Summer tire Updated November 2026

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 review

± 4

Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners

Better than 99% of the summer tires we score.

Owners 87 · 6,510 reviews analysed Road tests 86 · 23 tests

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Michelin Pilot Sport 5 has a Relative Score of 86 out of 100 among summer tires. In 21 road tests with an overall ranking it finished first 3 times and in the top three 12 times. Testers rate it best for wet (94) and weakest for noise (33). 6,510 owner reviews rate it 87 out of 100. 83% would buy it again.

Projected tread life in 5 wear tests: about 54,000 km (34,000 miles) on average, newest 2026.

  • Strength: Wet 94 — 1st of 7 (2026 AutoView Sport tire Test), 1st of 7 (Top Tire Review 2026 UHP tire Test: Big Brands vs Challengers)
  • Strength: Dry 93 — 1st of 7 (2026 Sport Auto Summer tire Test), 1st of 20 (2026 Autobild Summer tire Test)
  • Strength: Treadwear 92 — 1st of 10 (2025 AZ Summer tire Test), 2nd of 20 (2026 Autobild Summer tire Test)
  • Weak point: Noise 33 — 10th of 10 (2023 AZ UHP Summer tire Test), 6th of 6 (2024 Sport Auto Summer tire Test)
Community sentiment Positive Read the buzz
#wet grip performance#tread life longevity#daily driving comfort#track heat delamination#premium pricing comparisons
Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

How scores work
Relative score
0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
Road tests
0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
Owner reviews
0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.

Full methodology

By owner reviews

87/100

From 6,510 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.

Would buy again 83%
Dry
Overall dry
90
Wet
Overall wet
93
Comfort
Overall comfort
83
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
78
Handling
Overall handling
89

Own these tires? Write a review →

By road tests

86/100

Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.

Dry
93
Wet
94
Comfort
71
Noise
33
Treadwear
92
Efficiency
63

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 6,510 owner reviews found online.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is widely praised by users as an exceptional all-around ultra-high-performance summer tire, offering a stellar balance of impressive dry and wet grip, reduced road noise, and enhanced ride comfort compared to its predecessors. While most drivers celebrate its longevity and confidence-inspiring handling in various weather conditions, a subset of enthusiast drivers note that it leans slightly more toward grand touring refinement, exhibiting a softer sidewall and slightly less sharp steering feel or track-day heat resistance than dedicated track-focused alternatives.

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
  • Excellent straight-line stability and progressive, predictable handling at the limit

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
  • Occasional reports of inner shoulder wear or noise issues near the end of the tread life

Worth knowing

  • Drivers transitioning from stiff run-flat tires (such as Pirelli P-Zeros or Bridgestones) on BMW and Mercedes models noted a massive improvement in ride comfort and impact absorption.
  • Owners of high-torque, front-wheel-drive hot hatches (like Golf GTIs and Focus STs) praised the tire for drastically reducing wheel spin and providing secure traction in heavy rain.

23 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2026 Sport Auto Summer tire Test · 205/45 R 17

5th of 7
Best: Dry Handling (tester's mark) · 1st Weakest: Straight Aquaplaning · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking6th of 7
Wet Handling5th of 7
Wet Circle5th of 7
Dry Braking4th of 7
Dry Handling4th of 7
Rolling Resistance3rd of 7
Straight Aquaplaning7th of 7
Curved Aquaplaning6th of 7
Dry Handling (tester's mark)1st of 7
Comfort (tester's mark)5th of 7
Wet Handling (tester's mark)5th of 7
Noise4th of 7

Source: Sport Auto

2026 Autobild Summer tire Test · 245/45 R19

3rd of 20
Best: Dry Handling (tester's mark) · 1st Weakest: Noise · 19th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking9th of 20
Wet Handling3rd of 20
Dry Braking9th of 20
Dry Handling2nd of 20
Rolling Resistance9th of 20
Straight Aquaplaning10th of 20
Dry Handling (tester's mark)1st of 20
Comfort (tester's mark)14th of 20
Wet Handling (tester's mark)8th of 20
Noise19th of 20
Value15th of 20
Wear2nd of 20
Abrasion5th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership13th of 20

