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Summer tire Summer Max Performance tires Updated September 2026

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.

Relative score
89/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
93/100
2,091 reviews
Road tests
94/100
29 published tests
Community sentiment Positive Read the buzz
#Dry and Wet Grip#Tread Life and Wear#Price vs Value#Track Performance Limits#Daily Comfort and Noise
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Scores

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%
Would buy again 82%
Dry
Overall dry
96.2%
Corner stability
89%
Dry traction
93%
Steering response
88%
Wet
Overall wet
93.4%
Wet traction
90%
Comfort
Overall comfort
93.3%
Noise
Overall noise
91.5%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
89.8%
Handling
Overall handling
95.2%
By source
DriverReviews96%6,372 reviews Tyre Reviews85%157 reviews Tire Rack91%10 reviews

By road tests

93.7%
Dry
87.1%
Wet
83.4%
Comfort
81.9%
Noise
78.2%
By discipline (% of best in test)
Dry Braking
87.3%
Dry Handling
61.7%
Subj. Dry Handling
76.7%
Wet Braking
93%
Subj. Wet Handling
68.3%
Wet Handling
59.5%
Straight Aquaplaning
63.8%
Inside Noise level
71.3%
Subjective Comfort
72.1%
Rolling Resistance
68.8%
tire Weight
82.5%
Price
20%
From owners

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.
Test results

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
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking7th of 8
Wet Handling6th of 8
Wet Circle7th of 8
Dry Braking8th of 8
Dry Handling2nd of 8
Rolling Resistance2nd of 8
Straight Aqua1st of 8
Subj. Comfort6th of 8
Noise4th of 8

Michelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2 · 225/40 R18

2nd of 7
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Dry Handling · 3rd
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 7
Wet Handling1st of 7
Dry Handling3rd of 7
Rolling Resistance3rd of 7
Straight Aqua1st of 7
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 7

2026 ACE Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

1st of 10
DisciplinePlacementField position

Best Performance tires For 2025 · 225/40 R18

3rd of 7
Best: Subj. Comfort · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling6th of 7
Dry Handling5th of 7
Rolling Resistance2nd of 7
Straight Aqua4th of 7
Curved Aquaplaning4th of 7
Subj. Comfort1st of 7
Noise6th of 7

2025 AutoView Sports tire Test · 275/35R19

1st of 5
Best: Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Wet Braking · 4th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 5
Dry Braking3rd of 5
Dry Handling1st of 5
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 5
Subj. Comfort1st of 5
Noise3rd of 5

2025 EVO Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

5th of 9
Best: Subj. Road Score · 1st Weakest: Dry Handling · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling4th of 9
Dry Braking5th of 9
Dry Handling8th of 9
Rolling Resistance2nd of 9
Straight Aqua2nd of 9
Curved Aquaplaning4th of 9
Subj. Dry Handling7th of 9
Subj. Wet Handling6th of 9
Subj. Road Score1st of 9

2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer tire Test · 275/35 R19

5th of 10
DisciplinePlacementField position

2025 Autobild Sports Cars UUHP tire Test · 245/35 R20

2nd of 7
Best: Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 7
Wet Handling4th of 7
Wet Circle2nd of 7
Dry Braking2nd of 7
Dry Handling1st of 7
Rolling Resistance3rd of 7
Straight Aqua6th of 7
Curved Aquaplaning4th of 7
Noise5th of 7

2025 Sports Cars tire Test · 245/35 R19

4th of 8
Best: Dry Handling · 2nd Weakest: Straight Aqua · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 8
Wet Handling5th of 8
Dry Braking3rd of 8
Dry Handling2nd of 8
Rolling Resistance2nd of 8
Straight Aqua7th of 8
Curved Aquaplaning6th of 8
Subj. Comfort4th of 8
Noise7th of 8

2025 Sport Auto UUHP tire Test · 275/35 R19

2nd of 4
Best: Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 4th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 4
Wet Handling2nd of 4
Dry Braking2nd of 4
Dry Handling1st of 4
Rolling Resistance3rd of 4
Curved Aquaplaning4th of 4
Noise2nd of 4

2024 EVO Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

2nd of 7
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 7
Wet Handling3rd of 7
Dry Braking3rd of 7
Dry Handling4th of 7
Rolling Resistance1st of 7
Straight Aqua6th of 7
Curved Aquaplaning7th of 7
Subj. Dry Handling2nd of 7
Subj. Wet Handling4th of 7
Subj. Noise2nd of 7

2024 Sports Car tire Test · 265/35 R19

2nd of 7
Best: Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 7
Wet Handling4th of 7
Wet Circle3rd of 7
Dry Braking2nd of 7
Dry Handling1st of 7
Rolling Resistance1st of 7
Straight Aqua6th of 7
Noise2nd of 7

2023 Sport Auto UHP tire Test · 225/40 R18

3rd of 11
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Price · 11th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 11
Wet Handling8th of 11
Dry Braking3rd of 11
Dry Handling4th of 11
Rolling Resistance9th of 11
Straight Aqua1st of 11
Noise10th of 11
Price11th of 11

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer tire Test · 255/35 R19

2nd of 10
Best: Wet Braking · 2nd Weakest: Subj. Comfort · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 10
Wet Handling3rd of 10
Dry Braking2nd of 10
Dry Handling4th of 10
Rolling Resistance2nd of 10
Straight Aqua3rd of 10
Curved Aquaplaning3rd of 10
Subj. Comfort5th of 10
Noise3rd of 10

