Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter 2: The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, launched in 2014, faces off against the newly introduced Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, released in 2024. As both tires are designed for high-performance vehicles in the middle European winter segment, the question arises: can the well-established Pilot Alpin 5 hold its ground against the fresh, advanced P Zero Winter 2? With Pirelli’s latest technology aiming to push limits, this battle promises to reveal who will dominate in harsh winter conditions.
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Results: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter 2
Results below were taken from Tyre Review’s BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 Test with a total of 6 tires tested. The graph below shows the comparison between Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 based on the relevant performance category. The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 tire was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
Note that for subjective ratings, 1 point is equivalent to 5%. So if tire A has a 4 point rating & tire B has a 3 point rating, tire A is better than tire B by 5%. The tire size of interest is a 235/35 R19 which is a common tire size for Audi R8 and BMW M4. The testing vehicle is a Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Wet
In wet braking, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stops at 30.62 meters, slightly outperforming the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, which stops at 30.8 meters—a minor 0.18-meter difference. However, in wet handling, the Pirelli takes the lead, completing the lap in 107.35 seconds, 1.53 seconds faster than the Michelin’s 108.88 seconds. When it comes to subjective wet handling, the Pirelli is rated higher, scoring a perfect 10/10, compared to the Michelin’s 9.5/10, showing the Pirelli’s superior handling feel in wet conditions.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- -1% in wet braking
- +1% in wet handling (lap time)
- +2.5% in wet handling (subjective)
Snow
In snow braking, the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 stops slightly sooner, at 17.47 meters, compared to the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5’s 17.61 meters, showing a 0.14-meter advantage. Snow traction is nearly identical, with the Pirelli taking 5.16 seconds to accelerate from 5 to 35 km/h, just 0.02 seconds faster than the Michelin’s 5.18 seconds. For snow handling, the Pirelli completes the course in 78.28 seconds, a full second faster than the Michelin’s 79.28 seconds. Both tires score equally in subjective snow handling, with perfect 10/10 ratings.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- +1% in snow braking
- ~0% in snow traction
- +1% in snow handling (lap time)
- 0% in snow handling (subjective)
Ice
In middle European winters, ice performance isn’t typically the main focus, but when tested, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 and Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 show similar results. In ice braking, the Michelin stops slightly sooner at 9.46 meters, just 0.05 meters shorter than the Pirelli’s 9.51 meters. Both tires are identical in ice traction, taking 4.5 seconds to accelerate from 5 to 25 km/h, demonstrating equally strong ice acceleration performance.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- -1% in ice braking
- ~0% in ice traction
Dry
In dry braking, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stops at 40.35 meters, just 0.05 meters shorter than the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, which stops at 40.4 meters. When it comes to dry handling, the Pirelli is slightly quicker, completing the lap in 87.02 seconds, 0.29 seconds faster than the Michelin’s 87.31 seconds. However, in subjective dry handling, the Michelin scores a perfect 10, edging out the Pirelli’s 9.5/10, indicating a slightly better overall driving feel.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- ~0% in dry braking
- ~0% in dry handling (lap time)
- -2.5% in dry handling (subjective)
NVH
In terms of subjective comfort, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 scores slightly higher with 9.5/10 points compared to the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2’s 9/10, indicating a marginally smoother ride. For noise levels, the Pirelli is quieter, producing 71.4 dB, just 0.2 dB lower than the Michelin’s 71.6 dB, making both tires almost equally quiet.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- ~0% in exterior noise (-0.2 dB)
- -2.5% in subjective comfort
Rolling Resistance
In rolling resistance, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 has a slightly lower value at 8.71 N/kN, offering better fuel efficiency compared to the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, which has a rolling resistance of 8.95 N/kN. This 0.24 N/kN difference means the Michelin provides marginally less resistance, potentially contributing to better energy savings.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- -3% in rolling resistance
Price
The Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 is priced at €256, making it 8% cheaper than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, which costs €276 in the 235/35 R19 size.
Tire size: 235/35 R19
- Pilot Alpin 5 : € 276
- P Zero Winter 2 : € 256
Difference: -8% more cheaper for P Zero Winter 2
Conclusion
As a tire expert, I can confidently say that the performance between the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 and Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 is extremely close, with both tires being jointly declared as test winners. The differences are minor: the Michelin edges ahead slightly in comfort and rolling resistance, while the Pirelli offers better wet and dry handling times and comes at a lower price. Ultimately, either tire is an excellent choice for high-performance middle European winter driving.
Dr Edwin Pang