Michelin Alpin 4, test on a Jeep Renegade with these winter tyres

For our special high-mountain test with the Jeep Renegade we trusted Michelin to fit winter tyres so we could drive more safely, especially with the low temperatures typical of March in the high mountains.

Given the tyre sizes of our Renegade (215/60 – R17), it was not possible to fit the new Michelin Alpin 5, but the Alpin 4 tyres, which are still sold in the sizes not covered by the Alpin 5, were.

When do I need winter tyres?

The first thing to keep in mind is that a summer tyre starts to lose effectiveness below 7ºC and then grip decreases considerably, to the point of endangering our safety. Moreover, if we have to drive on a road with water, snow or ice, that is where winter tyres perform better than summer ones, gripping the asphalt much more firmly.

The components of a winter tyre are totally different from those of a summer tyre, and its design includes sipes in the tread blocks, so it grips the asphalt completely. Another recommendation is to use them in areas where snowfall is common or on roads that stay icy for much of the day or for several days, and that is where a summer tyre provides no safety.

For occasional trips to the snow, a tyre such as the Michelin CrossClimate may be more appropriate, as it is designed to be used as a winter tyre. But if we live in a mountain village, where there is snow or ice for several months of the year, winter tyres remain very worthwhile.

Fitting winter tyres

The first thing is to fit the winter tyres, which is a somewhat cumbersome task. The ideal would be to have an additional set of wheels (even steel ones) for the winter tyres, so you would only have to swap the wheels instead of mounting and dismounting the tyres as we had to do.

The estimated cost of fitting is 15 euros per wheel, that is, about 60 euros. The operation takes less than an hour, and some tyre workshops offer the option of storing the tyres you are not using, so they do not take up space at home.

Behaviour of the Michelin Alpin 4

Our test covered more than 4,000 km, usually driven at temperatures below 5ºC, although we also had stretches at up to 20ºC on the way back to Madrid. When we are in areas with low temperatures and snow, ice or water, the grip is unbeatable.

It makes no difference whether we have to climb a mountain pass (where the tyres give us great confidence) or descend it, where we have no trouble stopping the car and always keeping it under control. The difference with a summer tyre is most noticeable when stopping the car with complete safety, regardless of the state of the road surface (icy or snowy) or the grip we have when driving on paths completely covered in snow. The Michelin Alpin 4 are not afraid of any type of surface.

[jwplayer mediaid=”195638″]

In the mornings during our test in the Alps, it was common for the car to be covered in snow and the road hard to pass, an obstacle that did not matter to our tyres, and we managed to leave any spot with barely any effort.

To put them fully to the test, at a ski resort in Breuil-Cervinia, we tried them on a completely snowy and icy track as the surface. Control of the car was total and the grip very good, something unthinkable with summer tyres.

Due to the whims of the weather we have also tested them at higher temperatures; the grip is adequate, although noise and fuel consumption increase, and we measured roughly half a litre more fuel every 100 km.

All-wheel drive or winter tyres?

This question is the key for many drivers. We often think that having a 4×4 is more important than good tyres fitted to the wheels, and we are completely mistaken. A 4×4 with summer tyres cannot go where a 4×2 with winter tyres would go in adverse weather (water, snow or ice).

In short, for mountain areas or places that usually have snow or ice for many months of the year, it is highly recommended for our safety to use winter tyres. They are even more effective even if we have an off-roader with summer tyres, where all-wheel drive will be of little use.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira