Head-to-head Updated

Toyo Proxes Sport vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — 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 20 + 27 road tests and 1,277 + 6,632 owner reviews. How we score

Pilot Sport 4 S is ahead, 83–59

Add your size for an exact match
/R

Both Amazon links then search this exact size.

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Toyo Proxes Sport
Tire AToyo

Proxes Sport

Summer

± 6

Tests 58 · 20 tests Owners 53 · 1,277 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2018 AMS Summer UHP Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)

“Had the older version on an SRT8. Grip & performance were great. But wear was not. 10K miles(2 rotations) is all I got.”

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Tire BMichelin

Pilot Sport 4 S

Summer

± 4

Tests 82 · 27 tests Owners 86 · 6,632 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)

“A note about the pilot sport 4 S: in cold weather (below 5 degrees) even if it isn't icy, the tyre compound hardens and has dramatically reduced grip. They are excellent summer tyres though, good in the wet too. These days I run Uniroyal rainsport 5 and they're very good.”

Category by category

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

Key facts

  • In 6 tests that measured dry braking for both, Proxes Sport won 0 and Pilot Sport 4 S won 6 (average 91% vs 99% of the best).
  • In 6 tests that measured dry handling for both, Proxes Sport won 0 and Pilot Sport 4 S won 6 (average 97% vs 99% of the best).
  • In 6 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, Proxes Sport won 4 and Pilot Sport 4 S won 0 (average 97% vs 95% of the best).
  • In 6 tests that measured wet braking for both, Proxes Sport won 0 and Pilot Sport 4 S won 6 (average 86% vs 97% of the best).
  • In 6 tests that measured wet handling for both, Proxes Sport won 1 and Pilot Sport 4 S won 5 (average 94% vs 97% of the best).
  1. 62

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 4 S +31
    93
    Why this score
    SourceProxes SportPilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 25 tests6194
    Reviews found online6492
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 0–691%99%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 0–697%99%
    Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–464%91%

    Proxes Sport: 60% × 60.7 + 40% × 64.1 = 62

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 94.3 + 40% × 92.1 = 93

  2. 70

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 4 S +18
    88
    Why this score
    SourceProxes SportPilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 26 tests7786
    Reviews found online5991
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 4–097%95%
    Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 0–271%82%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 0–686%97%
    Wet Circle (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–291%98%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 1–594%97%

    Proxes Sport: 60% × 76.6 + 40% × 59.4 = 70

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 86.4 + 40% × 90.6 = 88

  3. 33

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceProxes SportPilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 48 (est.)–
    Reviews found online10–

    Proxes Sport: 60% × 48 (est.) + 40% × 10 = 33

    No road tests of snow for Proxes Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 56

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 4 S +23
    79
    Why this score
    SourceProxes SportPilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 6 tests5070
    Reviews found online5984
    Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–085%85%

    Proxes Sport: 40% × 50.1 + 60% × 59.4 = 56

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 84.2 = 79

  5. 71

    Noise

    Proxes Sport +2
    69
    Why this score
    SourceProxes SportPilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 20 tests7270
    Reviews found online69≈ 67 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 2–398%98%

    Proxes Sport: 60% × 72.1 + 40% × 68.6 = 71

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 69

    No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4 S. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 43

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport 4 S +29
    72
    Why this score
    SourceProxes SportPilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests3670
    Reviews found online5474
    Tested Tread Life (Miles) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–146%62%

    Proxes Sport: 60% × 35.5 + 40% × 54.2 = 43

    Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74 = 72

  7. 56

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Sport 4 S +34
    90
    Why this score
    SourceProxes SportPilot Sport 4 S
    Reviews found online5690
  8. 41

    Efficiency

    Pilot Sport 4 S +31
    72
    Why this score
    SourceProxes SportPilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 23 tests4172
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 1–592%95%
Scores at a glance
Toyo Proxes Sport vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryToyo Proxes SportMichelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Relative Score 59 83
Dry 62 93
Wet 70 88
Snow 33 –
Comfort 56 79
Noise 71 69
Treadwear 43 72
Handling (owners) 56 90
Efficiency 41 72

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
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
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

Proxes Sport

± 4

Pilot Sport 4 S

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.