Source: Auto Bild

2026 AutoView Sport tire Test · 225/45 R18

2nd of 7
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 7
Dry Braking2nd of 7
Dry Handling (tester's mark)3rd of 7
Comfort (tester's mark)2nd of 7
Noise5th of 7
Dry Circle Speed3rd of 7

Source: AutoView

Top Tire Review 2026 UHP tire Test: Big Brands vs Challengers · 225/45 R18

1st of 7
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Straight Aquaplaning · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 7
Wet Handling3rd of 7
Dry Braking3rd of 7
Dry Handling2nd of 7
Rolling Resistance3rd of 7
Straight Aquaplaning6th of 7
Dry Handling (tester's mark)1st of 7
Comfort (tester's mark)1st of 7
Wet Handling (tester's mark)1st of 7

Source: TopTireReview

2026 AutoView Value Sport tire Test · 235/40 R18

3rd of 4
Best: Dry Handling (tester's mark) · 1st Weakest: Dry Handling · 4th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 4
Dry Braking2nd of 4
Dry Handling4th of 4
Dry Handling (tester's mark)1st of 4
Comfort (tester's mark)4th of 4
Noise2nd of 4
Dry Circle Speed3rd of 4

Source: AutoView

2026 Summer Braking Super tire Test - How do 52 tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? · 245/45 R19

9th of 50
Best: Wet Braking · 9th Weakest: Dry Braking · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking9th of 50
Dry Braking10th of 50

Source: Auto Bild

2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

5th of 8
Best: Rolling Resistance · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling (tester's mark) · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 8
Dry Braking6th of 8
Rolling Resistance1st of 8
Straight Aquaplaning1st of 8
Dry Handling (tester's mark)6th of 8
Comfort (tester's mark)5th of 8
Wet Handling (tester's mark)7th of 8
Noise (tester's mark)5th of 8

Source: Die Reifentester

2025 Auto Express Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

4th of 9
Best: Straight Aquaplaning · 1st Weakest: Noise (tester's mark) · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 9
Wet Handling6th of 9
Wet Circle3rd of 9
Dry Braking7th of 9
Dry Handling7th of 9
Rolling Resistance3rd of 9
Straight Aquaplaning1st of 9
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 9
Noise (tester's mark)8th of 9

Source: Auto Express

2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance tire Test · 225/40 R18

1st of 20
Best: Wear · 2nd Weakest: Noise · 17th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 20
Wet Handling5th of 20
Wet Circle6th of 20
Dry Braking3rd of 20
Dry Handling4th of 20
Rolling Resistance10th of 20
Straight Aquaplaning8th of 20
Curved Aquaplaning6th of 20
Comfort (tester's mark)9th of 20
Noise17th of 20
Value6th of 20
Wear2nd of 20
Total Cost of Ownership8th of 20

Source: Auto Bild

2025 AZ Summer tire Test · 225/45 R18

4th of 10
Best: Abrasion · 1st Weakest: Noise · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 10
Wet Handling5th of 10
Wet Circle4th of 10
Dry Braking3rd of 10
Dry Handling7th of 10
Rolling Resistance7th of 10
Straight Aquaplaning3rd of 10
Comfort (tester's mark)5th of 10
Noise10th of 10
Value6th of 10
Wear2nd of 10
Abrasion1st of 10
Total Cost of Ownership5th of 10

Source: Auto Zeitung

2025 ADAC Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

3rd of 18
Best: Wear · 2nd Weakest: Noise · 16th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 18
Dry Braking6th of 18
Straight Aquaplaning4th of 18
Curved Aquaplaning10th of 18
Noise16th of 18
Value10th of 18
Wear2nd of 18
Fuel Consumption8th of 18
Abrasion2nd of 18
Wet Braking (concrete)3rd of 18

Source: ADAC

2025 Summer tire Test Shootout · 225/40 R18

2nd of 52
Best: Dry Braking · 3rd Weakest: Wet Braking · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 52
Dry Braking3rd of 52

Source: Auto Bild

2024 TopTireReview Best UHP tires for Asia Test · 235/45 R18

3rd of 6
Best: Straight Aquaplaning · 1st Weakest: Comfort (tester's mark) · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 6
Wet Handling2nd of 6
Wet Circle4th of 6
Dry Braking2nd of 6
Dry Handling4th of 6
Rolling Resistance5th of 6
Straight Aquaplaning1st of 6
Comfort (tester's mark)6th of 6
Noise3rd of 6

