Sharing the eighth spot, the Michelin Alpin 6 shines as a reliable choice for European-style winters. While its ice and snow grip may be modest compared to studded options, the Alpin 6 makes up for it with a focus on stability and handling in milder winter conditions. With high scores in wet braking (10/10) and dry braking (10/10), this tire ensures strong performance on rainy and moderately icy roads. However, a slightly elevated rolling resistance means it falls behind Continental in fuel efficiency. For drivers facing mostly wet or slushy roads, the Michelin Alpin 6 is a solid, dependable option.

The Michelin Alpin 6 (91 H) secured a "exemplary" rating, finishing in fifth place among the tested winter tires. Known for its premium quality, this tire boasts an EU label of C/B/A and a low noise level of 69 dB. Priced at approximately €520 per set, it offers strong all-weather performance. On snow, it performed consistently, with good traction, braking, and handling, though it didn’t lead the pack. Its wet performance showed reliable hydroplaning resistance and solid handling, though braking could have been sharper. On dry roads, the Alpin 6 was smooth and comfortable. Where it truly shines is in its longevity, offering excellent mileage and a low rolling resistance. Despite its higher cost, it stands out for its comfort and efficiency, making it a premium choice for drivers seeking long-lasting performance.

The Michelin Alpin 6 delivers a strong performance on snow, providing stable handling and traction. However, its weaknesses on dry asphalt, particularly the extended braking distances and pronounced understeering, hold it back from ranking higher. The tire requires larger steering angles on snow and provides only moderate feedback on wet surfaces, which impacts its overall control. Despite rolling smoothly over road imperfections and maintaining a reasonable level of comfort, its dry performance remains a significant drawback. The Michelin Alpin 6 is a reliable option for snow but struggles to compete on dry roads.

Safety Verdict: The Michelin Alpin 6 delivers consistent performance across all safety parameters. On dry roads, it offers precise steering feedback and stability, even during sudden lane changes. While its braking distance from 100 km/h is slightly below average, it compensates with confident control. In wet conditions, the Alpin 6 excels in braking, although it narrowly misses top marks for straight-line aquaplaning resistance. It maintains control during lateral aquaplaning and handles corners with assurance, thanks to its ample grip reserves. On winter surfaces, the Alpin 6 shows its strength, achieving solid traction and handling results. It navigates snow-covered courses with precision and stability, providing reliable control. Its performance on ice is less impressive, with braking distances falling into the satisfactory range.

Environmental Verdict: The Alpin 6 stands out for its impressive durability, offering the highest mileage in the test. It combines low wear rates with efficient fuel consumption, making it a cost-effective and environmentally friendly choice. However, it does produce slightly higher noise levels compared to other models.

The Michelin Alpin 6, ranking third, is lauded for its stability and high safety levels on diverse surfaces. It stands out with exemplary steering precision and predictable behavior, even at the limit of grip. However, its primary drawback is the price point, as it is the most expensive tire in the test, potentially influencing the decision-making of budget-conscious consumers.

Michelin tires guarantee excellent dry surface handling. Wet conditions reveal a grip inconsistency, and there's minor aquaplaning resistance in corners. Yet, their durability, weight, and winter braking on ice underscore their merit.

Pros:

• Superior dry pavement traction
• Extended life
• Efficient ice braking
• Resource conservation
• Lightweight
• Fuel economy

Cons:

• Wet performance nuances

The Michelin Alpin 6, earning a 'Good' rating, exhibits strong performance on dry roads, offering precise steering and ample safety margins at high speeds. Its dry braking is slightly above average. In wet conditions, it excels in braking distance but shows some limitations in lateral aquaplaning, narrowly missing a top rating in handling. Despite this, it maintains overall safety and control. In winter conditions, the tire performs well, with good handling and braking on ice, though its snow braking is slightly below average. The Alpin 6 also stands out in environmental aspects, boasting above-average wear mileage, low abrasion, and efficient fuel consumption due to its lightweight design. Noise levels are average.

The Michelin Alpin 6 exhibits strong performance on snow and asphalt, aligning with the best European winter tires in these conditions. It performs well in wet handling and braking on both wet and dry pavements. However, the tire's performance on ice, both in braking and handling, is less effective, likely due to its stiff rubber compound which reduces grip on ice. Despite this, the tire maintains a good balance between comfort and course stability.

The Michelin Alpin 6, a participant from the 2019 tests, continues to perform commendably despite its age, especially in snowy environments. While its wet performance faces challenges from rising contemporaries, it has made strides in the area of fuel efficiency. Competing against newer models, it still showcases its reliability.

