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Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ — 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 S | Pilot Sport A/S 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 95 | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 82 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Pilot Sport A/S 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 88 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Pilot Sport A/S 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 62 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Pilot Sport A/S 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | – |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Pilot Sport A/S 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 78 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Sport 4 S | Pilot Sport A/S 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 78 |
| DriverReviews owners | 92 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 89 | 94 |
| Dry | 91 | 96 |
| Wet | 87 | 94 |
| Comfort | 86 | 94 |
| Noise | 84 | 92 |
| Treadwear | 90 | 91 |
| Handling | 95 | 96 |
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
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
The Michelin Pilot Sport AS 3+ is widely regarded as a high-performance all-season tire that excels in wet and dry handling, often serving as a superior replacement for harsh OEM run-flat tires. While users consistently praise its confidence-inspiring grip and versatility across varying temperatures, opinions are polarized regarding its tread longevity and noise levels as the tire ages.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- Significant improvement in ride comfort compared to OEM run-flat tires
- Predictable and stable handling characteristics in dry conditions
- Strong performance versatility across a wide range of ambient temperatures
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting premature wear
- Increased road noise reported by some users, particularly as the tire wears
- Higher rolling resistance compared to standard tires, impacting fuel/range efficiency
- Stiff sidewall construction can lead to a harsher ride on poor road surfaces
Observations
- Tesla owners frequently report a noticeable decrease in range (10-20%) due to the tire's rolling resistance.
- Drivers of performance vehicles (e.g., Corvette, BMW M-series) appreciate the balance of grip and daily usability, though some note a loss of sharpness compared to dedicated summer tires.
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
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
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
The community generally views the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ as a high-performing all-season tire that delivers exceptional dry and wet grip, great cornering stability, and low noise compared to stock options. Most users praise them as an ideal compromise for daily drivers who want warm-weather performance without swapping to dedicated summer tires, though some users note they struggle in heavy winter snow compared to competitors like Continental.
“new tires = BIG difference in traction (pilot sport a/s 3+)”
“Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Tires just installed Just got the tires on this morning with an alignment and proper balancing. Holy cow, night and day difference from the original Bridgestones on the car. Car handles so much better. It honestly makes me feel like I just bought a new car. If you have any questions or are considering getting them, feel free to ask!”
“I have had the Michelin Pilot sport A/S3+ for my last two sets of tires, and I had the hydro-edge before that on my old Toyota. So much grip around corners and good rain performance.”
“Are you talking about the all seasons or the summer tires? The summer tires are a terrible choice and you will likely go off the road at some point. Summer tires get hard as a rock in cold temps since they are not meant to be used in winter. If you're talking about the all seasons, I had Pilot Sport A/S 3+ on my 2016 S6 and they were just terrible in snow. So bad that I replaced them after only ~10k miles and put on some Conti Extreme Contact DWS, which were far superior in bad weather. If you want a true all season that can be useful in winter, I'd go with the Contis. But if you are going to be driving in bad weather regularly, get dedicated snows. All seasons are passable here and there but not confidence inspiring.”
Based on 15 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | B · Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Ultra High Performance All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Michelin
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ — better comfort, noise and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ scores 94 vs 86 on comfort.
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ scores 92 vs 84 on noise.
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ scores 94 vs 87 on wet.
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ scores 96 vs 91 on dry.
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.