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)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 vs Pirelli P Zero — 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 + 3 road tests and 25 + 3,486 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport Cup 2 leads, 67–64 Narrow edge
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Tests 74 · 3 tests Owners 47 · 3,486 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (dry handling)
“New rubber for the road wheels Pirelli P-Zero RS TLR 30mm, measuring 33mm on 25mm inner rim width. Rides like a dream, but the center thread is narrow, so I'd not feel confident if I raced anything with tighter cornering.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
83
Dry
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +1172Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 P Zero Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 3 tests 84 80 Reviews found online 82 61 Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 84.3 + 40% × 82.3 = 83
P Zero: 60% × 79.6 + 40% × 61.4 = 72
-
55
Wet
P Zero +1671Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 P Zero Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 3 tests 52 81 Reviews found online 60 55 Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 52.2 + 40% × 59.9 = 55
P Zero: 60% × 81.1 + 40% × 54.9 = 71
-
–
Snow
No comparison50Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 P Zero Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 60 (est.) Reviews found online – 36 P Zero: 60% × 59.7 (est.) + 40% × 36.4 = 50
No road tests of snow for P Zero. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
-
59
Comfort
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +356Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 P Zero Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests 48 70 Reviews found online 66 46 Pilot Sport Cup 2: 40% × 47.7 + 60% × 65.7 = 59
P Zero: 40% × 69.8 + 60% × 46.2 = 56
-
69
Noise
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +1158Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 P Zero Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests 71 61 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) 53 Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69
P Zero: 60% × 60.7 + 40% × 53.1 = 58
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport Cup 2. 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.
-
57
Treadwear
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +750Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 P Zero Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 61 (est.) 65 Reviews found online 51 28 Pilot Sport Cup 2: 60% × 61 (est.) + 40% × 51.2 = 57
P Zero: 60% × 65.3 + 40% × 28.1 = 50
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).
-
81
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +2556Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 P Zero Reviews found online 81 56 -
58
Efficiency
P Zero +159Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 P Zero Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests 58 59
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 | Pirelli P Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 64 |
| Dry | 83 | 72 |
| Wet | 55 | 71 |
| Snow | – | 50 |
| Comfort | 59 | 56 |
| Noise | 69 | 58 |
| Treadwear | 57 | 50 |
| Handling (owners) | 81 | 56 |
| Efficiency | 58 | 59 |
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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Pilot Sport Cup 2
64
/ 100
P Zero
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 Cup 2 | P Zero | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 87% #6/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 92% #17/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #4/6 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 100% #1/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 88% #10/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | 93% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 92% #5/5 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 83% #28/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #3/5 · The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | 99% #3/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 60% #10/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | 67% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 100% #2/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | 97% #18/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 88% #8/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | 73% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 39% #10/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | 66% #18/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/6 The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | #25/49 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test | – | Different tests |
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
Tire B P Zero
Pros
- Outstanding dry grip and handling performance
- Precise steering feedback and high-speed stability
- Good wet-weather braking and cornering when warm
Cons
- Rapid and uneven tread wear, often requiring replacement much sooner than expected
- Poor grip and unpredictable traction in cold temperatures (below 7°C/45°F)
- Prone to tramlining and tracking road imperfections
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
Mixed
Pirelli P Zero
Community sentiment regarding Pirelli P Zero tires is polarized across its automotive and bicycle product lines. While users praise the tire lineup for sharp steering responsiveness, comfortable ride quality, and strong dry grip—especially on newer models like the AS Plus 3 and PZ5—many drivers report fast tread wear, wet grip issues on certain summer variants, and vulnerability to sidewall bubbles. Additionally, cyclists frequently note that the tubeless road variants offer impressive rolling speed but can be exceptionally difficult to mount.
z4-forum.com
·2018-01-21
“I switched my Z4C from Pirelli P Zero's to Asymmetric 3's, as I was fed up with the noise from the Pirelli's. I find the Asymmetric 3's much quieter, more comfortable and more predictable. The Pirelli's felt like they have more grip in ideal conditions, but got more easily caught out by damp, poor surfaces etc.”
f30.bimmerpost.com
“So I had ditched the horrible pirelli pzero run flats a few months ago for my 335 and got non run flat michelin pilot sports 4s on my 19 in wheels though they were hard to source and loved them. Xmas day driving at 40mph hit a pothole and immediately the low tyre pressure warning came on and the pressure was .2 bar! The air pump and goo thing did nothing for me ie despite switching it on the tyre pressure would go up to 1.2 and as soon and would deflate within a minute when pump was stopped back to .2 bar. I had family over and absolutely needed the car which was stranded away from home so an emergency tyre firm came and installed a accelera phi R tyre(the opnly tyre they could source in all of the city) callout fee in total £200! Incidentally I notice no change in the cars charecteristics if anything the accelera phi R seems softer and quieter? Should I get another michelin PS4 now and ditch the new accelera? I'm also quietly wondering if I made an error by ditching run flats thought he ride and handling are so much better they wouldn't have left me stranded perhaps?”
mbworld.org
“Quote: Originally Posted by ruined_c55 Since I've had mine, I've had Pirelli PZeros with stock wheels, Purely fronts/Accelera PHI R rears with my old wheels and now Lionhart LH Fives. Pirellis lasted 12ish K in the rear, Acceleras about 8K, and the Lionharts are too new to give lifespan feedback on. They did surprisingly well up in the canyons in the rain though. I'm not brave enough to run cheap Chinese tires on my dirtbike, let alone my daily driver pushing almost 400hp. I get between 15-20k out of much more expensive Michelins but the longer life and tons better grip more than make up for it.”
Top themes
#rapid tread wear#wet weather grip#difficult tubeless mounting#sharp steering response#ride comfort and quietness#sidewall bubble issues#AS Plus 3 performance
Based on 277 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 | B · Pirelli P Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 18 | 194 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 21″ | 17″ – 24″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| UTQG | 180 - 240 AA A | 220 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
| Sizes in common | 14 | 14 |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
64
/ 100
Pirelli P Zero
Narrow edge: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 — better handling, dry and noise. Pick the Pirelli P Zero if wet matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 81 vs 56 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli P Zero scores 71 vs 55 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 83 vs 72 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 69 vs 58 on noise.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Tire B · Pirelli P Zero
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Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero?
Pirelli P Zero, 71 vs 55 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, 83 vs 72 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, 69 vs 58 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, 59 vs 56 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, 57 vs 50 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Pilot Sport Cup 2 or P Zero?
Neither, by our numbers: 58 vs 59 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.
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