• Positive: Consistent performance in snow, achieving third position overall across two tests. Exhibits commendable dry braking capabilities, ranking third. Fuel economy has seen considerable improvement and now competes favorably with top contenders. Remains a dependable option given its five-year-old design competing against newer technologies.

• Negative: Wet handling and wet circle performance lags, placing it behind several contenders. Exhibits early grip reduction during dry handling compared to competitors. Cabin noise remains an area of concern, with the Alpin 6 at the bottom of the rankings, mirroring its 2019 position.

This Michelin tire quickly stopped the car on dry pavement but it demonstrated poor snow and wet grip, which came as quite a surprise for a tire of this reputed brand.

This Michelin tire is totally great for snow-covered roads, but is much less effective on tarmac — wet, and, particularly, dry.

Test winner with convincing driving performance in all weather conditions, precise steering behavior, sporty and dynamic handling behavior, high mileage. High price.

Shortest dry braking, good aquaplaning resistance, safe snow handling balance. Poor snow braking, reduced grip in the wet grip tests, high rolling resistance.

High traction on snow. Short braking distance and good handling response on wet pavement. Good riding comfort. Insufficient handling response in the dry. Very good.

Balanced. Good on all surfaces. Low fuel consumption. Particularly low wear (top mark). No particular weaknesses.

Well-balanced performance, no prominent issues found. Invariably good results in any conditions. Particularly good snow and ice performance. Low wear. Good.

Short braking distance on wet and dry pavement. Low noise emission. High rolling resistance. Good.

Excellent wet performance means the Michelin Alpin 6 is well suited to the type of winters in the UK.

The second place was scored by the premium-class Michelin Alpin 6, which also demonstrated good grip on all winter surfaces and a long expected mileage.
Pros: well-balanced performance, good handling response, long mileage.
Cons: prone to slight understeer on wet pavement.

Good balance of performance. Good performance on snow, dry and wet surfaces. Very low wear.

Good balance of performance. Good performance in all conditions. Very good dry and snow performance.

Positive: Good grip and very short braking distances on dry, cold surfaces. Good lateral stability on wet surfaces.
Negative: Relatively long braking distances on snow and wet roads. Reduced comfort level.
Verdict: Good.

Excellent hydroplaning resistance. Relatively long braking distance on dry pavement. Increased rolling resistance. Increased noise.

Outstanding performance on snow. Good performance on asphalt. Predictable behavior in any conditions. High level of driving safety. Low noise emission. Great riding comfort.

Michelin Alpin 6 is the newest product of the French concern intended for passenger cars. It is at the forefront of the test. It has a high margin of safety under all conditions. On wet surfaces, it understeers slightly, and the skid starts very smoothly, without the grip breaking suddenly. Provides good steering precision. According to the manufacturer's assurances, the tire remains safe even when worn.

Good performance on snow and wet surfaces. High level of comfort.

Positive: Premium tires with stable handling qualities in all weather conditions, best lateral guidance on wet slopes, precise steering behavior with good feedback.
Negative: high price level, increased rolling noise.

Mostly high-priced tires with good dry and wet, but limited winter performance.

Yet another good result for the Alpin 6, which is well suited to UK winters thanks to its good performance in the wet.

Positive: Premium tires with stable handling qualities in all weather conditions, best lateral guidance on wet slopes, precise steering behavior with good feedback.
Negative: high price level, increased rolling noise.
Verdict: exemplary.

Very balanced tires. Good on dry, wet and snow-covered roads. Low wear.

Positive: Acceptable performance on snow. Particularly great results on wet pavement. Great riding comfort. Negative: Weak performance on ice.

A promising debut by Alpin 6 that proved to be very effective on wet pavement. Recommended.

For the most expensive model on test, Michelin Alpin 6, this test was only the second in its entire career. The Auto Bild test brought the French tire maker the third place, the title of «Eco Master» and the status of «exemplary winter tires with a great grip on snow and wet pavement». Along with good hydroplaning resistance and high steering precision, these tires also ensure comfortable ride and have the longest expected mileage of all the tested models.

A premium-class tire with great «dry» and limited «wet» performance. Pros: Well-balanced performance on snow and in the dry. Completely safe cornering in the wet. Well-balanced response to the commands of the vehicle’s ESP system. Cons: Minor drawbacks in the braking performance on snow and in extremely damp conditions.