Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Review

Are you considering the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S for your next tire purchase? Delve into an in-depth review of this top-tier max performance summer tire, where we compare its exceptional performance stats against leading competitors.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S excels in both wet and dry conditions, with impressive wet grip (9.0) and hydroplaning resistance (8.9), alongside outstanding dry weather performance in cornering (9.5), grip (9.6), and responsiveness (9.5). It also maintains high ride comfort (8.9) with relatively low road noise (8.7), making it a top performer in the max performance summer tire category.

In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, comparing its performance in various conditions with other top competitors in the max performance summer tire category. We’ll also touch on differences between Summer and All-Season tires.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S

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Key Performance Metrics

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Description & Review

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is a high-performance summer tire that combines innovative technologies and exceptional design to enhance the driving experience of high-performance vehicles. It stands out in the max performance summer tire category with several key features and capabilities:

• Performance and Technology: Developed in partnership with sports car manufacturers, the Pilot Sport 4S boasts excellent road handling and control, even at high speeds. It provides exceptional dry grip and wet braking performance, a testament to its endurance racing origins. The tire is also equipped with Dynamic Response Technology for ultra-precise steering and outstanding cornering power​​.
• Treadlife and Grip: With a 9% better treadlife compared to the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, the Pilot Sport 4S overcomes the usual trade-off between wear and grip. Its ultra-reactive tread patterns increase grip on the road, ensuring precise control and stability during cornering, even at high speeds. This is achieved without sacrificing the tire’s longevity, providing more miles of exhilarating drives​​.
• Design and Construction: The tire features a premium touch finish with a dark velvet effect on the external sidewall and a deep rim protector to guard against light wheel damage. Its multi-compound construction offers outstanding dry and wet grip during acceleration, braking, and cornering, thanks to a hybrid compound that enhances dry road grip and functional elastomers and silica for excellent wet grip and braking performance​​.
• Industry Recognition: The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is highly regarded by premium car manufacturers. It has been homologated by Mercedes-Benz AMG and Ferrari, signifying its use in equipping world-leading high-performance vehicles​​.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tire is designed for drivers seeking the pinnacle of performance in dry and wet conditions, offering a blend of technology, durability, and high-end design suitable for both road and occasional track use.

TREAD WEAR AND LONGEVITY

• Superior Longevity: With a higher tread life compared to competitors, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S combines durable construction with performance. This tire, with its 9% better tread life than its predecessor, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, offers a balance of longevity and high-speed stability​​.

WET WEATHER PERFORMANCE

• Exceptional Wet Handling: Scoring 8.9 in hydroplaning and 9.0 in wet grip, the Pilot Sport 4S boasts superior wet performance. Its advanced tread compounds and design ensure excellent wet braking and hydroplaning resistance, making it a top choice for safety and control in rainy conditions​​.

DRY WEATHER PERFORMANCE

• Outstanding Dry Performance: With scores of 9.5 in cornering, 9.6 in dry grip, and 9.5 in responsiveness, the Pilot Sport 4S excels in dry conditions. Its multi-compound construction and dynamic response technology provide unmatched levels of dry grip and precise handling​​.

WINTER WEATHER PERFORMANCE

• Limited Winter Capability: As a summer tire, the Pilot Sport 4S is not designed for winter conditions. Its performance in snow and ice is limited, and specialized winter tires would be recommended for such scenarios.

RIDE COMFORT AND NOISE LEVEL

• Comfort and Quietness: Rated 8.9 for comfort level and 8.7 for road noise, the Pilot Sport 4S offers a well-balanced ride. It achieves a quiet and comfortable driving experience, despite being a high-performance tire, due to its optimized tread design and noise reduction technology​​.

PROS

• Superior Wet and Dry Performance: With wet grip scored at 9.0 and hydroplaning at 8.9, alongside exceptional dry weather performance in cornering (9.5), grip (9.6), and responsiveness (9.5), the Pilot Sport 4S excels in both wet and dry conditions.
• Enhanced Tread Life: Boasts a 9% better tread life compared to its predecessor, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, offering a commendable balance between durability and high-speed performance.
• Advanced Technology and Design: Features Dynamic Response Technology for precise handling and a multi-compound construction for optimal grip and braking performance in various conditions.
• High Ride Comfort: Rated 8.9 for comfort, the tire manages to offer a comfortable driving experience, despite being a high-performance tire, due to its optimized tread design and noise reduction technology.
• Strong Industry Recognition: Endorsed by premium car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz AMG and Ferrari, reflecting its high-quality performance and reliability.

CONS

• Not Suitable for Winter Driving: As a summer tire, it is not suitable for winter conditions, especially on ice and snow, requiring a switch to winter tires in colder climates.
• Performance Versus Daily Usability: While it offers maximum performance, some aspects of everyday drivability, such as comfort and noise levels, might be compromised compared to all-season tires.
• Higher Price Point: Reflects its high-performance capabilities in its pricing, potentially costing more than standard all-season tires.
• Slightly Higher Road Noise: Although it scores well for comfort and noise, it might still exhibit slightly higher road noise compared to touring tires, a common aspect of performance tires.
• Specific Target Audience: Designed primarily for high-performance vehicles, which may not align with the needs of drivers who require more versatile, all-around performance.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Problems

For the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, when compared to other top competitors in the max performance summer tire category, certain challenges are worth highlighting:

LIMITED WINTER WEATHER CAPABILITY

• The Pilot Sport 4S, with its focus on summer performance, offers limited traction in winter conditions, particularly on ice and snow. This could be a concern for drivers in regions with severe winter weather.

