Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 27 + 28 road tests and 6,667 + 735 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 4 S is ahead, 83–73
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Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 86 · 6,667 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.”
Tests 80 · 28 tests Owners 63 · 735 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!”
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Potenza Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 27 tests | 95 | 96 |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 74 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) · 9 shared tests · wins 3–6 | 98% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) · 8 shared tests · wins 3–2 | 100% | 99% |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–1 | 93% | 96% |
| Dry (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 94% | 84% |
| Subj. Elk Test (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 | 90% | 90% |
| Dry Subj. Steering Response (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 | 90% | 100% |
| Subj. Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 | 80% | 90% |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 94.6 + 40% × 91.6 = 93
Potenza Sport: 60% × 96.3 + 40% × 74.4 = 88
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Potenza Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 27 tests | 86 | 95 |
| Reviews found online | 90 | 72 |
| Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–3 | 93% | 94% |
| Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 9 shared tests · wins 4–5 | 97% | 96% |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–4 | 85% | 99% |
| Wet (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 | 88% | 93% |
| Wet Lateral Stability (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 | 80% | 100% |
| Wet Braking (% of best) · 8 shared tests · wins 5–3 | 95% | 93% |
| Wet Circle (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–3 | 88% | 99% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) · 8 shared tests · wins 1–7 | 96% | 99% |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 86 + 40% × 90.4 = 88
Potenza Sport: 60% × 94.8 + 40% × 72.4 = 86
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Potenza Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 4 tests | 70 | 54 |
| Reviews found online | 84 | 61 |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 83.5 = 78
Potenza Sport: 40% × 53.7 + 60% × 60.8 = 58
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Potenza Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 23 tests | 70 | 30 |
| Reviews found online | ≈ 66 (est.) | 63 |
| Interior Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 | 80% | 80% |
| Noise (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 4–0 | 99% | 97% |
| Exterior Noise (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 | 85% | 88% |
| Noise (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 98% | 90% |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 69
Potenza Sport: 60% × 30 + 40% × 62.9 = 43
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.
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Potenza Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests | 70 | 71 |
| Reviews found online | 75 | 40 |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74.8 = 72
Potenza Sport: 60% × 71.3 + 40% × 39.6 = 59
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Potenza Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 90 | 74 |
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Potenza Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 26 tests | 72 | 10 |
| Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 9 shared tests · wins 9–0 | 90% | 82% |
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Bridgestone Potenza Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 73 |
| Dry | 93 | 88 |
| Wet | 88 | 86 |
| Comfort | 78 | 58 |
| Noise | 69 | 43 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 59 |
| Handling (owners) | 90 | 74 |
| Efficiency | 72 | 10 |
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.
Pilot Sport 4 S
Potenza Sport
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 10 tests that ran both, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S finished ahead 8 times and Bridgestone Potenza Sport 2 times.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Sport 4 S | Potenza Sport | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Dry | 94% | 84% | +10.2 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% | 95% | +3.0 | 3–6 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% | 99% | +0.4 | 3–2 in 8 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 93% | 96% | −2.8 | 1–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Subj. Steering Response | Dry | 90% | 100% | −10.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Subj. Elk Test | Dry | 90% | 90% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Subj. Wet Circle | Dry | 80% | 90% | −10.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 93% | 94% | −0.4 | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% | 96% | +1.4 | 4–5 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet | Wet | 88% | 93% | −5.5 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% | 93% | +2.0 | 5–3 in 8 shared tests Newest: 2024 Autobild Sportscars Summer TIre Test R20 · 295/30R20 |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 88% | 99% | −10.8 | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2024 Autobild Sportscars Summer TIre Test R20 · 295/30R20 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 96% | 99% | −2.6 | 1–7 in 8 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 85% | 99% | −14.1 | 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Lateral Stability | Wet | 80% | 100% | −20.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 84% #6/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | 90% #7/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers | – | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 85% | 88% | −3.3 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2024 Autobild Sportscars Summer TIre Test R20 · 295/30R20 |
| Interior Noise | Noise | 80% | 80% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Noise | Noise | 99% | 97% | +1.7 | 4–0 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2024 Sports Car Tyre Test · 265/35 R19 |
| Noise (tester's mark) | Noise | 98% | 90% | +8.2 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 90% | 82% | +7.6 | 9–0 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 48% | 57% | −8.9 | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Road Rating (tester's mark) | Other | 100% | 95% | +4.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #5/9 | #1/9 | – | 8–2 in 10 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
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.
“New tires Pilot Sport 4s got some new Pilot Sport 4s in 245/40/18. way different to my yokohama advan AS+. a lot more grip, obviously. very minimal to no sidewall flex. very good tires. i had pilot sport 3's on my 2013 hatchback wrx back in the day. feels good to get back on some good tires again. Read more”
“Am I the owner of the newer PS4s?😁 Hello everyone, new in the sub and just want to share my love for the Pilot Sport 4s. This is the third set and I love it. To me they are the perfect compromise beetween performance anche tyre wear. Last set last me 43k km, I do lot of highway and some spirited drive when possibile. I also had a set of Sport Contact 7, awesome grip, to me better than the PS4s, almost too much for my stock Golf. They also wear out faster. I saw yesterday the review of Potenza Sport Evo and they promise very week, maybe next time I’ll try!”
“I was running pilot sport 4s on my MS. (19” wheels) I was lucky to get 13,000-14,000. I just switched to Kumho Majesty 9’s for about 1/3 the price. Currently have 4,000 miles on them and just to rotated. Fingers crossed I can get 13,000 miles out of them.”
Based on 208 community posts
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.
“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.”
“Just moved to set a set of CSC7's. 265/35/20 and 305/30/20. They were a really good price. I moved from the Bridgestone Potenza Sport which is also a great tyre, but it becomes unpredicatable sub 12ºC or so, which is a shame. So far, the Conti's have been great and I'm keen to see how they handle the supercharger. The latest reviews of the CSC7 are really good - scooping all the top spots. Sadly the PS4S is old in comparison now, which can be seen in recent reviews with the new Goodyeaar Eage F1 Asymetric 6 and Pirelli P Zero PZ4 often ranking above the Michelin in test scores. That's not to say the Michelin has suddenly become bad - it is still a great tyre, it is just that there are now alternatives out there; most likely why the new Pilot Sport S 5 is coming soon.”
“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”
Based on 93 community posts
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | B · Bridgestone Potenza Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 110 | 128 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 22″ | 16″ – 24″ |
| Tread depth | — | 7 - 10/32″ |
| UTQG | 300 A - AA A | 200 - 320 A - AA A |
| Sidewall | — | Black Side Wall - Raised Black Lettering |
| Max pressure | — | 50 - 51 psi |
| Sizes in common | 71 | 71 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better efficiency, noise and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 72 vs 10 on efficiency.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 69 vs 43 on noise.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 78 vs 58 on comfort.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 74 on handling.
Bridgestone Potenza Sport won 7 of 8 shared wet handling tests.
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Neither, by our numbers: 88 vs 86 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 93 vs 88 on our dry score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 69 vs 43 on our noise score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 78 vs 58 on our comfort score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 72 vs 59 on our treadwear score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 72 vs 10 on our efficiency score.
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
