Summer tire Summer Max Performance tires Updated September 2026

Pirelli P Zero PZ4 review

Name: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
Brand: Pirelli

The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is widely regarded as a high-performance summer tire that excels in dry handling, steering precision, and feedback. While many users praise its sporty character and comfort, consensus is divided regarding its longevity and wet-weather performance, with several reports indicating that grip levels drop significantly as the tread wears or temperatures fall.

Relative score

74/100

tests + owners

Owner reviews

74/100

99 reviews

Road tests

90/100

26 published tests

Community sentiment Mixed Read the buzz

#Rapid Tread Wear#Wet Weather Grip#OEM vs Alternatives#Cold Weather Performance#Run Flat Options

Owners rate it 15.9 points lower than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

Check price Compare with another tire

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

73.6%

Would buy again 63%

Dry

Overall dry

87.4%

Corner stability

87%

Dry traction

91.5%

Steering response

86.5%

Wet

Overall wet

75.7%

Hydroplaning resistance

80%

Wet traction

82.5%

Comfort

Overall comfort

70.4%

Ride comfort

81%

Noise

Overall noise

77%

Treadwear

Overall treadwear

58.6%

Handling

Overall handling

82%

By source

DriverReviews92%2,448 reviews Tyre Reviews74%89 reviews Tire Rack70%10 reviews

By road tests

89.5%

Dry

86.6%

Wet

84.7%

Comfort

70.2%

Noise

73.1%

By discipline (% of best in test)

Dry Braking

88.3%

Dry Handling

95.5%

Subj. Dry Handling

90.9%

Wet Braking

93.9%

Subj. Wet Handling

86.4%

Wet Handling

89.3%

Straight Aquaplaning

55.9%

Curved Aquaplaning

93.8%

Side G-Force on Wet surface

93.8%

Inside Noise level

70.6%

Subjective Comfort

80.1%

Rolling Resistance

40.4%

Price

40.9%

Wear

87.5%

From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 99 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

Pros

Exceptional dry grip and handling precision
Excellent steering feedback and road communication
High level of acoustic comfort and ride refinement for a UHP tire
Effective rim protection design
Strong performance when at optimal operating temperature

Cons

Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
Reduced performance and increased noise as tread depth decreases
Poor grip and potential for aquaplaning in cold or wet conditions
Susceptibility to sidewall damage or bulging from road hazards
High price point relative to durability

Worth knowing

Users with high-torque EVs and performance sedans (e.g., BMW M-series, Audi RS) report significantly faster rear-axle tread wear.
OEM-specific versions (e.g., HN for Hyundai, MO for Mercedes) show varied performance characteristics, with some users finding specific manufacturer-tuned compounds to be harsher or more temperature-sensitive.
Drivers of heavy vehicles noted that the tire's performance is highly dependent on maintaining proper heat, which can be difficult to achieve in daily driving conditions.

Test results

26 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2025 AutoView Sports tire Test · 275/35R19

5th of 5

Best: Noise · 1st Weakest: Wet Braking · 5th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	5th of 5
Dry Braking	5th of 5
Dry Handling	5th of 5
Subj. Dry Handling	5th of 5
Subj. Comfort	5th of 5
Noise	1st of 5

2025 Sports Cars tire Test · 245/35 R19

3rd of 8

Best: Wet Braking · 2nd Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 8th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	2nd of 8
Wet Handling	2nd of 8
Dry Braking	2nd of 8
Dry Handling	3rd of 8
Rolling Resistance	8th of 8
Straight Aqua	6th of 8
Curved Aquaplaning	7th of 8
Subj. Comfort	5th of 8
Noise	6th of 8

2025 Sport Auto UUHP tire Test · 275/35 R19

4th of 4

Best: Curved Aquaplaning · 1st Weakest: Wet Braking · 4th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	4th of 4
Wet Handling	4th of 4
Dry Braking	4th of 4
Dry Handling	3rd of 4
Rolling Resistance	4th of 4
Curved Aquaplaning	1st of 4
Noise	3rd of 4

2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance tire Test · 225/40 R18

16th of 20

Best: Subj. Comfort · 2nd Weakest: Wet Braking · 20th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	20th of 20
Wet Handling	10th of 20
Wet Circle	10th of 20
Dry Braking	14th of 20
Dry Handling	5th of 20
Rolling Resistance	8th of 20
Straight Aqua	15th of 20
Curved Aquaplaning	15th of 20
Subj. Comfort	2nd of 20
Noise	16th of 20
Value	20th of 20
Wear	18th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership	19th of 20

