The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is a max performance summer tire with strong dry grip, sharp steering and capable wet handling. Tread life can be short, while aquaplaning resistance and wet braking are less consistent.
The quick answer
Owners say74%from 96 owner reviews55% would buy againRead the reviews
Strengths & weaknessesDry, WetValueRelative to its rivals across every test we hold
Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated October 2026.
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.
Strong: Noise ·Weak: Dry Braking, Dry Handling, Subj. Dry Handling, Wet Braking, Subj. Comfort ·Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Every independent test of the Pirelli P Zero PZ4, newest first
In 225/40 R18, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is projected to cost €36.67 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €917 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tire Test.
Tire purchase + fittingExtra fuel vs the most efficient tirecost per 1,000 miles
Assumes a typical car doing 29 mpg (rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €6.25 per gallon and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2025 test; financing costs are excluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 in the wet?
Across the 30 wet-braking tests it has featured in, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 stops 2% longer than premium rivals, 2.1% shorter than mid-range rivals and 15.8% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 91/100, and owners rate it 7.5/10 in the wet from 96 reviews.
How good is the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 in the dry?
Across the 30 dry-braking tests it has featured in, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 stops 0.2% longer than premium rivals, 2.6% shorter than mid-range rivals and 8.4% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 93/100, and owners rate it 8.7/10 in the dry from 96 reviews.
How fuel efficient is the Pirelli P Zero PZ4?
Across the 20 tests measuring rolling resistance, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4's rolling resistance is 8.5% higher than premium rivals, 7.2% higher than mid-range rivals and 12.7% higher than budget rivals.
How many miles does the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 last?
Based on test and owner data, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is expected to last around 17,983 miles (28,941 km).
What do owners say about the Pirelli P Zero PZ4?
Across 96 owner ratings the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 averages 74%. Owners rate Dry Grip highest at 8.7 out of 10 and Wear lowest at 5.9. 40 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 66% of owners score it 70% or better.
More questions about the Pirelli P Zero PZ4(9)
How much does the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 cost to run?
In 225/40 R18, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is projected to cost €36.67 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €917 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tire Test. The cheapest to run in that test is the Continental PremiumContact 7, at €20.06.
How comfortable and quiet are the Pirelli P Zero PZ4?
Owners rate the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 6.8 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 85 reviews.
How well do the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 5.9 out of 10 for wear across 85 reviews. 40 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 8,500 miles.
Would owners buy the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 again?
55% of owners say they would buy the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 again, based on the 93 owner reviews that answered the question. 22% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
What do owners say about the Pirelli P Zero PZ4's dry grip?
Of the 84 owner reviews analyzed for the Pirelli P Zero PZ4, 51 mention dry grip: 46 praise it (strong dry grip) and 5 criticise it (limited dry grip). One owner wrote: "They excel in dry, above 12c+ conditions with incredible grip". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Pirelli P Zero PZ4's wet grip?
Of the 84 owner reviews analyzed for the Pirelli P Zero PZ4, 37 mention wet grip: 25 praise it (confident wet grip) and 12 criticise it (weak wet grip). One owner wrote: "Grip is absolutely incredible on these tires with both dry and wet conditions". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Pirelli P Zero PZ4's tread life?
Of the 84 owner reviews analyzed for the Pirelli P Zero PZ4, 36 mention tread life: 9 praise it (long-lasting) and 27 criticise it (wears quickly). One owner wrote: "The worst part is for sure the durability as these tires are 3 years old and roughly 15k kilometers old and are at 2mm at the front and 3mm at the back". Read those reviews
What does the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 replace?
The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is the successor to the Pirelli P Zero in Pirelli's range.
Hi, <br> I'm looking at tires for my Clio 4 RS. <br> 1) PZ4 runflat 205/40R18.<br> 2) Michelin PS4S 225/40/R18. Show moreHi,
<br>
I'm looking at tires for my Clio 4 RS. <br>
1) PZ4 runflat 205/40R18.<br>
2) Michelin PS4S 225/40/R18. [AU$400 more on a set of 4 vs PZ4]<br>
<br>
i've run both sizes in the past - Michelin PSS - No issues. At SMSP, what i gain in grip/traction in the 225 i loose in top speed compared to 205 (rotational inertia, resistance) - i.e. minimal impact on lap time or fun.<br>
My use case is 2 or so track days per year. Otherwise it is a second car for occasional city runabout doing under 4000km a year.<br>
Question: Is the PS4S worth that much more money? Will run-flat hurt the PZ4 performance that much?<br>
Side point - i have a second set of wheels on which i will eventually throw 205/40R17 for more track focus (AR1, A052 or similar). That said I like swapping out wheels half way through a track day (and have done that in the past) so I want the 18's to be strong on track without major sacrifice to wet braking. Show less
June 18, 2025
A runflat product is not ideal on the road for a car without the suspension developed for a runflat tire. If you're willing to switch to 225/40 R18 something like the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5/6 will cost less than the Michelin and be just as good on road / light track.
