Tests 62 · 2 tests Owners 68 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 6 in The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R vs Yokohama ADVAN A052 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
ADVAN A052 leads, 71–67 Narrow edge
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Tests 75 · 4 tests Owners 69 · 213 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 5 in 2019 17 inch Track Day Tyre Test (overall ranking)
“Yokohama ADVAN A052 315/30R18 and 265/35R18 - BEEFY!”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
79
Dry
Level79Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ADVAN A052 Professional tests (TWG score) 78 73 Reviews found online 81 88 Dry Braking (% of best) 99% 93% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 100% Dry Handling Long Run (% of best) 97% 99% -
49
Wet
ADVAN A052 +2372Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ADVAN A052 Professional tests (TWG score) 45 77 Reviews found online 55 65 Wet Braking (% of best) 95% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 93% 100% -
–
Snow
No comparison72Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ADVAN A052 Reviews found online – 73 -
73
Comfort
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R +370Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ADVAN A052 Professional tests (TWG score) – 74 Reviews found online 77 63 -
65
Noise
ADVAN A052 +1176Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ADVAN A052 Professional tests (TWG score) – 76 Reviews found online 62 75 -
63
Treadwear
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R +1053Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ADVAN A052 Reviews found online 61 44 -
79
Handling
ADVAN A052 +382Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ADVAN A052 Reviews found online 79 82
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R | Yokohama ADVAN A052 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 71 |
| Dry | 79 | 79 |
| Wet | 49 | 72 |
| Snow | – | 72 |
| Comfort | 73 | 70 |
| Noise | 65 | 76 |
| Treadwear | 63 | 53 |
| Handling | 79 | 82 |
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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
71
/ 100
ADVAN A052
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Sport Cup 2 R | ADVAN A052 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #2/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 93% #5/5 · 2026 AutoBild Track Day Tyre Test | +5.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #3/5 · 2026 AutoBild Track Day Tyre Test | 100% #2/3 · 2025 AutoView Extreme Performance Tyre Test | −1.0 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling Long Run | Dry | 97% #4/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 99% #5/7 · 2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test | −1.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/5 · 2026 AutoBild Track Day Tyre Test | 100% #1/5 · 2019 17 inch Track Day Tyre Test | −80.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% #4/5 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 100% #1/5 · 2026 AutoBild Track Day Tyre Test | −5.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 93% #4/5 · 2026 AutoBild Track Day Tyre Test | 100% #1/5 · 2026 AutoBild Track Day Tyre Test | −6.7 | Same test |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
Pros
- Phenomenal dry grip providing a planted and confident feel on the track
- Optimized design specifically for extracting maximum performance during time attacks
- Superior circuit performance compared to the standard Pilot Sport Cup 2
Cons
- Extremely limited performance longevity, with grip dropping off rapidly after just a few laps
- Poor performance and safety risks in damp to wet conditions due to shallow and narrow tread patterns
- Best suited strictly for single-lap time trials rather than extended track sessions
Tire B ADVAN A052
Pros
- Class-leading dry grip and traction, often compared to dedicated racing slicks.
- Rapid warm-up time, providing peak performance almost immediately.
- Surprisingly high levels of wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance for a performance tire.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, especially when used on heavy vehicles or without aggressive camber settings.
- Tendency to 'grease up' or lose performance during long, high-intensity track sessions.
- Soft sidewall construction can lead to vague steering feel or 'sponginess' compared to stiffer competitors.
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Yokohama ADVAN A052
The Yokohama ADVAN A052 is widely recognized by community members as a high-performance competition and autocross tire that delivers exceptional grip and competitive edge. Users frequently discuss sizing, fitment on various sports cars, and balancing their incredible track capabilities with concerns about longevity and suitability for long road trips.
r/944
·7 upvotes ·2026-07-09
“Staggered BBSs Need Tires I have a set of BBS wheels that i have been restoring for my 89 944 NA. I am trying to figure out what tires to get and am running into a bit of trouble. The set of BBSs are 15in staggered. The front are 8in wide and the rear are 9in wide. When i had purchased these wheels they had 215/60R15s all around. Would this be a good fitment? I am hoping the rear will not look stretched. As i was researching staggered tires i ran into problems finding a matching set in the sizes 225 50R15 and 205 55R15. A local shop helped me find these for the front Yokohama ADVAN Fleva V701 (205 55R15) and these for the rear Yokohama ADVAN A052 (225 50R15). Im concerned to get these due to the tread pattern being drastically different. Another shop has Kumho Ecsta 4x KU22 picked out for the front. I would like to have performance summer tires that do not break the bank. If i were to do 215/60R15s all around i was looking at Falken Sincera SN250 A/S (which are not performance) or Vredestein Sprint Classic which i am not sure of. I am a bit at a loss here and would greatly appreciate any advice or help selecting tires as this is not something i am comfortable with given the lack of options at this wheel size.”
r/tires
·2 upvotes ·2023-07-04
“Long trip with Advans A052? I'm planning a trip to the Nürburgring to attend a trackday this October. The problem is that I live 1300 km away, so the tyres should be able to cope with that, some 20 laps at medium-fast pace at the Nordschleife, and the drive back home. Are the Advan A052 tyres way to soft for such a long trip? Will they last? Wouldn't it be wiser to settle for a more conservative set of Michelins PS4? The car is a 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera, 1210 kg... Read more”
Top themes
#Autocross and Track Performance#Fitment and Sizing Options#Grip and Competitiveness#Tire Longevity and Wear#Road Trip Suitability
Based on 8 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R | B · Yokohama ADVAN A052 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 7 | 61 |
| Rim diameters | 20″ – 21″ | 13″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | — | 7/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 200 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
71
/ 100
Yokohama ADVAN A052
Winner: Yokohama ADVAN A052 — better wet, noise and handling. Pick the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R if treadwear and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Yokohama ADVAN A052 scores 72 vs 49 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Yokohama ADVAN A052 scores 76 vs 65 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R scores 63 vs 53 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R scores 73 vs 70 on comfort.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
Tire B · Yokohama ADVAN A052
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.