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 Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 — 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 + 20 road tests and 6,510 + 18 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 5 is ahead, 86–68
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Tests 78 · 20 tests Owners 55 · 18 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test (noise)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
Key facts
- In 9 tests that measured dry braking for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 7 and N Fera Sport SU2 won 2 (average 97% vs 95% of the best).
- In 9 tests that measured wet braking for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 7 and N Fera Sport SU2 won 2 (average 96% vs 91% of the best).
- In 6 tests that measured noise for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 0 and N Fera Sport SU2 won 6 (average 96% vs 99% of the best).
- In 5 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 3 and N Fera Sport SU2 won 2 (average 96% vs 96% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured dry handling for both, Pilot Sport 5 won 4 and N Fera Sport SU2 won 0 (average 99% vs 97% of the best).
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92
Dry
Pilot Sport 5 +2072Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 N Fera Sport SU2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 18 tests 93 81 Reviews found online 90 59 Dry Braking (% of best) · 9 shared tests · wins 7–2 97% 95% Dry Circle Speed (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 99% Dry Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–0 99% 97% Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 98% 79% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.2 + 40% × 90.2 = 92
N Fera Sport SU2: 60% × 80.6 + 40% × 58.6 = 72
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94
Wet
Pilot Sport 5 +1876Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 N Fera Sport SU2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 19 tests 94 84 Reviews found online 93 64 Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–0 90% 86% Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 3–2 96% 96% Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 92% 84% Wet Braking (% of best) · 9 shared tests · wins 7–2 96% 91% Wet Braking (concrete) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 97% 89% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 97% Wet Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–0 99% 97% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.7 + 40% × 93.3 = 94
N Fera Sport SU2: 60% × 83.7 + 40% × 64.2 = 76
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78
Comfort
Pilot Sport 5 +1365Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 N Fera Sport SU2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 5 tests 71 87 Reviews found online 83 50 Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–0 97% 95% Pilot Sport 5: 40% × 70.9 + 60% × 83.4 = 78
N Fera Sport SU2: 40% × 86.9 + 60% × 49.9 = 65
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47
Noise
N Fera Sport SU2 +3683Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 N Fera Sport SU2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 14 tests 33 93 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 0–6 96% 99% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 33.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 47
N Fera Sport SU2: 60% × 93.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 83
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 5 or N Fera Sport SU2. 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 +3254Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 N Fera Sport SU2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 6 tests 92 63 Reviews found online 78 41 Abrasion (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 81% 62% Wear (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–0 89% 63% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 92 + 40% × 77.9 = 86
N Fera Sport SU2: 60% × 62.9 + 40% × 41 = 54
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89
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 5 +2861Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 N Fera Sport SU2 Reviews found online 89 61 -
63
Efficiency
Pilot Sport 5 +1647Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 N Fera Sport SU2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 13 tests 63 47 Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 95% 95% Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 3–1 86% 84%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 86 | 68 |
| Dry | 92 | 72 |
| Wet | 94 | 76 |
| Comfort | 78 | 65 |
| Noise | 47 | 83 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 54 |
| Handling (owners) | 89 | 61 |
| Efficiency | 63 | 47 |
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
86
/ 100
Pilot Sport 5
68
/ 100
N Fera Sport SU2
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 9 tests that ran both, Michelin Pilot Sport 5 finished ahead 8 times and Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Sport 5 | N Fera Sport SU2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% | 95% | +2.3 | 7–2 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? · 245/45 R19 |
| Dry Circle Speed | Dry | 99% | 99% | 0.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 97% | +2.4 | 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 98% | 79% | +19.2 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 90% | 86% | +4.5 | 1–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 96% | 96% | +0.1 | 3–2 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 96% | 91% | +5.2 | 7–2 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? · 245/45 R19 |
| Wet Braking (concrete) | Wet | 97% | 89% | +8.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 98% | 97% | +1.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% | 97% | +1.9 | 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 92% | 84% | +8.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 97% | 95% | +1.2 | 1–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Noise | Noise | 96% | 99% | −3.1 | 0–6 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Abrasion | Treadwear | 81% | 62% | +18.6 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 89% | 63% | +25.4 | 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 95% | 95% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 86% | 84% | +1.9 | 3–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 62% | 97% | −35.1 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #13/20 | #5/20 | – | 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Value | Cost | 64% | 70% | −6.2 | 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #9/50 | #3/50 | – | 8–1 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? · 245/45 R19 |
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 N Fera Sport SU2
Pros
- Significantly cheaper than premium tier alternatives like Michelin and Continental
- Impressive dry grip and predictable, controllable handling
- Strong wet weather performance and high-speed stability
Cons
- Rapid and uneven tread wear, often requiring replacement prematurely
- Stiff carcass leading to mediocre ride comfort and harshness over road imperfections
- Soft rubber compound prone to squirming under hard cornering or experiencing shoulder damage
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
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | B · Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
68
/ 100
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better treadwear, handling and dry. Pick the Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 scores 83 vs 47 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 86 vs 54 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 89 vs 61 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 92 vs 72 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Tire B · Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
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Pilot Sport 5 or N Fera Sport SU2?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport 5 or N Fera Sport SU2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 94 vs 76 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport 5 or N Fera Sport SU2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 92 vs 72 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, Pilot Sport 5 or N Fera Sport SU2?
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2, 83 vs 47 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport 5 or N Fera Sport SU2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 78 vs 65 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport 5 or N Fera Sport SU2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 86 vs 54 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Pilot Sport 5 or N Fera Sport SU2?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 63 vs 47 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