Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs Vredestein Ultrac Pro
- TR Score
- 9.4/10
- Owners say
- 85% · 135
- TR Score
- 9.0/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 7
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 finished ahead 7 times and the Ultrac Pro not once. The Pilot Sport 5 lasted 44.8% longer in the wear tests; the Ultrac Pro was 2.1 dB quieter.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Buy the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 for wet braking and tread life, which together also make it the cheaper tyre per 1000km; the Vredestein Ultrac Pro is the pick only if quietness and purchase price outweigh several metres of wet stopping distance.
Where the Pilot Sport 5 is stronger
- Shorter wet braking in all seven shared tests, by 5.6m in Auto Bild 2025
- Far longer projected life, 59,670km against 42,100km in 2026
- Won all seven placings, including 1st of 21 in Auto Bild's 2025 performance test
Where the Ultrac Pro is stronger
- Quieter in all four noise measurements, 71dB against 74.3dB in 2026
- Lower rolling resistance in the 2026 Auto Bild test
- Shorter dry braking twice, and 9th of 20 in that 2026 field
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Pilot Sport 5 vs Ultrac Pro at a glance
| Category | Pilot Sport 5 | Gap | Ultrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won7 shared tests | 7 | 0 | |
| Dry12 measurements | 8 | The Pilot Sport 5 stopped 2.4% shorter in the dry (7 tests) | 2 |
| Wet24 measurements | 18 | The Pilot Sport 5 stopped 7.3% shorter in the wet (7 tests) | 4 |
| Comfort9 measurements | 0 | The Ultrac Pro was 2.1 dB quieter (4 tests) | 4 |
| Value12 measurements | 10 | The Pilot Sport 5 lasted 44.8% longer in the wear tests (4 tests) | 1 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.4/10 | The Pilot Sport 5 by 0.4 | 9.0/10 |
| Owner rating135 and 7 reviews | 85% | The Pilot Sport 5 by 2 points | 83% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 83% | The Pilot Sport 5 by 12 points | 71% |
| Pricein the 5 tests that listed prices | +33% | The Pilot Sport 5 was dearer in 5 of 5 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 66 | 39 sizes made in both | 98 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 7 tests, 2025 to 2026
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 5 | Field | Ultrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | P3 of 20 | P9 of 20 | |
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P9 of 50 | P13 of 50 | |
| 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | P5 of 8 | P8 of 8 | |
| 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | P1 of 20 | P13 of 20 | |
| 2025 AZ Summer Tyre Test | P4 of 10 | P6 of 10 | |
| 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | P3 of 18 | P5 of 18 | |
| 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout | P2 of 52 | P18 of 52 |
Performance profile
13 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Pilot Sport 5
Ultrac Pro
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. The scale stops at 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 8 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Pilot Sport 5
Ultrac Pro
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 5
Ultrac Pro
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 5 85% from 135 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Pilot Sport 5 | Gap | Ultrac Pro | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34.25 | 2.4% | 35.09 | 5-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69.6 | = | 69.6 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 110.9 | 1.5% | 109.2 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 7.5% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 34.27 | 7.3% | 36.99 | 7-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 35.3 | 5.9% | 37.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 70.8 | 2.5% | 72.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 78 | 1.6% | 76.8 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 25% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.59 | 2.2% | 13.88 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 81.26 | 0.7% | 80.66 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.32 | 4% | 3.19 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73.18 | 2.1 dB | 71.08 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 53,310 | 44.8% | 36,908 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.66 | 1.7% | 8.83 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.6 | 1.8% | 5.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 56.1 | 25.7% | 75.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1,353 | 16.3% | 1,617 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0.09 | 22.7% | 0.11 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Sport 5 scores 9.4 and the Ultrac Pro 9 out of 10.
| Pilot Sport 5 | Category | Ultrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Dry | 86 | ||
| 96 | Wet | 82 | ||
| 22 | Comfort | 80 | ||
| 59 | Value | 27 | ||
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.
