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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — Compared (September 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.

Tire A Hankook

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2

Summer Max Performance tires

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
76/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
75/100
105 owner reviews
Dry
83
Wet
81
Snow
50
Comfort
70
Noise
70
Treadwear
68
Handling
79

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Michelin

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Summer Max Performance tires

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tread pattern
Objective (60%)
94/100
28 professional tests
User signal (40%)
93/100
2,091 owner reviews
Dry
91
Wet
87
Snow
Comfort
86
Noise
84
Treadwear
90
Handling
95

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better treadwear, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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Category breakdown

7 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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport 4 S leads by 8
A — Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
83
B — Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
91
Why this score
SourceVentus S1 evo2Pilot Sport 4 S
Professional tests (TWG score) 82 87
Tire Rack owners 92 95
Tyre Reviews owners 84 92
Dry Braking (% of best) 94% 98%
Dry Handling (% of best) 95% 96%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport 4 S leads by 6
A — Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
81
B — Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
87
Why this score
SourceVentus S1 evo2Pilot Sport 4 S
Professional tests (TWG score) 83 83
Tire Rack owners 89 88
Tyre Reviews owners 76 87
Wet Braking (% of best) 71% 97%
Wet Handling (% of best) 96% 86%

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
50
B — Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport 4 S leads by 16
A — Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
70
B — Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
86
Why this score
SourceVentus S1 evo2Pilot Sport 4 S
Professional tests (TWG score) 68 82
Tire Rack owners 85 87
Tyre Reviews owners 72 84

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport 4 S leads by 14
A — Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
70
B — Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
84
Why this score
SourceVentus S1 evo2Pilot Sport 4 S
Professional tests (TWG score) 70 78

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport 4 S leads by 22
A — Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
68
B — Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
90
Why this score
SourceVentus S1 evo2Pilot Sport 4 S
Tire Rack owners 81 80
Tyre Reviews owners 66 80

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport 4 S leads by 16
A — Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
79
B — Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
95
Why this score
SourceVentus S1 evo2Pilot Sport 4 S
Tyre Reviews owners 79 86
DriverReviews owners 92

Scores at a glance

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryHankook Ventus S1 evo2Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Relative Score 75 89
Dry 83 91
Wet 81 87
Snow 50
Comfort 70 86
Noise 70 84
Treadwear 68 90
Handling 79 95

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Personalize

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.

Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Important
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Test data

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.

DisciplineCategoryTire ATire BΔBoth?
Dry Braking Dry 94% #7/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test 98% #3/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test -4.4 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 95% #6/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test 96% #5/7 · Best Performance Tyres For 2025 -0.9 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 81% #9/11 · 2019 Auto Bild Sports Car Tyre Test 92% #2/8 · 2025 Sports Cars Tyre Test -11.4 Different tests
Noise Other 97% #1/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test 98% #12/14 · 2021 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test -1 Different tests
Price Other 60% #4/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test 41% #8/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test +18.9 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 20% #5/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test 100% #1/3 · OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tyre your vehicle came with always the best tyre? -80 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 94% #3/6 · 2018 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/9 · 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test -5.6 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 86% #4/11 · 2019 Auto Bild Sports Car Tyre Test 90% #2/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test -4.3 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 80% #4/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test 98% #2/6 · 2018 EVO UUHP Tyre Test -17.6 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 80% #8/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test 72% #5/8 · 2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test +7.8 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 71% #2/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test 97% #2/7 · Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 -26.4 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 96% #3/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test 86% #6/7 · Best Performance Tyres For 2025 +10.3 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Hankook Ventus S1 evo2

The Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 is widely regarded as a high-performance summer tire that offers an excellent balance of dry and wet traction at a competitive price point. While many users praise its handling and value compared to premium rivals, consensus is divided regarding its longevity and susceptibility to sidewall damage, with some users reporting rapid tread wear and structural issues on rougher road surfaces.

