Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 21 + 27 road tests and 12,714 + 6,649 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 4 S leads, 83–81 Narrow edge
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Tests 85 · 21 tests Owners 76 · 12,714 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 45 in 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout (dry braking)
“Those are Pilot sport 4 (all season). If it had s after the 4 it would be the summer high performance version. I put the pilot sport 4 on wife's GTI autobahn 2016. Great handling tire, stiff side walls, not the smoothest ride but best overall.”
Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 86 · 6,649 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.”
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 25 tests | 89 | 95 |
| Reviews found online | 84 | 92 |
Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 89.3 + 40% × 83.9 = 87
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 94.6 + 40% × 91.5 = 93
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 26 tests | 92 | 86 |
| Reviews found online | 84 | 90 |
Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 92.5 + 40% × 84.4 = 89
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 85.9 + 40% × 90.4 = 88
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 6 tests | 82 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 72 | 83 |
Pilot Sport 4: 40% × 81.6 + 60% × 71.7 = 76
Pilot Sport 4 S: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 83.4 = 78
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 20 tests | 73 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | ≈ 66 (est.) | ≈ 66 (est.) |
Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 70
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4 or 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 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests | 78 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 60 | 74 |
Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 59.5 = 71
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74 = 72
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 81 | 90 |
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 14 / 23 tests | 76 | 72 |
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 83 |
| Dry | 87 | 93 |
| Wet | 89 | 88 |
| Comfort | 76 | 78 |
| Noise | 70 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 81 | 90 |
| Efficiency | 76 | 72 |
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
Pilot Sport 4 S
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 | Pilot Sport 4 S | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 80% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 94% #8/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 80% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 100% #2/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 90% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 98% #4/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 80% #5/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 96% #4/7 · 2025 Autobild Sportcars Summer Tire Test R20 | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 80% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 100% #1/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 70% #8/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 90% #7/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 97% #4/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test | 87% #7/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 70% #4/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 90% #6/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 78% #7/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 84% #8/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Lateral Stability | Wet | 70% #8/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 80% #2/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 70% #5/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 84% #6/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 90% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 99% #2/7 · 2025 Autobild Sportcars Summer Tire Test R20 | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #6/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test | 98% #4/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 80% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | 98% #2/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 66% #7/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test | 46% #11/11 · 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #7/9 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 | #1/10 2026 ACE 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 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.
“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.”
“Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires are noisy (a followup) I have been asked on this sub if the PS4 tires on my wife’s Bolt are noisy, and I wasn’t sure how to answer. Well, we made two 60-mile round trips this past weekend, mostly on highways with 55 and 70 mph speed limits, and I have to say that the tires are kind of noisy. Certainly not as quiet as EV-oriented tires are. The grip is fantastic, so we really like them. If you are sensitive to noise, though, these Max Performance class tires are probably not for you.”
“Quote: Originally Posted by weston.__ I will be going down the non-rft route, Pilot Sport 4. You're not the only one to say the ride quality with non-rft is a massive improvement and this is the reason why I will change once the time comes. I went from Bridgestone S001 RFT to 'go-flats' and have found the suppleness an obvious difference. Since I put the pressure to the mid point between the low and high load plated pressures I have yet to have any of the heartstopping thumps come through the suspension that the Bridgestone seemed prone to.”
Based on 246 community posts
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.
“I just went 12k on PSS for mixed use weekend and HDPE. 275/35 19x10 front and 305/30 19x11rear stagger. I replaced the PS4s from stock purchased PP1. I immediately noticed the PSS seemed a little louder and the concrete joints were felt and heard. Now after putting on 285/35 and 325/30 MP4S I'm enjoying a better ride. I have a track event this weekend so I'll get to test the 4S in track duty.”
“My 2023 20th AE Golf R came with Hankook tires , and I've been very pleased with them. I'm a fairly aggressive driver and frequent the twisty roads in the Santa Monica Mountains. I also have a mildly modded Mk VI Golf R shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires on factory 18" rims, and the Hankooks seem to perform almost as well in the dry, but outshine the PS4s in the wet. I will most likely need new tires next year, but I am undecided between the Hankooks and the Michelin PS4AS tires . As for Continental tires ... I use Continental tubular tires on my road bicycle, but have experienced many problems, including massive chunking with them on my 1974 BMW 2002Tii and my 1979 Scirocco Gti , so I am not going to use them on my cars again.”
“I had a similar experience with Discount Tire and brand new Michelin PS4S's. I clipped a large lane marker (not a dot, a turtle) with both driver's side tires and pinch-flatted them both. I had driven them less than 10 miles so Discount Tire replaced them for only $50 without me even asking for a discount. I had purchased them for about $450 each and didn't buy a road hazard warranty, so I was very pleased with Discount Tire.”
Based on 208 community posts
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 62 | 110 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| UTQG | 300 - 320 A - AA A | 300 A - AA A |
| Sizes in common | 33 | 33 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Narrow edge: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better handling and dry. Pick the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 if efficiency matters most to you.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 81 on handling.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 93 vs 87 on dry.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 76 vs 72 on efficiency.
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Neither, by our numbers: 89 vs 88 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 93 vs 87 on our dry score.
Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 69 on the noise score, within 3 points.
Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 78 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 72 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 76 vs 72 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