2021 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

3rd of 14
Best: Straight Aqua · 2nd Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 13th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling7th of 14
Dry Handling3rd of 14
Rolling Resistance13th of 14
Straight Aqua2nd of 14
Curved Aquaplaning6th of 14
Noise12th of 14
Price13th of 14

2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

1st of 15
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Price · 15th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 15
Wet Handling3rd of 15
Dry Braking1st of 15
Dry Handling3rd of 15
Rolling Resistance8th of 15
Straight Aqua6th of 15
Curved Aquaplaning11th of 15
Noise8th of 15
Price15th of 15

2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer tire Test · 275/35 R19

1st of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 8
Wet Handling7th of 8
Wet Circle1st of 8
Dry Braking2nd of 8
Dry Handling2nd of 8
Rolling Resistance3rd of 8
Straight Aqua4th of 8
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 8
Subj. Wet Handling6th of 8
Noise3rd of 8
Price7th of 8

2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer tire Test · 265/35 R20

3rd of 9
Best: Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Price · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 9
Wet Handling5th of 9
Dry Braking4th of 9
Dry Handling1st of 9
Rolling Resistance3rd of 9
Straight Aqua7th of 9
Noise2nd of 9
Price8th of 9

2020 EVO UHP Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

1st of 7
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Subj. Wet Handling · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 7
Wet Handling4th of 7
Wet Circle1st of 7
Dry Braking1st of 7
Dry Handling1st of 7
Rolling Resistance3rd of 7
Straight Aqua3rd of 7
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 7
Subj. Comfort1st of 7
Subj. Wet Handling7th of 7
Price6th of 7

2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day tire Test · 245/35 R19

2nd of 10
Best: Wet Braking · 2nd Weakest: Wet Circle · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 10
Wet Handling4th of 10
Wet Circle5th of 10
Dry Braking2nd of 10
Dry Handling4th of 10
Rolling Resistance5th of 10
Straight Aqua3rd of 10
Subj. Dry Handling4th of 10
Subj. Comfort4th of 10
Subj. Wet Handling3rd of 10
Noise4th of 10
Tyre Weight2nd of 10

2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch tire Test · 265/35 R19

2nd of 10
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Price · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 10
Wet Handling7th of 10
Dry Braking3rd of 10
Dry Handling3rd of 10
Rolling Resistance3rd of 10
Straight Aqua6th of 10
Noise4th of 10
Price9th of 10

2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer tire Test · 265/35 R19

2nd of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 8
Wet Handling5th of 8
Dry Braking1st of 8
Dry Handling2nd of 8
Rolling Resistance3rd of 8
Straight Aqua2nd of 8
Subj. Dry Handling4th of 8
Subj. Comfort2nd of 8
Subj. Wet Handling5th of 8
Noise3rd of 8
Tyre Weight3rd of 8

2019 Sport Auto 20 Inch UHP tire Test · 245/30 R20

2nd of 8
Best: Dry Braking · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 8
Wet Handling7th of 8
Dry Braking1st of 8
Dry Handling6th of 8
Rolling Resistance5th of 8
Straight Aqua6th of 8
Subj. Dry Handling3rd of 8
Subj. Comfort2nd of 8
Subj. Wet Handling4th of 8
Noise6th of 8

2018 EVO UUHP tire Test · 235/35 R19

1st of 6
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Price · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 6
Wet Handling3rd of 6
Dry Braking2nd of 6
Dry Handling2nd of 6
Rolling Resistance4th of 6
Straight Aqua5th of 6
Subj. Dry Handling2nd of 6
Subj. Wet Handling3rd of 6
Price6th of 6

2018 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer tire Test · 245/35 R19

3rd of 6
Best: Wet Braking · 2nd Weakest: Noise · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 6
Wet Handling4th of 6
Dry Braking4th of 6
Dry Handling2nd of 6
Rolling Resistance2nd of 6
Straight Aqua5th of 6
Noise6th of 6
Price6th of 6

2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day tire Test · 245/35 R19

1st of 9
Best: Rolling Resistance · 1st Weakest: Price · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 9
Wet Handling5th of 9
Dry Braking3rd of 9
Dry Handling4th of 9
Rolling Resistance1st of 9
Straight Aqua5th of 9
Noise6th of 9
Price8th of 9

2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP tire Test · 245/30 R20

1st of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 8
Wet Handling1st of 8
Dry Braking1st of 8
Dry Handling3rd of 8
Rolling Resistance5th of 8
Straight Aqua4th of 8
Noise8th 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
Best: Subj. Dry Handling · 4th Weakest: Dry Handling · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Dry Handling5th of 5
Subj. Dry Handling4th of 5

OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tire your vehicle came with always the best tire? · 265/35 R19

1st of 3
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Dry Handling · 3rd
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 3
Wet Handling1st of 3
Dry Braking2nd of 3
Dry Handling3rd of 3
Community buzz

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.

Sentiment breakdown
Positive44%
Mixed48%
Negative8%
Top themes
#Dry and Wet Grip#Tread Life and Wear#Price vs Value#Track Performance Limits#Daily Comfort and Noise#Alternatives Comparison

From 104 threads and comments.

Head-to-head

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S compared

Compare any two