Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S - Test Results

Test Statistics

27

Tests Completed

2nd

Average Position

1st

Best Result

5th

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S - Official Image

Across 27 tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S delivers consistently elite UUHP performance with an average overall position of 2. It repeatedly excels in dry braking/handling and is among the class leaders in wet braking, while pairing strong grip with comfort and low rolling resistance. However, it shows recurring weaknesses in aquaplaning resistance, some wet handling metrics, and exterior noise, and it is frequently among the most expensive tires tested. Overall, it remains a benchmark all-rounder with slightly conservative, understeer-safe balance versus the very sharpest competitors.

Performance Strengths

Dry Performance Strong
• 1st overall with 1st dry braking and 1st dry handling in 2017 Car and Driver
• 1st overall with 1st dry braking and joint 1st dry handling in 2020 EVO
• 2nd dry handling in 2025 Autobild Sports Cars (fastest 104.3 km/h) and 1st dry handling in 2025 Sport Auto
• Top-3 dry braking repeatedly: 2025 Tire Rack 3/10 (+1.6%), 2022 Tire Reviews 2/10 (+1.7%), 2021 Sport Auto 2/8 (+0.6%)
Wet Braking Strong
• 1st wet braking in 2024 EVO
• 1st wet braking in 2021 Sport Auto and 2020 Auto Bild 19"
• 1st wet braking in 2018 Auto Bild 20" and 2018 EVO
• 2nd wet braking in 2022 Tire Reviews (+5.5%) and 2025 Autobild Sports Cars (+8.9%)
Rolling Resistance and Efficiency Moderate
• 1st rolling resistance in 2024 EVO
• 1st rolling resistance in 2021 Auto Bild UUHP
• Top-3 rolling resistance in 2024 Autobild Sports Cars (1/7), 2022 Tire Reviews (2/10), 2020 Auto Bild 19" (3/10)
Overall Consistency and Awards Strong
• Average overall position: 2 across 27 tests
• Multiple overall wins: 2026–2018 era including 2020 Auto Bild 19" (1/10), 2020 Sport Auto (1/10), 2020 EVO (1/7), 2018 Auto Bild 20" (1/8), 2018 EVO (1/6)
• Highly recommended in 2025 Best Performance Tires (2/7)
Comfort/Subjective Road Moderate
• 1st subjective comfort in 2020 EVO
• Top subjective/road scores: 2025 Best Performance Tires comfort 1/7; multiple tests note stable, confidence-inspiring behavior

Performance Weaknesses

Aquaplaning (Straight and Curved) Strong
• Straight aquaplaning bottom-half: 2025 Autobild Sports Cars 6/7 (+3%), 2025 Sports Cars 7/8 (+7.7%)
• Curved aquaplaning weak: 2025 Sport Auto 4/4 (+22.3%), 2024 EVO 7/7 (+5.1%), 2021 Auto Bild 11/15 (+16.1%)
Wet Handling (lap time/subjective) Moderate
• Mid-pack wet handling: 2025 Best Performance Tires 6/7 (+5.5%), 2025 Sports Cars 5/8 (+5.7%)
• Historically middling: 2020 Auto Bild 19" 7/10 (+2.5%), 2019 Tire Reviews 5/8 (+4.3%), 2018 Sport Auto 5/9 (+8%)
Noise Moderate
• Lower rankings: 2025 Sports Cars 7/8 (+2.3%), 2023 Sport Auto 10/11 (+3.4%), 2018 Auto Bild 19" 6/6 (+1.4%), 2018 Auto Bild 20" 8/8 (+1.6%)
Price/Value Strong
• Most expensive on test: 2023 Sport Auto price 11/11 (+115.5%)
• High price in multiple tests: 2021 Auto Bild 19" 15/15 (+111.8%), 2018 Auto Bild 19" 6/6 (+152.4%), 2020 Auto Bild 19" 9/10 (+121.4%)
Dry Lateral Grip (skidpad/circle) variability Minor
• Dry circle weak in 2025 Tire Rack 9/10 (+8.7%) despite strong braking/handling
• Occasional mid-pack dry handling results: 2023 Sport Auto 4/11 (+1.2%), 2019 Sport Auto 6/8 (+1.6%)

Performance Over Time

Test History

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2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tire Test

2025
Winner: Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72

Still a strong, accurate-handling tire with solid dry pace and dependable grip, but no longer the clear class leader. It suffers from elevated noise levels and edginess at the limit, especially in ...

Strong:
Dry Circle