Pros

  • Strong dry and wet grip performance
  • Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
  • Responsive handling and steering feedback
  • Generally quiet operation when new

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear, particularly on heavier or high-performance vehicles
  • Increased road noise as the tire ages
  • Reports of fragile sidewalls prone to bulging or damage
  • Performance degradation in cold or near-freezing temperatures

Observations

  • Users with heavy SUVs and high-horsepower sedans frequently report significantly shorter tread life, often requiring replacement under 15,000 miles.
  • Owners of premium German vehicles (Audi, BMW, Mercedes) note that while the tire is a capable OEM choice, it is often perceived as a 'downgrade' in comfort or longevity compared to top-tier Michelin or Continental alternatives.
  • The foam-lined 'sound absorber' variants received mixed feedback, with some users reporting vibrations or balancing issues over time.
Tire B Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is widely regarded as a benchmark ultra-high-performance summer tire, consistently praised for its exceptional wet and dry grip, confidence-inspiring handling, and superior ride comfort compared to OEM run-flat alternatives. While most users laud its versatility and safety, some enthusiasts note that its relatively soft sidewalls can result in slightly less steering precision or feedback compared to more track-focused or stiffer-walled competitors.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry traction
  • High levels of ride comfort and reduced road noise
  • Predictable handling and stability at high speeds
  • Excellent rim protection design
  • Strong longevity for a high-performance tire

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls can feel vague or sluggish during aggressive steering inputs
  • High price point compared to competitors
  • Performance can degrade significantly as the tread wears down
  • Reports of sidewall cracking or perishing in some climates
  • Not suitable for cold weather or snow

Observations

  • Users transitioning from OEM run-flat tires on luxury and performance vehicles (e.g., BMW, Mercedes, Tesla) report a transformative improvement in ride quality and noise reduction.
  • Drivers of high-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive vehicles frequently highlight the tire's ability to put power down effectively, though some note faster wear on rear axles.
  • Some users with heavy vehicles or specific performance setups noted that the tire's soft sidewall can lead to a 'bouncy' or less precise feel during rapid direction changes.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Positive

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is widely praised by the community as a premier max performance summer tire, offering exceptional dry and wet grip, precise steering feel, and refined road manners for daily driving and spirited street use. While some users note higher pricing and relatively quick wear on heavier vehicles or hot tracks, it remains a benchmark choice that many enthusiasts gladly return to despite alternatives like Continental or Kumho.

r/CarTrackDays ·97 upvotes ·2026-05-04

“Tire condition after 1st track day. PS4s on a GR86 First 2 pics are drivers front, rest pass front. This was at CMP, temps mid 70s, mostly cloudy. Lowered TP to 31psi. Highest I saw on track was 36 psi. The driver side l thought looked good, but passengers side inner looks like they melted. Is this track rubber I picked up or due to mostly turning right on this clockwise circuit?? Also was pleasantly surprised to only have used 1/16 of tread depth after 110 minutes on track. Given what I have read, thought the ps4s would be all used up. Maybe on a hot track surface they would have been eaten up. Read more”

r/TyreReviews ·41 upvotes ·2026-03-17

“Am I the owner of the newer PS4s?😁 Hello everyone, new in the sub and just want to share my love for the Pilot Sport 4s. This is the third set and I love it. To me they are the perfect compromise beetween performance anche tyre wear. Last set last me 43k km, I do lot of highway and some spirited drive when possibile. I also had a set of Sport Contact 7, awesome grip, to me better than the PS4s, almost too much for my stock Golf. They also wear out faster. I saw yesterday the review of Potenza Sport Evo and they promise very week, maybe next time I’ll try!”

r/cars ·4 upvotes ·2018-08-21

“I’ll say this. Going from the Pilot Super Sport to the Pilot Sport 4 S of the same size, I’m disappointed in the soft sidewall of the 4 S. This is an 8.5” wide wheel with 235/40/18 tires. The left-right fast slalom action got a bit mushy like the weight transfer was slowed down when I switched to the 4 S. I think a shorter sidewall 4 S would perform better in this way, or the same tire on a 9” wide wheel too. That said, the dry and wet grip is exceptional. To save money, I’d recommend the Continental ExtremeContact Sport.”

r/ft86 ·2 upvotes ·2023-06-01

“Depending on the size they are absolutely overkill for street use on stock motor. I just installed a set of 245 ps4s on 17x9 rpf1s and its almost impossible to trigger the abs and traction co trol. The car is on absolute rails. That being said, if you have the money, there is not really any negatives from that. I intend to use mine on track days. Felt the cup 2s were overkill for 2 to 3 track days a year.”

Top themes
#Dry and Wet Grip#Tread Life and Wear#Price vs Value#Track Performance Limits#Daily Comfort and Noise#Alternatives Comparison

Based on 104 community posts

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
CategorySummer Max Performance tiresSummer Max Performance tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook

Michelin

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better treadwear, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 90 vs 68 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 86 vs 70 on comfort.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 95 vs 79 on handling.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 84 vs 70 on noise.

Tire A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

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.