Since the 20th century,
Michelin has stood as a premier manufacturer of tyres, continually dedicating itself to tyre innovation and advancement.
Michelin has developed some of the best seasonal tyres on the market, from reliable
all-season tyres to high-performance
summer tyres.
One seasonal tyre type that Michelin has also specialised in is winter tyres, which is highlighted through their Alpin tyre series.
The most recent Alpin tyre model is the
Alpin 6, a premium winter tyre released globally by Michelin back in 2018. However, a brand new Alpin model, the Michelin Alpin 7, has just been released in 2024.
With the release of the all-new
Alpin 7, we feel it’s necessary to compare the Alpin 7 to its successful predecessor, the Alpin 7.
Today, we will cover the key features of both models and how they stack up against each other.
Alpin 6 Overview
The Michelin Alpin 6 is an industry leading winter tyre manufactured by Michelin.
Since the Alpin 6 is a winter tyre, it is developed to be at its most optimal level of performance when driving through wet, snowy, and/or icy weather conditions.
The capabilities of this tyre are underscored by its inclusion of the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) tyre marking. This EU-approved label signifies that the tyre model has undergone and passed standardized, supervised, and stringent tests assessing its suitability for winter conditions.
Industry leading technologies have been applied to the Alpin 6 to further optimise the performance levels in winter conditions – Michelin’s WinterEverGrip technology ensures continued braking and traction on snow.
Additionally, the Alpin 6 is equipped with Michelin’s MaxTouch technology to confirm that tyre pressure is evenly distributed, further bettering the tyre’s longevity.
The Alpin 6 outperforms its predecessor, the Alpin 5, by over 6% on wet surfaces and over 8% in snow.
The Michelin Alpin 7 is a winter tyre set to be released by Michelin in 2024.
Like its predecessor that we just spoke about, the Alpin 6, the Alpin 7 is a winter tyre that offers great levels of performance throughout winter driving conditions.
The Michelin winter tyre features cutting-edge Michelin technology, including a newly formulated compound optimized for low temperatures.
A sophisticated compound delivers strong traction on the road, improving driver control during acceleration, braking, and cornering during winter driving conditions.
Furthermore, the Michelin Alpin 7 is engineered with distinctive grooves that become visible as the tyre wears. This smart tread pattern maintains consistent performance over the tyre's life, especially in snowy conditions.
Scheduled for a 2024 release, the Alpin 7 will succeed the Alpin 6.
Tyre label ratings are an EU regulated ranking system that rates a tyre model on key performance categories.
The following categories are ranked as follows:
Fuel Efficiency – Ranked A to E
Wet Grip – Ranked A to E
Tyre Noise – Ranked with numbers and A to C/Decibels (dB)
Alpin 6 Label Ratings
In the available tyre sizes on the Michelin website, the Michelin Alpin 6 has fuel efficiency ratings of C or D.
The wet grip ratings for the Alpin 6 is B across all available tyre sizes.
External tyre noise ratings are also consistent across tyre sizes with 69 dB.
Alpin 7 Label Ratings
The Michelin Alpin 7 boasts fuel efficiency ratings from B to D.
The wet grip ratings for this Michelin winter tyre, same as the Alpin 6, are consistently rated B across all tyre sizes.
Noise levels for the Alpin 7 range between 69B and 71B.
Alpin 6 Awards
The Michelin Alpin 6 has gathered various awards and recognitions from industry experts since its release in 2018.
In 2021, the Alpin 6 was named 2nd amongst the ‘Best 15 Winter Tyres’ list constructed by WhatTyre, only just missing out to the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005.
A year later, the 2022 Tyre Seeker saw the Alpin 6 be ‘recommended’ as a top winter tyre, only behind the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 and Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 that were the winner and ‘highly recommended’ respectively.
Furthermore, the Michelin winter tyre model was labelled with a ‘Good’ rating by ADACC in a comparative test of 16 225/45 R17 winter tyres and 16 205/60 R16
winter tyres.
Overall, the Alpin 6’s success in both tyre tests and receiving awards is reflective of the quality and reliability of the winter tyre model.
Alpin 7 Awards
As the Alpin 7 has just been released, the brand new winter tyre model has not received any comparative test success or awards.
However, due to the sheer innovation and quality the tyre promises, we are sure many will be heading the Alpin 7’s way in the coming years.
Alpin 6 Customer Reviews
Our customer reviews system is powered by DriverReviews, where customers are given the opportunity to review their previously purchased tyre model.
Customers are given 4 categories to review their tyre from.
customers have reviewed the Alpin 6 as follows:
Alpin 7 Customer Reviews
As mentioned previously, the Alpin 7 has just been released, which means there isn’t any customer reviews for the winter tyre.
Buy Winter Tyres Online Today
To summarise, both the Alpin 6 and 7 are fantastic winter tyre options that suit various car types and winter driving conditions.
Michelin says the Alpin 7 uses a newly formulated compound optimized for very low temperatures, designed to maintain flexibility and traction as temperatures fall. The Alpin 6 uses WinterEverGrip, which marked a big step forward on snow braking when introduced. In practice, the Alpin 7’s compound aims to improve traction consistency through the tyre’s life, particularly in repeated freeze/thaw cycles.
Tread and wear behaviour
The Alpin 7 introduces grooves that become visible as the tyre wears so that snow can still pack into the tread and provide consistent bite. This “wear-aware” approach should keep snow traction higher later in life than a conventional tread. The Alpin 6 relies on deep sipes and block design combined with MaxTouch for even wear.
FAQs:
Is the Michelin Alpin 7 better than the Alpin 6?
The Alpin 7 is the newer generation with a revised low-temperature compound and “wear-aware” tread grooves designed to keep snow traction more consistent as the tyre wears. In independent tests you may still see the Alpin 6 performing very well; whether the 7 is “better” depends on the size and the test. For most drivers, the Alpin 7 delivers incremental improvements and is worth choosing if you want the latest tech; the Alpin 6 remains a solid, proven option.
Are the Alpin 6 and Alpin 7 3PMSF rated?
Yes - both models carry the 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake) marking indicating they meet EU standards for winter performance.
Which tyre has better wet braking and fuel economy?
Both tyres show B wet-grip ratings across common sizes. Fuel efficiency varies by size: Alpin 6 typically has C–D in available sizes, while Alpin 7 ranges from B–D depending on size. Check the tyre label for the specific size you require.
Is the Alpin 7 already available and are there tests?
The Alpin 7 released in 2024; availability may vary by size and market. Independent comparative test results for the Alpin 7 may still be limited—check trusted test bodies (e.g., WhatTyre, ADAC, Tyre Reviews) and return to this article when we update with test outcomes.
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