Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners
Owners 66 · 23 reviews analysed Road tests 65 · 8 tests
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The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 is praised by enthusiasts for its exceptional dry grip, sharp steering response, and top-tier track performance once properly warmed up. However, users note significant drawbacks regarding rapid tread wear, high cost, and reduced confidence in cold or wet conditions due to a susceptibility to aquaplaning and a lengthy heat-up time on public roads.
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.
By owner reviews
66/100From 23 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
65/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 specs & sizes
Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.
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What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 23 owner reviews found online.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 is praised by enthusiasts for its exceptional dry grip, sharp steering response, and top-tier track performance once properly warmed up. However, users note significant drawbacks regarding rapid tread wear, high cost, and reduced confidence in cold or wet conditions due to a susceptibility to aquaplaning and a lengthy heat-up time on public roads.
Pros
- Phenomenal grip and stability in dry conditions
- Exceptional steering precision and driver feedback
- Strong, robust sidewalls providing great agility and balance
- Impressive performance and heat resistance on track days
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
- High purchase price
- Requires significant heat to achieve optimal grip, making them less ideal for cold or short road trips
- Prone to aquaplaning and twitchy behavior in heavy standing water or wet conditions
- High sensitivity to tire pressure changes as they heat up
Worth knowing
- Drivers of heavier performance cars, like the Nissan GT-R and BMW M2 Competition, noted that the tire significantly improves agility and makes the vehicle feel lighter, though heavy cars can exacerbate wear.
- Drivers utilizing staggered setups (such as 265/35 R19 and 285/30 R20 on the rear) highlighted the extreme importance of managing tire pressures meticulously as temperatures rise.
- Lighter sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 and Renault Megane RS benefited heavily from the sharp steering response, though public road driving rarely generated enough heat for optimal performance.
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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8 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
The BEST Track Day tires for 2024 · 335/30 R21
2nd of 6
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 6 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 6 | |
| Dry Braking | 6th of 6 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 6 | |
| Dry Handling Long Run | 5th of 6 |
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day tire Test · 245/35 R19
3rd of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 8th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 9th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 8th of 10 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 10th of 10 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 6th of 10 | |
| Noise | 9th of 10 | |
| Tyre Weight | 7th of 10 |
Source: Sport Auto
2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch tire Test · 265/35 R19
3rd of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 10th of 10 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 10 | |
| Price | 10th of 10 |
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Summer tire test R19 · 245/35R19
10th of 9
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day tire Test · 245/35 R19
2nd of 9
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 9 | |
| Wet Handling | 6th of 9 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 9 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 9 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 7th of 9 | |
| Straight Aqua | 7th of 9 | |
| Noise | 7th of 9 | |
| Price | 9th of 9 |
Source: Sport Auto
2017 Track Day tire Test · 235/35 R19
1st of 5
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 5 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 5 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 5 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 5 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 5 |
2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test · 225/40 R18
6th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 10 |
Source: Sport Auto
2015 Australian Motor 235/35 R19 tire Test · 235/35 R19
2nd of 8
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Motor
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 compared
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