Show all questions(5)
Hi, I need to change my summer tires on my 2019 C class and on my shortlist are these PZ4 and the Goodyear f1 asymmetric 6, the only thing is that the PZ4 are OEM… Show moreHi, I need to change my summer tires on my 2019 C class and on my shortlist are these PZ4 and the Goodyear f1 asymmetric 6, the only thing is that the PZ4 are OEM - MO while goodyears are not
what would you think is the better option ? would the pz4 oem be better than the retail goodyears 6 ? Show less
October 15, 2023
It really depends what Mercedes tuned for, usually the OE versions have lower rolling resistance at the expense of wet grip which makes the aftermarket versions a more rounded product, however the OE version will likely be slightly better tuned for the C classes weight and power balance.
Hi, <br><Br> Love the site. I’ve a new UK M5 and I read online that I’ve “lost the tire lottery” by finding I have Pirelli P Zero PZ4’s fitted as opposed to the… Show moreHi,
<br><Br>
Love the site. I’ve a new UK M5 and I read online that I’ve “lost the tire lottery” by finding I have Pirelli P Zero PZ4’s fitted as opposed to the Michelin PS4.
<br><Br>
Both are going to be OE versions - I can’t find a proper review of the two.
<br><Br>
If you have time I’d really appreciate your thoughts - should I stick with the Pirelli’s or is the difference that much that I should stomach the cost of swapping out for Michelins? Do you have thoughts on the key differences?
<br><Br>
The car won’t be tracked, wear isn’t that important but I do enjoy the performance of the car and want to be secure on the knowledge that I won’t find out the hard way that I have the wrong tire.
<br><Br>
Thank you,
<br><Br>
Greg Show less
January 6, 2023
There are tests with the PZ4 and PS4S in on the site, such as here. In aftermarket there is generally a small difference where the PS4S has the advantage, but it's nothing worth getting upset about. As far as I'm aware, no one has actually back to back tested the OE versions of the PZ4 and PS4S however if BMW signed them both off the OE program, they should have similar levels of performance.
Michelin certainly make some of the best tires in the world, but the internet seems to put them on a pedestal. If I was in your position, I would run the PZ4 until they're worn out, change to the PS4S and see how you feel about them. Just remember there will be difference in performances between a worn tire and new.
Hello! I’m looking to replace the tires on my 2006 E85 Z4M. It’s currently outfitted with Continental SportContact5 in the front and Continental SportContact in the… Show moreHello!
I’m looking to replace the tires on my 2006 E85 Z4M. It’s currently outfitted with Continental SportContact5 in the front and Continental SportContact in the rear. These last ones are pretty old, which is why I want to fit the car with a new set. Question is: which ones?
I’m running the OEM 225/45/18 and 255/40/18 on the car. It’s only used as a fun/weekend car and is not driven during winter or in the rain if we can avoid it. in this size, I have the feeling there is not as much choice as for bigger wheels.
My shortlist consists of Bridgestone Potenza Sport, Pirelli PZ4 Sports Car and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport. The car is not used on track, only for roadtrips, fun drives on public roads and cruising. Max mileage per year is 5000 kilometers.
From this point of view, what would you recommend for us?
Thanks a lot! Show less
December 27, 2022
All good options! I'm a big fan of the F1 SuperSport but it's perhaps not the most rounded tire as it gives up a bit in the wet. The Bridgestone is a great fun tire but the wear seems to be really high. The PZ4 is very well rounded! As the Z4M is a great chassis I'd probably fit the Goodyear!
I find there is a lot of information on Continental, Goodyear and Michelin, but not as much on Pirelli. Show moreI find there is a lot of information on Continental, Goodyear and Michelin, but not as much on Pirelli. My understanding is that the P Zero PZ4 goes up against the Continental Premium Contact 6, Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 5, and Michelin PS4. Recent tests fare the PZ4 well, although the general opinion on the internet is that Pirellis are to be avoided. However sometimes tests include higher performance variants such as the ExtremeContact, Sport Contact 6, F1 Poleposition or PS4S. At the same time the Premium Contact 6 in smaller sizes goes against Premium Touring tires. I guess I am just confused by the classification. What is Pirelli take on these higher performance tires (PS4S, PSS, Sport Contact 6, ExtremeContact, F1 Poleposition) ? P Zero Corsa? A video inclusive of these tires would be interesting to compare the PZ4. Thanks Show less
October 9, 2019
The PZ4 is intended to compete with the likes of the PS4S and CSC6. It works very well in OE fitment especially in the larger sizes, but the aftermarket versions were quite soft on the sidewall initially. This might have been updated recently as it's started to test a lot better more recently.