What owners say
| Pilot Sport 5 | Category | Ultrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 9.1 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 8.1 | Road Feedback | 8.3 | ||
| 8.3 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 8 | Wear | 6 | ||
| 8.2 | Comfort | 8.1 | ||
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 5 85% from 135 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- 85%from 135 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 1,150,326 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 very highly overall, with most highlighting standout grip in both the dry and wet and plenty of confidence for fast road driving. Comfort and refinement are also frequently praised for a UHP tyre, with many finding it quiet and easy-going day to day. Wear is more divisive: many report strong mileage, but around one in ten complain of quicker wear than expected (and a smaller group mention uneven wear). Around one in eight owners also wish for sharper, more precise steering feel compared with sportier rivals.
- Outstanding wet grip and confidence in the rain
- Very strong dry grip with big reserves
- Comfortable, compliant ride for a performance tyre
- Refined, relatively quiet motorway manners (especially when new)
- Steering feel can be a bit vague or slower to respond than rivals
- Can wear quicker than expected for some drivers
- Not happy when pushed hard on track; can overheat and lose grip
Summarised by AI from 121 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 135 Pilot Sport 5 reviewsI have driven on PS5 for the first season in my 150HP car (Cupra Leon ST).
The grip both in dry and in the wet is excellent - I tried to push them to the limit many times and have never been able to lose the grip so far.
Although I have to mention that they feel very soft close at the limit - even though the grip always delivers in the end, the tyre often „floats” when turning that you may start wondering if the tyre will make it out of the corner.
Due to their softness, I find them comfortable as for the summer tyre on small bumps.
Summing up - the grip is excellent, very safe and stable, breaking is sharp and… the tyre itself looks amazing.
Something worth mentioning is that the rim protector doesn’t exist in this tyre - if that’s something you care about, the PS5 is not for you.
Although I can’t find any cons in terms of safety in PS5, as a tyre geek, I think about replacing them for the next season for something with more sharp/sporty steering (I would appreciate any recommendations).
Vredestein Ultrac Pro
- 83%from 7 reviews
- 71%would buy again
- 34,100 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers largely praise the Vredestein Ultrac Pro for strong dry and wet grip, confident handling, and notably good ride comfort, with several noting premium feel and value. High-scoring reviews highlight short braking distances, stability, and decent wear for aggressive or heavy vehicles. A minority report concerns include poor performance in very cold (sub-5°C) conditions and one case of premature wear/delamination. Overall, the Ultrac Pro delivers balanced performance with comfort-focused tuning and attractive design.
- dry grip
- wet grip
- handling/steering feel
- ride comfort
- reduced grip in very cold temperatures
Summarised by AI from 6 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 7 Ultrac Pro reviewsI've had them for two summers and about 10k kms on a Ford Focus ST250. When I was buying them I was looking for good tires at a fair price and these were the newest model available at the time.
Dry: In the dry they have good traction, predictable handlings and good comfort for a UHP tire. Breakaway is communicated well and they don't surprise you out of nowhere. Lift of oversteer is easily achieved and controlled. They do wheelspin a bit in first gear if you are a bit more enthusiastic with the throttle but that's expected on a more powerful fwd car.
Wet: They have good and predictable grip in the wet, good aquaplaning resistance and stop quite well.
Others: Rim guard is somewhere in the middle, not as big as Bridgestone but better than Hankook. Sidewall design is good, comfort and noise are good for a uhp tire. Wear has also been good for me, I expect to change them due to age and not wear but then again I don't do that many miles a year.
