Tests 80 · 28 tests Owners 63 · 731 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 52 in 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout (dry braking)
“Replacement tires. Bridgestone Potenza Sport. 8k miles. Fronts/Rears. WTF Bridgestone? Or is it me? No burnouts!”
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 — 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 28 + 21 road tests and 731 + 12,714 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 4 is ahead, 81–73
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Tests 85 · 21 tests Owners 76 · 12,714 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 45 in 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout (dry braking)
“Those are Pilot sport 4 (all season). If it had s after the 4 it would be the summer high performance version. I put the pilot sport 4 on wife's GTI autobahn 2016. Great handling tire, stiff side walls, not the smoothest ride but best overall.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
Key facts
- In 4 tests that measured dry braking for both, Potenza Sport won 2 and Pilot Sport 4 won 2 (average 97% vs 97% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured dry handling for both, Potenza Sport won 2 and Pilot Sport 4 won 2 (average 99% vs 98% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, Potenza Sport won 1 and Pilot Sport 4 won 3 (average 97% vs 98% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, Potenza Sport won 2 and Pilot Sport 4 won 2 (average 93% vs 93% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured wet handling for both, Potenza Sport won 4 and Pilot Sport 4 won 0 (average 99% vs 97% of the best).
-
87
Dry
Level87Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Pilot Sport 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 27 / 20 tests 96 89 Reviews found online 74 84 Dry Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–2 97% 97% Dry Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–2 99% 98% Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 87% 87% Potenza Sport: 60% × 96.3 + 40% × 74.3 = 87
Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 89.3 + 40% × 83.9 = 87
-
86
Wet
Pilot Sport 4 +389Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Pilot Sport 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 27 / 20 tests 95 92 Reviews found online 72 84 Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–2 92% 93% Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–3 97% 98% Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 95% 91% Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–2 93% 93% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 97% Wet Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–0 99% 97% Potenza Sport: 60% × 94.7 + 40% × 72.4 = 86
Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 92.5 + 40% × 84.4 = 89
-
58
Comfort
Pilot Sport 4 +1876Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Pilot Sport 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 6 tests 54 82 Reviews found online 61 72 Potenza Sport: 40% × 53.9 + 60% × 60.8 = 58
Pilot Sport 4: 40% × 81.6 + 60% × 71.7 = 76
-
43
Noise
Pilot Sport 4 +2770Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Pilot Sport 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 13 tests 30 73 Reviews found online 63 ≈ 66 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–3 96% 98% Potenza Sport: 60% × 30 + 40% × 63.1 = 43
Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 70
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
-
59
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 4 +1271Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Pilot Sport 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 3 tests 71 78 Reviews found online 40 60 Potenza Sport: 60% × 71.3 + 40% × 39.7 = 59
Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 59.5 = 71
-
73
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 4 +881Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Pilot Sport 4 Reviews found online 73 81 -
10
Efficiency
Pilot Sport 4 +6676Why this score
Source Potenza Sport Pilot Sport 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 14 tests 10 76 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–4 86% 97%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Potenza Sport | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 81 |
| Dry | 87 | 87 |
| Wet | 86 | 89 |
| Comfort | 58 | 76 |
| Noise | 43 | 70 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 71 |
| Handling (owners) | 73 | 81 |
| Efficiency | 10 | 76 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Potenza Sport
81
/ 100
Pilot Sport 4
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
In the overall rankings of 4 tests that ran both, Bridgestone Potenza Sport finished ahead 2 times and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 2 times.
| Discipline | Category | Potenza Sport | Pilot Sport 4 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% | 97% | +0.2 | 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 98% | +0.3 | 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 87% | 87% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 92% | 93% | −1.5 | 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% | 98% | −0.5 | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% | 93% | −0.1 | 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 100% | 97% | +3.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% | 97% | +2.1 | 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 95% | 91% | +4.2 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Wet Lateral Stability | Wet | 100% #1/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 70% #8/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 90% #7/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers | 70% #5/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | – | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 96% #6/7 · 2024 Autobild Sportscars Summer TIre Test R20 | 90% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 96% | 98% | −2.4 | 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 68% #4/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 96% #5/16 · 2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 86% | 97% | −11.2 | 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 60% | 54% | +6.2 | 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #10/10 2025 AZ Summer Tyre Test | #16/20 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Value | Cost | 43% #8/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 59% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/10 | #4/10 | – | 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Potenza Sport
Pros
- Outstanding dry and wet grip
- Precise, telepathic steering response and feedback
- Excellent braking performance
Cons
- Fast tread wear and short lifespan
- High road noise
- Firm, sometimes harsh ride quality over bumps
Tire B Pilot Sport 4
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry traction with outstanding resistance to aquaplaning
- Noticeable improvement in ride comfort and a reduction in cabin noise compared to standard run-flat tires
- Progressive and predictable breakaway limits during spirited driving
Cons
- Faster-than-average treadwear, particularly under aggressive driving or on rear-wheel-drive performance cars
- Softer sidewalls can lead to a slight lack of initial steering precision and a vague feel at the limit for hardcore enthusiasts
- Performance drops off significantly in cold, freezing, or snowy winter conditions
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Mixed
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
The community praises the Bridgestone Potenza Sport for its exceptional dry and wet grip, sharp steering response, and value pricing compared to competitors. However, users frequently highlight drawbacks such as fast tread wear and poor durability when used for track days, along with some complaints regarding lower fuel economy and narrower physical dimensions.
