Kumho Winter Craft WP51 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP51 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 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 Pilot Alpin 5 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, mileage. 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 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 Pilot Alpin 5 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Touring Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 3 | 20 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 9.4 | 5.0 |
| Latest test | 2021 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 87.5 | 95.4 |
Tire Lab Score
Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 12.2 1 | Avg rank 5.6 197 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 8.3 | Avg rank 2.7 17112 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 9.2 11 | Avg rank 3.2 24106 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 2.5 1 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Avg rank 6.2 765 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
| 📏Mileage | No data | Avg rank 7.5 3 | Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 2.0 11 | Avg rank 7.3 3 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
💧 Wet: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 5.6, compared to 12.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
☀️ Dry: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 2.7, compared to 8.3 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
❄️ Snow: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 wins this category with an average rank of 3.2, compared to 9.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
🧊 Ice: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 2.5, compared to 4.5 for the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 6.2 for the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
📏 Mileage: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
🔋 Efficiency: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 7.3 for the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Kumho Winter Craft WP51 or Michelin Pilot Alpin 5?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 ranks higher on average than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 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 Pilot Alpin 5.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 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 Pilot Alpin 5 in 20.
Also compare
Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs…
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs…
Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →
