Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Alpin 6: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 and Michelin Alpin 6 appear in 22 tests, 1 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP51 performs. It takes the win in ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, based on 3 tests.
How the Michelin Alpin 6 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 96/100, based on 19 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 6 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 still wins on ice, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise efficiency
Choose Michelin Alpin 6 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | Michelin Alpin 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Touring Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 3 | 19 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 9.4 | 6.9 |
| Latest test | 2021 | 2024 |
| Tire Lab Score | 87.5 | 95.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Michelin Alpin 6
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | Michelin Alpin 6 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 12.2 1 | Avg rank 5.4 3410 | Michelin Alpin 6 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 8.3 | Avg rank 5.3 351 | Michelin Alpin 6 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 9.2 11 | Avg rank 8.5 211 | Michelin Alpin 6 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 2.5 1 | Avg rank 5.5 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Avg rank 6.1 432 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
| 📏Mileage | No data | Avg rank 5.5 331 | Michelin Alpin 6 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 2.0 11 | Avg rank 5.4 43 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:
💧 Wet: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Alpin 6
The Michelin Alpin 6 wins this category with an average rank of 5.4, compared to 12.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
☀️ Dry: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Alpin 6
The Michelin Alpin 6 wins this category with an average rank of 5.3, compared to 8.3 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
❄️ Snow: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Alpin 6
The Michelin Alpin 6 wins this category with an average rank of 8.5, compared to 9.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
🧊 Ice: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Alpin 6
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 2.5, compared to 5.5 for the Michelin Alpin 6.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Alpin 6
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 6.1 for the Michelin Alpin 6.
📏 Mileage: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Alpin 6
The Michelin Alpin 6 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to no data for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
🔋 Efficiency: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Alpin 6
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 5.4 for the Michelin Alpin 6.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Kumho Winter Craft WP51 or Michelin Alpin 6?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Michelin Alpin 6 ranks higher on average than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Michelin Alpin 6 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 ranks better than the Michelin Alpin 6.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Michelin Alpin 6 shows better mileage performance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Kumho Winter Craft WP51 appears in 3 independent tests, Michelin Alpin 6 in 19, with 1 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 →