Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Nokian PowerProof
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S finished ahead 4 times and the PowerProof not once. The Pilot Sport 4 S was stronger in dry, wet and comfort.
Performance profile
13 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Pilot Sport 4 S
PowerProof
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. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Pilot Sport 4 S
PowerProof
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
Pilot Sport 4 S
PowerProof
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 4 S 85% from 179 reviews and the PowerProof 80% from 28. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.
| Measurement | Pilot Sport 4 S | Gap | PowerProof | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Pilot Sport 4 S ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 109 | 5.2% | 115 | 4-0 |
| Dry Handling (s) | 73.29 | 1.7% | 74.56 | 2-0 |
| Dry Handling (mph) | 78.1 | 2% | 76.6 | 2-0 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 12.5% | scored | 2-0 |
| Wet Pilot Sport 4 S ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 111 | 8.2% | 122 | 4-0 |
| Wet Handling (s) | 56.02 | 0.2% | 56.17 | 1-1 |
| Wet Handling (mph) | 48.7 | 1.9% | 47.8 | 1-1 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 1.8% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet Circle (mph) | 15.5 | 0.1% | 15.5 | 1-0 |
| Wet Circle (s) | 12.39 | 1.2% | 12.54 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 47.3 | 3.5% | 45.7 | 4-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 7.4 | 6.5% | 7 | 1-1 |
| Comfort Pilot Sport 4 S ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 10.3% | scored | 2-0 |
| Noise dB | 72.07 | 0.1 dB | 72.2 | 2-1 |
| Tire Weight lb | 21.9 | 10% | 24.4 | 1-0 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 7.23 | 3.6% | 6.82 | 2-2 |
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 4 tests, 2020 to 2021
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 | Pilot Sport 4 S | Field | PowerProof |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Tire Reviews UHP Summer Tire Test | P1 of 14 | P8 of 14 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tire Test | P1 of 15 | P12 of 15 | |
| 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tire Test | P1 of 7 | P4 of 7 | |
| 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tire Test | P1 of 10 | P3 of 10 |
Pilot Sport 4 S vs PowerProof: your questions
Is the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S or the Nokian PowerProof the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S finished ahead 4 times and the PowerProof not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Sport 4 S scores 9.4 and the PowerProof 8.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Pilot Sport 4 S or the PowerProof?
The Pilot Sport 4 S led 13 of the 18 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.2% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Pilot Sport 4 S led 10 of the 10 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.2% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.4/10 for the Pilot Sport 4 S and 8.6/10 for the PowerProof.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 4 S 85% from 179 reviews and the PowerProof 80% from 28. 80% of Pilot Sport 4 S owners would buy it again, against 73% for the PowerProof.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Pilot Sport 4 S was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 37.9% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Pilot Sport 4 S is made in 105 sizes (17 to 22 inch) and the PowerProof in 42 (17 to 20 inch). 23 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Pilot Sport 4 S is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the PowerProof A and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The PowerProof is the newer design: it reached the market in 2018, the Pilot Sport 4 S in 2016. The Pilot Sport 4 S replaced the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. The PowerProof replaced the Nokian zLine.
More comparisons with these tires
vs 
Continental SportContact 7 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
9-2 in 12 shared tests
vs 
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Pirelli P Zero PZ4
8-1 in 9 shared tests
vs
Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
2-8 in 10 shared tests
vs 
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Pirelli P Zero PZ5
2-2 in 4 shared tests
vs
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
3-0 in 4 shared tests
vs
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
2-11 in 13 shared tests
vs
Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
1-1 in 3 shared tests
vs
Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
1-1 in 2 shared tests
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.