Test source AutoView

2025 AutoView Sports Tire Test

Overall test winnerMichelin Pilot Sport 4 S

AutoView's 2025 summer sports tire comparison pitched five Ultra High Performance tires against each other on a BMW M3 xDrive (G80) in a square 275/35R19 fitment.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

May 12, 2026 6 min read

Tire shortlist Read the test Watch on YouTube

275/35R19 / 2025 View full image

Tires tested: 5
Tested size: 275/35R19
Test vehicle: BMW M3 xDrive (G80)
Disciplines: 6

At a glance

Tire shortlist

5 Tires tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

1^st

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

+The Pilot Sport 4 S took the overall win, helped by the fastest lap time of 1:25.95, the best subjective ride comfort rating, and joint-top subjective dry handling. The OE tuning for the BMW M3 showed in its balance and the linearity of the steering, and AutoView highlighted how consistent the lap times stayed across runs.

−Dry braking from 62 mph at 114 ft was joint third, behind both Korean tires on test. Wet braking from 50 mph at 81 ft was the longest of the four tires AutoView reported a value for, which AutoView notes is a recognized trade-off in BMW OE tuning.

179 owner reviews Test Results

2^nd

Continental SportContact 7

+The SportContact 7 took the best wet braking distance at 72 ft and the highest dry cornering speed at 47.8 mph. Subjective dry handling was rated joint top with the Michelin, and the lap time of 1:26.46 was second only to the M3 OE tire.

−Ride comfort sat mid-pack at 6.6 points and AutoView noted that road noise can come through on some surfaces. Rolling resistance was on the high side as well, which costs efficiency on longer runs.

134 owner reviews Test Results

3^rd

Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72

+The Ecsta Sport S took the shortest dry braking distance at 110 ft and was joint-best on dry cornering speed at 47.8 mph. Wet braking at 74 ft was the second-shortest in the test, and the asking price is well below the European premium tires.

−Subjective dry handling rated 13.5 points, half a category behind the SC7 and PS4S, with AutoView noting that the steer response moves too quickly after the limit and that vertical movement at high speed is higher than the rivals. Rolling resistance was the worst on test.

9 owner reviews Test Results

4^th

Hankook Ventus Evo

+The Ventus Evo posted a competitive wet braking distance of 75 ft, and ride comfort tracked closely with the SC7 at 6.6 points. Rolling resistance was the second-best on test and AutoView rated the steering linearity better than the Kumho.

−Lap time at 1:27.62 and dry cornering speed at 46.1 mph both put the Ventus Evo a class below the premium UHP tires on test, and AutoView places it closer to mid-tier products like the Michelin PS5 or Continental MC7. Dry braking at 114 ft matched the Michelin but trailed the SC7 and the Kumho.

24 owner reviews Test Results

5^th

Pirelli P Zero PZ4

+The P Zero was the lightest tire on test at 11.51 kg, the quietest objectively at 61.8 dBA, and easily the most efficient in rolling resistance, extending coast distance well beyond the rivals.

−Every grip test put the P Zero last. Dry braking at 123 ft, dry cornering at 44.9 mph, lap time at 1:29.23 and wet braking at 86 ft all trailed the field, with AutoView comparing the grip level to a high-performance all-season tire.

96 owner reviews Test Results

Tire shortlist

Compare selected tires

2025 AutoView Sports Tire Test · 275/35R19

Tire	Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	Continental SportContact 7	Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72	Hankook Ventus Evo	Pirelli P Zero PZ4
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th
Category scores (% of best)
Dry	98.1%	99.6%	98.6%	96.4%	90.2%
Wet	88.9%	100%	96.8%	95.6%	83.4%
Comfort	99.3%	97.1%	98.2%	96.7%	97.1%
Keep researching	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results

Explore the complete results →

The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

AutoView's 2025 summer sports tire comparison pitched five Ultra High Performance tires against each other on a BMW M3 xDrive (G80) in a square 275/35R19 fitment. The starting point was the M3's OE-developed Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, joined by the established replacement-market benchmark Continental SportContact 7, a higher-profile pick in the Pirelli P Zero, and two new Korean entries - the Hankook Ventus Evo and Kumho's flagship Ecsta Sport S (PS72S).

The OE Michelin took the overall win with 97.5 points on AutoView's scoring, helped by the fastest lap time, the best ride comfort and joint-best subjective handling. The Continental SportContact 7 was the strongest replacement tire and finished second on 93.3 points, with the Kumho Ecsta Sport S third on 92.1, the Hankook Ventus Evo fourth on 88.9 and the Pirelli P Zero last on 79.8. Both Korean tires took the dry and wet braking honours - a notable showing against the European premium set.