Source: TopTireReview

2024 Auto Express Summer tire Test · 225/45 R17

4th of 8
Best: Straight Aquaplaning · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 8
Wet Handling4th of 8
Wet Circle3rd of 8
Dry Braking3rd of 8
Dry Handling3rd of 8
Interior Noise3rd of 8
Rolling Resistance6th of 8
Straight Aquaplaning1st of 8
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 8

Source: Auto Express

2024 Sport Auto Summer tire Test · 215/40 R18

2nd of 6
Best: Dry Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 6
Wet Handling2nd of 6
Wet Circle3rd of 6
Dry Braking1st of 6
Dry Handling2nd of 6
Rolling Resistance3rd of 6
Straight Aquaplaning3rd of 6
Curved Aquaplaning5th of 6
Noise6th of 6

Source: Sport Auto

2023 AutoBild UHP Summer tire Test · 225/45 R18

2nd of 20
Best: Wear · 2nd Weakest: Noise · 18th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking7th of 20
Wet Handling6th of 20
Dry Braking9th of 20
Dry Handling7th of 20
Rolling Resistance6th of 20
Straight Aquaplaning6th of 20
Noise18th of 20
Value10th of 20
Price20th of 20
Wear2nd of 20
Total Cost of Ownership6th of 20

Source: Auto Bild

2023 AZ UHP Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

5th of 10
Best: Dry Braking · 2nd Weakest: Noise · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 10
Wet Handling3rd of 10
Dry Braking2nd of 10
Dry Handling6th of 10
Rolling Resistance4th of 10
Straight Aquaplaning9th of 10
Noise10th of 10
Price9th of 10

Source: Auto Zeitung

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

4th of 13
Best: Wet Braking · 3rd Weakest: Noise · 12th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 13
Wet Handling5th of 13
Wet Circle7th of 13
Dry Braking7th of 13
Dry Handling4th of 13
Rolling Resistance6th of 13
Straight Aquaplaning3rd of 13
Noise12th of 13
Price13th of 13

Source: Auto Bild Sportscars

2023 Summer tire Market Overview · 225/45 R18

6th of 48
Best: Wet Braking · 7th Weakest: Dry Braking · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking7th of 48
Dry Braking8th of 48

Source: Auto Bild

2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 245/45R18

3rd of 10
Best: Curved Aquaplaning · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 10
Wet Handling6th of 10
Dry Braking8th of 10
Dry Handling3rd of 10
Exterior Noise7th of 10
Rolling Resistance2nd of 10
Straight Aquaplaning2nd of 10
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 10
Dry Handling (tester's mark)2nd of 10
Wet Handling (tester's mark)4th of 10
Wet2nd of 10
Dry5th of 10

Source: ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Pilot Sport 5: How Much Do You Really Give Up? · 255/40 R20

2 tires
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 2
Dry Braking2nd of 2
Rolling Resistance2nd of 2
Wet Handling (tester's mark)1st of 2
Abrasion2nd of 2

Michelin CrossClimate 3 & 3 Sport vs Pilot Sport 5 vs Primacy 5 · 225/40 R18

1st of 4
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 4
Wet Handling1st of 4
Dry Braking1st of 4
Dry Handling1st of 4

Source: Auto Motor und Sport

Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance tires · 245/45 R19

2nd of 3
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 3
Wet Handling2nd of 3
Dry Braking2nd of 3
Dry Handling1st of 3
Rolling Resistance2nd of 3
Straight Aquaplaning2nd of 3
Price2nd of 3

Source: Auto Bild

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 specs & sizes

Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.

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What owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of the scores above.

Community sentiment towards the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is largely positive, with drivers frequently praising its outstanding wet grip, daily driving comfort, and impressive tread life. While widely recommended as a dependable, premium all-round performance tire, some enthusiasts criticize it for having a slightly numb steering feel, softer sidewalls, and poor heat resistance during track use compared to more aggressive alternatives.

Sentiment breakdown
Positive44%
Mixed19%
Negative8%
Neutral29%
Top themes
#wet grip performance#tread life longevity#daily driving comfort#track heat delamination#premium pricing comparisons#road noise levels#steering feel feedback

From 173 threads and comments.

Reviews from our readers

Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.

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