Tests – · 1 test Owners 69 · 658 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 19 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires (tested tread life (miles))
“Just had these Pilot Sport A/S 3+ installed to replace OEM Dunlops”
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — 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 1 + 27 road tests and 658 + 6,667 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 4 S is ahead, 84–72
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Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 86 · 6,667 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)
“A note about the pilot sport 4 S: in cold weather (below 5 degrees) even if it isn't icy, the tyre compound hardens and has dramatically reduced grip. They are excellent summer tyres though, good in the wet too. These days I run Uniroyal rainsport 5 and they're very good.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
74
Dry
Pilot Sport 4 S +1993Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 25 tests ≈ 72 (est.) 95 Reviews found online 77 92 Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 77.4 = 74
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 94.6 + 40% × 91.6 = 93
No road tests of dry for Pilot Sport A/S 3+. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
-
78
Wet
Pilot Sport 4 S +1088Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 26 tests ≈ 76 (est.) 86 Reviews found online 80 90 Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 60% × 75.9 (est.) + 40% × 80.1 = 78
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 86 + 40% × 90.4 = 88
No road tests of wet for Pilot Sport A/S 3+. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
-
60
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 65 (est.) – Reviews found online 53 – Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 60% × 64.9 (est.) + 40% × 52.7 = 60
No road tests of snow for Pilot Sport A/S 3+. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
-
63
Comfort
Pilot Sport 4 S +1578Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 6 tests ≈ 67 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 60 84 Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 40% × 67 (est.) + 60% × 60 = 63
Pilot Sport 4 S: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 83.5 = 78
No road tests of comfort for Pilot Sport A/S 3+. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
-
–
Noise
No comparison69Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 20 tests – 70 Reviews found online – ≈ 66 (est.) Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 69
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4 S. 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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69
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 4 S +372Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests 73 70 Reviews found online 64 75 Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 60% × 72.5 + 40% × 63.5 = 69
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74.8 = 72
-
67
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 4 S +2390Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Pilot Sport 4 S Reviews found online 67 90 -
–
Efficiency
No comparison72Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Pilot Sport 4 S Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 23 tests – 72
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 84 |
| Dry | 74 | 93 |
| Wet | 78 | 88 |
| Snow | 60 | – |
| Comfort | 63 | 78 |
| Noise | – | 69 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 67 | 90 |
| Efficiency | – | 72 |
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.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
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Neutral
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Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
Pilot Sport A/S 3+
84
/ 100
Pilot Sport 4 S
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 A/S 3+ | Pilot Sport 4 S | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tested Tread Life (Miles) | Treadwear | 73% #6/19 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires | 62% #6/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/19 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires | #1/10 2026 ACE Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Sport A/S 3+
Pros
- Dry and wet grip, cornering, and steering response, with many reviewers describing it as close to a summer tire. Wet traction and hydroplaning resistance are especially praised.
- Large improvement over OEM tires (Pirelli, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Dunlop, Continental) and especially over run-flats, with better ride, handling and often less noise.
- Good light-snow and cold-weather capability for an ultra-high-performance all-season tire, which lets owners avoid separate summer and winter sets.
Cons
- Premature treadwear is the most common complaint. Many report 10k–25k miles, rear tires and staggered setups wearing fastest, and some cases of tread chunking, flaking, cracking or dry rot. Many call the 45k warranty unrealistic.
- Road noise, including humming, droning or roaring around 60–75 mph. It often worsens with wear, and some reviewers say it is among the loudest tires they have owned.
- Weak snow and ice traction for some owners. Some describe it as unsafe, especially in deeper snow or on RWD cars, and say it falls short of the marketed winter rating.
Tire B Pilot Sport 4 S
Pros
- Exceptional grip and predictable handling in both dry and wet conditions
- Noticeable reduction in road noise and improved ride comfort compared to competitors and run-flats
- Sharper steering response and improved cornering stability
Cons
- High initial purchase price
- Rapid tread wear reported by some aggressive drivers and track users
- Soft sidewalls can cause a slightly vague or laggy initial response during rapid steering transitions
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
Community members widely praise the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ for its dry handling, wet grip, and substantial improvement in ride comfort over stock tires. However, several users express reservations about its poor traction in genuine snow conditions and note that road noise can become prominent as the tread wears. It is frequently compared against competitors like the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 as well as its successor, the Pilot Sport All Season 4.
r/WRX
·28 upvotes ·2017-12-19
“Just had these Pilot Sport A/S 3+ installed to replace OEM Dunlops”
civicx.com
·3 upvotes ·2020-11-18
“The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is what I have on my car, they are quieter and offer a softer ride than the stock Goodyear eagle sport, and are also grippier. Best of both worlds, and it's a decent price.”
myg37.com
“Have had excellent luck with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+. Great wet traction, rides nice, good life, super dry handling etc. Those would be my top pick.”
Top themes
#Dry cornering grip#Wet traction performance#Snow traction limitations#Road noise over time#Ride comfort comparison#Balancing and tire pressure#Comparison to Continental DWS
Based on 47 community posts
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
The community widely regards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S as a benchmark max-performance summer tire, praising its outstanding dry and wet grip, stability, and daily driving refinement. Common criticisms focus on its premium price, rapid tread wear on high-powered heavy vehicles or hot track sessions, and significantly reduced grip in cold weather. Many enthusiasts consider it an ideal street tire, though some note softer sidewalls compared to predecessors or recommend dedicated track tires for hard circuit driving.
jaguarforums.com
“I had a similar experience with Discount Tire and brand new Michelin PS4S's. I clipped a large lane marker (not a dot, a turtle) with both driver's side tires and pinch-flatted them both. I had driven them less than 10 miles so Discount Tire replaced them for only $50 without me even asking for a discount. I had purchased them for about $450 each and didn't buy a road hazard warranty, so I was very pleased with Discount Tire.”
vwvortex.com
·2025-09-26
“My 2023 20th AE Golf R came with Hankook tires , and I've been very pleased with them. I'm a fairly aggressive driver and frequent the twisty roads in the Santa Monica Mountains. I also have a mildly modded Mk VI Golf R shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires on factory 18" rims, and the Hankooks seem to perform almost as well in the dry, but outshine the PS4s in the wet. I will most likely need new tires next year, but I am undecided between the Hankooks and the Michelin PS4AS tires . As for Continental tires ... I use Continental tubular tires on my road bicycle, but have experienced many problems, including massive chunking with them on my 1974 BMW 2002Tii and my 1979 Scirocco Gti , so I am not going to use them on my cars again.”
bobistheoilguy.com
·2024-01-21
“My 2020 Kia Forte GT came with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires. Those were not going to work in the PNW as a daily driver tire. I went right to Costco and bought some Michelin Pilot All season tires, the ones that compete with the Continental DWS at the time. I listed the take offs on Craigslist for $400 and sold them that day.”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Track day durability#High price vs alternatives#Tread life and wear#Cold weather performance#Sidewall stiffness and comfort
Based on 208 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 2 | 110 |
| Rim diameters | 21″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| UTQG | 500 AA A | 300 A - AA A |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
84
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better handling, dry and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 67 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 93 vs 74 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 78 vs 63 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 88 vs 78 on wet.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
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Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 88 vs 78 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 93 vs 74 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 78 vs 63 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Pilot Sport 4 S?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 72 vs 69 on our treadwear 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