In the overall rankings of 9 tests that ran both, Toyo Proxes Sport finished ahead 0 times and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S 9 times.

DisciplineCategoryProxes SportPilot Sport 4 SΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 91% 99% −7.8 0–6 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Dry Handling Dry 97% 99% −2.1 0–6 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 64% 91% −26.3 0–4 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 97% 95% +2.1 4–0 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Wet Braking Wet 86% 97% −11.0 0–6 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Wet Circle Wet 91% 98% −7.0 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Wet Handling Wet 94% 97% −2.4 1–5 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 71% 82% −11.1 0–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 85% 85% 0.0 0–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test · 245/35 R19
Noise Noise 98% 98% −0.1 2–3 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Tested Tread Life (Miles) Treadwear 46% 62% −15.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires · 215/60R18
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 92% 95% −2.6 1–5 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 78% 49% +28.1 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test · 275/35 R19
Tyre Weight Other 95% 99% −4.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test · 245/35 R19
Overall Ranking Overall #15/22 #1/22 – 0–9 in 9 shared tests Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires · 215/60R18

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Proxes Sport

Pros

  • Significantly more affordable than premium tier summer tires while offering around 80-90% of the performance
  • Commendable grip and handling in dry conditions with a progressive, predictable breakaway
  • Low road noise and generally high ride comfort compared to factory run-flats or older performance tires

Cons

  • Faster-than-expected tread wear, with multiple users reporting replacement necessary between 6,000 and 12,000 miles
  • Inconsistent or slippery wet-weather traction and occasional tendency to hydroplane in heavy standing water
  • Stiff sidewalls on certain sizes leading to a harsher ride quality or increased noise for some drivers
All owner themes in the Proxes Sport review

Tire B Pilot Sport 4 S

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and predictable handling in both dry and wet conditions
  • Noticeable reduction in road noise and improved ride comfort compared to competitors and run-flats
  • Sharper steering response and improved cornering stability

Cons

  • High initial purchase price
  • Rapid tread wear reported by some aggressive drivers and track users
  • Soft sidewalls can cause a slightly vague or laggy initial response during rapid steering transitions
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport 4 S review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Toyo Proxes Sport

Positive

Community sentiment toward the Toyo Proxes Sport family is generally positive, with drivers praising its ride comfort, good value for money, and competent daily street grip. Many owners appreciate unique size options like 345/25-20 for high-performance cars, though enthusiasts note that dedicated track tires offer superior turn-in sharpness and ultimate traction. A common topic of discussion is the scarcity of extensive real-world reviews, particularly regarding newer variants.

r/tires ·2 upvotes ·2026-08-09

“I have real world experience with the Toyo Proxes Sport AS+. This may be the best all around tire on the planet IMO. I'm old and so I've tried multiple tires in real world conditions as a daily driver with performance in mind. I know every Michelin and Pirelli. I've become an expert on available tires in the USA.. What you will find with This tire: * They are immediately quiet *Resist hydroplaning in big water * Higher than expected dry performance in super hot weather for an AS * Maintain tread pattern to the death and remain quiet. These tires are next level.”

corvetteforum.com

“I finally got Toyo Proxes Sport tires to replace my old Michelins. I up sized with 295/30-19's front and 345/25-20's rear on the stock wheels. I really like the fitment and don't have any rubbing even being lowered on the stock jacking bolts. I'm amazed how well they hook although I don't have a good reference as the 9-year-old Michelins were like rocks LOL. The ride is a bit better as well on non-run-flats.”

