79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
80/100
6 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 — 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.
VS
90
/ 100
Objective (60%)
73/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
92/100
2,239 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 — better wet, comfort and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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)
Pilot Exalto PE2 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Exalto PE2 | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 90 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Exalto PE2 | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 88 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Exalto PE2 | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 82 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Exalto PE2 | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 73 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Exalto PE2 | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 | Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 90 |
| Dry | 90 | 88 |
| Wet | 73 | 88 |
| Comfort | 80 | 92 |
| Noise | – | 92 |
| Treadwear | 77 | 88 |
| Handling | 83 | 94 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
79
/ 100
Tire A
90
/ 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 Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 is widely regarded as a high-performing tire that offers excellent dry handling and comfort, particularly when replacing factory-fitted run-flat tires. While users praise its initial performance and progressive handling characteristics, there is a consensus that its performance diminishes significantly as the tread compound ages and wears.
Pros
- Exceptional dry weather grip and handling precision
- Noticeable improvement in ride comfort compared to run-flat alternatives
- Predictable and progressive handling behavior in wet conditions
- Strong initial performance across various driving environments
Cons
- Noticeable decline in traction as the tire ages
- Premium price point compared to competitors
- Average wet weather performance in challenging conditions
- Compound may harden or lose grip before reaching the legal tread wear limit
Observations
- Mini Cooper owners report a significant upgrade in driving dynamics when switching from factory run-flat tires to the PE2.
- Small hatchbacks like the Ford Fiesta benefit from the tire's versatility, though performance consistency in wet, oily road conditions is noted as average.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 3 (PS3) is widely regarded as a high-performance summer tire that excels in wet-weather confidence and ride comfort. While many users praise its ability to transform vehicle handling and provide a quiet, stable driving experience, a significant portion of the user base reports concerns regarding rapid tread wear and soft sidewalls that may feel less precise during aggressive cornering.
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather grip and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
- Predictable and progressive handling characteristics
- Strong dry-weather traction for daily spirited driving
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, particularly on high-torque or front-wheel-drive vehicles
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a 'squishy' or vague feel during extreme cornering
- High price point relative to longevity
- Performance degradation as the tire reaches the end of its tread life
Observations
- Users with hot hatches and performance-oriented FWD vehicles frequently report faster-than-expected front tire wear.
- Drivers transitioning from run-flat tires to the PS3 consistently note a dramatic improvement in ride quality and noise reduction.
- Some owners of heavier, high-torque vehicles noted that the soft sidewalls can feel less stable under heavy load compared to dedicated track-focused tires.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
The Michelin Pilot Sport 3 (PS3) is largely viewed as an older generation tire, often overshadowed by its successor, the PS4. While some users consider buying discounted warehouse stock for daily driving or note limited size availability, others strongly advise against choosing the PS3 when newer iterations are available. (Note: Several posts in the discussion confuse the tire with the PlayStation 3 gaming console.)
r/tires
·3 upvotes ·2025-08-02
“Michelin PS3 MO1 vs Pirelli Pzero MO About to order 4 new tires for this 2012 Mercedes CLS500 SB (X218), but tire choices are quite limited. Sizes: 255/40R18 99Y front 285/35R18 97Y rear Currently running Pirelli Pzero MO on all corners, which are in desperate need of replacement. Unfortunately, Michelin PS4, PS5 or PS4S are not available in both these sizes in Europe. The PS4 has been quite an improvement over the PS3 iirc, so it feels wrong to go for the PS3. However, the Pirelli Pzero MO isn’t the newest PZ5 iteration nor the previous PZ4 I suppose. So… Should we go for another set of Pirelli Pzero or the Michelin PS3? (PFA) Read more”
r/tires
·1 upvote ·2026-04-09
“Is the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 a good choice for a daily driver? I've been considering changing my tires to Michelin Primacy 4 for my Mazda 2. I've been quoted with Michelin Pilot Sport 3 ones with manufacturing date of mid 2024 for 25% less, that the garage wants to clear from their warehouse. Is this an overkill? Edit: Thank you all for your help. I went with the PS3 and it seems that it was a good choice. Read more”
r/tires
·2023-08-29
“~2000 miles into a set of PS3 all seasons, plug or leave in?”
Top themes
#PS3 vs PS4 comparison#Limited size availability#Discounted warehouse stock#Daily driving suitability#Tread life expectations#Console confusion
Based on 10 community posts
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
79
/ 100
Michelin
90
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 — better wet, comfort and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 88 vs 73 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 92 vs 80 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 88 vs 77 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 94 vs 83 on handling.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 also compared with
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 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.