tirewheelguide.com
Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Pilot Sport 4 S is ahead, 81–68

Check price on Amazon · Pilot Sport 4 S or Ventus S1 evo3 on Amazon
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.

Tire AHankook

Ventus S1 evo3

Summer

Tests 75 · 19 tests Owners 60 · 3,333 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 11 in 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test (noise)

“Which tire should I choose? I’m currently looking for new summer tires, but this time I’m finding it surprisingly difficult to choose. My previous set were Bridgestone T005s, which honestly didn’t impress me much. On my earlier car I’ve driven on Michelin PS4S, Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3, and Pirelli (don’t remember the exact model). The Michelins were by far my favorite — excellent grip and overall a fantastic tire. The Hankooks were above average and perfectly fine, but the Pirellis were a big disappointment. This time I’m considering the following three options: • Michelin Pilot Sport 5 • Continental SportContact 7 • Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72 If I hadn’t done any research, I would have gone for the Michelins without hesitation. However, after digging a bit deeper, I added the Continentals as a strong competitor, and the Kumhos because they’re significantly cheaper while still getting quite positive reviews. I drive a Cupra Formentor 2.0 AWD with around 430 hp. I never take the car to the track, but I do enjoy sporty driving and quick launches at traffic lights. Now I’m finding the final decision harder than expected. Taking both price and performance into account, which of these three would you recommend? Read more”

Tire BMichelin

Pilot Sport 4 S

Summer

Tests 79 · 27 tests Owners 83 · 6,570 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test (straight aqua)

“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”

Category by category

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

  1. 76

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 4 S +15
    91
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score)8592
    Reviews found online6490
    Dry Braking (% of best)96%98%
    Dry Handling (% of best)98%100%
  2. 78

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 4 S +5
    83
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score)8482
    Reviews found online6984
    Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best)98%99%
    Transverse Aquaplaning (% of best)87%91%
    Wet Braking (% of best)97%100%
    Wet Circle (% of best)98%99%
    Wet Handling (% of best)99%99%
  3. 64

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 4 S +10
    74
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score)6770
    Reviews found online6081
    Interior Noise (% of best)94%80%
  4. 71

    Noise

    Ventus S1 evo3 +3
    68
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score)7369
  5. 55

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport 4 S +16
    71
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Pilot Sport 4 S
    Professional tests (TWG score)6170
    Reviews found online4672
  6. 61

    Handling

    Pilot Sport 4 S +25
    86
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Pilot Sport 4 S
    Reviews found online6186
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Ventus S1 evo3Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Relative Score 68 81
Dry 76 91
Wet 78 83
Comfort 64 74
Noise 71 68
Treadwear 55 71
Handling 61 86

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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Ventus S1 evo3

Pilot Sport 4 S

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.

DisciplineCategoryVentus S1 evo3Pilot Sport 4 SΔBoth?
Interior Noise Comfort 94% #6/8 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test 80% #5/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 +14.0 Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 84% #10/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test 84% #11/15 · 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test +0.6 Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 96% #7/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 98% #4/6 · 2018 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test −2.3 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #7/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 100% #2/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test −1.1 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 92% #4/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test 86% #3/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test +5.7 Different tests
Noise Other 98% #2/11 · 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test 99% #8/15 · 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test −0.8 Different tests
Price Other 75% #12/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test 40% #6/6 · 2018 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test +35.9 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 33% #3/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test 25% #4/8 · 2025 Sports Cars Tyre Test +8.3 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 94% #10/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test −6.1 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 84% #6/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test +16.1 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 70% #7/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test 100% #1/5 · 2025 AutoView Sports Tyre Test −30.0 Different tests
Subj. Noise Subj 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 98% #2/7 · 2024 EVO Summer Tyre Test +2.0 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 67% #8/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test 89% #6/9 · 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test −21.9 Different tests
Longitudinal Aquaplaning Wet 98% #3/7 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/3 · 2022 Auto Express UUHP Summer Tire Test R19 −0.7 Different tests
Transverse Aquaplaning Wet 87% #6/7 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test 91% #3/3 · 2022 Auto Express UUHP Summer Tire Test R19 −4.3 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 97% #2/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test −3.4 Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 98% #5/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/7 · 2025 Autobild Sports Cars UUHP Tyre Test −0.2 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #3/11 · 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/5 · 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test −0.2 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ventus S1 evo3

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and confidence in wet and dry conditions
  • Low road noise and high ride comfort
  • Competitive pricing compared to premium tier-one brands

Cons

  • Faster-than-expected tread wear, particularly on rear axles or heavy vehicles
  • Soft sidewalls leading to reduced steering feedback and precision
  • Vulnerability to sidewall damage or bubbling from potholes
All owner themes in the Ventus S1 evo3 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

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

Mixed

The Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 receives mixed reviews from the community, with some users praising its solid performance, great value, and good grip compared to competitors, while others note concerns regarding longevity, stock wear, and variations in ratings across different sizes. Discussions also highlight specific variant differences, such as the K127 standard version versus the K127e Tesla-specific version.

r/Golf_R ·6 upvotes ·2026-04-29

“Tire preferences? My MK8 has a little over 18,000 miles now and the stock tires look like they’ve already gone to sh*t? Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 aren’t as good as they advertise? What do you recommend for tires?”
r/TyreReviews ·2 upvotes ·2026-01-04

“That would tally with what this person found with the 127 variant that preceded it “Hi just for information,I asked Hankook what tread depth when new was on their Ventus S1 Evo 3 K127 tyre, the reply was 6.6 mm””
r/Volkswagen ·1 upvote ·2026-03-15

“F/S Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 235/35 R19 Hi Guys Selling a full set (4) Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 235/35 R19 summer tires, with 9/32 tread depth which is exactly the same depth when these ultra high performance tires are new. No punctures anywhere. Tires came of my 2024 VW GTI with less than 3k miles on the odometer. The production date on the tires is 3324 which means 33rd week of 2024.This translates to late August 2024. $500/obo but no shipping. Local pick up only. I am in Long Island NY. Message if interested. Read more”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Price and value#Tread wear and longevity#OEM stock performance#Size variations and ratings#Comparison with competitors

Based on 12 community posts

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/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

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S — better handling, treadwear and dry. Pick the Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 if noise matters most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 86 vs 61 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 71 vs 55 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 91 vs 76 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 74 vs 64 on comfort.

Tire A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Check price on Amazon

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

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.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.

81

Leads

Pilot Sport 4 S

Amazon