Tests 86 · 23 tests Owners 87 · 6,510 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!”
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs Continental MaxContact MC7 — 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 23 + 4 road tests and 6,510 + 17 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 5 is ahead, 86–81
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Tests 89 · 4 tests Owners 76 · 17 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 7 in 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test (dry braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
Key facts
- In 4 tests that measured dry braking for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 0 and MaxContact MC7 won 4 (average 98% vs 100% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 2 and MaxContact MC7 won 2 (average 99% vs 97% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured comfort (tester's mark) for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 1 and MaxContact MC7 won 3 (average 95% vs 98% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured dry handling for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 1 and MaxContact MC7 won 2 (average 99% vs 100% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured dry handling (tester's mark) for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 2 and MaxContact MC7 won 1 (average 99% vs 99% of the best).
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92
Dry
Pilot Sport 5 +191Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 MaxContact MC7 Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 4 tests 93 99 Reviews found online 90 79 Dry Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–4 98% 100% Dry Circle Speed (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 98% 99% Dry Handling (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–2 99% 100% Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–1 99% 99% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.2 + 40% × 90.2 = 92
MaxContact MC7: 60% × 98.6 + 40% × 79.1 = 91
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94
Wet
Pilot Sport 5 +985Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 MaxContact MC7 Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 4 tests 94 87 Reviews found online 93 83 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–0 97% 97% Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 97% Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–2 99% 97% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 97% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 99% 98% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.7 + 40% × 93.3 = 94
MaxContact MC7: 60% × 87.1 + 40% × 82.6 = 85
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78
Comfort
Pilot Sport 5 +276Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 MaxContact MC7 Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 4 tests 71 76 Reviews found online 83 75 Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–3 95% 98% Pilot Sport 5: 40% × 70.9 + 60% × 83.4 = 78
MaxContact MC7: 40% × 76.2 + 60% × 75.2 = 76
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47
Noise
MaxContact MC7 +2269Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 MaxContact MC7 Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 3 tests 33 71 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–1 99% 99% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 33.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 47
MaxContact MC7: 60% × 71.4 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 5 or MaxContact MC7. 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.
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86
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 5 +2066Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 MaxContact MC7 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / – tests 92 ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 78 66 Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 92 + 40% × 77.9 = 86
MaxContact MC7: 60% × 66.2 (est.) + 40% × 65.7 = 66
No road tests of treadwear for MaxContact MC7. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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89
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 5 +1079Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 MaxContact MC7 Reviews found online 89 79 -
63
Efficiency
MaxContact MC7 +467Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 MaxContact MC7 Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 2 tests 63 67 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–1 91% 92%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | Continental MaxContact MC7 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 86 | 81 |
| Dry | 92 | 91 |
| Wet | 94 | 85 |
| Comfort | 78 | 76 |
| Noise | 47 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 66 |
| Handling (owners) | 89 | 79 |
| Efficiency | 63 | 67 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
86
/ 100
Pilot Sport 5
81
/ 100
MaxContact MC7
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.
In the overall rankings of 4 tests that ran both, Michelin Pilot Sport 5 finished ahead 1 times and Continental MaxContact MC7 3 times.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Sport 5 | MaxContact MC7 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% | 100% | −2.3 | 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test · 235/40 R18 |
| Dry Circle Speed | Dry | 98% | 99% | −1.0 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test · 235/40 R18 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 100% | −0.7 | 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test · 235/40 R18 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 99% | 99% | −0.4 | 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test · 235/40 R18 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% | 97% | +0.1 | 1–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers · 225/45 R18 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% | 97% | +2.6 | 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test · 235/40 R18 |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 97% | 100% | −3.2 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test · 235/45 R18 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% | 98% | +0.4 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers · 225/45 R18 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 100% | 97% | +2.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers · 225/45 R18 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 95% | 98% | −3.0 | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test · 235/40 R18 |
| Noise | Noise | 99% | 99% | −0.3 | 1–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test · 235/40 R18 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 91% | 92% | −1.1 | 0–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers · 225/45 R18 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #3/4 | #1/4 | – | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test · 235/40 R18 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A 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
Tire B MaxContact MC7
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry traction
- Superior ride comfort and compliance
- Noticeable reduction in road noise compared to many OEM tires
Cons
- Softer sidewall construction reduces steering feedback and precision
- Increased rolling resistance leading to reduced fuel or EV range
- Potential for accelerated tread wear under aggressive driving
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Community sentiment towards the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is largely positive, with drivers frequently praising its outstanding wet grip, daily driving comfort, and impressive tread life. While widely recommended as a dependable, premium all-round performance tire, some enthusiasts criticize it for having a slightly numb steering feel, softer sidewalls, and poor heat resistance during track use compared to more aggressive alternatives.
