When it comes to high-end sports car tires, there are many options on the market, yet only a handful deliver the results you would expect from them.
Today we will talk about one of them that is probably the best in its class, the unmatched Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.
Ready to take your revs to the max? Let’s get started.
Photo credit: prioritytire.com
TL;DR: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is an outstanding tire, undoubtedly one of the best in the world. So, before we get into the subject, let’s briefly review the main points of this incredible tire.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
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PROS
- Unmatched dry grip
- Outstanding ride quality
- Amazing cornering stability, regardless of weather conditions
- Tread and materials based on Michelin’s experience at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
CONS
- Rather expensive
Best For:
Ultra-high-performance sports cars, super sports cars, and luxury sports sedans/coupes requiring a tire capable of delivering extreme performance and durability in aggressive driving conditions
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Performance Ratings
It is always wise to keep in mind that tire ratings are closely related to the number of miles reported by drivers.
Let’s take the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S as an example. This amazing tire leads the ranking in the Max Performance Summer segment. However, with only 2.7M reported miles, it could still cede its place to the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, which is close behind with over 9M reported miles.
In other words, the lower the number of reported miles, the more likely it is that the ratings will be affected. In the case of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, this “volatility” is relatively low, but for its ratings to be considered established, it will have to wait until it has more than 5M miles.
Having clarified this point, we can begin exploring the performance of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S in different categories. For your convenience, we have provided links to each of them below.
- Dry Performance
- Wet Performance
- Comfort Performance
- Treadwear Performance
- Warranty
- Specs & Options
- Reviews
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Dry Performance
|
Dry Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Dry Overall |
9.6 |
|
Cornering Stability |
9.6 |
|
Dry Traction |
9.7 |
|
Steering Response |
9.5 |
There is no doubt that the most important rating for a high-performance oriented summer tire is its dry performance. In this respect, the aggressive asymmetric tread design, as well as the special compound derived from Michelin’s experience at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has paid off. If you are looking for the ideal tire to push your super sports car to the limit, then the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is for you.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Wet Performance
|
Wet Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Wet Overall |
9.2 |
|
Hydroplaning Resistance |
9.1 |
|
Wet Traction |
9.2 |
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S’s near-perfect dry ratings may make you wonder, can this tire offer the same cornering stability and grip in the wet? The answer is yes. Both the wet traction and hydroplaning resistance of the Pilot Sport 4S are unmatched. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S gives you the peace of mind and safety you expect from a high-end tire, even in adverse weather conditions.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Comfort Performance
|
Comfort Performance Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Overall Comfort |
8.9 |
|
Ride Quality |
9.1 |
|
Noise |
8.8 |
It’s no secret that Michelin places enormous emphasis on ride quality. Proof of this is the double steel belt construction reinforced by a special high-tech hybrid belt. It is for this reason that we are not surprised by the results. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S enjoys an astonishing 9.1 ride quality rating and an even more astonishing 8.8 noise level rating. If you are looking for an upscale driving experience for your luxury sedan or sports coupe, then the Pilot Sport 4S is an excellent choice to consider.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Treadwear Performance
|
Treadwear Performance Rating |
|
|---|---|
|
Treadwear |
8.3 |
Its robust construction not only enhances the driving experience. Thanks to Michelin’s computer-modeled Variable Contact Patch 3.0 design, tread life is greatly benefited, even when the tire is used aggressively. For this reason, the Pilot Sport 4S is ideal for those who enjoy spirited driving and want to be remorseful of the possible damage they cause to their tires.
Photo credit: flatsixes.com
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Warranty
Treadlife Warranty
6-year warranty or 30,000 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
Sadly, Michelin does not provide this type of warranty for this tire.
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.
Photo credit: michelinmedia.com
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.
Although the Pilot Sport 4S is intended for use in extreme conditions, it comes with one of the most comprehensive warranties on the market. This is another point in Michelin’s favor, as it demonstrates the confidence it has in the quality of the Pilot Sport 4S.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Specs & Options
The coverage offered by Michelin is nothing short of amazing. The Pilot Sport 4S is available in sizes ranging from 17 inches to 23 inches and tire widths from 215 to 335. It is worth mentioning that this fabulous tire has a UTQG of 300 AA A, two thumbs up for Michelin. If you want to know more about UTQG, you can read this article.
No matter what type of sports car you drive, rest assured that the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S will be available in your size.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Reviews
Reading the reviews of drivers who have used the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is a pleasure. Unanimously, they all praise its smoothness on the road, its spectacular grip on both straights and curves, and Pilot Sport 4S’s amazing ability to improve braking distance. We are talking about tires that have been used on sports cars with more than 500 HP, and yet they have managed to meet drivers’ expectations to the fullest.
Photo credit: michelin.com
A relevant aspect of the reviews is that even though more than 80% of users admit to having a “spirited” driving style, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S has managed to maintain its performance over 30k miles.
In terms of durability, this means that with proper maintenance (when tire rotation is possible), the Pilot Sport 4S could last approximately 40,000 miles before needing to be replaced.
All in all, the conclusion after reading the comments related to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is that you will hardly regret using this tire on your car.
Quick Recap
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|
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S |
|
|---|---|
|
Dry |
9.6 |
|
Wet |
9.2 |
|
Comfort |
8.9 |
|
Treadwear |
8.3 |
End of the Road
This review has checked why the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is ranked 1 out of 31 in the Max Performance Summer tires segment. Simply put, it’s an extraordinary tire that has all the attributes you would expect from a product aimed at the high-performance market, but that in addition delivers unparalleled ride quality.