2025 AZ Summer tire Test · 225/45 R18

5th of 10

Best: Wet Handling · 3rd Weakest: Value · 10th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	5th of 10
Wet Handling	3rd of 10
Wet Circle	3rd of 10
Dry Braking	6th of 10
Dry Handling	6th of 10
Rolling Resistance	4th of 10
Straight Aqua	9th of 10
Subj. Comfort	8th of 10
Noise	4th of 10
Value	10th of 10
Wear	6th of 10
Abrasion	9th of 10
Total Cost of Ownership	9th of 10

2025 Summer tire Test Shootout · 225/40 R18

20th of 52

Best: Dry Braking · 14th Weakest: Wet Braking · 26th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	26th of 52
Dry Braking	14th of 52

2024 EVO Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

6th of 7

Best: Wet Handling · 2nd Weakest: Straight Aqua · 7th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	6th of 7
Wet Handling	2nd of 7
Dry Braking	6th of 7
Dry Handling	5th of 7
Rolling Resistance	5th of 7
Straight Aqua	7th of 7
Curved Aquaplaning	2nd of 7
Subj. Dry Handling	6th of 7
Subj. Wet Handling	2nd of 7
Subj. Noise	3rd of 7

2023 Sport Auto UHP tire Test · 225/40 R18

5th of 11

Best: Wet Handling · 3rd Weakest: Wet Braking · 11th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	11th of 11
Wet Handling	3rd of 11
Dry Braking	4th of 11
Dry Handling	7th of 11
Rolling Resistance	10th of 11
Straight Aqua	5th of 11
Noise	4th of 11
Price	7th of 11

2023 AutoBild UHP Summer tire Test · 225/45 R18

11th of 20

Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Value · 20th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	2nd of 20
Wet Handling	1st of 20
Dry Braking	6th of 20
Dry Handling	1st of 20
Rolling Resistance	13th of 20
Straight Aqua	9th of 20
Noise	17th of 20
Value	20th of 20
Price	19th of 20
Wear	18th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership	19th of 20

2023 AZ UHP Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

4th of 10

Best: Wet Handling · 2nd Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 9th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	3rd of 10
Wet Handling	2nd of 10
Dry Braking	5th of 10
Dry Handling	5th of 10
Rolling Resistance	9th of 10
Straight Aqua	6th of 10
Noise	6th of 10
Price	6th of 10

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

5th of 13

Best: Wet Circle · 2nd Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 12th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	6th of 13
Wet Handling	3rd of 13
Wet Circle	2nd of 13
Dry Braking	5th of 13
Dry Handling	3rd of 13
Rolling Resistance	12th of 13
Straight Aqua	6th of 13
Noise	4th of 13
Price	10th of 13

2023 Summer tire Market Overview · 225/45 R18

3rd of 48

Best: Wet Braking · 2nd Weakest: Dry Braking · 6th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	2nd of 48
Dry Braking	6th of 48

2023 ACE / Gute Fahrt UHP Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

2nd of 7

Discipline	Placement	Field position

2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick tire Test · 235/35 R19

7th of 10

Best: Noise · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 8th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	5th of 10
Wet Handling	2nd of 10
Wet Circle	3rd of 10
Dry Braking	3rd of 10
Dry Handling	7th of 10
Rolling Resistance	6th of 10
Straight Aqua	8th of 10
Curved Aquaplaning	3rd of 10
Noise	1st of 10
Price	6th of 10

2021 EVO Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

1st of 9

Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 9th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	1st of 9
Wet Handling	1st of 9
Dry Braking	2nd of 9
Dry Handling	6th of 9
Rolling Resistance	9th of 9
Straight Aqua	7th of 9
Subj. Dry Handling	1st of 9
Subj. Wet Handling	2nd of 9

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

7th of 14

Best: Wet Handling · 3rd Weakest: Straight Aqua · 11th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Handling	3rd of 14
Dry Handling	6th of 14
Rolling Resistance	10th of 14
Straight Aqua	11th of 14
Curved Aquaplaning	9th of 14
Noise	3rd of 14
Price	10th of 14

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

4th of 15

Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 15th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	3rd of 15
Wet Handling	1st of 15
Dry Braking	3rd of 15
Dry Handling	2nd of 15
Rolling Resistance	15th of 15
Straight Aqua	10th of 15
Curved Aquaplaning	8th of 15
Noise	11th of 15
Price	11th of 15

