Across driver feedback, the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 (PS3) is widely seen as a strong ultra-high-performance all-rounder with standout wet grip, confident braking, and very good hydroplaning resistance, often making cars feel more stable and secure. Dry grip and handling are generally praised too, with many noting a comfortable, relatively quiet ride for the category. The most consistent downside is rapid treadwear for the price-especially on powerful or hard-driven FWD/AWD cars-along with frequent comments about soft sidewalls that can make steering feel a bit numb or delayed at the limit.
What owners mention most counted across 248 reviews
Having replaced OE Michelin Exaltos (2 sets so far) with PS3 I've been somewhat underwhelmed... 32000 miles and they are shot! I got 44000 out of the Exaltos - no longer available in this size :-( PS3 seem to have more rigid sidewalls so run 'harshly' and with more noise and less Wet Grip. Going for a mid-range (KUMHO) next time due to spiralling motoring costs - I'll just have a slow down a bit, I guess ;-)
I used these on a 'track orientated' Skoda Octavia 4x4 (230bhp). Massive grip in the dry, massive grip in the wet, progressive and quiet. Huge levels of grip right upto the wear markers (and actually past them). Even in the wet I had full confidence in these tires, grip was down slightly compared to dry conditions but tbh, not a great deal worse. Reasonable in the snow, but then I guess these aren't a 'snow tire' so no worries there. Highly recommend these tires and will definatley buy again.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
happen to burst it today with a nail.
lucky it was just abt to finish its life span.. clocked abt 40,000km on it.
it serves me well until tdy i decide to change to F1A2.
good grip for PS3. price is also at the higher side.
will buy it again if my F1A2 wear out fast.
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Fitted to a Clio 182 cup
The original tires wear Michelin pe2
The sidewall of the tires fold under around corners and give little feedback trough the wheel
They are also quite noisy getting a last place in auto express tire test.
They are overall about an inch and a half narrower than the original tires.
They are not max performance road tires because of the jelly like side wall.
They look average almost like a budget they look stretched on the rims.
The tires are ideal if you want a combatable ride at the expense of cornering feedback
Came from a set of Continental PremiumComtact2s after 55,000kms of spirited driving.
Compared to the CPC2s; the PS3s are:
- quieter ->less tire roar on motorways & almost never squeals; if it does, it's just a soft squeek...the Contis were real squealers
- more comfortable -definitely softer as it rolls more in corners. This makes it feel edgy & does not inspire confidence while cornering. Subjectively I think it has more outright grip compared to the CPC2s.
- less feedback as the steering feels vague and this becomes more apparent when cornering fast (both on dry & wet surfaces). This characteristic makes you have less confident when driving fast as you can't tell when it's going to let go but breakaway is progressive...
In the tire reviews published on this site, the Contis often lost points for high rolling resistance.
My fuel consumption has deteriorated by 4.3% since I fitted the PS3s.
Overall the PS3s are not what I expected them to be...somewhat disappointed especially on the lack of feedback.
Really a good tire for me i been using Michelin tires for many years from pp2 to ps3 ..best handling in cornering event i drove in hillside road in my country malaysia HULU YAM TO genting ! was amazing comfort very quiet smooth driving handling also improve !! ON wet drive the car feel different compare to pp2 both are good but ps3 even more good in wet too cox the water goes very smooth event in moderate speed too !.
I have reviewed this a couple of times before in June 2011 and Feb 12 if I am right. After 15000 km or 9500 miles they are still performing very well in all aspects. However I have realised they are very easily worn , especially when driving in town. A friend of mine got more than 50000 km on a C200 Mercedes but he was mostly driving on motorway. In contrast , on my car and my conditions I don't see them giving me more than 30000 km. Sad saying this and I would not buy again given the high cost.
Good tire got them for 90 each was impressed with the grip in the wet and dry they are a prety soft tire so only got 4-5k miles with "spirited" driving up around North wales area but would deff buy them again
I used to have Yokohama Advans (OEM) rear and Fulda Exelero front on my 2007 MX5.
The car was very prone to tramlining and changing of the road camber could be a real fight with the steering wheel. The car has completely changed -for the better- with the Pilot Sport 3. Even if it still behaves like a sports car -which it is- there is no nervousness in the handling anymore.
If you want to drive it slowly, you can enjoy this since it is so much more relaxing to drive like that.
Going fast the transformation appears even more. Stability is really on a whole new level and the car is much more enjoyable.
It is even possible now to drive quite hard in the rain, which was absolutely impossible before.
In rainy conditions full concentration used tot be necessary, it isn't anymore.
I replaced my Contis contact2 with Michelin PS3. The contis were awful. It dores not have good grip, It drifts to the left and too noisy.
PS3 are the best tires I've ever tried even comparing to Dunlops MAXX TT and Pirelli Neros.
PS3 changed my car's handling completely. It grips perfectly during rain and dry and it does not drift any longer. I did not even have to do wheel alignment. The cost is well worth the results !!!
Don't mess with other tires, just but Michellin all the time !