Test setup & methodology

The test setting, the conditions recorded and how the results contribute to the score.

Recorded test conditions

Dry Braking: 62.1 → 0.0 mph
Wet Braking: 49.7 → 0.0 mph

Testing took place at the Korea International Circuit (short course) using a BMW M3 xDrive (G80). AutoView ran objective measurements for braking, cornering speed, lap time and noise, with subjective scoring for ride comfort and overall handling. Tires were sourced from market stock except where new products were not yet on shelves; AutoView ran a follow-up 1-to-1 comparison against retail samples once production stock landed to verify the manufacturer-supplied tires were representative.

Dry Braking

Dry stopping was measured from 62 mph to a complete halt. The Kumho Ecsta Sport S was the best at 110 ft and the Continental SportContact 7 just behind at 110 ft. The Michelin and Hankook tied at 114 ft, and the Pirelli P Zero trailed at 123 ft - almost four meters further than the leader.

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72	110 ft	Best	0 mph
2Continental SportContact 7	110 ft	0 ft	5 mph
3Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	114 ft	+4 ft	16 mph
3Hankook Ventus Evo	114 ft	+4 ft	16 mph
5Pirelli P Zero PZ4	123 ft	+13 ft	26 mph

The difference between best and worst was 11.9% (13 ft ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 would still be travelling at 26 mph when the Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Wet Braking

Wet braking was measured from 50 mph. The SportContact 7 led at 72 ft, with the Kumho at 74 ft and the Hankook at 75 ft - all three within a meter of each other. The Michelin came in at 81 ft, with AutoView noting that BMW OE Michelins consistently trade some wet performance for the dry handling balance BMW asks for. The Pirelli was longest again at 86 ft.

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Continental SportContact 7	72 ft	Best	0 mph
2Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72	74 ft	+2 ft	14 mph
3Hankook Ventus Evo	75 ft	+3 ft	17 mph
4Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	81 ft	+9 ft	27 mph
5Pirelli P Zero PZ4	86 ft	+14 ft	33 mph

The difference between best and worst was 19.9% (14 ft ≈ 1 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 would still be travelling at 33 mph when the Continental SportContact 7 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Dry Handling - Lap Time

Lap times on the Korea International Circuit short course (driven by AutoView's Jeon In-ho) reflected the same hierarchy that dominated the test. The OE Michelin set the pace at 1:25.95, the SC7 followed half a second back at 1:26.46, and the Kumho was a further half second behind at 1:26.98. The Ventus Evo at 1:27.62 was a step adrift in terms of category, and the P Zero at 1:29.23 was further still - close to a high-end all-season tire's pace by AutoView's reckoning.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	85.95 s	Best
2Continental SportContact 7	86.46 s	+0.51 s
3Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72	86.98 s	+1.03 s
4Hankook Ventus Evo	87.62 s	+1.67 s
5Pirelli P Zero PZ4	89.23 s	+3.28 s

The difference between best and worst was 3.8% (3.28 s).

Dry Handling - Subjective

The PS4S and SC7 tied at the top of the subjective handling score on 15 points. AutoView highlighted the Michelin's center feel and predictable yaw build-up, and the Continental's road feedback and post-slide recovery. The Kumho and Hankook tied a step back at 13.5 - high grip but rougher transitions and quicker yaw onset. The P Zero rated 9.6 here: the test team praised its initial steering response but the underlying grip simply was not at the level of the rest.

Subj. Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	15 Points	Best
1Continental SportContact 7	15 Points	Best
3Hankook Ventus Evo	13.5 Points	-1.50 Points
3Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72	13.5 Points	-1.50 Points
5Pirelli P Zero PZ4	9.6 Points	-5.40 Points

The difference between best and worst was 36% (5.4 Points).

Comfort

The OE Michelin was the most comfortable at 6.9 points, with the Kumho second on 6.7 and the Hankook and Continental tied on 6.6. The Pirelli sat last at 6.5, with AutoView noting unresolved damping behavior after road impacts.

Subj. Comfort
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	6.9 Points	Best
2Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72	6.7 Points	-0.20 Points
3Continental SportContact 7	6.6 Points	-0.30 Points
3Hankook Ventus Evo	6.6 Points	-0.30 Points
5Pirelli P Zero PZ4	6.5 Points	-0.40 Points

The difference between best and worst was 5.8% (0.4 Points).

