75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
66/100
8 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Continental PureContact LS vs Michelin Pilot Exalto — Compared (May 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
81/100
56 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Exalto — better comfort and treadwear. Pick the Continental PureContact LS if handling matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
6 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | PureContact LS | Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 86 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Exalto leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | PureContact LS | Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 81 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | PureContact LS | Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 48 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Pilot Exalto leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | PureContact LS | Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 58 | 77 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Pilot Exalto leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | PureContact LS | Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 83 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
PureContact LS leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | PureContact LS | Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental PureContact LS | Michelin Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 82 |
| Dry | 86 | 86 |
| Wet | 79 | 81 |
| Snow | 48 | – |
| Comfort | 58 | 77 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 83 |
| Handling | 85 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental PureContact LS receives a polarized reception from users, balancing praise for its longevity and wet-weather performance against significant complaints regarding noise levels and cold-weather flat-spotting. While some drivers appreciate the tire's luxury-oriented ride and tread life, others report inconsistent quality and frustrating vibration issues that detract from the overall ownership experience.
Pros
- Extended tread life compared to performance-oriented alternatives
- Reliable grip and stability in wet road conditions
- Comfortable, vibration-isolating ride quality
- Improved handling characteristics over many original equipment tires
Cons
- Persistent flat-spotting issues, particularly in colder temperatures
- Excessive road noise and humming at highway speeds
- Diminished traction and grip performance as the tread wears down
- Inconsistent winter weather capability
Observations
- Owners of luxury sedans like the Lexus ES 350 and Lincoln Continental reported significant issues with morning flat-spotting and vibrations.
- Users transitioning from performance-focused tires, such as the ExtremeContact DWS 06, noted a distinct trade-off between increased tread life and a loss of sporty steering feedback.
The Michelin Pilot Exalto is widely regarded as a premium, high-performance all-rounder that excels in both wet and dry conditions. While users frequently praise its exceptional longevity and consistent grip, some enthusiasts note that its focus on comfort results in softer sidewalls and reduced steering feedback compared to more aggressive track-focused tires.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability
- Strong, predictable grip in both wet and dry conditions
- Progressive handling characteristics near the limit
- High level of ride comfort
- Excellent value over the long term due to longevity
Cons
- High retail price point
- Softer sidewalls can lead to reduced steering feedback and responsiveness
- Increased road noise reported by some users
- Limited availability of specific sizes as the model ages
- Performance can drop off during prolonged high-speed/track use due to overheating
Observations
- Owners of lightweight sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 and Renault Clio 182 frequently cite this tire as an ideal match for the vehicle's handling characteristics.
- Users with modified suspension setups noted that the soft sidewalls of the Exalto can hinder the precision of aftermarket springs and anti-roll bars.
- Drivers of larger, heavier vehicles or those using 17-inch sizes noted that while the tire remains comfortable, the cost of replacement for these specific sizes is significantly higher.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental PureContact LS | B · Michelin Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 700 A A | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 70,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Continental
82
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Exalto — better comfort and treadwear. Pick the Continental PureContact LS if handling matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Exalto scores 77 vs 58 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Exalto scores 83 vs 70 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental PureContact LS scores 85 vs 80 on handling.
Tire A · Continental PureContact LS
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Exalto
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental PureContact LS also compared with
Michelin Pilot Exalto also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.