Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — Compared

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 + 23 road tests and 12,691 + 6,449 owner reviews. How we score

Pilot Sport 5 is ahead, 87–81

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Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Tire AMichelin

Pilot Sport 4

Summer

± 4

Tests 85 · 21 tests Owners 76 · 12,691 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.”

Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Tire BMichelin

Pilot Sport 5

Summer

± 4

Tests 86 · 23 tests Owners 88 · 6,449 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test (dry handling (tester's mark))

“Put some 235/45 R17 ps5’s on my 9-5 They fill up the arches quite nice!”

Category by category

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

  1. 87

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 5 +5
    92
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 23 tests8993
    Reviews found online8591

    Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 89.1 + 40% × 84.5 = 87

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 92.9 + 40% × 90.8 = 92

  2. 90

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 5 +4
    94
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 23 tests9394
    Reviews found online8594

    Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 93.1 + 40% × 84.7 = 90

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 94.1 + 40% × 93.6 = 94

  3. 77

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 5 +2
    79
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 9 tests8371
    Reviews found online7285

    Pilot Sport 4: 40% × 83.4 + 60% × 72.4 = 77

    Pilot Sport 5: 40% × 71 + 60% × 84.8 = 79

  4. 71

    Noise

    Pilot Sport 4 +24
    47
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 15 tests7333
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 73.4 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 71

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 33.2 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 47

    No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4 or Pilot Sport 5. 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.

  5. 71

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport 5 +16
    87
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 6 tests7892
    Reviews found online6079

    Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 59.5 = 71

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 91.9 + 40% × 78.9 = 87

  6. 81

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Sport 5 +8
    89
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Pilot Sport 5
    Reviews found online8189
  7. 76

    Efficiency

    Pilot Sport 4 +12
    64
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 14 / 17 tests7664
Scores at a glance
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Pilot Sport 4Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Relative Score 81 87
Dry 87 92
Wet 90 94
Comfort 77 79
Noise 71 47
Treadwear 71 87
Handling (owners) 81 89
Efficiency 76 64

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.

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Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

Pilot Sport 4

± 4

Pilot Sport 5

The professional test results behind the scores

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.

DisciplineCategoryPilot Sport 4Pilot Sport 5ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 80% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 95% #10/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 80% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 99% #4/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 90% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 100% #1/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 80% #5/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 87% #6/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 80% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 94% #6/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 70% #8/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 91% #9/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 97% #4/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test 97% #5/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 70% #4/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 98% #3/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 78% #7/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 100% #1/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 70% #5/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 90% #4/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Exterior Noise Noise 90% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 71% #7/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #6/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test 99% #2/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 96% #5/16 · 2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test 93% #2/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 80% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 92% #3/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – 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 56% #13/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #16/20 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test #13/20 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 59% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 71% #15/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #7/9 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 #9/50 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? – 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 Pilot Sport 5

Pros

  • Outstanding wet and dry traction with high resistance to aquaplaning
  • Superior tread life and longevity compared to competitors and previous generations
  • Noticeable improvements in ride comfort and a quieter cabin over rough road surfaces

Cons

  • Softer sidewalls can lead to initial steering vagueness or understeer during hard cornering
  • Higher price point compared to some tier-one competitors
  • Performance and grip degrade significantly under intense track heat or heavy circuit use
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport 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.

mbworld.org

“Quote: Originally Posted by ua549 In over 55 years of driving I've never gotten more than 20k miles on a set of tires. Michelin Pilot Sport is the worst at 6k miles twice in a row with free factory replacements though I've gotten 18k miles on Michelin AS3 tires once or twice. Dunlop Sport is second at 15k miles. Overall Pirelli Cinturato P7 are the longest wearing tires I've owned over the years at 20k miles consistently. I swap out run flat tires if they come on a new car. I believe that heat is a major cause of tire wear. Even after a 2 mile trip @ 35 mph the tires on my E300 register about 120°F. Cold they are between 80°F and 85°F. In the dead of winter they are 5° colder. The OEM tires on my 5 year old '18 E300 got 12k miles. The car has 20k miles on it now and the P7 tires are about 40% worn. My experience with Summer tires is 15 to 18k max. The only Summer tires that I have owned that lasted more than 20 were the Pilot Sport PS4...which BTW is one of their marketing highlights, longer tread wear...though still shorter than all seasons which normally are rated for 30k or more.”

r/CarTrackDays ·1 upvote ·2020-07-03

“The Pilot Sport 4's are great tires for dual duty use. You'll want to keep hot pressures below 37-38 PSI. Anything above that they get very greasy, very fast. In the cars I've driven with them (a few BMW M cars, a 911 I think if I remember), you'll usually set your best laps in the first 4-5 laps of a session depending on temps. Once they over heat heat, as with any street tire, you have to park them for an hour to get the temps down again (downside to steel radials). I'd also recommend Hankook RS4s if you want a more durable track tire. That's what I run. Very long lasting, but not as great in the wet as the PS4s would be. Road noise would also be an issue for street use.”

r/tires ·2 upvotes ·2026-07-28

“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.”

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

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Positive

The community generally views the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 as an exceptional daily-driving tire that bridges the gap between high performance and everyday comfort. Users frequently praise its outstanding wet grip, low road noise, and impressive tread life compared to more track-focused alternatives like the PS4S. However, some enthusiast drivers feel the sidewalls and feedback can feel a bit numb or soft for aggressive track use, noting it is built more for sporty road use than dedicated circuit driving.

Top themes
#Wet grip and safety#Tread life and durability#Road noise and comfort#Daily driving performance#Soft sidewall feedback#Comparison to PS4S and competitors#Value and pricing

Based on 177 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available6266
Rim diameters16″ – 20″16″ – 22″
Sizes in common5151

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better treadwear, handling and dry. Pick the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 if noise and efficiency matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 71 vs 47 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 87 vs 71 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 76 vs 64 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 89 vs 81 on handling.

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

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Pilot Sport 4 or Pilot Sport 5?

Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport 4 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 94 vs 90 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport 4 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 92 vs 87 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Pilot Sport 4 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 71 vs 47 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport 4 or Pilot Sport 5?

Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 79 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport 4 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 87 vs 71 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Pilot Sport 4 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 76 vs 64 on our efficiency score.

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.

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