Nankang AR 1 vs Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
Ahead in each discipline
The Nankang AR 1 and the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect have met in one independent test so far, and the AR 1 finished ahead. The AR 1 was stronger in dry, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect in wet, comfort and value.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the one shared test, each tire shown as its share of the better figure.
Where each is furthest ahead
AR 1
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it.
Where each scores higher
AR 1
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
AR 1
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the AR 1 76% from 38 reviews and the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect 81% from 9. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tires' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tire that did better.
| Measurement | AR 1 | Gap | Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry AR 1 ahead | |||
| Dry Braking ft | 111 | 5.9% | 117 |
| Dry Handling mph | 83.6 | 0.7% | 83.1 |
| Wet Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect ahead | |||
| Wet Braking ft | 135 | 8.8% | 123 |
| Wet Handling mph | 43.9 | 18.1% | 51.8 |
| Wet Circle mph | 13.6 | 13.6% | 15.5 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 33.7 | 21.5% | 41 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 5.6 | 29.4% | 7.2 |
| Comfort Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect ahead | |||
| Noise dB | 69.6 | 1.4 dB | 68.2 |
| Value Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect ahead | |||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 10 | 6% | 9.4 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared.
Head to head in 1 test in 2022
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | AR 1 | Field | Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tire Test | P1 of 10 | P3 of 10 |
AR 1 vs Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect: your questions
Is the Nankang AR 1 or the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect the better tire?
The Nankang AR 1 and the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect have met in one independent test so far, and the AR 1 finished ahead. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the AR 1 scores 6.5 and the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect 8.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the AR 1 or the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect?
The Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect led 5 of the 5 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The AR 1 led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 6.5/10 for the AR 1 and 7.6/10 for the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the AR 1 76% from 38 reviews and the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect 81% from 9. 88% of AR 1 owners would buy it again, against 88% for the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect.
More comparisons with these tires
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.