Pirelli P Zero PZ5

I’ve been running these tires for about 8,000km on a square 245/45R18 setup, coming from both the Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Pirelli P Zero PZ4. Here are my impressions so far:

What I like
Comfort (for a UHP tire) – noticeably more compliant than both the Potenza Sport and PZ4
Low-speed refinement – relatively quiet under 90 km/h with good absorption over small bumps
Grip (so far) – haven’t fully pushed them yet, but initial confidence is strong
Wear rate – seems to be holding up better than my previous Potenza Sport and PZ4
Aesthetics – really attractive sidewall design

Cons
Steering feel – noticeably more vague and muted compared to the Potenza Sport
Big bump absorption – still not as well-controlled as the PZ4 over larger undulations
High-speed noise – tire roar is similar to the Potenza Sport which is pretty loud, especially above 120 km/h
Dry braking – feels slightly longer than the Potenza Sport, though not by a huge margin

Managed to get these at a really good price, which made the decision easier. Initially, I was considering the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or Continental SportContact 7 after not quite liking the feel of the Bridgestone Turanza 6—which, to be fair, is a great tire but just didn’t suit what I was looking for.

I have now completed 9k miles - my fronts are at 3mm treads and rears are at 4mm. I would say everything in my original review stands. I'll be changing out the set when my fronts hit 2mm. I estimated 11k miles out of these, I'd say that's pretty accurate.

The last 2k miles have been completed with a full track suspension setup, with lightweight alloys and a full 2-piece J-hooked racing brake system - under heavy braking the tires give way before the brakes. With the heavily reduced unsprung mass and increased damping performance, I can't provide a direct 1:1 comparison to my initial review. However I feel the steering response is even better, it has excellent precision and feedback - this has come at the expense of increased road noise (with the extra wear), overall I can confidently say this is better that Pilot Sport 4S at the same tread levels.

Fuel economy is worse now than when I first got the tires, I guess this is the tradeoff for excellent grip, I would say definitely more rolling resistance vs PS4S. Ultimately, they are perfect blend between total grip, road feedback/handling and wear characteristics. It is just a shame that the sidewall isn't a bit stiffer, there is an ounce of flex - SC7 seemed to have been firmer, as did PS4S. It could also look a bit better!

The car has seen many speedways on the continent, it is completely planted on the Autobahn, it also dealt with very heavy rain as well as some ice and snow effortlessly - no loss of grip whatsoever, even if accidentally hitting standing water in the dead of the night on an unlit road (though this could be Quattro with Sports Diff). Everything else from my original review stands and I'll be buying these again, unless Michelin brings out the aftermarket Pilot Sport S5 - these are undoubtedly the best UUHP tire available to buy for a passenger car.

I've always placed a lot of importance on the tires of my cars (the importance I believe they deserve). Until now, I've always been a loyal customer of Michelin and Continental, which for me are the best tire brands on the market. However, after wearing out the Continental Ecocontact 6 tires that came on my Mercedes C220d, I wanted to switch to tires more suited to my spirited driving style on country roads and highways.

Regarding the Continental tires I had before, I can't fault them at all, as they did their job well. They were very comfortable (although a little soft for my taste), they achieved good mileage and offered spectacular fuel efficiency, but they fell short when driving spiritedly on winding roads.
I was clear that my next tires had to be more sporty. I had previously tried (on other cars and sizes) the Michelin Primacy 4 (which gave me very good results and I liked their semi-sporty feel), the Michelin PS5 (excellent, although a little soft) and the Continental SP5 (also excellent), in addition to some other All-Season models, which don't quite convince me. As I said, I was looking for options from these two brands. I had already decided that I would have to choose between the PS5 and the SP7, but then I saw the test in this very publication of the best UHP summer tires, which clearly declared the Pirelli PZ5 as the winner.
I, a loyal customer and consumer of Michelin and Continental, had to try this for myself, especially since the new PZ5 has a beautiful sidewall and would look great on my car. I'm telling you all this because I want you to understand that I've always fitted what I consider to be the best tires. Well, once my new PZ5s were fitted, I couldn't wait to try them and corroborate what many were starting to say about the new Pirelli tires. That same weekend I prepared a short trip to a mountain village. The first impressions were... a complete shock. They were unlike anything I had ever tried before. As the young people say these days... it blew my mind.

The first thing that surprised me is how quickly they reach optimal temperature (I know this from the wheel sensors, which also measure temperature). I was pushing harder and harder in the corners, and it seemed like the tires had no limit; they just kept asking for more and more and more... It was an amazing feeling; they truly are ultra-high-performance tires. To make the tire slip or squeal, you have to do some really crazy things and you need a lot, a lot of horsepower. In corners, it feels like you have Velcro under the wheels. At high speeds on the highway, they're also impressive; they go straight as an arrow (provided the car is properly aligned, of course) and you can practically let go of the steering wheel at very high speeds. Regarding comfort, we must remember that I came from the Ecocontact tires, so they seem a bit noisy to me. And in terms of fuel consumption, well, more of the same; that level of grip is noticeable at the gas pump, but it's something you gladly accept when you try tires with this kind of performance and you enjoy spirited driving. In wet conditions, I haven't tried anything like them either. Simply put, I've never experienced the level of confidence and safety that these tires provide.

I currently have about 15,000 km on them and I'm more than delighted. I hardly notice any wear, so it seems they will have good mileage. I'll keep updating on this, to see how they age and if they are still as good in the wet at the end of their lifespan.

I replaced my worn Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires with the Pirelli P Zero PZ5 after watching a video review. Given that the PZ5 is a newer-generation tire, I had slightly higher expectations.

Comfort has notably improved—especially over small surface imperfections—compared to the PS4. However, the overall feel is more subdued. While the PS4 had a distinctly sporty, almost go-kart-like character, the PZ5 leans more toward a touring-oriented experience. That sharp, immediate connection to the road is something I miss with these tires.

Steering response is noticeably softer in the initial degrees off-center, and the tire takes a moment to settle into corners. Cornering grip is excellent, but due to the muted feedback, I actually felt slightly more confident with the PS4—though this could vary depending on whether the car is front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive.

The compound feels very soft, which is apparent both in the ride quality and performance. In high temperatures (sunny weather above 30°C), grip deteriorates somewhat in very tight, low-speed corners, resulting in mild understeer as the soft compound starts to give way.

I can't compare it to other tires of the same generation, but compared to the PS4, the PZ5 is clearly better suited for daily commuting and long-distance driving. For spirited driving, however, I expected a bit more precision and engagement. That said, I wouldn’t say it's worse than the PS4—just different, particularly in my current AWD setup.