Tests 53 · 4 tests Owners 54 · 14 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 14 in 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test (wet handling)
Head-to-head
Updated
Laufenn S fit EQ vs Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 — 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 4 + 1 road tests and 14 + 310 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 is ahead, 74–53
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Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 77 · 310 reviews
“I used them for my PS3’s last year, got the cash back offer too. Saved a fortune over the other big name tyre suppliers.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
51
Dry
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 +2273Why this score
Source S fit EQ Pilot Sport 3 PS3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests 49 67 Reviews found online 54 82 S fit EQ: 60% × 48.8 + 40% × 53.5 = 51
Pilot Sport 3 PS3: 60% × 67.1 + 40% × 82.2 = 73
-
50
Wet
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 +2979Why this score
Source S fit EQ Pilot Sport 3 PS3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests 47 76 Reviews found online 54 84 S fit EQ: 60% × 47 + 40% × 53.6 = 50
Pilot Sport 3 PS3: 60% × 76.2 + 40% × 84.3 = 79
-
58
Comfort
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 +1573Why this score
Source S fit EQ Pilot Sport 3 PS3 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 70 (est.) Reviews found online 53 75 S fit EQ: 40% × 65.6 (est.) + 60% × 53.3 = 58
Pilot Sport 3 PS3: 40% × 70.1 (est.) + 60% × 75.3 = 73
No road tests of comfort for S fit EQ. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Pilot Sport 3 PS3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
-
56
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source S fit EQ Pilot Sport 3 PS3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 49 – Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) – S fit EQ: 60% × 48.8 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 56
No owner ratings of noise for S fit EQ. 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.
-
61
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 +566Why this score
Source S fit EQ Pilot Sport 3 PS3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 64 ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 56 65 S fit EQ: 60% × 64.3 + 40% × 56 = 61
Pilot Sport 3 PS3: 60% × 66.1 (est.) + 40% × 65.4 = 66
No road tests of treadwear for Pilot Sport 3 PS3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
-
46
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 +3581Why this score
Source S fit EQ Pilot Sport 3 PS3 Reviews found online 46 81 -
71
Efficiency
S fit EQ +1754Why this score
Source S fit EQ Pilot Sport 3 PS3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests 71 54
Scores at a glance
| Category | Laufenn S fit EQ | Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 53 | 74 |
| Dry | 51 | 73 |
| Wet | 50 | 79 |
| Comfort | 58 | 73 |
| Noise | 56 | – |
| Treadwear | 61 | 66 |
| Handling (owners) | 46 | 81 |
| Efficiency | 71 | 54 |
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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
53
/ 100
S fit EQ
74
/ 100
Pilot Sport 3 PS3
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.
| Discipline | Category | S fit EQ | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 91% #35/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout | 95% #3/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 89% #8/14 · 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test | 97% #3/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 92% #9/12 · 2018 Gute Fahrt Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 77% #42/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout | 89% #3/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #5/14 · 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test | 97% #3/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 89% #5/12 · 2018 Gute Fahrt Summer Tyre Test | 80% #3/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #12/10 2020 TCS Summer Tire Test R17 | #10/16 2016 ADAC Tyre Test - 225/45 R17 | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A S fit EQ
Pros
- Attractive price point offering high value for money
- Low road noise resulting in a quiet, comfortable ride for daily commuting
- Competent dry grip and handling under normal driving conditions
Cons
- Flimsy sidewalls prone to bubbling and easy puncture from potholes
- Poor wet weather performance with tendencies toward understeer and traction loss
- Lack of steering feedback and poor turn-in response
Tire B Pilot Sport 3 PS3
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry grip
- Outstanding wet-weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
- Enhanced ride comfort and compliance over road imperfections
Cons
- Faster-than-expected tread wear, particularly with spirited driving
- Softer sidewalls can result in a slightly spongy or 'squidgy' feel during aggressive cornering
- Higher initial purchase price compared to some mid-range alternatives
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Laufenn S fit EQ
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
Community sentiment regarding the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 (PS3) is mixed, with users commending its wet grip, aquaplaning resistance, and daily ride comfort. However, enthusiasts often note soft sidewalls and subdued sportiness compared to the PS2, with many recommending newer iterations like the PS4 and PS4S for sharper handling and reduced road noise.
zerotohundred.com
·2016-03-14
“My Pilot Sport 3s are due for replacement. This is my second set of them. So far I'm really satisfied, they're very good in cornering feel, traction and ride comfort except for the soft sidewalls, which makes the car rolls a bit more than usual in corners. The RE003 is relatively new and there are not many reviews yet. But from what I've read they're just as good except for the lower wet traction. Plus, the sidewall is slightly stiffer, which is good. I could not decide whether to stick to PS3 or change to the slightly cheaper RE003. So, any of you are using RE003? How does it perform/feel?”
alfaowner.com
·2015-02-20
“Wow Brian, that must be quite a while ago, because I went for a 3.8 in the GTA , had some issues with that so went back to a 3.2 and now have a GTV . Regarding the tyres, I'd be looking for the 185/70 equivalent to the kind of performance tyre I used to use on the GTA (PS3s). I probably don't want to go for one of the expensive "classic" tyres the historic racers use but I wondered if there is something out there in the modern tyre world that is a step up from the Rain Expert. Having said that, the Rain Experts seem to score quite well in grip (as you might expect) so may be quite a good everyday tyre for the car. I will be using the car mainly for long distance touring rather than a lot of track work.”
r/tires
·1 upvote ·2026-04-09
“Is the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 a good choice for a daily driver? I've been considering changing my tires to Michelin Primacy 4 for my Mazda 2. I've been quoted with Michelin Pilot Sport 3 ones with manufacturing date of mid 2024 for 25% less, that the garage wants to clear from their warehouse. Is this an overkill? Edit: Thank you all for your help. I went with the PS3 and it seems that it was a good choice. Read more”
Top themes
#Wet grip performance#Aquaplaning resistance#Comparison to PS4#Comfortable daily driving#Soft sidewall feel#Road noise issues#Availability and sizing
Based on 37 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Laufenn S fit EQ | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 24 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | — |
| UTQG | 360 A A | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
53
/ 100
Laufenn S fit EQ
74
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Laufenn S fit EQ if efficiency matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 81 vs 46 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 79 vs 50 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 73 vs 51 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Laufenn S fit EQ scores 71 vs 54 on efficiency.
Tire A · Laufenn S fit EQ
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
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S fit EQ or Pilot Sport 3 PS3?
Which is better in the wet, S fit EQ or Pilot Sport 3 PS3?
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3, 79 vs 50 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, S fit EQ or Pilot Sport 3 PS3?
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3, 73 vs 51 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, S fit EQ or Pilot Sport 3 PS3?
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3, 73 vs 58 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, S fit EQ or Pilot Sport 3 PS3?
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3, 66 vs 61 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, S fit EQ or Pilot Sport 3 PS3?
Laufenn S fit EQ, 71 vs 54 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