Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Sport 4 S is ahead, 81–69
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests – · 1 test Owners 63 · 1,457 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (tested tread life (miles))
“I went with Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 and think they’re great without breaking the bank”
Tests 80 · 27 tests Owners 82 · 6,570 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test (overall ranking)
“The Michelin tyres you're thinking of that might be dicey in rain are the pilot sport cup 2, which are effectively street legal 'track' tyres. The pilot sport 4 s has great rain + dry performance, however if you have a Honda Accord its probably overkill - consider going down a tier towards the pilot sport 5 (non s) (The ps4s has been great for me in the wet but they're realistically more tyre than I need)”
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 91 |
| Reviews found online | 77 | 89 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 85 |
| Reviews found online | 66 | 85 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 28 | – |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 65 | 81 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 69 |
| Reviews found online | 66 | – |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 70 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 62 | 72 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 71 | 86 |
| Category | Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 81 |
| Dry | 73 | 90 |
| Wet | 67 | 85 |
| Snow | 44 | – |
| Comfort | 67 | 75 |
| Noise | 66 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 67 | 71 |
| Handling | 71 | 86 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Firehawk Indy 500
Pilot Sport 4 S
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Firehawk Indy 500 | Pilot Sport 4 S | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tested Tread Life (Miles) | Other | 62% #6/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires | 62% #6/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires | 0.0 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 62% #9/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires | 50% #2/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | +11.9 | Different tests |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Community opinion on the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is largely positive, praising them as an affordable, high-performing summer tire with great dry grip and decent wet weather traction. While some enthusiasts note they feel slightly softer or less responsive compared to high-end tier-one options like Michelins, their value for the price makes them a popular recommendation.
“Firestone firehawk indy 500's 305/35r20 , huge upgrade from the all season perrelis.”
“Firehawk indy 500 V2s I’ve looked on firestones website and it doesn’t show a 205/40R17 is available, but on a handful of third party websites I’ve seen the option to choose said tire size. Can anyone confirm if they do in fact make a 205/40R17, and if so why wouldn’t they advertise that on their website? Read more”
“Need recommendations for an All Season tire that's comparable to Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 in a 205 45 17 Live in Southern California. Car only gets about 3,000-4,000 Miles a year. Tire size is 205 45 17 Currently have Firehawk Indy 500 but I got them used for $150 a couple years ago and they're done now. Cheaper options would be nice for new.”
Based on 28 community posts
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is widely praised by the community as a premier max performance summer tire, offering exceptional dry and wet grip, precise steering feel, and refined road manners for daily driving and spirited street use. While some users note higher pricing and relatively quick wear on heavier vehicles or hot tracks, it remains a benchmark choice that many enthusiasts gladly return to despite alternatives like Continental or Kumho.
“The Pilot Sport 4's are great tires for dual duty use. You'll want to keep hot pressures below 37-38 PSI. Anything above that they get very greasy, very fast. In the cars I've driven with them (a few BMW M cars, a 911 I think if I remember), you'll usually set your best laps in the first 4-5 laps of a session depending on temps. Once they over heat heat, as with any street tire, you have to park them for an hour to get the temps down again (downside to steel radials). I'd also recommend Hankook RS4s if you want a more durable track tire. That's what I run. Very long lasting, but not as great in the wet as the PS4s would be. Road noise would also be an issue for street use.”
“Best alternative to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Time for some new tires and it seems like the pilot sport 4s is backordered everywhere in 235/45-17 or similar sizes. Been using the pilot super sport for a few summers and love them so just wanted to get basically the same thing. What other tire in that size is the next closest thing? Some of the competitors aren't made in that size or a close enough one. As far as the tirerack test results for a max performance summer tire the Continental extreme contact sport is available in that size but the other 2 in the test aren't. I'm not set on buying from them just using it to check availability.”
“I tried conti’s and took them off the car after 2 days and went back to ps4s. Obviously on a closed course they feel very floaty around 130 and I’ve had the Michelin’s up to 165-170 and they stay planted. Depends if you drive those speeds, but like Watkins glen you’ll legally notice the difference. It was shocking at first.”
Based on 104 community posts
| Attribute | A · Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 47 | 110 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 9 - 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 340 A A | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better wet, dry and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 85 vs 67 on wet.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 73 on dry.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 86 vs 71 on handling.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 75 vs 67 on comfort.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.
