Tests 78 · 20 tests Owners 65 · 18 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 50 in 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Sport 5 is ahead, 82–72
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Tests 84 · 23 tests Owners 82 · 6,414 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 2 in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Pilot Sport 5: How Much Do You Really Give Up? (subj. wet handling)
“The Tire Rack no longer has the selection with the major name brands it once did. I can order the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 in 225/45R18 from Costco but the Tire Rack doesn't offer it in that size. I can order the Continental Sport Contact 7 at Discount Tire in 225/45R18 but not at the Tire Rack. When my wife and I had a Corolla Hybrid, it took a 195/65R15. Michelin quit offering the CC2 in that size so the next best all-weather tire at the time that fit was the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 750. The Tire Rack never offered that tire but Discount Tire had it in stock locally. None of the tires I mentioned are exclusive tires for certain retailers. I enjoy the Tire Rack website and the testing they do, but they are no longer the go to merchant when buying tires like they once was.”
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 5 +1388Why this score
Source N Fera Sport SU2 Pilot Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 80 91 Reviews found online 67 84 Dry Braking (% of best) 97% 97% Dry Circle Speed (% of best) 99% 99% Dry Handling (% of best) 96% 100% -
78
Wet
Pilot Sport 5 +1290Why this score
Source N Fera Sport SU2 Pilot Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 83 92 Reviews found online 71 87 Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 95% Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) 89% 97% Wet Circle (% of best) 97% 99% Wet Handling (% of best) 95% 98% -
79
Comfort
N Fera Sport SU2 +475Why this score
Source N Fera Sport SU2 Pilot Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 89 71 Reviews found online 63 80 -
85
Noise
N Fera Sport SU2 +4045Why this score
Source N Fera Sport SU2 Pilot Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 97 30 -
60
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 5 +2282Why this score
Source N Fera Sport SU2 Pilot Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 63 87 Reviews found online 56 75 -
69
Handling
Pilot Sport 5 +1483Why this score
Source N Fera Sport SU2 Pilot Sport 5 Reviews found online 69 83
Scores at a glance
| Category | Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 | Michelin Pilot Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 82 |
| Dry | 75 | 88 |
| Wet | 78 | 90 |
| Comfort | 79 | 75 |
| Noise | 85 | 45 |
| Treadwear | 60 | 82 |
| Handling | 69 | 83 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
N Fera Sport SU2
82
/ 100
Pilot Sport 5
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 | N Fera Sport SU2 | Pilot Sport 5 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 86% #11/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 87% #6/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | −1.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% #3/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | 97% #3/52 · 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout | −0.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Circle Speed | Dry | 99% #4/7 · 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test | 99% #3/7 · 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test | −0.1 | Same test |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 96% #10/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test | 100% #2/6 · 2024 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | −3.5 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 80% #19/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | 94% #3/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −13.5 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 95% #14/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 95% #8/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 0.0 | Same test |
| Abrasion | Other | 65% #15/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | 78% #2/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −13.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #6/11 · 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test | 93% #10/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | +4.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 98% #2/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | 90% #2/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | +7.6 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 45% #5/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 70% #10/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | −24.5 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 59% #8/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 93% #2/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | −34.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 14% #7/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | 20% #5/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | −5.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 92% #18/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | 93% #9/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | −0.4 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 91% #17/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | 80% #5/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | +11.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 91% #4/7 · 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test | 80% #6/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | +10.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 30% #10/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test | 100% #1/2 · Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Pilot Sport 5: How Much Do You Really Give Up? | −70.0 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #4/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 0% #8/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 0.0 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #8/17 · 2021 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 225/50 R17 | 95% #3/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −4.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | Wet | 89% #13/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 97% #3/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −8.0 | Same test |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 97% #15/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 99% #3/8 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −2.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #16/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | 98% #3/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | −2.7 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A N Fera Sport SU2
Pros
- Significantly cheaper than premium tier alternatives like Michelin and Continental
- Impressive dry grip and predictable, controllable handling
- Strong wet weather performance and high-speed stability
Cons
- Rapid and uneven tread wear, often requiring replacement prematurely
- Stiff carcass leading to mediocre ride comfort and harshness over road imperfections
- Soft rubber compound prone to squirming under hard cornering or experiencing shoulder damage
Tire B Pilot Sport 5
Pros
- Outstanding wet and dry traction with high resistance to aquaplaning
- Superior tread life and longevity compared to competitors and previous generations
- Noticeable improvements in ride comfort and a quieter cabin over rough road surfaces
Cons
- Softer sidewalls can lead to initial steering vagueness or understeer during hard cornering
- Higher price point compared to some tier-one competitors
- Performance and grip degrade significantly under intense track heat or heavy circuit use
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Community opinion on the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is overwhelmingly positive for daily street driving, praising its exceptional wet grip, tread longevity, and quiet comfort compared to run-flats and older performance tires. However, several enthusiasts note downsides for aggressive or track use, specifically citing softer sidewalls, muted steering feedback, and poor heat resistance leading to delamination under track conditions. Most drivers consider it an outstanding premium all-rounder for sporty street cars rather than a dedicated track or extreme-performance tire.
r/TeslaUK
·3 upvotes ·2026-03-27
“Pilot sport 5? Hi, after replacement tyres for M3. Just touched 30k miles and all 4 need doing. Michelin 235/45 ZR18 (98Y) XL TL PILOT SPORT 5 I was looking at these 154 pounds from Costco. Only they’re not T rated. Was comparing them with the original 235/45 ZR 18 PILOT SPORT 4 XL TO TESLA these are 204 pounds at Costco. Thoughts on whether the PS5 will be ok please? Visited a couple of independent tyre shops yesterday, 1 quoted budget 100 each through to PS4s at 230 each. The second wouldn’t quote on non Tesla approved, so just quoted the PS4 T0s at 203 each. Cheers”
r/CarsAustralia
·8 upvotes ·2025-09-10
“In my experience they are quite long wearing tires and well worth the cost. I used to get around 40k out of most tyres. My first set of ps4’s lasted 55k and now the ps5’s are trending to beat it. I'm a pretty spirited driver around the roundabouts of Canberra too, though I only have a hatch so experiences may vary. As to performance I've driven them on my i30 n-line and other people’s i30N, BRZ, tesla 3, and stinger and the tyres have more grip than I have guts to push them on public roads. In both wet and dry they are very confidence inspiring and a hell of a lot of fun.”
r/ft86
·2 upvotes ·2026-07-21
“PS5 is a very good allround, comfortable but grippy tire. PS4S has a stiffer sidewall and is way sportier but harsher. There is to date no successor for the PS4S. I switched from PS4S to PS5 on my mustang and its a way better fit for a daily tire. I would remommend to get PS5 for the rear aswell.”
Top themes
#wet grip performance#tread wear longevity#daily driving comfort#track heat delamination#soft sidewall steering feedback#road noise levels#comparison with ps4s
Based on 174 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 66 |
| Rim diameters | — | 16″ – 22″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
82
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better treadwear, handling and dry. Pick the Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 if noise and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 scores 85 vs 45 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 82 vs 60 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 83 vs 69 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 88 vs 75 on dry.
Tire A · Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
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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.