Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Radar Dimax Alpine

In this article we will be looking at independent tyre test data, and real world driver reviews of the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 and the Radar Dimax Alpine to find out which tyre is best for your own driving.

There are a few basic differences between the two tyres. The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is an Ultra-High-Performance Winter tyre designed to be fitted to Passenger-Cars, and the Radar Dimax Alpine is an Touring Winter tyre designed to be fitted to Passenger-Cars

In This Article
Test Results Driver Reviews Conclusion Similar Comparisons
Winter-Sport-5 VS Dimax-Alpine

Test Results

Independent comparison tyre tests are the best source of data to get tyre information from, and the good news is there have been six tests which compare both tyres directly!

Out of these six tests:

  • Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead of the Radar Dimax Alpine in six of the tests

While it might look like the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is better than the Radar Dimax Alpine purely based on the higher number of test wins, tyres are very complicated objects which means where one tyre is better than the other can be more important in real world use.

Let's look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.

Dry Braking

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one dry braking tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 stopped the vehicle in 0.46% less distance than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
43.3M
Radar Dimax Alpine
43.5M
Dry braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Dry Braking: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:43.3M Radar Dimax Alpine: 43.5M

Dry Handling [Km/H]

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was 1.09% faster around a lap than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
101Km/H
Radar Dimax Alpine
99.9Km/H
Dry Handling Average Speed, higher is better

Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:101Km/H Radar Dimax Alpine: 99.9Km/H

Wet Braking

Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during six wet braking tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 stopped the vehicle in 11.27% less distance than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
37.73M
Radar Dimax Alpine
42.52M
Wet braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Wet Braking: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test
245/45 R18		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:35.2M Radar Dimax Alpine: 40.5M
2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview
205/55 R16		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:33.6M Radar Dimax Alpine: 37.7M
2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview
215/55 R17		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:35.3M Radar Dimax Alpine: 38.1M
2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test
225/45 R18		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:36.1M Radar Dimax Alpine: 36.8M
2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test
205/55 R16		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:37.4M Radar Dimax Alpine: 39.9M
2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:48.8M Radar Dimax Alpine: 62.1M

Wet Handling [Km/H]

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was 5.96% faster around a wet lap than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
82.2Km/H
Radar Dimax Alpine
77.3Km/H
Wet Handling Average Speed, higher is better

Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:82.2Km/H Radar Dimax Alpine: 77.3Km/H

Straight Aqua

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one straight aqua tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 floated at a 10.87% higher speed than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
89.2Km/H
Radar Dimax Alpine
79.5Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H, higher is better

Best In Straight Aqua: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:89.2Km/H Radar Dimax Alpine: 79.5Km/H

Curved Aquaplaning

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 slipped out at a 47.97% higher speed than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
3.69m/sec2
Radar Dimax Alpine
1.92m/sec2
Remaining lateral acceleration, higher is better

Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:3.69m/sec2 Radar Dimax Alpine: 1.92m/sec2

Snow Braking

Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Radar Dimax Alpine was better during five snow braking tests. On average the Radar Dimax Alpine stopped the vehicle in 30.21% less distance than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
28.3M
Radar Dimax Alpine
19.75M
Snow braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Snow Braking: Radar Dimax Alpine

2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test
245/45 R18		 Dunlop Winter Sport 5:25M ✓ Radar Dimax Alpine: M
2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview
205/55 R16		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:27.3M Radar Dimax Alpine: 28.6M
2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview
215/55 R17		 Dunlop Winter Sport 5:26.5M ✓ Radar Dimax Alpine: M
2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test
225/45 R18		 Dunlop Winter Sport 5:30.7M ✓ Radar Dimax Alpine: 30.6M
2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test
205/55 R16		 Dunlop Winter Sport 5:29.2M ✓ Radar Dimax Alpine: 28.9M
2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Dunlop Winter Sport 5:31.1M ✓ Radar Dimax Alpine: 30.4M

Snow Traction

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 had 4.88% better snow traction than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
2172N
Radar Dimax Alpine
2066N
Pulling Force in Newtons, higher is better

