Tests – · none yet Owners 46 · 79 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 27 road tests and 79 + 6,632 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 4 S is ahead, 85–55
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Tests 82 · 27 tests Owners 86 · 6,632 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)
“A note about the pilot sport 4 S: in cold weather (below 5 degrees) even if it isn't icy, the tyre compound hardens and has dramatically reduced grip. They are excellent summer tyres though, good in the wet too. These days I run Uniroyal rainsport 5 and they're very good.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
54
Dry
Pilot Sport 4 S +3993Why this score
Source Potenza S001 RFT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 25 tests ≈ 59 (est.) 94 Reviews found online 47 92 Potenza S001 RFT: 60% × 59.3 (est.) + 40% × 47.1 = 54
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 94.3 + 40% × 92.1 = 93
No road tests of dry for Potenza S001 RFT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
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58
Wet
Pilot Sport 4 S +3088Why this score
Source Potenza S001 RFT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 26 tests ≈ 61 (est.) 86 Reviews found online 53 91 Potenza S001 RFT: 60% × 61.1 (est.) + 40% × 53.2 = 58
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 86.4 + 40% × 90.6 = 88
No road tests of wet for Potenza S001 RFT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
-
41
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source Potenza S001 RFT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 53 (est.) – Reviews found online 23 – Potenza S001 RFT: 60% × 52.8 (est.) + 40% × 22.8 = 41
No road tests of snow for Potenza S001 RFT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).
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46
Comfort
Pilot Sport 4 S +3379Why this score
Source Potenza S001 RFT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 6 tests ≈ 63 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 35 84 Potenza S001 RFT: 40% × 62.8 (est.) + 60% × 34.5 = 46
Pilot Sport 4 S: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 84.2 = 79
No road tests of comfort for Potenza S001 RFT. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
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61
Noise
Pilot Sport 4 S +869Why this score
Source Potenza S001 RFT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 20 tests ≈ 67 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 53 ≈ 67 (est.) Potenza S001 RFT: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 52.6 = 61
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 69
No road tests of noise for Potenza S001 RFT. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4 S. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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58
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 4 S +1472Why this score
Source Potenza S001 RFT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 61 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 53 74 Potenza S001 RFT: 60% × 61.4 (est.) + 40% × 52.6 = 58
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74 = 72
No road tests of treadwear for Potenza S001 RFT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
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49
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 4 S +4190Why this score
Source Potenza S001 RFT Pilot Sport 4 S Reviews found online 49 90 -
–
Efficiency
No comparison72Why this score
Source Potenza S001 RFT Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 23 tests – 72
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 55 | 85 |
| Dry | 54 | 93 |
| Wet | 58 | 88 |
| Snow | 41 | – |
| Comfort | 46 | 79 |
| Noise | 61 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 58 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 49 | 90 |
| Efficiency | – | 72 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Recomputed
Headline score
55
/ 100
Potenza S001 RFT
85
/ 100
Pilot Sport 4 S
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Potenza S001 RFT
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability
- Precise steering feedback and handling responsiveness
- Strong dry-road grip
Cons
- Poor wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of road noise and cabin vibration
- Harsh, stiff ride quality over road imperfections
Tire B Pilot Sport 4 S
Pros
- Exceptional grip and predictable handling in both dry and wet conditions
- Noticeable reduction in road noise and improved ride comfort compared to competitors and run-flats
- Sharper steering response and improved cornering stability
Cons
- High initial purchase price
- Rapid tread wear reported by some aggressive drivers and track users
- Soft sidewalls can cause a slightly vague or laggy initial response during rapid steering transitions
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
The community widely regards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S as a benchmark max-performance summer tire, praising its outstanding dry and wet grip, stability, and daily driving refinement. Common criticisms focus on its premium price, rapid tread wear on high-powered heavy vehicles or hot track sessions, and significantly reduced grip in cold weather. Many enthusiasts consider it an ideal street tire, though some note softer sidewalls compared to predecessors or recommend dedicated track tires for hard circuit driving.
bobistheoilguy.com
·2024-01-21
“My 2020 Kia Forte GT came with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires. Those were not going to work in the PNW as a daily driver tire. I went right to Costco and bought some Michelin Pilot All season tires, the ones that compete with the Continental DWS at the time. I listed the take offs on Craigslist for $400 and sold them that day.”
r/CarTalkUK
·4 upvotes ·2025-01-26
“A note about the pilot sport 4 S: in cold weather (below 5 degrees) even if it isn't icy, the tyre compound hardens and has dramatically reduced grip. They are excellent summer tyres though, good in the wet too. These days I run Uniroyal rainsport 5 and they're very good.”
r/cars
·4 upvotes ·2018-08-21
“I’ll say this. Going from the Pilot Super Sport to the Pilot Sport 4 S of the same size, I’m disappointed in the soft sidewall of the 4 S. This is an 8.5” wide wheel with 235/40/18 tires. The left-right fast slalom action got a bit mushy like the weight transfer was slowed down when I switched to the 4 S. I think a shorter sidewall 4 S would perform better in this way, or the same tire on a 9” wide wheel too. That said, the dry and wet grip is exceptional. To save money, I’d recommend the Continental ExtremeContact Sport.”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Track day durability#High price vs alternatives#Tread life and wear#Cold weather performance#Sidewall stiffness and comfort
Based on 208 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 14 | 110 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 21″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 9/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 280 A A | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 11 | 11 |
Which one should you actually buy?
55
/ 100
Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
85
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better handling, dry and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 49 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 93 vs 54 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 79 vs 46 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 88 vs 58 on wet.
Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
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Potenza S001 RFT or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Which is better in the wet, Potenza S001 RFT or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 88 vs 58 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Potenza S001 RFT or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 93 vs 54 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, Potenza S001 RFT or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 69 vs 61 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Potenza S001 RFT or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 79 vs 46 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Potenza S001 RFT or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 72 vs 58 on our treadwear score.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology