Drivers in northern climates must regularly contend with challenging wintry road conditions, but the fact of the matter is that snow- and ice-covered roadways are not an everyday reality. Once the plow trucks make their rounds and the salt is dispersed, what remains are cold conditions and dry roads.
Quality snow tires of years past did a fine job forging through wintry road conditions, but they often fostered a love/hate relationship. They were appreciated for their ability to successfully negotiate adverse winter conditions, but once the roads returned to normal drivers were left distinctly underwhelmed with the performance attributes, and often annoyed by poor comfort characteristics (high road noise in particular).
The Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4, on the other hand, aims to provide superb performance through winter’s worst, but also not leave drivers wanting when road conditions are more ideal. The Pilot Alpin PA4 is the flagship performance snow tire from Michelin.
Performance tire aficionados may already know about Michelin’s latest triumph on the summer tire side of the equation – the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. So have they managed to achieve excellence with the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 as well?
Comfort
We used to approach the maiden voyage on a new set of snow tires with some trepidation. To be determined was whether the tire slap and hummm would be bearable, or would the audibility have us begging Punxsutawney Phil for relief?…
We pulled out onto dry roads for this Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 review and were immediately struck by the lack of road noise. That initial impression stayed true.
From 25 mph up to highway speeds, and across all varieties of road surfaces, the Pilot Alpin PA4 is a strikingly quiet snow tire. In fact, we’d suggest that road noise is comparable to many all season and summer tires. They’re quieter than our Continental ControlContact Sport A/S all season tires, for example. No question about it.
And as is typical with snow tires, ride comfort and rough road compliance is excellent.
So as far as Pilot Alpin PA4 comfort goes, mission accomplished.
Dry Road Handling & Performance
The blending of snow/winter performance and dry road handling dynamics is perhaps the greatest snow tire engineering challenge. As discussed above, constructing a tire that grips in the snow and ice is one thing. Achieving that winter performance while affirming a performance vehicle’s handling attributes is another.
We think that the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 will be a pleasant surprise for even discerning drivers in the dry road handling department.
Around our standard test loop in dry road conditions the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 felt planted and competent. Some snow tires give the impression that advanced suspension systems have been replaced with mush; not so with the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4.
Of course, reasonable expectations must be applied here. The Pilot Alpin PA4 is not the tire of choice to carve up the Tail of the Dragon. But is it a snow tire that maintains performance car handling attributes at public road speeds in sub-freezing conditions? Most definitely. Your Corvette will still feel like a Corvette, BMW M3 like an M3, etc.
Snow & Ice Performance
Winter storm Bella provided the opportunity to test the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 in many inches of snow, and then hazardously icy conditions thereafter.
With comfort and dry road handling characteristics firmly established, how does the Pilot Alpin PA4 react when the road conditions take a turn for the worse?
At the risk of sounding inarticulate, we don’t have much to say vis-à-vis the Pilot Alpin PA4 in snowy road conditions other than… it’s really damn good.
One of the best attributes of a quality snow tire is how it “digs” for traction. Mash the gas with a few inches of snow and an all season tire, and you’ll reach a point of diminishing returns. The tires spin, but they’re not building or regaining grip in the process.
Snow tires on the other hand claw and dig their way for grip, even (especially) after initial traction is lost. The Pilot Alpin PA4 fights for traction and grip very well indeed. And once you get going in the snow, the Pilot Alpin PA4 arrests speed with equal success. Michelin claims that the Pilot Alpin PA4 offers a measurable improvement in snow braking over its predecessor. We believe it.
So 5 stars, and two thumbs up for the Pilot Alpin PA4 in the snow.
Snowy roads can be challenging, but it’s when the roads are mixed conditions and icy that the real white-knuckle driving occurs. A couple of days after the initial snowfall we ventured out onto primarily icy roads.
We were struck first by the turn in characteristics and front end bite that the Pilot Alpin PA4 affords. Even through corners that were completely ice covered we had to make a conscious effort to induce some push, or understeer through the corner, i.e. we attempted to complete the turn at an unrealistic speed.
Icy road braking is also impressive. We used a B7 Audi S4 fitted with all season tires as a reference point in an informal braking test. From 45 mph on an icy road the Pilot Alpin PA4 stopped in (near as makes no difference) half the distance of the Audi with all season tires.
The apparent Pilot Alpin PA4 ice road competence has been validated in independent Tire Rack testing as well. In comparison testing the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 logged the shortest stopping distance, and quickest acceleration time on ice. (As compared to the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60, Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, and Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D.)
It’s also worth noting that under braking the Pilot Alpin PA4 stays under, or short of the ABS threshold with success. Yes, ABS is preferable to a front end lock up, but it’s not nearly as preferable as a fully controlled brake with the wheels turning freely. The Pilot Alpin PA4 allows you to walk that important line.
Additionally, lateral maneuverability on icy roads under braking is excellent; that is, the ability to adjust braking line left and right. This is helpful when trying to search for snow, or dry pavement to aid in the braking process, or to avoid a hazardous situation straight ahead.
Whether in snow, ice, or mixed road conditions, the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 delivers.
Conclusion
Michelin’s on a roll right now.
We’re opting for the even more blizzard-capable Michelin X-Ice snow this winter, but the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 gets our full recommendation. Performance in all conditions, comfort, and no drawbacks, the Pilot Alpin PA4 is everything a performance snow tire should be.
For more information about snow tires, and why you should consider them mandatory equipment for winter driving, be sure to review our article, Snow Tire Information & Perspective.
