Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Dunlop SP Sport 01 — Compared

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

Pilot Sport 4 is ahead, 80–58

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Tire AMichelin

Pilot Sport 4

Summer

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

“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.”

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 +26
    59
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4SP Sport 01
    Professional tests (TWG score)88–
    Reviews found online8154
  2. 87

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 4 +30
    57
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4SP Sport 01
    Professional tests (TWG score)91–
    Reviews found online8153
  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    50
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4SP Sport 01
    Reviews found online–37
  4. 78

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 4 +18
    60
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4SP Sport 01
    Professional tests (TWG score)83–
    Reviews found online7150
  5. 74

    Noise

    Pilot Sport 4 +13
    61
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4SP Sport 01
    Professional tests (TWG score)76–
    Reviews found online7252
  6. 70

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport 4 +12
    58
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4SP Sport 01
    Professional tests (TWG score)76–
    Reviews found online6153
  7. 78

    Handling

    Pilot Sport 4 +23
    55
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4SP Sport 01
    Reviews found online7855
Scores at a glance
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Dunlop SP Sport 01: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Pilot Sport 4Dunlop SP Sport 01
Relative Score 80 58
Dry 85 59
Wet 87 57
Snow – 50
Comfort 78 60
Noise 74 61
Treadwear 70 58
Handling 78 55

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
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Important
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Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Less important
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Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Pilot Sport 4

SP Sport 01

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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 SP Sport 01

Pros

  • Precise steering response and sharp turn-in
  • Good dry grip and cornering stability
  • Comfortable and relatively quiet ride when new

Cons

  • Noticeable increase in road noise and droning as the tire wears
  • Deteriorating wet weather traction and reduced grip once tread wears below 4mm
  • Rapid or uneven tread wear reported by some heavier vehicle owners
All owner themes in the SP Sport 01 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

Dunlop SP Sport 01

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 B · Dunlop SP Sport 01
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available622
Rim diameters16″ – 20″17″ – 18″
UTQG—280 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Dunlop SP Sport 01

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

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 87 vs 57 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 85 vs 59 on dry.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 78 vs 55 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 78 vs 60 on comfort.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Tire B · Dunlop SP Sport 01

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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