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 + 4 road tests and 6,614 + 17 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 4 S is ahead, 84–65
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 82 · 27 tests Owners 86 · 6,614 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 61 · 4 tests Owners 71 · 17 reviews
Best test result: #16 of 50 in 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (wear)
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Altimax One S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 4 tests | 94 | 50 |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 72 |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 94.3 + 40% × 92.1 = 93
Altimax One S: 60% × 50.4 + 40% × 71.7 = 59
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Altimax One S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 4 tests | 86 | 59 |
| Reviews found online | 91 | 72 |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 86.4 + 40% × 90.7 = 88
Altimax One S: 60% × 59.3 + 40% × 71.8 = 64
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Altimax One S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / – tests | 70 | ≈ 69 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 84 | 66 |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 84.2 = 79
Altimax One S: 40% × 68.6 (est.) + 60% × 66.1 = 67
No road tests of comfort for Altimax One S. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Altimax One S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / – tests | 70 | – |
| Reviews found online | ≈ 67 (est.) | – |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 69
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4 S. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Altimax One S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests | 70 | 72 |
| Reviews found online | 74 | 72 |
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74.1 = 72
Altimax One S: 60% × 72 + 40% × 72.2 = 72
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Altimax One S |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 90 | 69 |
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Altimax One S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 1 tests | 72 | 73 |
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | General Altimax One S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 84 | 65 |
| Dry | 93 | 59 |
| Wet | 88 | 64 |
| Comfort | 79 | 67 |
| Noise | 69 | – |
| Treadwear | 72 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 90 | 69 |
| Efficiency | 72 | 73 |
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.
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Pilot Sport 4 S
Altimax One S
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | Pilot Sport 4 S | Altimax One S | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% #8/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | 89% #41/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 100% #1/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | 90% #42/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 90% #7/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | 78% #39/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/10 2026 ACE Summer Tyre Test | #28/50 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | 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
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.
“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.”
“I’ll say this. Going from the Pilot Super Sport to the Pilot Sport 4 S of the same size, I’m disappointed in the soft sidewall of the 4 S. This is an 8.5” wide wheel with 235/40/18 tires. The left-right fast slalom action got a bit mushy like the weight transfer was slowed down when I switched to the 4 S. I think a shorter sidewall 4 S would perform better in this way, or the same tire on a 9” wide wheel too. That said, the dry and wet grip is exceptional. To save money, I’d recommend the Continental ExtremeContact Sport.”
“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”
Based on 208 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | B · General Altimax One S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 110 | 81 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 22″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Sizes in common | 36 | 36 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
General Altimax One S
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better dry, wet and handling. Where the General Altimax One S is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 93 vs 59 on dry.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 88 vs 64 on wet.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 69 on handling.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 79 vs 67 on comfort.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 88 vs 64 on our wet score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 93 vs 59 on our dry score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 79 vs 67 on our comfort score.
Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 72 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 73 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.
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