forum.miata.net

“Quote: Originally Posted by Brian Goodwin I own both the Falken and Toyo Proxes Sport, both in 235/40-17. The Toyo rides better, the Falken goes faster through the turns, and turn-in response is much quicker. I have not bothered to take the Toyo to the track because around our fun canyon roads it is clearly slower and with less grip than the Falken. The Falken feels like a race tire, complete with stiff sidewall support for crisp turn-in, used those for track and autocross over the last few months, including two wins in class at autocross. The Toyo feels like a street tire, much like the Continental ECS, complete with much lower weight because sidewalls are comparatively soft and squishy next to the Falken. If you want a soft daily driver 235/40 and you accept it is a few clicks slower than the Falken, the Toyo is great as a daily driver. But if you expect that Toyo to keep up with the Falken on track days, you will be disappointed. Great feedback, thanks Brian. Wish there were more options in this size! May just stick with the RT660s, especially now with the HKS GT2 on the car”

Top themes
#Value for money#Ride comfort#Street vs track performance#Wide fitment availability#Tread wear and longevity#Limited review availability

Based on 34 community posts

Tire B

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Positive

The community widely regards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S as a benchmark max-performance summer tire, praising its outstanding dry and wet grip, stability, and daily driving refinement. Common criticisms focus on its premium price, rapid tread wear on high-powered heavy vehicles or hot track sessions, and significantly reduced grip in cold weather. Many enthusiasts consider it an ideal street tire, though some note softer sidewalls compared to predecessors or recommend dedicated track tires for hard circuit driving.

mustang6g.com ·2020-11-15

“I just went 12k on PSS for mixed use weekend and HDPE. 275/35 19x10 front and 305/30 19x11rear stagger. I replaced the PS4s from stock purchased PP1. I immediately noticed the PSS seemed a little louder and the concrete joints were felt and heard. Now after putting on 285/35 and 325/30 MP4S I'm enjoying a better ride. I have a track event this weekend so I'll get to test the 4S in track duty.”

jaguarforums.com

“I had a similar experience with Discount Tire and brand new Michelin PS4S's. I clipped a large lane marker (not a dot, a turtle) with both driver's side tires and pinch-flatted them both. I had driven them less than 10 miles so Discount Tire replaced them for only $50 without me even asking for a discount. I had purchased them for about $450 each and didn't buy a road hazard warranty, so I was very pleased with Discount Tire.”

vwvortex.com ·2025-09-26

“My 2023 20th AE Golf R came with Hankook tires , and I've been very pleased with them. I'm a fairly aggressive driver and frequent the twisty roads in the Santa Monica Mountains. I also have a mildly modded Mk VI Golf R shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires on factory 18" rims, and the Hankooks seem to perform almost as well in the dry, but outshine the PS4s in the wet. I will most likely need new tires next year, but I am undecided between the Hankooks and the Michelin PS4AS tires . As for Continental tires ... I use Continental tubular tires on my road bicycle, but have experienced many problems, including massive chunking with them on my 1974 BMW 2002Tii and my 1979 Scirocco Gti , so I am not going to use them on my cars again.”

Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Track day durability#High price vs alternatives#Tread life and wear#Cold weather performance#Sidewall stiffness and comfort

Based on 208 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Toyo Proxes Sport B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available83110
Rim diameters17″ – 21″17″ – 22″
Tread depth9 - 10/32″—
UTQG240 AA A—
Treadwear warranty25,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common5353

Which one should you actually buy?

Toyo Proxes Sport

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better handling, dry and efficiency. Where the Toyo Proxes Sport is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 93 vs 62 on dry.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 72 vs 41 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 72 vs 43 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is straight aquaplaning

Toyo Proxes Sport won 4 of 6 shared straight aquaplaning tests.

Tire A · Toyo Proxes Sport
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Proxes Sport or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Which is better in the wet, Proxes Sport or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 88 vs 70 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Proxes Sport or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 93 vs 62 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Proxes Sport or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 69 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Proxes Sport or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 79 vs 56 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Proxes Sport or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 72 vs 43 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Proxes Sport or Pilot Sport 4 S?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 72 vs 41 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