Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3

The Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 is a High Performance Winter tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

Tire review data from 11 tire reviews averaging 86% over 104,303 miles driven, and 1 tests with an average result of 6th.

Dry Grip 93%
Wet Grip 91%
Road Feedback 91%
Handling 90%
Wear 92%
Comfort 95%
Buy again 95%
Snow Grip 70%
Ice Grip 60%

First On MarketAugust 2008
Wheel Size14 - 14"
Width185 - 185mm
Profile70 - 70
Rolling ResistanceD - D
Wet GripC - C
Noise (dB)71 - 71
Winter Rating3PMSF Rated

The Pilot Alpin PA3 is ranked 8th of 60 Winter High Performance tires.

This tire replaced the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2 and this tire has been replaced by the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4.

Tests Included

1

Best Result

6th

Worst Result

6th

Average Result

6th

Latest Tire Test Results

2011 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test
6th of 7 tires
  • Good on snow, high steering precision and cornering stability on dry roads. Low rolling resistance
  • Understeer and long braking in the wet, average aquaplaning results
View Full Test >>

2011 Tire Tests

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Size Price Range  
Available in 1 tire sizes - View all.

Top 3 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 Reviews

Given 76% while driving a BMW 330CI M Sport (225/50 R17 V) on mostly town for 10,000 average miles
Definitely not good value for money
Helpful 72 - tire reviewed on March 12, 2015
Given 87% while driving a Ford Fiesta mk7 (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 30,000 average miles
Had Michelin Alpin A3 for 10 years for winter season. All around excellent tire.
Helpful 24 - tire reviewed on November 11, 2019
Given 91% while driving a Audi S4 (235/35 R18 W) on mostly motorways for 3,000 average miles
fantastic on the ice and snow. not cheap, but keeps my AUDI S4 out of the ditches.
Helpful 28 - tire reviewed on April 13, 2013
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Latest Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 Reviews

Given 99% while driving a Skoda Superb II combi 2.0 tdi cr (225/45 R17) on mostly motorways for 35,000 average miles
Hi I'm a sales rep and have done over 35,000 miles on these tires. I'd ordered Primacy Alpin PA3 but these turned up by mistake and I think they are less manufactured for deep snow and more 3-4 inches, slush, wet and ice.

Nonetheless, they got me through thousands of miles of really poor conditions including the bad snow of 2010. I also kept them on alway through the summer and they wore 5mm and would have got me through two winters if not for a puncture. If you do similar mileage but swap to summer tires you will easily get through 3 or 4 winters with them.

In the dry you will notice a little more road noise but not intrusive. In the summer you do notice that the stopping distances are a little longer but better in wet and wintery conditions.

In conclusion, these tires are best for all but deep snow where I think you will want something with a more 'snow' focus.
Helpful 24 - tire reviewed on February 10, 2012
Given 96% while driving a Audi A5 (255/35 R19 V) on mostly town for 500 average miles
We had to decide on winter tires for our audi a5, as we live in a city and not out in the sticks we decided on this tire. From the moment we left the garage with our new tires on you never know for sure how your car will feel. Our first thoughts were these tires suit the car as its comfortable as summer tires. They grip dry roads just as good wet ones and give you absolute confidence in cold conditions. Its worth the money for a decent set of winter tires, ask your self this question.. How much is your car worth!! Bring on the snow!!
Helpful 19 - tire reviewed on December 15, 2011
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Given 90% while driving a Vauxhall Zafira GSI (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 3 spirited miles
There should be a snow and ice score which would be 10. With 200+ bhp through the front wheels traction is always tricky, on snow it was as if I were driving on a dry road - absolutely awesome. There's some loss of braking I feel on dry roads although with the poor state of most roads I may be a bit unkind here. very quiet compared to my summer tires and after 3,600 miles there didn't seem to be any sign of wear. I figure I got at least 2 mpg extra with these tires too.
About to refit for the winter ahead.
Helpful 28 - tire reviewed on October 26, 2011
Given 92% while driving a Lexus GS300 (225/50 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 300 average miles
Bought these a few weeks ago online winter tires are very hard to get becauase of the extreme (for Holland) winter conditions which came early this year.

I Just bought my car in the beginning of november and it was fitted with Vredestein Sportrac 2 Tires wich are dreadful in every aspect.

Dry Performance:

Traction: Great, better than my old summer tires can accelerate and corner faster
Breaking: Awesome
Steering\Handling: Very accurate and progressive, you can slightly feel load changes in long fast corners when the rear end of the car is setting. Good feedback in the steering wheel.
Comfort: Very Impressive, Quiet(better than the Vredesteins and not to hard

WetPerformance:
Traction: Great
Braking: Awesome
Steering\Handling: Equally impressive

Snow: Good traction and breaking. I can only compare them ro my summer tires and what a difference. Off course traction isn't endless but it's easy to control even a heavy car like mine and you're quite able to steer with the gas pedal (that's why I love RWD. Haven't got stuck yet(with summer tires i did)
All in all a good performance.

Ice: We've quite some ice on the road these past two weeks and i mean Ice not 'icy conditios). This is where the tire let me down a bit, but i don't know what tire can excell on pure Ice. Breaking and traction were minimal, steering was still ok (although I was sliding over 4 wheels onc or twice on roundabouts.

Wear: Cannot say anything about wear yet, just fiited 300 miles. But my experince with Michelin is that they offer great wear and great performance over the entire lifespan of the tire not only
Conclusion: Great in the dry and wet, good in the snow. Not so good on ice.
All in all a comfortable sporty tire with good handling characteristics.
It does trade some of its winter capablities for this.
This tire does what it is designed for.
Helpful 22 - tire reviewed on December 27, 2010
Given 91% while driving a Jaguar XJR (255/40 R19 W) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
I've had these on my 2004 XJR the last 2 winters running and they are outstanding.

On regular dry or wet winter roads they feel, grip and sound like any other premium tire would during the summer. Once snow and ice comes in they still just keep going. I haven't yet managed to get the Jag stuck anywhere and I'm driving past other vehicles spinning their wheels away.

For reference my summer tire of choice is the Continental SportContact 5P - great at everything, except winter!

Tip: don't try buying them once you see snow - it's too late, you won't find any. Order them by October ideally.
Helpful 16 - tire reviewed on December 21, 2010
Given 99% while driving a Skoda Octavia (205/55 R16 V) on mostly country roads for 20,000 spirited miles
On a moderate winter conditions this is the best tire I've driven ever, dry and wet, and little icy for ~20 K miles on them it was difficult for me to get these tires to the limit. Still look like brand new with 7mm tread depth.

However, this is not the proper tire to be driven in deep snow at low speed. Climbing a "white" road in a village in a mountains will not be an easy task while the car is fitted with them. It is intended for a sporty winter driving on the highway.
Helpful 28 - tire reviewed on December 1, 2010
Given 93% while driving a Audi A4 3.0 litre TDI S Line Quattro (245/45 R18 V) on a combination of roads for 500 average miles
Just fitted these tires recently instead of the original Michelin Pilot Sport 2's.
Seem to be a better tire , improved ride comfort, less noise and i think an improvement in fuel consumption of about 5%, although it is early days yet for a definative answer. No idea about wear rates.
Helpful 29 - tire reviewed on October 22, 2010