r/i20n
·17 upvotes ·2025-07-21
“Tyres: Ps5’s initial impression Tyres seem to be a common question across a few forums so I thought ide share. So after 12 months (27,000kms) with my i20n, I was (over) due to replace my tyres. While I loved the p-zeros, I wasn’t keen on the short life, so went with the pilot sport 5. My impressions as follows: Initial impression: a lot less road noise than the p-zero City drive: no noticeable difference (apart from the reduced noise) Highway drive: handling is not noticeably changed, but the reduced noise is really appreciated here! Twisty’s: the difference here is notable, ps5’s don’t provide quite the same aggressive limitless grip feel as the p-zeros. Still holds the line perfectly but noted a bit of slip on the inside front wheel under heavy throttle. I do approx 100km on back roads commuting to and from work every day, so I’ll update this thread if I find anything worth reporting Read more”
r/ft86
·2 upvotes ·2026-07-21
“PS5 is a very good allround, comfortable but grippy tire. PS4S has a stiffer sidewall and is way sportier but harsher. There is to date no successor for the PS4S. I switched from PS4S to PS5 on my mustang and its a way better fit for a daily tire. I would remommend to get PS5 for the rear aswell.”
r/Miata
·2 upvotes ·2026-05-13
“Anyone else greatly disappointed with their Michelin Pilot sport 5? My 10th anniversary recently got a set of 16 inch ND wheels (due to better tires being available on 16s) and a set of brand new PS5s. It’s on the original bilstein suspension with H&R sway bars and poly bushings all around. After having driven the PS5s for around 4k km i have to say i really don’t like them most of the time. Pros: They’re numb, which is amazing for highway driving. You really can’t feel anything from the tires and they’re super quiet. Cons: They’re numb. I literally can’t feel what they’re doing, they just don’t give any useable feedback from the road and the main thing i do is spirited driving. They also overheat extremely fast? I take five to six quicker turns and on the next turn in the entire car is just sliding around doing whatever the fuck it wants all while there still being no feedback whatsoever.. I’m frustrated af because i thought i’d treat myself to a good nice quality set of tires for once and thats the result.. I have driven on Kumho PS71s for i think a thousand km’s last year and they were waaay grippier and gave very good feedback. The car just isn’t as fun to drive now and it sucks hard. Rant over, thanks for listening. Tldr: Tyre bad :(”
Top themes
#wet grip performance#tread life longevity#daily driving comfort#track heat delamination#premium pricing comparisons#road noise levels#steering feel feedback
Based on 173 community posts
Tire B
Continental MaxContact MC7
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | B · Continental MaxContact MC7 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 66 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 22″ | — |
| UTQG | 320 - 340 A - B A | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
86
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
81
/ 100
Continental MaxContact MC7
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better treadwear, handling and wet. Pick the Continental MaxContact MC7 if noise and efficiency matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Continental MaxContact MC7 scores 69 vs 47 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 86 vs 66 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 89 vs 79 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 94 vs 85 on wet.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Tire B · Continental MaxContact MC7
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Pilot Sport 5 or MaxContact MC7?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport 5 or MaxContact MC7?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 94 vs 85 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport 5 or MaxContact MC7?
Neither, by our numbers: 92 vs 91 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is quieter, Pilot Sport 5 or MaxContact MC7?
Continental MaxContact MC7, 69 vs 47 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport 5 or MaxContact MC7?
Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 76 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport 5 or MaxContact MC7?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 86 vs 66 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Pilot Sport 5 or MaxContact MC7?
Continental MaxContact MC7, 67 vs 63 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