2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP tire Test · 225/40 R18

3rd of 10

Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 10th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	5th of 10
Wet Handling	1st of 10
Dry Braking	5th of 10
Dry Handling	6th of 10
Rolling Resistance	10th of 10
Straight Aqua	10th of 10
Subj. Dry Handling	3rd of 10
Subj. Comfort	7th of 10
Subj. Wet Handling	1st of 10
Noise	3rd of 10
Price	5th of 10

2020 EVO UHP Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

3rd of 7

Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 7th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	4th of 7
Wet Handling	1st of 7
Wet Circle	2nd of 7
Dry Braking	3rd of 7
Dry Handling	2nd of 7
Rolling Resistance	7th of 7
Straight Aqua	2nd of 7
Subj. Dry Handling	4th of 7
Subj. Comfort	5th of 7
Subj. Wet Handling	1st of 7
Price	3rd of 7

2020 AMS 18 Inch Summer tire Test · 225/45 R18

4th of 11

Best: Wet Braking · 3rd Weakest: Price · 9th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	3rd of 11
Wet Handling	5th of 11
Dry Braking	3rd of 11
Dry Handling	3rd of 11
Rolling Resistance	7th of 11
Straight Aqua	8th of 11
Subj. Dry Handling	5th of 11
Subj. Comfort	4th of 11
Subj. Wet Handling	5th of 11
Noise	4th of 11
Price	9th of 11

2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

12th of 16

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wear	16th of 16

2019 EVO Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

1st of 7

Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 7th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	1st of 7
Wet Handling	1st of 7
Dry Braking	3rd of 7
Dry Handling	1st of 7
Rolling Resistance	7th of 7
Straight Aqua	4th of 7
Subj. Dry Handling	1st of 7
Subj. Comfort	3rd of 7
Subj. Wet Handling	1st of 7

2019 Auto Bild Sports Car tire Test · 245/45 R18

1st of 11

Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 8th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	1st of 11
Wet Handling	1st of 11
Dry Braking	1st of 11
Dry Handling	2nd of 11
Rolling Resistance	7th of 11
Straight Aqua	8th of 11
Subj. Comfort	6th of 11
Noise	7th of 11
Price	6th of 11

2019 Gute Fahrt Summer 18 Inch tire Test · 225/40 R18

7th of 10

Best: Dry Braking · 1st Weakest: Price · 9th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	3rd of 10
Dry Braking	1st of 10
Straight Aqua	7th of 10
Price	9th of 10

2018 AMS Summer UHP tire Test · 225/45 R17

4th of 11

Best: Subj. Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 11th

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Wet Braking	4th of 11
Wet Handling	2nd of 11
Dry Braking	2nd of 11
Dry Handling	7th of 11
Rolling Resistance	8th of 11
Straight Aqua	11th of 11
Subj. Dry Handling	1st of 11
Subj. Wet Handling	2nd of 11
Noise	10th of 11

Road tires vs Track tires vs Slick tires · 245/40 R18

3rd of 3

Discipline	Placement	Field position
Dry Handling	3rd of 3

Community buzz

What owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of the scores above.

Community opinions on the Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) are mixed, with users frequently debating their high price, rapid tread wear, and wet-weather traction compared to competitors like Michelin and Continental. While some drivers experience poor grip in cold or damp conditions and disappointing longevity on performance vehicles, others seek clarity on specific model variants like the Luxury versus Sport versions.

r/lamborghini ·71 upvotes

“Urus Performante: Pirelli P Zero gone after 5.5k miles — normal or switch? My stock Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) on my Urus Performante are already done after just 5,500 miles (~9,500 km), mostly highway driving, no speeding, no track. Pretty disappointed with the lifespan. Got quoted $5,000 for the same Lamborghini-certified set. Alternatives are Michelin ($3,500), Nankang or any other options? Is this normal wear for this car? And are the OEM-certified tires actually worth that price, or better to switch?”

2026-03-29

r/BMWI4 ·3 upvotes

“Pirelli P Zero Tyres But if a rant. Brought my i4 edrive 40 about 14 months ago from a main dealer here in the UK. The front tyres (Hankook) had decent tread, obviously the rears did not, so the dealer swapped them for brand new Pirelli PZero (PZ4) tyres at the rear. Honest to god I have never driven tyres so dam trash in my life. Anything other than a perfect warm dry day, there is little to no grip and car struggles to put its power down. I assume the Zero in P Zero refers to the grip levels. Just wondered if anyone else had any experience with Pirelli’s? Read more”

2025-12-26

Sentiment breakdown

Mixed71%

Negative29%

Top themes

#Rapid Tread Wear#Wet Weather Grip#OEM vs Alternatives#Cold Weather Performance#Run Flat Options#Tire Model Versions

From 7 threads and comments.

Head-to-head