, compared to 4.8 for the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV.
🧊 Ice: Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to no data for the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, compared to 6.2 for the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
📏 Mileage: Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 7.5, compared to no data for the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 7.3, compared to 9.3 for the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or Michelin Pilot Alpin 5?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV ranks higher on average than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV ranks better than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 shows better mileage performance than the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV appears in 3 independent tests, Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 in 20.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →
