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 Vredestein Ultrac — 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 + 14 road tests and 6,510 + 419 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 5 is ahead, 86–61
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Tests 63 · 14 tests Owners 59 · 419 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test (wet handling)
“Are budget tyres closing the gap to premium? I changed a set of tyres on my daily pd130 winter bash about and managed to get a set of vredestein ultrac for £80 a tyre fitted which I thought was a pretty good price. The tyre fitting service was saying to me that the gap between budgets and premium is much smaller in the last 10 years and that taxis tend to opt for budget tyres all the time and have no issues. Any thoughts on this? I’ve always gone for medium to higher end tyres. Leer más”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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92
Dry
Pilot Sport 5 +1775Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Ultrac Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 13 tests 93 84 Reviews found online 90 60 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 95% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 98% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.2 + 40% × 90.2 = 92
Ultrac: 60% × 84.3 + 40% × 60.3 = 75
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94
Wet
Pilot Sport 5 +1282Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Ultrac Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 13 tests 94 92 Reviews found online 93 66 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 97% Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 97% 100% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 99% 99% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 99% 99% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.7 + 40% × 93.3 = 94
Ultrac: 60% × 92 + 40% × 66.4 = 82
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78
Comfort
Pilot Sport 5 +1563Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Ultrac Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / – tests 71 ≈ 67 (est.) Reviews found online 83 60 Pilot Sport 5: 40% × 70.9 + 60% × 83.4 = 78
Ultrac: 40% × 67 (est.) + 60% × 60.3 = 63
No road tests of comfort for Ultrac. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
-
47
Noise
Ultrac +2067Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Ultrac Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 11 tests 33 67 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Interior Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 95% 100% Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 33.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 47
Ultrac: 60% × 66.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 67
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 5 or Ultrac. 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 +6125Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Ultrac Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 3 tests 92 10 Reviews found online 78 48 Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 92 + 40% × 77.9 = 86
Ultrac: 60% × 10 + 40% × 48.3 = 25
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89
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 5 +2960Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Ultrac Reviews found online 89 60 -
63
Efficiency
Ultrac +972Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Ultrac Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 11 tests 63 72 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 90% 99%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | Vredestein Ultrac |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 86 | 61 |
| Dry | 92 | 75 |
| Wet | 94 | 82 |
| Comfort | 78 | 63 |
| Noise | 47 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 25 |
| Handling (owners) | 89 | 60 |
| Efficiency | 63 | 72 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
61
/ 100
Ultrac
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 1 tests that ran both, Michelin Pilot Sport 5 finished ahead 0 times and Vredestein Ultrac 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Sport 5 | Ultrac | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% | 95% | +2.6 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 98% | +0.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 100% #1/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test | 80% #9/12 · 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 87% #6/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2025 Autobild SUV Off-Road Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 100% | 97% | +2.7 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 97% | 100% | −2.7 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Wet Braking (concrete) | Wet | 97% #3/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 88% #3/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 99% | 99% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% | 99% | −0.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 100% #1/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers | 80% #7/12 · 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 71% #7/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 100% #1/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Interior Noise | Noise | 95% | 100% | −4.6 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #2/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test | 99% #3/10 · 2025 Autobild SUV Off-Road Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise (tester's mark) | Noise | 87% #8/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | 80% #8/14 · 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Abrasion | Treadwear | 83% #5/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | 47% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wear | Treadwear | 93% #2/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | 39% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 95% #8/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 97% #7/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 90% | 99% | −9.2 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 56% #13/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test | 68% #10/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #13/20 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | #20/20 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Value | Cost | 71% #15/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | 35% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #4/8 | #1/8 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
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 Ultrac
Pros
- Exceptional grip and confidence in wet weather conditions
- High level of ride comfort and ability to absorb road bumps
- Low road noise and quiet operation
Cons
- Rapid tread wear reported by several drivers
- Softer sidewalls leading to less initial steering feedback or stability
- Occasional complaints of tramlining or tracking narrow road repairs
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
Positive
Vredestein Ultrac
Community members generally view the Vredestein Ultrac favorably, recommending it as offering the best of both worlds at a good price point. While drivers appreciate its appearance and value on daily vehicles, prospective buyers express inquiries regarding noise levels and potential fast tread wear.
Top themes
#good price point#best of both worlds#tread wear concerns#tire recommendation#wide tire appearance#budget versus premium
Based on 8 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | B · Vredestein Ultrac |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 66 | 65 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 22″ | 15″ – 21″ |
| UTQG | 320 - 340 A - B A | 280 AA A |
| Sizes in common | 18 | 18 |
Which one should you actually buy?
86
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
61
/ 100
Vredestein Ultrac
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better treadwear, handling and dry. Pick the Vredestein Ultrac if noise and efficiency matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 86 vs 25 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 89 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Vredestein Ultrac scores 67 vs 47 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 92 vs 75 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Tire B · Vredestein Ultrac
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Pilot Sport 5 or Ultrac?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport 5 or Ultrac?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 94 vs 82 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport 5 or Ultrac?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 92 vs 75 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, Pilot Sport 5 or Ultrac?
Vredestein Ultrac, 67 vs 47 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport 5 or Ultrac?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 78 vs 63 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport 5 or Ultrac?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 86 vs 25 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Pilot Sport 5 or Ultrac?
Vredestein Ultrac, 72 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