Owners tend to rate the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 as a strong dry-road performance tire, with clear majorities praising dry grip and crisp steering response. Comfort and road noise are also more often seen as positives than negatives, making it a surprisingly civilised option for a UUHP fitment. The main sticking point is durability: around two in five owners mention tread life and most of them report fast wear, while a smaller but notable group (around one in eight) highlight aquaplaning concerns, especially as the tread gets lower or in standing water.
What owners mention most counted across 84 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 96 ratings
Owner score74%
Dry Grip87%
Road Feedback82%
Handling81%
Wet Grip75%
Comfort68%
Wear59%
Featured reviews
Most helpful 71%
“In July 2023 I received my new Audi RS 3, fitted with Pirelli PZ 4 tires in size 265/30 ZR 19 at the front and 245/35 ZR 19 at the rear. When I changed my tires from summer to winter in November 2024 and cleaned them, I...”
“Tire Reviews Note: This review was originally left for the P Zero E, but that is an extended mobility tire so wouldn't need towing from a flat. The OE tire with the C40 was the P Zero PZ4 Elect so I've changed the tire...”
“This review builds on an initial review I did a year ago. When new, dry performance is flawless, high level of grip and very good feedback and handling. In this regard, I would put them over the PS4 and a little bit...”
Good grip all arround, especially in the dry where they really shine. Used them as front tires on high power rwd car. They maintain good grip under heavy braking, and are very progressive at the limit. The only downside i found is that the got oval shaped and the car started vibrating at high speeds, wich cannot be resolved by balancing since they were not perfectly round.aybe the car being rarely used, it sits in the garage over winter, and only moved around a bit every few weeks, but maybe that was not enough, even though the rear ones, a different brand did not suffer the same problems.
84%
Member
Initial Impressions
245/40 R19
22,000 miles
Excellent dry grip, wet too,when are warm enough.Little Noisy.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
my volvo xc90 originally fitted with these tires, very well balanced tire, it has sponge inside))
its harsh on bridge connections and on B roads, you can feel every crack, but on good roads and fast turns its grips on dry and in wet very well
Only issue is they are so small on profile i already had to change one due to pothole, it cutted it thru completely on the side
Overall if your roads are good, buy without thinking, on good roads its just fantastic tire, if you bad roads or mostly bad roads i wouldn't recommend, at least on 35 profile
Which tires do you drive?
Researching the Pirelli P Zero PZ4? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
Tire Reviews Note: This review was originally left for the P Zero E, but that is an extended mobility tire so wouldn't need towing from a flat. The OE tire with the C40 was the P Zero PZ4 Elect so I've changed the tire to that
These tires came on my Volvo C40 P6 Recharge: 235/50 R19 front and 255/45 R19 rear as standard.
They are noisy as hell with deafening low frequency rumble that makes driving tiring. They lack grip in both dry and wet conditions (and I mean damp and torrential rain conditions). They jump when I drive over metallic joints on flyovers and bridges or manhole covers in a straight line.
And I had a blow out and had to be towed to the garage to wait for new set to be delivered, and judging from posts in C40 user forums, it's not an isolated incident.
After the Pilot Sport 5, which I really liked as a perfectly all-around tire with a sporty touch (please, Michelin, add just a touch more sportiness to this wonderful product), low rolling resistance for a UHP tire, and good tread wear resistance.
I wanted to try Pirelli (I’d never had them on either a car or a motorcycle before); the only option available for my rims was the PZ4 with BMW-spec
First impressions: the ride is very firm, a step above the PS5. The road feedback is more sport-oriented, but I know that the PZ4s are UUHP and not UHP. Fuel consumption has increased by as much as 10%... both the PZ4s and the PS5s were in fuel economy class C, but I think the PZ4s lean more toward class D...
Handling: not exactly great. The tires are sporty, but they feel stiff and sluggish in corners. It takes a lot of effort to turn the wheels. In this regard, I much preferred the PS5s. Same story at high speeds, where the PS5s felt more stable and predictable.
