Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4: Hankook’s new evo 4 is here—and it has Michelin in its sights. Can this latest challenger finally match the Pilot Alpin 5 where it matters: the wet roads, snowy corners and dry autobahns of a Central European winter?
With a 24% lower price, the Hankook makes a tempting offer. But has it closed the performance gap enough to challenge Michelin? Let’s see what the test results reveal.
Table of Contents
Results: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4
Results below were taken from 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test with a total of 20 tires tested. The graph below shows the comparison between Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 vs Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 based on the relevant performance category. The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
Since we are talking about the middle European winter segment with both tires having the converted 3 peak mountain logo, snow performances was tested. The tire size of interest is 245/45 R19 which is a common tire size for BMW 5 Series & Audi A6. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a BMW 5 series.
Wet
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stops 0.7 metres shorter in wet braking than the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4—a 1% advantage. Michelin is also 2.3 km/h faster in wet handling, giving it a 3% advantage. Straight aquaplaning is effectively equal, with Michelin only 0.1 km/h ahead, rounding to a 0% difference.
Overall, Michelin delivers better wet handling and slightly shorter braking, while aquaplaning resistance is essentially identical.
i*cept evo 4 :
- -1% in wet braking
- -3% in wet handling
- 0% in straight aquaplaning
Snow
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stops just 0.1 metres shorter than the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 in snow braking—a 0% difference when rounded. Michelin also delivers 73 N more snow traction, a 1% advantage, and is 1.6 km/h faster in snow handling, a 3% advantage.
Overall, Michelin offers better snow handling and slightly stronger traction, while snow braking is essentially identical.
i*cept evo 4 :
- 0% in snow braking
- -1% in snow traction
- -3% in snow handling
Mileage
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 lasts 950 km longer than the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4, covering 56,500 versus 55,550 km—a 2% mileage advantage. Overall, both offer similar longevity, with Michelin holding a slight edge.
i*cept evo 4 :
- -2% in mileage
Dry
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 stops 1.2 metres shorter than the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 in dry braking, at 42.5 versus 43.7 metres—a 3% advantage. However, Hankook is 0.7 km/h faster in dry handling, reaching 111.6 versus 110.9 km/h—a 1% advantage.
Overall, Michelin offers better dry braking, while Hankook holds a slight edge in dry handling speed.
i*cept evo 4 :
- -3% in dry braking
- +1% in dry handling
Noise
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 records 0.4 dB(A) less noise than the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 at 80 km/h, measuring 71.7 versus 72.1 dB(A)—a 1% difference in the recorded values when rounded. Overall, Michelin is slightly quieter, although the gap is small.
i*cept evo 4 :
- -1% in exterior noise (+0.4 dB)
Rolling Resistance
The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 has 0.50 kg/t lower rolling resistance than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, measuring 7.64 versus 8.14 kg/t—a 7% performance advantage. Overall, Hankook rolls more efficiently, giving it the edge in potential fuel savings.
i*cept evo 4 :
- +7% in Rolling resistance
Price
In 245/45 R19, the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 costs €59 less per tire than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, at €187 versus €246—making it 24% cheaper. That saves €236 for a set of four, giving Hankook a clear price advantage.
Tire size: 245/45 R19
- Pilot Alpin 5 : € 246
- i*cept evo 4 : € 187
Difference: -24% more cheaper for i*cept evo 4
Conclusion from a Tire Expert’s Perspective:
In my tire expert view, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 remains the stronger performer, with better wet and snow handling, shorter wet and dry braking, slightly longer mileage and lower noise. The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 counters with lower rolling resistance and a small advantage in dry handling speed. At 24% cheaper, Hankook has closed much of the performance gap while offering a compelling saving—making the new evo 4 a serious alternative to Michelin.
Dr Edwin Pang