Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Michelin Alpin 5: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 and Michelin Alpin 5 appear in 20 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 Firestone Winterhawk 4 performs. It takes the win in snow, ice. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 17 tests.
How the Michelin Alpin 5 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 96/100, 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 Michelin Alpin 5 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Firestone Winterhawk 4 still wins on snow, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Choose Michelin Alpin 5 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 17 | 3 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 10.0 | 7.7 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2018 |
| Tire Lab Score | 88.7 | 95.5 |
Tire Lab Score
Firestone Winterhawk 4
Michelin Alpin 5
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Michelin Alpin 5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 7.6 138 | Avg rank 6.5 11 | Michelin Alpin 5 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 14.3 1 | Avg rank 7.2 | Michelin Alpin 5 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 9.2 224 | Avg rank 11.7 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 6.7 | No data | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.2 31 | Avg rank 8.3 1 | Michelin Alpin 5 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 10.8 21 | Avg rank 2.0 11 | Michelin Alpin 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.5 1 | Avg rank 3.3 1 | Michelin Alpin 5 |
💧 Wet: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Michelin Alpin 5
The Michelin Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 6.5, compared to 7.6 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
☀️ Dry: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Michelin Alpin 5
The Michelin Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 7.2, compared to 14.3 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
❄️ Snow: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Michelin Alpin 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 11.7 for the Michelin Alpin 5.
🧊 Ice: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Michelin Alpin 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to no data for the Michelin Alpin 5.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Michelin Alpin 5
The Michelin Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.3, compared to 9.2 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
📏 Mileage: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Michelin Alpin 5
The Michelin Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 10.8 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
🔋 Efficiency: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Michelin Alpin 5
The Michelin Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 3.3, compared to 9.5 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Firestone Winterhawk 4 or Michelin Alpin 5?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Michelin Alpin 5 ranks higher on average than the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Michelin Alpin 5 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Firestone Winterhawk 4 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Michelin Alpin 5 ranks better than the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Michelin Alpin 5 shows better mileage performance than the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Firestone Winterhawk 4 appears in 17 independent tests, Michelin Alpin 5 in 3.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →