Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 vs Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 finished ahead 2 times and the P Zero Trofeo R once. The Pilot Sport Cup 2 was stronger in wet, comfort and value, the P Zero Trofeo R in dry.
Performance profile
5 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Pilot Sport Cup 2
P Zero Trofeo R
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. The scale stops at 97%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 2 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Pilot Sport Cup 2
P Zero Trofeo R
Not ahead in any category
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 Cup 2
P Zero Trofeo R
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Pilot Sport Cup 2 82% from 24 reviews and the P Zero Trofeo R 78% from 3. 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 Cup 2 | Gap | P Zero Trofeo R | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry P Zero Trofeo R ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 112 | 1.2% | 111 | 1-2 |
| Dry Handling mph | 71.4 | 0.2% | 71.6 | 1-2 |
| Wet Pilot Sport Cup 2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 122 | 4.7% | 128 | 3-0 |
| Wet Handling mph | 45.2 | 1.5% | 44.6 | 2-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 42.4 | 10.3% | 38.5 | 2-0 |
| Comfort Pilot Sport Cup 2 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 71.8 | 1.8 dB | 73.6 | 1-0 |
| Value Pilot Sport Cup 2 ahead | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 9.9 | 7.5% | 10.7 | 1-0 |
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 3 tests, 2017 to 2018
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 Cup 2 | Field | P Zero Trofeo R |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tire Test | P1 of 9 | P2 of 9 | |
| 2017 Track Day Tire Test | P1 of 5 | P3 of 5 | |
| 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test | P3 of 10 | P1 of 10 |
Pilot Sport Cup 2 vs P Zero Trofeo R: your questions
Is the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 or the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 finished ahead 2 times and the P Zero Trofeo R once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 8.3 and the P Zero Trofeo R 7.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 or the P Zero Trofeo R?
The Pilot Sport Cup 2 led 7 of the 8 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.7% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The P Zero Trofeo R led 4 of the 6 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.2% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.4/10 for the Pilot Sport Cup 2 and 6/10 for the P Zero Trofeo R.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Pilot Sport Cup 2 82% from 24 reviews and the P Zero Trofeo R 78% from 3.
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.