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Michelin Pilot Sport 4 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.
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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
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 87 |
| Tire Rack owners | 93 | 95 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 92 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 92% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 96% |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | 83 |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 87 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 93% | 97% |
| Wet Circle (% of best) | 100% | 87% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 93% | 90% |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 82 |
| Tire Rack owners | 83 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 84 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 74 | 78 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 67 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 80 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 86 |
| DriverReviews owners | 90 | 92 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 89 | 89 |
| Dry | 92 | 91 |
| Wet | 89 | 87 |
| Comfort | 87 | 86 |
| Noise | 81 | 84 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 90 |
| Handling | 94 | 95 |
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.
Tire A
Tire B
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.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 100% #1/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test | 91% #6/14 · 2021 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | +9.2 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/9 · 2018 AZ Summer AND All Season Tyre Test | 92% #1/8 · 2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP Tyre Test | +8 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/7 · 2019 EVO Summer Tyre Test | 96% #4/10 · 2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test | +3.1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 99% #2/9 · 2021 EVO Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/7 · 2024 EVO Summer Tyre Test | -1.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #5/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test | 97% #8/15 · 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test | +0.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 100% #10/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test | 41% #8/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test | +59 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/9 · 2018 AZ Summer AND All Season Tyre Test | 33% #3/14 · 2021 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | +66.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #5/14 · 2021 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | 98% #3/10 · 2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test | -3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 78% #5/10 · 2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test | 100% #1/7 · 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tyre Test | -22.2 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 87% #4/9 · 2021 EVO Summer Tyre Test | 98% #2/6 · 2018 EVO UUHP Tyre Test | -10.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 100% #1/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | 92% #3/6 · 2018 EVO UUHP Tyre Test | +8.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #4/10 · 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test | 97% #2/7 · Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 | -4.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 100% #10/10 · 2022 AMS Performance Summer Tyre Test | 87% #7/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | +12.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 93% #6/9 · 2021 EVO Summer Tyre Test | 90% #6/8 · 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is widely regarded as a premier high-performance summer tire, praised for its exceptional wet-weather traction and balanced daily-driving characteristics. While many users report a significant improvement in ride quality and noise levels compared to OEM run-flats or older performance tires, some enthusiasts note a softer sidewall that can feel less precise or 'darty' during aggressive cornering compared to dedicated track-focused rubber.
Pros
- Class-leading wet weather grip and hydroplaning resistance
- Excellent balance of comfort and road noise reduction for a performance tire
- Predictable and progressive handling characteristics
- Strong dry-weather traction and braking performance
- Significant upgrade over OEM run-flat tires in terms of ride quality
Cons
- Softer sidewalls can lead to a less 'sharp' or 'darty' steering feel
- Tread wear can be rapid, particularly with spirited driving or on high-torque vehicles
- Performance can drop off noticeably as tread depth decreases
- Higher price point compared to many competitors
- Some reports of increased road noise as the tire ages
Observations
- Tesla and EV owners frequently report a measurable decrease in range due to higher rolling resistance compared to OEM 'eco' tires.
- Users with heavy, high-torque vehicles (e.g., tuned sedans, performance wagons) often praise the tire's ability to put power down, though this comes at the cost of faster rear-tire wear.
- Drivers switching from run-flat tires on luxury vehicles (BMW, Audi, Mercedes) consistently report a transformative improvement in ride comfort and cabin noise.
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.
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (and its variants) is widely praised by the community as a massive upgrade over stock run-flats and budget tires, offering exceptional dry and wet grip, precise steering feel, and improved ride comfort. While users frequently note trade-offs in tread life due to the softer rubber compound, and higher pricing, it remains a top-tier recommendation for spirited street driving and performance cars.
“Surprised by Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires - 2024 M440i Hey, BMW community. A year ago, I was lucky enough to order a 2024 M440i GC Xdrive. Spent hours driving different BMW's, tweaking my order sheet before my allocation was filled. Got the adaptive suspension, with 19's on Pirelli run-flats. After a few months, my San Remo GC was delivered. GREAT car. Now with ~17k miles, it was time for a routine service. And, apparently, new rear tires. Decided to just replace them all at the dealer. Went with what they recommended; Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (Star marked). What an upgrade! Steering feel, precision, comfort AND quiet. Anyone on the fence about the Pilot Sport 4 - highly recommended. Read more”
“Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires are noisy (a followup) I have been asked on this sub if the PS4 tires on my wife’s Bolt are noisy, and I wasn’t sure how to answer. Well, we made two 60-mile round trips this past weekend, mostly on highways with 55 and 70 mph speed limits, and I have to say that the tires are kind of noisy. Certainly not as quiet as EV-oriented tires are. The grip is fantastic, so we really like them. If you are sensitive to noise, though, these Max Performance class tires are probably not for you.”
“I just installed A/S PS4 from Michelin on my BRZ recently & man they are so nice. How quiet it is, is wow, night and day. They handle quite nice except when it's still cold (sub 40F) on highway, traction control triggers but it may bc I'm lowered and yet to do my alignment. I don't know compared to stock, I was on Falken prior. I am using different tire set-up then stock however. I have 245/35 at the front and 265/35 in rear. My only regret is not going up to 40 on the sidewall for more meat. This is on 18" wheels.”
“Those are Pilot sport 4 (all season). If it had s after the 4 it would be the summer high performance version. I put the pilot sport 4 on wife's GTI autobahn 2016. Great handling tire, stiff side walls, not the smoothest ride but best overall.”
Based on 117 community posts
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
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.
“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”
“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!”
“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.”
“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.”
Based on 104 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Michelin
Michelin
Too close to call: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S are within 2 points overall. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is stronger on noise.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 84 vs 81 on noise.
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.