Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P and Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 appear in 12 tests, 2 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. 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 WinterContact TS 850 P performs. It takes the win in mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 94/100, based on 9 tests.
How the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 91/100, based on 3 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 Continental WinterContact TS 850 P is the stronger all-round choice, leading in mileage and Tire Lab Score. The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Continental WinterContact TS 850 P if
- You prioritise mileage
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 9 | 3 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 6.1 | 5.2 |
| Latest test | 2021 | 2019 |
| Tire Lab Score | 94.3 | 91.1 |
Tire Lab Score
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 4.0 434 | Avg rank 2.8 121 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 6.3 14 | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 5.9 113 | Avg rank 5.3 1 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.1 121 | Avg rank 5.8 11 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 4.0 | No data | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 8.1 | Avg rank 4.0 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 2 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 wins this category with an average rank of 2.8, compared to 4.0 for the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P.
☀️ Dry: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 6.3 for the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P.
❄️ Snow: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 wins this category with an average rank of 5.3, compared to 5.9 for the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 wins this category with an average rank of 5.8, compared to 6.1 for the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P.
📏 Mileage: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
The Continental WinterContact TS 850 P wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to no data for the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 8.1 for the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental WinterContact TS 850 P or Michelin Pilot Alpin 4?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 ranks higher on average than the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 ranks better than the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P shows better mileage performance than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P appears in 9 independent tests, Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 in 3, with 2 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →