Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S - Test Results

Test Statistics

30

Tests Completed

2^nd

Average Position

1^st

Best Result

5^th

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S - Official Image

Across 31 comparative tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S shows consistently elite overall performance (2.1 average overall position) built on very strong dry capability, high stability at the limit, and an unusually refined “road tire” character for a UUHP product. It is repeatedly near the top on dry handling and braking and often converts that into class-leading overall results (multiple 1st places across Auto Bild, EVO, Tire Reviews and others), while also collecting multiple “Highly recommended” awards.

Its main performance inconsistency is in wet braking and some wet lateral metrics (wet circle/curved aquaplaning), where results swing from class-leading to lower-mid pack depending on test and size/fitment. Outside pure performance, the clearest recurring drawback is value: it is frequently the most expensive tire on test by a very large margin, and rolling resistance can vary from excellent to below average depending on specification and test method.

Performance Strengths

Dry Grip & Handling Performance Strong Details
• 1st place dry handling in 2025 AutoView Sports Tire Test (275/35R19) and overall 1/5
• 1st place dry handling in 2025 Autobild Sports Cars UUHP Tire Test (104.3 km/h) and overall 2/7
• 1st place dry handling in 2024 Sports Car Tire Test (109.9 km/h) and overall 2/7
• 1st place dry handling in 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tire Test (265/35R20) and overall 3/9
• 2025 Sport Auto UUHP Tire Test: 1st in dry handling (129.3 km/h) and overall 2/4
Dry Braking Consistency Strong Details
• 1st place dry braking in 2021 Tire Reviews UHP Summer Tire Test (33.18 m) and overall 1/14
• 1st place dry braking in 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tire Test (33.5 m) and overall 1/15
• 1st place dry braking in 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tire Test (33.6 m) and overall 1/7
• Top-tier dry braking in 2022 Tire Reviews UUHP test: 2nd/10 (+1.7% from best)
• Strong dry braking in 2025 Tire Rack UUHP test: 3rd/10 (+1.6% from best)
Road Manners / Comfort & Refinement (Subjective) Moderate Details
• 1st place subjective comfort in 2025 AutoView Sports Tire Test
• 2026 (2025 evo) UHP test: 1st place 'Subj. Road Score' (22.7 points) despite only 5th overall; noted as 'best road manners'
• 2017 Car and Driver test mentions 'best steering feel and balance' and Michelin finished 1/5 overall with 1st in dry handling
• 2020 EVO UHP test: 1st in subjective comfort (25 points) and 1st overall
Straight-Line Aquaplaning Resistance Moderate Details
• 1st place straight aquaplaning in 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tire Test (90.2 km/h)
• 1st place straight aquaplaning and 1st place curved aquaplaning in 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tire Test
• 2nd place straight aquaplaning in 2021 Tire Reviews UHP test (+3% from best) and 3rd place in 2022 Tire Reviews UUHP test (+2.2% from best)
Overall Competitiveness / Awards & High Placings Strong Details
• Average overall position 2.1 across 31 tests with multiple overall wins (e.g., 2025 AutoView 1/5, 2021 Auto Bild 1/15, 2020 EVO 1/7, 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch 1/8)
• Received 3x 'Highly recommended' awards (e.g., 2022 Tire Reviews UUHP and 2021 Tire Reviews UHP; plus 2025 'Best Performance Tires For 2025')

Performance Weaknesses

Value / Purchase Price Strong Details
• 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tire Test: price 720 (15/15, +111.8% from best)
• 2021 Tire Reviews UHP Summer Tire Test: price 95.5 (13/13, +106.6% from best)
• 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tire Test: price 930 (9/10, +121.4% from best)
• 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tire Test: price 181 (11/11, +115.5% from best)
• 2018 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tire Test: price 1060 (6/6, +152.4% from best)
Wet Braking Variability (can be mid-to-bottom tier in some tests) Moderate Details
• 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tire Test: wet braking 7/8 (+11.6% from best)
• 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tire Test: wet braking 8/10 (+10.9% from best)
• 2025 AutoView Sports Tire Test: wet braking 4/5 (+12.5% from best)
• 2021 Tire Reviews UHP Summer Tire Test: wet braking 7/14 (+15.8% from best)
• Counterpoint highlighting inconsistency: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tire Test wet braking 1/15 and 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch wet braking 1/8
Wet Lateral / Curved Aquaplaning Weakness in Several Results Moderate Details
• 2025 Sport Auto UUHP Tire Test: curved aquaplaning 4/4 (+22.3% from best)
• 2024 EVO Summer Tire Test: curved aquaplaning 7/7 (+5.1% from best)
• 2025 Sports Cars Tire Test: curved aquaplaning 6/8 (+15.7% from best) and straight aquaplaning 7/8 (+7.7% from best)
• 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tire Test: curved aquaplaning 11/15 (+16.1% from best)
Rolling Resistance / Efficiency Can Swing from Best-in-test to Poor Minor Details
• Very strong: 2024 EVO Summer Tire Test rolling resistance 1/7; 2024 Sports Car Tire Test rolling resistance 1/7; 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tire Test rolling resistance 2/8 (+2.5% from best)
• Weak in some tests: 2021 Tire Reviews UHP rolling resistance 13/14 (+37.2% from best); 2023 Sport Auto UHP rolling resistance 9/11 (+35.2% from best)
Noise / NVH Not Consistently Class-Leading Minor Details
• 2021 Tire Reviews UHP Summer Tire Test: noise 12/14 (+3.9% from best)
• 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tire Test: noise 10/11 (+3.4% from best)
• 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tire Test: noise 8/8 (+1.6% from best)
• 2025 Sports Cars Tire Test: noise 7/8 (+2.3% from best)

Performance Over Time

Test History

of 8

2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tire Test

2026
Winner: Continental SportContact 7

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is strong on dry roads, posting the second-fastest dry handling lap with good turn-in and controllability at the limit. It also leads the aquaplaning test on the front a...

Strong:
Dry Handling, Rolling Resistance, Straight Aqua

Weak:
Dry Braking, Wet Braking, Wet Circle

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