Best In Snow Traction: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:2172N Radar Dimax Alpine: 2066N

Snow Handling [Km/H]

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during zero snow handling [km/h] tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was 3.7% faster around a lap than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
59.8Km/H
Radar Dimax Alpine
62.1Km/H
Snow handling average speed, higher is better

Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Radar Dimax Alpine

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Dunlop Winter Sport 5:59.8Km/H ✓ Radar Dimax Alpine: 62.1Km/H

Snow Circle

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during zero snow circle tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 provided 2.7% more lateral grip than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
2.88ms/2
Radar Dimax Alpine
2.96ms/2
Lateral snow grip in m/s squared, higher is better

Best In Snow Circle: Radar Dimax Alpine

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Dunlop Winter Sport 5:2.88ms/2 ✓ Radar Dimax Alpine: 2.96ms/2

Noise

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Radar Dimax Alpine was better during one noise tests. On average the Radar Dimax Alpine measured 3.73% quieter than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
72.4dB
Radar Dimax Alpine
69.7dB
External noise in dB, lower is better

Best In Noise: Radar Dimax Alpine

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Dunlop Winter Sport 5:72.4dB ✓ Radar Dimax Alpine: 69.7dB

Rolling Resistance

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 was better during one rolling resistance tests. On average the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 had a 10.38% lower rolling resistance than the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
8.89kg / t
Radar Dimax Alpine
9.92kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t, lower is better

Best In Rolling Resistance: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Dunlop Winter Sport 5:8.89kg / t Radar Dimax Alpine: 9.92kg / t

Real World Driver Reviews

Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 and Radar Dimax Alpine.

In total the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 has been reviewed 40 times and drivers have given the tyre 83% overall.

The Radar Dimax Alpine has been reviewed times and drivers have given the tyre 0% overall.

This means in real world driving, people prefer the Radar Dimax Alpine.

Best Review for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Given 81% 225/40 R18 W on a combination of roads for 24,000 spirited miles
I bought these as the successor to Dunlop WinterSport4 which I had been very happy with before, especially with wet grip and good feel in wet/poor conditions. Living and driving around Scotland I use the WinterSport as an all-season tyre. The 5's have improved in all areas and especially in dry handling which was a slight letdown with the 4's. Performance now tails off above around 12 degrees ambient, compared to around 7 degrees with the 4's. At high speed in summer the tyres can get a little 'floaty', but for me this is an acceptable compromise to the excellent grip in cold wet... Continue reading this review using the link below
Helpful 150 - tyre reviewed on September 24, 2016
View all Dunlop Winter Sport 5 driver reviews >>
Best Review for the Radar Dimax Alpine
View all Radar Dimax Alpine driver reviews >>

Conclusion

In conclusion the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 performed better in dry braking, dry handling [km/h], wet braking, wet handling [km/h], straight aqua, curved aquaplaning, snow traction and rolling resistance, while the Radar Dimax Alpine performed better in snow braking, snow handling [km/h], snow circle and noise.

Which tyre is best for you depends a lot on your driving style and situation, plus what you want from the tyre. Comparing all the data in the tyre reviews database, on balance Dunlop Winter Sport 5 seems to be the best tyre overall.

However, it's important to note that both tyres have their strengths.

Remember, the best tyre for you might depend on which of these factors are most important for your specific driving needs and conditions.

Dunlop Winter Sport 5

Overall Winner: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tyre has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tyre buying choice.

Similar Comparisons

Looking for more tyre comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tyres:

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
VS
Radar Dimax Alpine
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 VS Radar Dimax Alpine
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
VS
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 VS Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
VS
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 VS Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
VS
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 VS Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
VS
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P VS Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
VS
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 VS Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
VS
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 VS Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
VS
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 VS Vredestein Wintrac Pro
Continental WinterContact TS 870
VS
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Continental WinterContact TS 870 VS Dunlop Winter Sport 5

Footnote

This page has been developed using tyre industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tyres in the same test.

Why is this important? Tyre testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tyre test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tyre tests performed on different days or at different locations.

As a result you will see other tests on Tyre Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.

Lots of other websites do this sort of tyre comparison, Tyre Reviews doesn't.