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 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 — 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 + 6 road tests and 6,510 + 25 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 5 is ahead, 86–67
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Tests 66 · 6 tests Owners 66 · 25 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day 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.
-
92
Dry
Pilot Sport 5 +983Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 6 tests 93 84 Reviews found online 90 82 Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.2 + 40% × 90.2 = 92
Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 84.3 + 40% × 82.3 = 83
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94
Wet
Pilot Sport 5 +3955Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 6 tests 94 52 Reviews found online 93 60 Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.7 + 40% × 93.3 = 94
Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 52.2 + 40% × 59.9 = 55
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78
Comfort
Pilot Sport 5 +1959Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 1 tests 71 48 Reviews found online 83 66 Pilot Sport 5: 40% × 70.9 + 60% × 83.4 = 78
Pilot Sport Cup 2: 40% × 47.7 + 60% × 65.7 = 59
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47
Noise
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +2269Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 3 tests 33 71 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 33.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 47
Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 5 or Pilot Sport Cup 2. 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.
-
86
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 5 +2957Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / – tests 92 ≈ 61 (est.) Reviews found online 78 51 Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 92 + 40% × 77.9 = 86
Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 61 (est.) + 40% × 51.2 = 57
No road tests of treadwear for Pilot Sport Cup 2. 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 +881Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Reviews found online 89 81 -
63
Efficiency
Pilot Sport 5 +558Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 3 tests 63 58
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 86 | 67 |
| Dry | 92 | 83 |
| Wet | 94 | 55 |
| Comfort | 78 | 59 |
| Noise | 47 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 57 |
| Handling (owners) | 89 | 81 |
| Efficiency | 63 | 58 |
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
67
/ 100
Pilot Sport Cup 2
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.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Sport 5 | Pilot Sport Cup 2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #10/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | 87% #6/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #4/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test | 98% #4/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 100% #1/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 94% #6/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers | 88% #10/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #9/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | 92% #5/5 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 97% #5/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | 88% #9/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #3/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers | 97% #3/5 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 100% #1/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers | 70% #6/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 90% #4/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test | 60% #10/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #2/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 92% #3/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers | 88% #8/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 56% #13/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test | 39% #10/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #9/50 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | #2/6 The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | – | Different tests |
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 Pilot Sport Cup 2
Pros
- Phenomenal and reliable dry grip, especially when heated
- Exceptional steering response, precision, and road feedback
- Strong track-day performance with durable, stiff sidewalls
Cons
- Fast tread wear resulting in short lifespan
- Poor performance and low grip when cold, making them less ideal for purely street-driven cars
- High purchase price and negative impact on fuel consumption
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/AudiA5
·1 upvote ·2026-04-30
“I had PS5’s on they were great literally all the grip you could ever want (not a very powerful car) and they have an incredibly long life span, I didn’t find them loud at all and i also now have an Audi a5 coupe and the car itself blocks out most noise especially if you have music on so it’s not something you should worry about, I know the Asym6 have more grip but it’s marginal I’d personally get the ps5’s just because of the beautiful side wall!”
r/CarsAustralia
·8 upvotes ·2025-09-10
“In my experience they are quite long wearing tires and well worth the cost. I used to get around 40k out of most tyres. My first set of ps4’s lasted 55k and now the ps5’s are trending to beat it. I'm a pretty spirited driver around the roundabouts of Canberra too, though I only have a hatch so experiences may vary. As to performance I've driven them on my i30 n-line and other people’s i30N, BRZ, tesla 3, and stinger and the tyres have more grip than I have guts to push them on public roads. In both wet and dry they are very confidence inspiring and a hell of a lot of fun.”
r/TeslaUK
·3 upvotes ·2026-03-27
“Pilot sport 5? Hi, after replacement tyres for M3. Just touched 30k miles and all 4 need doing. Michelin 235/45 ZR18 (98Y) XL TL PILOT SPORT 5 I was looking at these 154 pounds from Costco. Only they’re not T rated. Was comparing them with the original 235/45 ZR 18 PILOT SPORT 4 XL TO TESLA these are 204 pounds at Costco. Thoughts on whether the PS5 will be ok please? Visited a couple of independent tyre shops yesterday, 1 quoted budget 100 each through to PS4s at 230 each. The second wouldn’t quote on non Tesla approved, so just quoted the PS4 T0s at 203 each. Cheers”
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
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 66 | 18 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 22″ | 18″ – 21″ |
| UTQG | 320 - 340 A - B A | 180 - 240 AA A |
| Sizes in common | 4 | 4 |
Which one should you actually buy?
86
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
67
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better wet, treadwear and comfort. Pick the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 94 vs 55 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 86 vs 57 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 69 vs 47 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 78 vs 59 on comfort.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
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Pilot Sport 5 or Pilot Sport Cup 2?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport 5 or Pilot Sport Cup 2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 94 vs 55 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport 5 or Pilot Sport Cup 2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 92 vs 83 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, Pilot Sport 5 or Pilot Sport Cup 2?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, 69 vs 47 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport 5 or Pilot Sport Cup 2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 78 vs 59 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport 5 or Pilot Sport Cup 2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 86 vs 57 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Pilot Sport 5 or Pilot Sport Cup 2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 63 vs 58 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