External Noise

External noise levels were tightly packed. The P Zero was quietest at 61.8 dBA, with the Kumho second at 62.2, the SC7 and Michelin tied at 62.7, and the Hankook at 63.2. AutoView's subjective ranking differed - the Pirelli's cavity-resonance noise dropped it down the perceived order despite the favorable objective reading.

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli P Zero PZ4	61.8 dB	Best
2Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72	62.2 dB	+0.40 dB
3Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	62.7 dB	+0.90 dB
3Continental SportContact 7	62.7 dB	+0.90 dB
5Hankook Ventus Evo	63.2 dB	+1.40 dB

All the tires in the Noise test finished less than 3% apart.

Results

AutoView's headline conclusions: the OE Michelin remains the right answer on an M3, and the SportContact 7 gets impressively close as a replacement option. The Kumho Ecsta Sport S is the value pick - outright best in dry braking, joint-best in lateral grip, and priced well below the European premiums - with steering refinement and rolling resistance the main areas left to develop. The Hankook Ventus Evo is closer to a mid-tier UHP than a flagship and is awkwardly priced in that bracket. The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 trailed every grip test and AutoView is looking forward to testing the new version in the future.

2025 AutoView Sports Tire TestWatch the full video of this test on YouTube Watch on YouTube

The Pilot Sport 4 S finished first in the test with 97.5 points. Strongest on lap time, ride comfort and subjective dry handling, with the longer wet stop and third-place dry braking holding it back.

Dry98.1%

Wet88.9%

Comfort99.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 5	114 ft	+4 ft
Dry HandlingLower is better	1^st / 5	85.95 s	Best in this discipline
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 5	15 Points	Best in this discipline
Wet BrakingLower is better	4^th / 5	81 ft	+9 ft
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	1^st / 5	6.9 Points	Best in this discipline
NoiseLower is better	3^rd / 5	62.7 dB	+0.90 dB

Weight: 11.67 kgs

The SportContact 7 finished second with 93.3 points and was the strongest replacement tire on test, nearly matching the M3 OE Michelin despite not being purpose-developed for the car.

Dry99.6%

Wet100%

Comfort97.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 5	110 ft	0 ft
Dry HandlingLower is better	2^nd / 5	86.46 s	+0.51 s
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 5	15 Points	Best in this discipline
Wet BrakingLower is better	1^st / 5	72 ft	Best in this discipline
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	3^rd / 5	6.6 Points	-0.30 Points
NoiseLower is better	3^rd / 5	62.7 dB	+0.90 dB

Weight: 11.74 kgs

The Ecsta Sport S finished third with 92.1 points. Best in dry braking and joint-best in lateral grip, with steering feel and rolling resistance the two main areas AutoView would like to see refined. Strong value for the performance on offer.

Dry98.6%

Wet96.8%

Comfort98.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	1^st / 5	110 ft	Best in this discipline
Dry HandlingLower is better	3^rd / 5	86.98 s	+1.03 s
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	3^rd / 5	13.5 Points	-1.50 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 5	74 ft	+2 ft
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	2^nd / 5	6.7 Points	-0.20 Points
NoiseLower is better	2^nd / 5	62.2 dB	+0.40 dB

Weight: 12.5 kgs

The Ventus Evo finished fourth with 88.9 points. AutoView judges it a strong mid-tier UHP rather than a true flagship, and the asking price is high for that bracket.

Dry96.4%

Wet95.6%

Comfort96.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 5	114 ft	+4 ft
Dry HandlingLower is better	4^th / 5	87.62 s	+1.67 s
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	3^rd / 5	13.5 Points	-1.50 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 5	75 ft	+3 ft
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	3^rd / 5	6.6 Points	-0.30 Points
NoiseLower is better	5^th / 5	63.2 dB	+1.40 dB

Weight: 12.3 kgs

The P Zero finished fifth with 79.8 points. AutoView attributes this to a noticeable drop in Pirelli's recent production quality and notes that the new PZ5 generation is expected to arrive in Korea over the next year.

Dry90.2%

Wet83.4%

Comfort97.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	5^th / 5	123 ft	+13 ft
Dry HandlingLower is better	5^th / 5	89.23 s	+3.28 s
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	5^th / 5	9.6 Points	-5.40 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	5^th / 5	86 ft	+14 ft
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	5^th / 5	6.5 Points	-0.40 Points
NoiseLower is better	1^st / 5	61.8 dB	Best in this discipline

Weight: 11.5 kgs

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2025 AutoView Sports Tire Test