Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Continental Sport Contact 5 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Pilot Sport 4 is ahead, 80–66

Add your size for an exact match
/R

Both Amazon links then search this exact size.

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Tire AMichelin

Pilot Sport 4

Summer

Tests 84 · 21 tests Owners 74 · 12,686 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (straight aqua)

“Reminder: Tires are the key to this car Just replaced my Michelin Pilot Sport 4 AS tires with a new set ahead of the rainy season. Lasted 36K miles. It was the best mod to the car and a fresh set reminded just how good a brand new set is. The car is glued to the road, riding wonderfully smooth and quiet. Spend the money, get the best tires for you. The tune can wait. And it will need it.”

Tests 73 · 3 tests Owners 62 · 3,146 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2015 EVO Magazine Performance Tyre Test (overall ranking)

“In the end I went with Bridgestone Potenza RE 050's Very happy. Grips as well as the Conti Sport5's without disintegrating after a few hard mountain passes. On a light car sport contact5's, For a heavier car RE 050's are fantastic completely sold. Pilot Sports are far too soft these cars.”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 85

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 4 +12
    73
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Sport Contact 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)8876
    Reviews found online8169
    Dry Braking (% of best)96%94%
    Dry Handling (% of best)100%98%
  2. 87

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 4 +14
    73
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Sport Contact 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)9174
    Reviews found online8172
    Wet Braking (% of best)70%99%
    Wet Circle (% of best)97%97%
    Wet Handling (% of best)70%97%
  3. 78

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 4 +16
    62
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Sport Contact 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)8362
    Reviews found online7162
  4. 74

    Noise

    Pilot Sport 4 +7
    67
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Sport Contact 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)7667
    Reviews found online72–
  5. 70

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport 4 +18
    52
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Sport Contact 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)76–
    Reviews found online6142
  6. 78

    Handling

    Pilot Sport 4 +12
    66
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Sport Contact 5
    Reviews found online7866
Scores at a glance
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Continental Sport Contact 5: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Pilot Sport 4Continental Sport Contact 5
Relative Score 80 66
Dry 85 73
Wet 87 73
Comfort 78 62
Noise 74 67
Treadwear 70 52
Handling 78 66

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Pilot Sport 4

Sport Contact 5

The professional test results behind the scores

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.

DisciplineCategoryPilot Sport 4Sport Contact 5ΔBoth?
Dry Braking Dry 96% #4/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test 94% #6/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test +2.3 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #5/10 · 2022 AMS Performance Summer Tyre Test 98% #4/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test +2.0 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 95% #2/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test 96% #3/9 · 2017 Auto Bild UHP Tyre Test −1.6 Different tests
Noise Other 99% #5/11 · 2020 AMS 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test 99% #5/9 · 2017 Auto Bild UHP Tyre Test −0.2 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 14% #7/10 · 2022 AMS Performance Summer Tyre Test 100% #1/10 · 2015 EVO Magazine Performance Tyre Test −85.7 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 100% #1/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test +1.5 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 90% #3/11 · 2020 AMS 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test 67% #4/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test +23.3 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 90% #2/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test −10.0 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 60% #6/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test −40.0 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 70% #8/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 99% #3/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test −29.3 Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 97% #4/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test 97% #3/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test −0.4 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 70% #4/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 97% #4/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test −27.0 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Pilot Sport 4

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry traction with outstanding resistance to aquaplaning
  • Noticeable improvement in ride comfort and a reduction in cabin noise compared to standard run-flat tires
  • Progressive and predictable breakaway limits during spirited driving

Cons

  • Faster-than-average treadwear, particularly under aggressive driving or on rear-wheel-drive performance cars
  • Softer sidewalls can lead to a slight lack of initial steering precision and a vague feel at the limit for hardcore enthusiasts
  • Performance drops off significantly in cold, freezing, or snowy winter conditions
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport 4 review

Tire B Sport Contact 5

Pros

  • Outstanding dry and wet grip with excellent aquaplaning resistance
  • Precise steering response and sharp handling
  • Short braking distances in various weather conditions

Cons

  • Rapid and uneven tread wear, resulting in a short overall lifespan
  • High price point combined with poor mileage value
  • Increased road noise as the tires wear down past halfway
All owner themes in the Sport Contact 5 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Positive

The community widely regards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 line as a premium upgrade offering exceptional dry and wet grip, precise handling, and superior ride comfort compared to OEM or run-flat tires. While celebrated for performance, users frequently discuss its high price tag, faster treadwear, and noticeable drop in EV efficiency. Some drivers also note increased road noise and reduced traction when temperatures drop near freezing.

Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Run-flat replacement upgrade#Treadwear and longevity#Cold weather performance#Road noise and comfort#EV range and efficiency#Comparison to Continental tires

Based on 246 community posts

Tire B

Continental Sport Contact 5

Mixed

Community feedback on the Continental Sport Contact 5 highlights strong grip and effective braking in both wet and dry conditions, along with good cornering feel. However, opinions are mixed regarding treadwear and durability, with multiple users raising concerns over rapid tire wear and degradation under heavy loads or spirited driving. While some drivers prefer them over competing models, others view them as inferior to subsequent Continental generations or rival brands.

torquecars.com ·2013-04-15

“I've just had a set of these Continental Sport Contact 5 fitted to my car and I'm quite impressed with them. They seem to be really good in the wet, stopping distances were notable shorter, more so than I'd expect with the extra tread depth. They are also really good in the dry and give a nice "feel" on tight corners. They have replaced the Eagle F1's in my mind as the best day to day tyre. Anyone else had them fitted?”

vwt4forum.co.uk ·2016-07-04

“I run Accelera PHI2's on my 20's and have done for the last 3-4 years with absolutely no problems. I'm a biker and like to press on in all my vehicles. Never had a scary moment in the van in any weather and drive just as fast in that as I do the car (conti sport contact 5's on that). Only cover about 6K in the van per year so don't want anything that lasts too long as it would deteriorate before it was anywhere near worn out. Mike likes banging on about Michelins but they can have problems as well as anything else. Michelin Agilis 51's had problems with bulges and tyre failures in the past. Other michelin tyre problems (I know how much Mike likes Yankee sites!) And Michelin have tyre factories all over the world including India and Asia. Not all cheaper tyres are bad tyres. Pirelli P6000 were notoriously bad for example, and Pirelli are not classed as a budget tyre. Mike will still bang on like a broken record though about VW and 16 and 17 inch tyres though. Its probably an old age thing”

mbworld.org

“Quote: Originally Posted by bret In the end I went with Bridgestone Potenza RE 050's Very happy. Grips as well as the Conti Sport5's without disintegrating after a few hard mountain passes. On a light car sport contact5's, For a heavier car RE 050's are fantastic completely sold. Pilot Sports are far too soft these cars. Back in the day I had numerous sets of Potenza's on a Saab 900 Turbo...that's been a good tire for a long long time. Check out the Cooper Zeon when you get a chance, heckuva tire at any price.”

Top themes
#wet and dry grip#rapid treadwear concerns#braking distance performance#cornering feel and handling#comparison with 5P and SC6#heavy vehicle suitability

Based on 14 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 B · Continental Sport Contact 5
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available6284
Rim diameters16″ – 20″17″ – 22″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Continental Sport Contact 5

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 — better treadwear, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 70 vs 52 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 78 vs 62 on comfort.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 87 vs 73 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 85 vs 73 on dry.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Tire B · Continental Sport Contact 5

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

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.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.

80

Leads

Pilot Sport 4

Amazon