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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 vs Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) — 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 6 + 33 road tests and 25 + 2,625 owner reviews. How we score

P Zero (PZ4) leads, 70–67 Narrow edge

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Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Tire AMichelin

Pilot Sport Cup 2

Summer

± 6

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)

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)
Tire BPirelli

P Zero (PZ4)

Summer

± 5

Tests 68 · 33 tests Owners 62 · 2,625 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test (wet handling)

“Pirelli P Zero Tyres But if a rant. Brought my i4 edrive 40 about 14 months ago from a main dealer here in the UK. The front tyres (Hankook) had decent tread, obviously the rears did not, so the dealer swapped them for brand new Pirelli PZero (PZ4) tyres at the rear. Honest to god I have never driven tyres so dam trash in my life. Anything other than a perfect warm dry day, there is little to no grip and car struggles to put its power down. I assume the Zero in P Zero refers to the grip levels. Just wondered if anyone else had any experience with Pirelli’s? Read more”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 83

    Dry

    Level
    83
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport Cup 2P Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 30 tests8489
    Reviews found online8273
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–095%93%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%98%

    Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 84.3 + 40% × 82.3 = 83

    P Zero (PZ4): 60% × 89.3 + 40% × 73 = 83

  2. 55

    Wet

    P Zero (PZ4) +25
    80
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport Cup 2P Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 31 tests5287
    Reviews found online6070
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–182%87%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–186%96%

    Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 52.2 + 40% × 59.9 = 55

    P Zero (PZ4): 60% × 86.7 + 40% × 69.6 = 80

  3. 59

    Comfort

    P Zero (PZ4) +4
    63
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport Cup 2P Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 9 tests4868
    Reviews found online6660

    Pilot Sport Cup 2: 40% × 47.7 + 60% × 65.7 = 59

    P Zero (PZ4): 40% × 68.5 + 60% × 59.5 = 63

  4. 69

    Noise

    P Zero (PZ4) +1
    70
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport Cup 2P Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 19 tests7172
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69

    P Zero (PZ4): 60% × 71.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 70

    No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero (PZ4). 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.

  5. 57

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport Cup 2 +24
    33
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport Cup 2P Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests≈ 61 (est.)28
    Reviews found online5142

    Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 61 (est.) + 40% × 51.2 = 57

    P Zero (PZ4): 60% × 27.7 + 40% × 41.7 = 33

    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).

  6. 81

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Sport Cup 2 +11
    70
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport Cup 2P Zero (PZ4)
    Reviews found online8170
  7. 58

    Efficiency

    Pilot Sport Cup 2 +30
    28
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport Cup 2P Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 21 tests5828
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Pilot Sport Cup 2Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)
Relative Score 67 70
Dry 83 83
Wet 55 80
Comfort 59 63
Noise 69 70
Treadwear 57 33
Handling (owners) 81 70
Efficiency 58 28

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
± 6

Pilot Sport Cup 2

± 5

P Zero (PZ4)

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 Cup 2 finished ahead 1 times and Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) 0 times.

DisciplineCategoryPilot Sport Cup 2P Zero (PZ4)ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 95% 93% +2.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test · 225/40 R18
Dry Handling Dry 100% 98% +2.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test · 225/40 R18
Wet Braking Wet 82% 87% −5.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test · 225/40 R18
Wet Handling Wet 86% 96% −10.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test · 225/40 R18
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #6/10 #8/10 – 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test · 225/40 R18

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A 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
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport Cup 2 review

Tire B P Zero (PZ4)

Pros

  • Outstanding dry grip and handling performance
  • Precise steering feedback and agile cornering stability
  • Low road noise and high comfort on smooth tarmac

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear, especially on performance or rear-wheel-drive vehicles
  • Subpar performance and susceptibility to aquaplaning in cold or heavy wet weather
  • Stiff ride quality that can transmit harsh impacts on rough roads
All owner themes in the P Zero (PZ4) review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)

Negative

Community sentiment regarding the Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) is largely critical, with users reporting extremely rapid tread wear and severe grip issues outside of warm, dry conditions. While some drivers consider them for OEM run-flat availability, multiple posts highlight concerns over poor longevity and lackluster wet and cold weather performance compared to competitors like Michelin.

r/lamborghini ·71 upvotes ·2026-03-29

“Urus Performante: Pirelli P Zero gone after 5.5k miles — normal or switch? My stock Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) on my Urus Performante are already done after just 5,500 miles (~9,500 km), mostly highway driving, no speeding, no track. Pretty disappointed with the lifespan. Got quoted $5,000 for the same Lamborghini-certified set. Alternatives are Michelin ($3,500), Nankang or any other options? Is this normal wear for this car? And are the OEM-certified tires actually worth that price, or better to switch?”
Top themes
#rapid tread wear#cold and wet grip#run flat availability#comparison to Michelin#OEM tire lifespan#luxury versus sport variants

Based on 7 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 B · Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available18193
Rim diameters18″ – 21″17″ – 24″
UTQG180 - 240 AA A—
Sizes in common1414

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)

Narrow edge: Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) — better wet and comfort. Pick the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 if efficiency, treadwear and handling matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 58 vs 28 on efficiency.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) scores 80 vs 55 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 57 vs 33 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 81 vs 70 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
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Tire B · Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)
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Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero (PZ4)?

Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero (PZ4)?

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4), 80 vs 55 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero (PZ4)?

Neither, by our numbers: 83 vs 83 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero (PZ4)?

Neither, by our numbers: 69 vs 70 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero (PZ4)?

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4), 63 vs 59 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero (PZ4)?

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, 57 vs 33 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero (PZ4)?

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, 58 vs 28 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