Tests 86 · 1 test Owners 79 · 52 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test (dry handling)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 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 1 + 27 road tests and 52 + 6,649 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 4 S leads, 85–81 Narrow edge
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Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 86 · 6,649 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.
-
86
Dry
Pilot Sport 4 S +793Why this score
Source ExtremeContact Sport 02 Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 25 tests 87 95 Reviews found online 85 92 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 99% Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 98% ExtremeContact Sport 02: 60% × 86.8 + 40% × 85.1 = 86
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 94.6 + 40% × 91.5 = 93
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85
Wet
Pilot Sport 4 S +388Why this score
Source ExtremeContact Sport 02 Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 26 tests 84 86 Reviews found online 87 90 Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 92% 84% Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 90% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 96% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 97% ExtremeContact Sport 02: 60% × 84.3 + 40% × 86.9 = 85
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 85.9 + 40% × 90.4 = 88
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67
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source ExtremeContact Sport 02 Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 69 (est.) – Reviews found online 65 – ExtremeContact Sport 02: 60% × 68.9 (est.) + 40% × 65.4 = 67
No road tests of snow for ExtremeContact Sport 02. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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75
Comfort
Pilot Sport 4 S +378Why this score
Source ExtremeContact Sport 02 Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 6 tests ≈ 70 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 78 83 ExtremeContact Sport 02: 40% × 70.4 (est.) + 60% × 77.5 = 75
Pilot Sport 4 S: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 83.4 = 78
No road tests of comfort for ExtremeContact Sport 02. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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70
Noise
ExtremeContact Sport 02 +169Why this score
Source ExtremeContact Sport 02 Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 20 tests ≈ 66 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 75 ≈ 66 (est.) ExtremeContact Sport 02: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 74.6 = 70
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69
No road tests of noise for ExtremeContact Sport 02. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): 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 (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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72
Treadwear
Level72Why this score
Source ExtremeContact Sport 02 Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 69 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 75 74 ExtremeContact Sport 02: 60% × 69.5 (est.) + 40% × 74.7 = 72
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74 = 72
No road tests of treadwear for ExtremeContact Sport 02. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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81
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 4 S +990Why this score
Source ExtremeContact Sport 02 Pilot Sport 4 S Reviews found online 81 90 -
–
Efficiency
No comparison72Why this score
Source ExtremeContact Sport 02 Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 23 tests – 72
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 85 |
| Dry | 86 | 93 |
| Wet | 85 | 88 |
| Snow | 67 | – |
| Comfort | 75 | 78 |
| Noise | 70 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 81 | 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
81
/ 100
ExtremeContact Sport 02
85
/ 100
Pilot Sport 4 S
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 1 tests that ran both, Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 finished ahead 1 times and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | ExtremeContact Sport 02 | Pilot Sport 4 S | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% | 98% | +1.3 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% | 99% | +1.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 100% | 98% | +2.3 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% | 90% | +9.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19 |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 99% | 96% | +3.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% | 97% | +2.9 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 92% | 84% | +8.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Road Rating (tester's mark) | Other | 95% | 90% | +4.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #3/10 | #5/10 | – | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A ExtremeContact Sport 02
Pros
- Phenomenal wet and dry traction with high hydroplaning resistance
- Superior ride comfort and compliance over bumps and road imperfections
- Significantly lower road noise and quieter cabin compared to factory tires and rivals
Cons
- Softer sidewalls result in a slightly mushy or less sharp initial turn-in response
- Tread wear can be rapid, particularly on powerful rear-wheel-drive or staggered vehicle fitments
- Can get greasy or lose performance rapidly when heavily pushed in sustained track environments
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
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
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.
mustang6g.com
·2020-11-15
“I just went 12k on PSS for mixed use weekend and HDPE. 275/35 19x10 front and 305/30 19x11rear stagger. I replaced the PS4s from stock purchased PP1. I immediately noticed the PSS seemed a little louder and the concrete joints were felt and heard. Now after putting on 285/35 and 325/30 MP4S I'm enjoying a better ride. I have a track event this weekend so I'll get to test the 4S in track duty.”
vwvortex.com
·2025-09-26
“My 2023 20th AE Golf R came with Hankook tires , and I've been very pleased with them. I'm a fairly aggressive driver and frequent the twisty roads in the Santa Monica Mountains. I also have a mildly modded Mk VI Golf R shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires on factory 18" rims, and the Hankooks seem to perform almost as well in the dry, but outshine the PS4s in the wet. I will most likely need new tires next year, but I am undecided between the Hankooks and the Michelin PS4AS tires . As for Continental tires ... I use Continental tubular tires on my road bicycle, but have experienced many problems, including massive chunking with them on my 1974 BMW 2002Tii and my 1979 Scirocco Gti , so I am not going to use them on my cars again.”
jaguarforums.com
“I had a similar experience with Discount Tire and brand new Michelin PS4S's. I clipped a large lane marker (not a dot, a turtle) with both driver's side tires and pinch-flatted them both. I had driven them less than 10 miles so Discount Tire replaced them for only $50 without me even asking for a discount. I had purchased them for about $450 each and didn't buy a road hazard warranty, so I was very pleased with Discount Tire.”
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 · Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 78 | 110 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 21″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 340 - 700 A - AA A | 300 A - AA A |
| Treadwear warranty | 30,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 50 | 50 |
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
85
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Narrow edge: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better handling, dry and wet. Where the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 81 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 93 vs 86 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 88 vs 85 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 78 vs 75 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
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ExtremeContact Sport 02 or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Which is better in the wet, ExtremeContact Sport 02 or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 88 vs 85 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, ExtremeContact Sport 02 or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 93 vs 86 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, ExtremeContact Sport 02 or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 69 on the noise score, within 3 points.
Which is more comfortable, ExtremeContact Sport 02 or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 78 vs 75 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, ExtremeContact Sport 02 or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 72 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
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