It is not common when an OE tire outperforms its aftermarket peers, especially in the Max Performance Summer tires segment.
Nevertheless, that is the case of the Michelin Pilot Sport 3, a tire designed for sports cars of all kinds, which shows that what seems impossible is possible.
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TL;DR: Michelin Pilot Sport 3
Before moving on to the interesting details of the Michelin Pilot Sport 3, it is necessary to have an overview of its pros and cons.
Michelin Pilot Sport 3
[amazon fields=”B073PG2J42″ image=”1″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_link=”none”]
PROS
- Smooth ride
- Awesome dry traction
- Excellent wet performance
CONS
- Somewhat expensive
- Average durability when not properly maintained
Best For:
Owners of high-performance sports cars, coupes, and sedans looking for a tire that provides a premium driving experience
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Performance Ratings
Before starting the review of the Michelin Pilot Sport 3, we cannot overlook a factor of great importance, the reliability of its ratings.
This tire has less than 1M reported miles, which tells us that its rank in the Max Performance Summer tire segment (8 out of 31) could change fairly quickly as more users submit their reviews. For your reference, for a tire’s ratings to be considered “highly reliable” by us, it must have over 5M reported miles.
That said, we have divided the review into multiple sections. For your convenience, you can use the links below to jump to any of them.
- Dry Performance
- Wet Performance
- Comfort Performance
- Treadwear Performance
- Warranty
- Specs & Options
- Reviews
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Dry Performance
|
Dry Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Dry Overall |
9.3 |
|
Cornering Stability |
9.2 |
|
Dry Traction |
9.4 |
|
Steering Response |
9.2 |
Despite being an OE tire, the performance of the Pilot Sport 3 is on par with the best aftermarket tires, which is already a great achievement. Moreover, the balance it offers in the different areas makes it stand out from many so-called max performance tires. You definitely can’t go wrong choosing this tire for normal road conditions.
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Wet Performance
|
Wet Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Wet Overall |
8.6 |
|
Hydroplaning Resistance |
8.7 |
|
Wet Traction |
8.4 |
In general, summer tires tend to perform relatively poorly in the wet. Fortunately, that is not the case with the Michelin Pilot Sport 3. Its outstanding hydroplaning resistance and excellent wet traction make the Pilot Sport 3 a viable alternative for driving safely in the most adverse weather conditions.
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Comfort Performance
|
Comfort Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Overall Comfort |
7.9 |
|
Ride Quality |
8.1 |
|
Noise |
7.7 |
Making tires that deliver an outstanding driving experience is nothing new for Michelin. In fact, it’s arguably one of its specialties. The Michelin Pilot Sport 3 is no exception. If you’re looking for a tire that delivers low noise levels and a smooth ride, then the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 is probably for you.
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Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Treadwear Performance
|
Treadwear Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Treadwear |
7.0 |
Another striking aspect of the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 is its Treadwear rating. Going back to the point that this is an OE tire, a score above 6.5 is not common. That said, there is no doubt that durability is another strong point of the amazing Michelin Pilot Sport 3.
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Warranty
Treadlife Warranty
6-year warranty or 20,000 miles (whichever occurs first). This warranty is halved when the rear and the front tires are different in size.
Uniformity Warranty
Complaints regarding these tires’ uniformity must be subscribed in the first year of use or the first 2/32″ of wear.
Workmanship / Materials Warranty
Michelin provides an amazing 6-year warranty against defects in workmanship or materials. Moreover, it also offers free tire replacement for the first year, 2/32″ wear, or 25% wear.
Road Hazard Warranty
Unfortunately, Michelin does not provide this type of warranty for this tire.
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Manufacturer Special Warranty
This tire comes with a special warranty consisting of 60-day satisfaction (in which you can exchange the tire for a BFGoodrich or Uniroyal equivalent), and a 3-year flat changing service.
Tire Rack Road Hazard Warranty
On top of the tread life warranty offered by Michelin, this tire features Tire Rack’s leading warranty that covers refunds of up to $40 for repairs per tire per occurrence. Moreover, if the tire suffers non-repairable damage within the first 2 years, a refund of the original purchase price or replacement purchase price (whichever is less) will be made.
When you combine the generous standard warranty offered by Michelin and its outstanding special warranty plus the convenient warranty offered by Tire Rack, you have a strong argument in favor of the Michelin Pilot Sport 3.
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Specs & Options
Are you concerned that the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 is only available in a few sizes as an OE tire? You don’t have to be. To the delight of many sports car owners, the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 is available in the most popular sizes for 18, 19, and 20-inch tires and tire widths ranging from 235 to 285. Another important aspect is that its UTQG is 320 AA A, not bad, all things considered. To learn more about the UTQG, we suggest you read this article.
If you drive a high-performance sports car, coupe, or sedan, we have good news for you, the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 is most likely available for your car.
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Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Reviews
While it is true that the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 does not yet have enough reviews to make a firm assessment of its performance, we can say that the results are promising. It could be said that 90% of drivers are pleasantly satisfied with the performance and comfort offered by the Michelin Pilot Sport 3, while the remaining 10% complain that the tire could have better grip in snow.
Well, given that Pilot Sport 3 is a summer tire, that should count as another achievement for Michelin. All in all, if you give them proper service, such as keeping adequate air pressure and rotating them regularly, the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 can certainly be an excellent choice for your car.
Quick Recap
[amazon fields=”B073PG2J42″ image=”1″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_link=”none”]
|
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 |
|
|---|---|
|
Dry |
9.3 |
|
Wet |
8.6 |
|
Comfort |
7.9 |
|
Treadwear |
7.0 |
End of the Road
The Michelin Pilot Sport 3 is a tire that exceeds all expectations of an OE tire. It provides unsurpassed wet and dry performance, offers upscale ride quality, and has durability on par with this type of tire. Our take? If you enjoy sporty driving, this is a tire that will not disappoint.