Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Nokian PowerProof
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S finished ahead 4 times and the PowerProof not once. The Pilot Sport 4 S was stronger in dry, wet and comfort.
Performance profile
13 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Pilot Sport 4 S
PowerProof
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Pilot Sport 4 S
PowerProof
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Pilot Sport 4 S
PowerProof
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 4 S 85% from 179 reviews and the PowerProof 80% from 28. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | Pilot Sport 4 S | Gap | PowerProof | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Pilot Sport 4 S ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 33.35 | 5.2% | 35.18 | 4-0 |
| Dry Handling (s) | 73.29 | 1.7% | 74.56 | 2-0 |
| Dry Handling (km/h) | 125.7 | 2% | 123.3 | 2-0 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 12.5% | scored | 2-0 |
| Wet Pilot Sport 4 S ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 33.78 | 8.2% | 37.24 | 4-0 |
| Wet Handling (s) | 56.02 | 0.2% | 56.17 | 1-1 |
| Wet Handling (km/h) | 78.3 | 1.9% | 76.95 | 1-1 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 1.8% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet Circle (m/s) | 6.94 | 0.1% | 6.93 | 1-0 |
| Wet Circle (s) | 12.39 | 1.2% | 12.54 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 76.05 | 3.5% | 73.5 | 4-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning m/sec2 | 2.26 | 6.5% | 2.14 | 1-1 |
| Comfort Pilot Sport 4 S ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 10.3% | scored | 2-0 |
| Noise dB | 72.07 | 0.1 dB | 72.2 | 2-1 |
| Tyre Weight kg | 9.94 | 10% | 11.05 | 1-0 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 7.23 | 3.6% | 6.82 | 2-2 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared.
Head to head in 4 tests, 2020 to 2021
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Pilot Sport 4 S | Field | PowerProof |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 14 | P8 of 14 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 15 | P12 of 15 | |
| 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 7 | P4 of 7 | |
| 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | P1 of 10 | P3 of 10 |
Pilot Sport 4 S vs PowerProof: your questions
Is the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S or the Nokian PowerProof the better tyre?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S finished ahead 4 times and the PowerProof not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Sport 4 S scores 9.4 and the PowerProof 8.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Pilot Sport 4 S or the PowerProof?
The Pilot Sport 4 S led 13 of the 18 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.2% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Pilot Sport 4 S led 10 of the 10 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.2% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.4/10 for the Pilot Sport 4 S and 8.6/10 for the PowerProof.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 4 S 85% from 179 reviews and the PowerProof 80% from 28. 80% of Pilot Sport 4 S owners would buy it again, against 73% for the PowerProof.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Pilot Sport 4 S was the dearer tyre in 3 of them, by 37.9% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Pilot Sport 4 S is made in 105 sizes (17 to 22 inch) and the PowerProof in 42 (17 to 20 inch). 23 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Pilot Sport 4 S is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the PowerProof A and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The PowerProof is the newer design: it reached the market in 2018, the Pilot Sport 4 S in 2016. The Pilot Sport 4 S replaced the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. The PowerProof replaced the Nokian zLine.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.