r/fordfusion
·2 upvotes ·2026-09-16
“Just replaced my set of Potenza Sport AS. 2 side wall failures with 70% tread left. Replaced them with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4s. Michelin's are a much better riding tire than the Bridgestones. A little more road noise though.”
r/mazda6
·29 upvotes ·2023-04-08
“Trying Bridgestone Potenza Sports for summers with simple Spirt Edition A19 wheels Last fall I put Blizzaks WS90s on the stock rims, and had a confident time this winter. I love the stock Mazda rims and intended to swap on a set of performance summer tires. However decide to go with aftermarket wheels that match the stock as much as I could afford, so here they are. 19X8 SPORT EDITION A19 DARK GREY 225/45R-19 BRIDGESTONE POTENZA SPORT I love the look of the new rims maybe even more than the stock now that they are on simple as they are. Will have to see how the tires behave. I may decide to go back to a set of Conti DwS HiPer All-Seasons next year. Read more”
r/ft86
·16 upvotes ·2025-09-11
“Bridgestone Potenza Sport Anybody running potenza sports? My rear right tire inside sidewall got shredded suddenly at highway speed (85+ mph). Fortunately I did not lose control and was able to move the car to a nearby school parking lot with a spare. Ordered a set of DWS06+ and they should be delivered tomorrow. The tires are a little more than 4 years old and had about 12k miles on them. Kind of bummed at the situation, but this could’ve been much worse. Are potenza sports generally that bad? Read more”
Top themes
#Steering response and feel#Dry and wet grip#Tread wear and longevity#Track performance limitations#Price and value
Based on 93 community posts
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
The community widely regards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 line as a premium upgrade offering exceptional dry and wet grip, precise handling, and superior ride comfort compared to OEM or run-flat tires. While celebrated for performance, users frequently discuss its high price tag, faster treadwear, and noticeable drop in EV efficiency. Some drivers also note increased road noise and reduced traction when temperatures drop near freezing.
r/JettaGLI
·59 upvotes ·2026-09-27
“Reminder: Tires are the key to this car Just replaced my Michelin Pilot Sport 4 AS tires with a new set ahead of the rainy season. Lasted 36K miles. It was the best mod to the car and a fresh set reminded just how good a brand new set is. The car is glued to the road, riding wonderfully smooth and quiet. Spend the money, get the best tires for you. The tune can wait. And it will need it.”
r/BoltEV
·5 upvotes ·2026-04-29
“Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires are noisy (a followup) I have been asked on this sub if the PS4 tires on my wife’s Bolt are noisy, and I wasn’t sure how to answer. Well, we made two 60-mile round trips this past weekend, mostly on highways with 55 and 70 mph speed limits, and I have to say that the tires are kind of noisy. Certainly not as quiet as EV-oriented tires are. The grip is fantastic, so we really like them. If you are sensitive to noise, though, these Max Performance class tires are probably not for you.”
f30.bimmerpost.com
“Quote: Originally Posted by weston.__ I will be going down the non-rft route, Pilot Sport 4. You're not the only one to say the ride quality with non-rft is a massive improvement and this is the reason why I will change once the time comes. I went from Bridgestone S001 RFT to 'go-flats' and have found the suppleness an obvious difference. Since I put the pressure to the mid point between the low and high load plated pressures I have yet to have any of the heartstopping thumps come through the suspension that the Bridgestone seemed prone to.”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Run-flat replacement upgrade#Treadwear and longevity#Cold weather performance#Road noise and comfort#EV range and efficiency#Comparison to Continental tires
Based on 246 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Potenza Sport | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 128 | 62 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 24″ | 16″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 7 - 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 200 - 320 A - AA A | 300 - 320 A - AA A |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall - Raised Black Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 52 | 52 |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
81
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 — better efficiency, noise and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want lower fuel or energy use
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 76 vs 10 on efficiency.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 70 vs 43 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 76 vs 58 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 71 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet handling
Bridgestone Potenza Sport won 4 of 4 shared wet handling tests.
Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4
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Potenza Sport or Pilot Sport 4?
Which is better in the wet, Potenza Sport or Pilot Sport 4?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 89 vs 86 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Potenza Sport or Pilot Sport 4?
Neither, by our numbers: 87 vs 87 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is quieter, Potenza Sport or Pilot Sport 4?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 70 vs 43 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Potenza Sport or Pilot Sport 4?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 76 vs 58 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Potenza Sport or Pilot Sport 4?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 71 vs 59 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Potenza Sport or Pilot Sport 4?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 76 vs 10 on our efficiency 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