PERFORMANCE VERSUS DAILY USABILITY

• The Pilot Sport 4S is designed for maximum performance, which may compromise some aspects of everyday usability compared to more balanced all-season tires.

BALANCING COST AND PERFORMANCE

• The pricing of the Pilot Sport 4S reflects its high-performance capabilities. It may be costlier than standard all-season tires, and potential buyers should consider its performance benefits relative to their specific driving needs and budget constraints.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S represents the pinnacle of street-usable performance tires. It expertly balances high-end performance with daily drivability, showcasing exceptional grip, precision, and responsiveness in both wet and dry conditions.

Designed in collaboration with leading sports car manufacturers, this tire delivers race-inspired technology and handling, suitable for enthusiastic road driving and occasional track use.

With its advanced tread design and materials, the Pilot Sport 4S offers an exhilarating driving experience without compromising the practical aspects of everyday use, making it arguably one of the best performance tires for street use on the market.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Alternatives

Considering the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S in the context of the max performance summer tire category, here are three top competitors that stand out with their unique advantages:

Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02

• Overall Rating: 9.1 out of 10.
• Performance Highlights: Excellent in wet (8.9) and dry (9.4) conditions, offering great hydroplaning resistance and superior dry grip. It scores well in ride comfort (8.9) and has a strong road noise rating (8.8), making it a suitable option for those who value a blend of performance and comfort.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport

• Overall Rating: 8.9 out of 10.
• Performance Highlights: Strong in both wet (8.8) and dry (9.3) conditions, with good hydroplaning resistance and dry traction. The Potenza Sport is also notable for its ride comfort (8.6) and lower road noise (8.3), catering to drivers looking for a balanced high-performance tire.

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3

• Overall Rating: 8.6 out of 10.
• Performance Highlights: Capable in wet (7.9) and dry (8.7) conditions, offering decent hydroplaning resistance and dry grip. It also maintains a reasonable level of comfort (8.7) and road noise (8.5), appealing to those seeking a performance tire with everyday usability.

Each of these tires offers distinct features, catering to various needs in the max performance summer tire segment. Their individual strengths in handling, combined with their comfort and noise levels, make them competitive alternatives to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.

Differences Between Summer and All-Season Tires

You might opt for all-season tires instead of summer tires for their versatility and convenience.

All-season tires are designed to perform well in a variety of conditions, including mild winter weather, rain, and dry conditions, making them a practical choice for year-round use in regions without extreme winter weather.

They eliminate the need for changing tires with the seasons, offering a balanced blend of performance, durability, and safety across a wider temperature range.

• Summer Tires: Designed for optimal performance in warm weather, summer tires have specialized tread patterns and rubber compounds that enhance grip on both dry and wet roads during warm months. They are not suitable for winter conditions as they lose flexibility in cold temperatures.
• All-Season Tires: These tires are designed to provide balanced performance in various weather conditions, including mild winter weather. They have a more versatile tread pattern and rubber compound that maintain performance in a wider range of temperatures, but they don’t match the peak performance of summer tires in warm weather or winter tires in cold, snowy conditions.

Types of Summer Tires

• Extreme Performance Summer: Built for maximum grip and handling performance. Ideal for enthusiasts who prioritize responsiveness and traction, especially for track use.
• Max Performance Summer: These tires offer a high level of grip and handling in warm weather while providing better comfort and tread life than extreme performance tires.
• Ultra High Performance Summer: Designed for sporty vehicles, offering a good balance of handling and wet road performance with a focus on speed and agility.

Types of All-Season Tires

• Ultra High Performance All-Season: Aimed at drivers of sports cars and performance sedans, these tires provide a good balance between the handling of a summer tire and the added versatility of a winter tire.
• High Performance All-Season: Offering better handling and higher speed ratings than standard all-season tires, these are suitable for drivers who want enhanced performance but also need year-round usability.
• Grand Touring All-Season Tires: Offer a great balance of comfort, quiet ride, and performance handling, along with all-season versatility. Ideal for drivers of mid-range to high-end sedans who prioritize comfort and tread life along with performance.
• Standard Touring All-Season Tires: Focused on ride comfort, low noise, and longer tread life, these tires are ideal for everyday driving needs of family sedans and minivans, providing reliable all-season traction.

Resources

Below are some links you may find helpful when learning about tires:

• Tire reviews and ratings – Tire Rack
• Summer tires vs all-season tires: Which are best for you? – Les Schwab

Final Thoughts

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S emerges as a standout option in the max performance summer tire category, demonstrating superior capabilities in both wet and dry conditions.

With its balanced approach to performance, comfort, and noise levels, it represents an excellent choice for drivers seeking top-tier performance without sacrificing daily driving comfort.

Good luck and happy motoring.