Grip: When new, both dry and wet grip were amazing! Grip galore everywhere and on every surface, whether hot or cold. It didn’t matter... grip was always guaranteed. BUT after 10,000 km (about 7,000 miles), I noticed the first drop in pure grip. The tires felt a bit spongy, with grip that was suddenly less firm at the same speed compared with band new status. With Michelin you didn't feel any grip drop, with Pirelli yes. Like modern F1 tires
Wear: after 10k kms front tires are at mid life, the rear one have a bit more tread. I think I could menage other 10/15k kms before replacing them.
Conclusions: PZ4 are a good product, they have plenty of grip, good road feedback with sporty feeling, but they also tend to offer mid pack performance once worn. The lost in grip after mileage is something people must keep in mind during tire choice
Specific version of tire: Pirelli P Zero PZ4 HN (Hyundai spec)
Conditions: All + 1 track day
Replaced at: 22,000 km, rotated once at 11,000 km
When tires are warm — grip, feedback and progressiveness is excellent
Low grade was given for "buy again" due to the tire not working well at lower temperatures (spring) and needing time to heat up - for a daily tire.
My experience so far was great. The only thing they are missing is a bit more grip in the wet and more communicative sterring feel like you get on something like continental
This is the Hyundai IONIQ 5N spec of the tire, so XL and noise cancelling foam, plus whatever changes Pirelli do for the OEM.
I found them to be really good with a balanced spread of performance in all categories. Used them in a few tarmac Rallysprint events and had no complaints.
It’s a performance car so comfort and noise are as good as you could ask for. No complaints from me.
I have not tried anything else on this car so can’t comment if they are relatively good or bad compared to something else. I would get them again, if availability wasn’t an issue. Given that I couldn’t get them, I just got a set of PS4S, will report once they have a few miles under them.
Update: what I said initially holds true, but I must say the Michelin PS4S is a better tire. On road and one Tarmac Rally later, it has better grip, in all scenarios. Been raining recently so also sampled it there too. Only downside to PS4S is a touch noisy in comparison but it has no foam, even though the supplier claimed Acustic means foam. I’m comparing the M01 XL spec here. If you can, get the Michelins.
Tire Reviews Replies
I have tested this and it is a very good OE tire. I look forward to your thoughts on the PS4S.
I own a Hyundai i30 N Performance, which I use very frequently both in the city and at Track Days, and these tires really need to be properly understood.
The Pirelli P Zero HN is not a tire that gives you 100% grip from the moment you start the car, regardless of weather or ambient temperature. This is a tire that needs TEMPERATURE. It has to be warmed up to become truly grippy, and on public roads it is very difficult (almost impossible) to consistently bring it into its optimal operating window.
In my opinion, this is an excellent tire for learning proper driving technique. It does not forgive mistakes—when you make a technical error, you will feel it immediately. For this reason, I consider it very good for track training, where feedback and precision matter most.
On the street, it can be a good tire only if you manage to heat it up; otherwise, grip is limited.
The sidewall is very stiff, allowing you to take corners at high speeds without feeling the tire flex or the sidewall deform under load.
In wet conditions, however, performance is poor. In heavy rain or on roads covered with slime or grime, I strongly recommend significantly reducing speed, as grip drops dramatically.
Durability:
Despite frequent spirited driving, the tire lasted around 30,000 km, while also completing approximately 150 hot laps on track. Considering the level of abuse and heat cycles, wear was reasonable for a performance-oriented tire.
An important point: I chose to buy this tire again because I understand how it works and know how to take advantage of its strengths. Once you learn its limits and how to use it properly, it delivers exactly what it promises.
Conclusion:
✔️ Excellent on track
✔️ Great for improving driving skills
✔️ Very stiff sidewall, strong cornering stability
✔️ Predictable when in the correct temperature window
❌ Requires heat
❌ Poor wet performance
EQB 350 came with Pirelli P Zero PZ4 MO from factory, and have generally been an ok tire. They excel in dry, above 12c+ conditions with incredible grip, in the wet I'd rate them as very good. However, they disappoint when temperatures fall below 10c, and even with 4MATIC it's fairly easy to break traction on damp roads. On this basis, they do not feel like a suitable tire for the UK.
Will be replacing these tires with Continental AllSeasonContact 2 in order to improve all-weather grip at the cost of outright summer performance and handling.
Stock tires on my Focus ST. Good comfort for a sport tire and noise levels were also good. The grip was exceptional until they dropped below 3mm tread. Then, the grip levels progressively dropped but still the tire was informative, so there was no sudden grip loss. The feedback from is also really nice as they felt direct to the steering input. The worst part is for sure the durability as these tires are 3 years old and roughly 15k kilometers old and are at 2mm at the front and 3mm at the back and there are a few major cracks on the sidewalls. My driving style is pretty average and the tires haven't been used on track.
Tire Reviews Replies