Tests – · none yet Owners 71 · 3 reviews
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup looks discontinued: no new owner reviews or road tests in five years and no current EU tyre label.
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup vs Nitto NT555 G2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 0 + 2 road tests and 3 + 411 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport Cup is ahead, 71–60
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Tests 59 · 2 tests Owners 61 · 411 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (tested tread life (miles))
“Update! I ended up going with the Nitto NT555 G2’s, thanks for all the suggestions. They are amazing tires! They ride smooth for an ultra performance, the price was friendly, and they grip extremely well!”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
Pilot Sport Cup +1956Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 72 (est.) 49 Reviews found online 80 67 Pilot Sport Cup: 60% × 72.5 (est.) + 40% × 79.5 = 75
NT555 G2: 60% × 49.4 + 40% × 67.2 = 56
No road tests of dry for Pilot Sport Cup. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).
-
69
Wet
Pilot Sport Cup +1752Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 69 (est.) 48 Reviews found online 69 59 Pilot Sport Cup: 60% × 69.4 (est.) + 40% × 69.1 = 69
NT555 G2: 60% × 47.7 + 40% × 59 = 52
No road tests of wet for Pilot Sport Cup. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).
-
–
Snow
No comparison47Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 57 (est.) Reviews found online – 32 NT555 G2: 60% × 57.4 (est.) + 40% × 32 = 47
No road tests of snow for NT555 G2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.33).
-
66
Comfort
NT555 G2 +268Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 68 (est.) ≈ 69 (est.) Reviews found online 62 67 Pilot Sport Cup: 60% × 67.9 (est.) + 40% × 62.1 = 66
NT555 G2: 60% × 68.7 (est.) + 40% × 66.7 = 68
No road tests of comfort for Pilot Sport Cup or NT555 G2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
-
–
Noise
No comparison67Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 67 (est.) Reviews found online – 66 NT555 G2: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 65.9 = 67
No road tests of noise for NT555 G2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
-
65
Treadwear
NT555 G2 +1075Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 65 (est.) 81 Reviews found online 64 67 Pilot Sport Cup: 60% × 65.2 (est.) + 40% × 64.4 = 65
NT555 G2: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 66.9 = 75
No road tests of treadwear for Pilot Sport Cup. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).
-
77
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport Cup +1067Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup NT555 G2 Reviews found online 77 67
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup | Nitto NT555 G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 60 |
| Dry | 75 | 56 |
| Wet | 69 | 52 |
| Snow | – | 47 |
| Comfort | 66 | 68 |
| Noise | – | 67 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 75 |
| Handling (owners) | 77 | 67 |
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
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
71
/ 100
Pilot Sport Cup
60
/ 100
NT555 G2
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 | NT555 G2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/6 2013 Auto Bild Track Day Semi Slick Tyre Test | #10/10 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Sport Cup
Pros
- Phenomenal dry grip once tires are properly warmed up
- Predictable and progressive handling at the limit rather than snappy
- Better-than-average trackday longevity and overall tread life
Cons
- Difficult to build up adequate heat in cold or wet conditions
- Poor performance and hydroplaning risk in standing water
- High sensitivity to correct tire pressures
Tire B NT555 G2
Pros
- Aggressive, visually appealing tread pattern and sidewall design
- Exceptional value and lower price point compared to premium brands like Michelin or Pirelli
- Long-lasting tread life and slow wear rates for a summer performance tire
Cons
- Poor wet-weather traction, with multiple users reporting hydroplaning and a slippery feel in the rain
- Lack of straight-line traction and wheel spin under heavy acceleration, especially on high-horsepower RWD vehicles
- Subpar performance in cooler temperatures or cold conditions, requiring heat to grip properly
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Nitto NT555 G2
Community sentiment regarding the Nitto NT555 G2 is divided, with many owners appreciating its affordable price point, quiet street ride, good tread life, and availability in hard-to-find wide sizes. However, numerous drivers express frustration over poor straight-line traction on higher-horsepower vehicles, significant loss of grip in cold temperatures, and dangerous handling or hydroplaning in wet weather. Additionally, several users report persistent issues with flat-spotting when vehicles are parked for extended periods.
mustang6g.com
·1 upvote ·2019-07-12
“NT555G2 are lower end performance tires. They are not even in the same class as the PSS4S you mention. If you have the money buy the Michelin PSS4s’. Also go wider in the front and rear for better traction and honestly better looks. I run Nitto NT05’s in 275/305/35R19. They are 100% stickier than the 555G2’s and on a warm day the PSS4s’ too that came with my car But that’s the point of them and the rain performance doing the actual speed limit and taking it easy in the rain fine. I have about 530 to the crank and 460 to the wheels. They will not last as long as the 555G2’s but they perform better. When it comes to pure all around best street tire though, the answer is easy the Michelin’s you mentioned are the best if you have the extra money to spend. Get a 275/295/35R19 set up since the profile of the 305 in that tire is too small at just 30 in my opinion. You’ll be very happy with those. Or get the Nitto Nt05 but expect to replace the tires every 10-15k miles depending on how rough you are on them.”
r/ft86
·152 upvotes ·2020-06-17
“Finally got new tires on, NT555 G2s”
r/CrownVictoria
·38 upvotes ·2023-08-10
“Finally slapped on the widened steelies with 285/40/17 Nittos NT555 G2.”
Top themes
#Wet traction issues#Cold weather performance#Affordable budget option#Straight line grip#Temporary flat spotting#Wide size availability#Michelin tire comparisons
Based on 84 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup | B · Nitto NT555 G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Trackday and Competition tires | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 88 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10.2/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 320 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup
60
/ 100
Nitto NT555 G2
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup — better dry, wet and handling. Pick the Nitto NT555 G2 if treadwear matters most to you. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 3 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup scores 75 vs 56 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup scores 69 vs 52 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup scores 77 vs 67 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Nitto NT555 G2 scores 75 vs 65 on treadwear.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup
Tire B · Nitto NT555 G2
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Pilot Sport Cup or NT555 G2?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport Cup or NT555 G2?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup, 69 vs 52 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport Cup or NT555 G2?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup, 75 vs 56 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport Cup or NT555 G2?
Neither, by our numbers: 66 vs 68 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport Cup or NT555 G2?
Nitto NT555 G2, 75 vs 65 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