Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S review
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.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
93.3%By road tests
93.7%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 2,091 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
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
Worth knowing
- 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.
29 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer tire Test · 255/35 R19
6th of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 7th of 8 | |
| Wet Handling | 6th of 8 | |
| Wet Circle | 7th of 8 | |
| Dry Braking | 8th of 8 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 8 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 6th of 8 | |
| Noise | 4th of 8 |
Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 · 225/40 R18
2nd of 7
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 1st of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 3rd of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 7 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 1st of 7 |
2026 ACE Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18
1st of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
Best Performance tires For 2025 · 225/40 R18
3rd of 7
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 6th of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 5th of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 7 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 4th of 7 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 1st of 7 | |
| Noise | 6th of 7 |
2025 AutoView Sports tire Test · 275/35R19
1st of 5
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 5 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 5 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 5 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 1st of 5 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 1st of 5 | |
| Noise | 3rd of 5 |
2025 EVO Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19
5th of 9
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 4th of 9 | |
| Dry Braking | 5th of 9 | |
| Dry Handling | 8th of 9 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 9 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 9 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 4th of 9 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7th of 9 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 6th of 9 | |
| Subj. Road Score | 1st of 9 |
2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer tire Test · 275/35 R19
5th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2025 Autobild Sports Cars UUHP tire Test · 245/35 R20
2nd of 7
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 7 | |
| Wet Circle | 2nd of 7 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 7 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 4th of 7 | |
| Noise | 5th of 7 |
2025 Sports Cars tire Test · 245/35 R19
4th of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 8 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 8 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 8 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 7th of 8 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 6th of 8 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 4th of 8 | |
| Noise | 7th of 8 |
2025 Sport Auto UUHP tire Test · 275/35 R19
2nd of 4
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 4 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 4 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 4 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 4 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 4 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 4th of 4 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 4 |
2024 EVO Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19
2nd of 7
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 7 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 7 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 7th of 7 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2nd of 7 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4th of 7 | |
| Subj. Noise | 2nd of 7 |
2024 Sports Car tire Test · 265/35 R19
2nd of 7
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 7 | |
| Wet Circle | 3rd of 7 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 7 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 7 |
2023 Sport Auto UHP tire Test · 225/40 R18
3rd of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 8th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 11 | |
| Noise | 10th of 11 | |
| Price | 11th of 11 |
2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer tire Test · 255/35 R19
2nd of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 10 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 3rd of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 5th of 10 | |
| Noise | 3rd of 10 |
2021 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18
3rd of 14
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 7th of 14 | |
| Dry Handling | 3rd of 14 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 13th of 14 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 14 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 6th of 14 | |
| Noise | 12th of 14 | |
| Price | 13th of 14 |
2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19
1st of 15
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 15 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 15 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 15 | |
| Dry Handling | 3rd of 15 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th of 15 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 15 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 11th of 15 | |
| Noise | 8th of 15 | |
| Price | 15th of 15 |
2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer tire Test · 275/35 R19
1st of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 8 | |
| Wet Handling | 7th of 8 | |
| Wet Circle | 1st of 8 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 8 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 8 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 1st of 8 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 6th of 8 | |
| Noise | 3rd of 8 | |
| Price | 7th of 8 |
2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer tire Test · 265/35 R20
3rd of 9
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 9 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 9 | |
| Dry Braking | 4th of 9 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 9 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 9 | |
| Straight Aqua | 7th of 9 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 9 | |
| Price | 8th of 9 |
2020 EVO UHP Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19
1st of 7
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 7 | |
| Wet Circle | 1st of 7 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 7 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 1st of 7 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 1st of 7 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 7th of 7 | |
| Price | 6th of 7 |
2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day tire Test · 245/35 R19
2nd of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 5th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 10 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 4th of 10 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Noise | 4th of 10 | |
| Tyre Weight | 2nd of 10 |
2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch tire Test · 265/35 R19
2nd of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 7th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 10 | |
| Noise | 4th of 10 | |
| Price | 9th of 10 |
2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer tire Test · 265/35 R19
2nd of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 8 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 8 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 8 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 8 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4th of 8 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 2nd of 8 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 5th of 8 | |
| Noise | 3rd of 8 | |
| Tyre Weight | 3rd of 8 |
2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP tire Test · 245/30 R20
2nd of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 8 | |
| Wet Handling | 7th of 8 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 8 | |
| Dry Handling | 6th of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 8 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 3rd of 8 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 2nd of 8 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4th of 8 | |
| Noise | 6th of 8 |
2018 EVO UUHP tire Test · 235/35 R19
1st of 6
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 6 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 6 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 6 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 6 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 6 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 6 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2nd of 6 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 3rd of 6 | |
| Price | 6th of 6 |
2018 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer tire Test · 245/35 R19
3rd of 6
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 6 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 6 | |
| Dry Braking | 4th of 6 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 6 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 6 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 6 | |
| Noise | 6th of 6 | |
| Price | 6th of 6 |
2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day tire Test · 245/35 R19
1st of 9
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 9 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 9 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 9 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 9 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st of 9 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 9 | |
| Noise | 6th of 9 | |
| Price | 8th of 9 |
2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP tire Test · 245/30 R20
1st of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 8 | |
| Wet Handling | 1st of 8 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 8 | |
| Dry Handling | 3rd of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 8 | |
| Noise | 8th of 8 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S vs Cup 2 vs Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 3 vs 3R vs Toyo R888R · 305/30 R19
5th of 5
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Handling | 5th of 5 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4th of 5 |
OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tire your vehicle came with always the best tire? · 265/35 R19
1st of 3
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 3 | |
| Wet Handling | 1st of 3 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 3 | |
| Dry Handling | 3rd of 3 |
What owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of the scores above.
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.
From 104 threads and comments.