It's a tire I like and would recommend. Price to performance is good. Would consider buying. I got their Wintrac Pro Plus to try this winter so I've been satisfied with Vredesteins as a whole.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 66 sizes of the Pilot Sport 5 and 98 of the Ultrac Pro, 39 of them made in both.
| Category | Pilot Sport 5 | Ultrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 66 sizes, 16 to 22 inch | 98 sizes, 18 to 24 inch |
| Made in both | 39 sizes 205/40 R18215/40 R18215/45 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18235/40 R18235/45 R18245/35 R18245/40 R18245/45 R18255/35 R18255/40 R18and 27 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A89%B11% | A97%B3% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C82%B10%A9% | C73%D18%B6%A3% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B100% | 69-73 dB B97%A3% |
| On the market since | 2022 | 2024 |
| Replaced | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (2015) | Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+ (2020) |
| Awards | Winner: Best Tyres for Hot Hatches (Compact Sports Cars) (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Best Tyres for Hot Hatches (DriverReviews, 2024/25) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Pilot Sport 5 was the dearer tyre in 5 of the 5 tests that listed prices, by 33% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Seven shared tests, seven wins for the Michelin Pilot Sport 5, and one measurement that explains most of them: wet braking, where the Michelin stopped shorter every single time. The margin reached 11.5 percent in Auto Bild's 2025 performance test, 43.2m against 48.8m, and 9.1 percent at Die Reifentester the same year.
The second explanation is tread life. Auto Bild projected 59,670km for the Michelin against 42,100km for the Vredestein Ultrac Pro in 2026, and 52,170km against 32,930km in 2025, a difference of 58.4 percent. That feeds straight into cost per 1000km, where the Michelin was cheaper in three of the four tests that costed them out.
The Vredestein is not without answers. It was the quieter tyre in all four tests that measured noise, by 4.4 percent in 2026, and it actually braked shorter in the dry twice, though by 0.6 percent both times, which is inside the noise of a test day.
Conclusion
The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is the stronger tyre on the evidence here, and the wet is where it earns it. It stopped shorter in the wet in all seven shared tests, by 5.6m in Auto Bild's 2025 performance test and by 2.45m at Die Reifentester, and it led wet handling in all three tests that measured it. Add curved aquaplaning at 3.72 against 3.23 m/sec2 in the 2026 Auto Bild test, a 15.2 percent margin, and the safety case is settled. Auto Bild made it the outright winner of its 2025 performance test, 1st of 21, with the Vredestein 13th.
Longevity says the same thing twice over. The Michelin was projected to last 59,670km against 42,100km in 2026 and 52,170km against 32,930km in 2025, and it wore away less material in the abrasion tests all three times that was measured. On cost per 1000km it came out ahead in three tests of four, by 21.8 percent in the 2025 performance test, so the premium price is at least partly returned in mileage.
The Vredestein Ultrac Pro's case is refinement and efficiency. It was quieter in every noise measurement, 71dB against 74.3dB in 2026, it rolled with less resistance in the 2026 test, and it edged the dry braking twice by margins too small to feel. It also finished 9th of 20 in the 2026 Auto Bild test, which is a respectable result for a mid-range tyre in a premium field. Buy it if quietness and price matter most; buy the Michelin if you would rather have the wet braking and twice the tread life.
Pilot Sport 5 vs Ultrac Pro: your questions
Is the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 or the Vredestein Ultrac Pro the better tyre?
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 finished ahead 7 times and the Ultrac Pro not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Sport 5 scores 9.4 and the Ultrac Pro 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Pilot Sport 5 or the Ultrac Pro?
The Pilot Sport 5 led 18 of the 24 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 7.3% shorter in the wet across 7 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Pilot Sport 5 led 8 of the 12 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.4% shorter in the dry across 7 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Pilot Sport 5 lasted 44.8% longer in the wear tests (4 tests) and had 1.7% lower rolling resistance (4 tests). Owners rate wear 8/10 for the Pilot Sport 5 and 6/10 for the Ultrac Pro.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Ultrac Pro was 2.1 dB quieter (4 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.2/10 for the Pilot Sport 5 and 8.1/10 for the Ultrac Pro.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 5 85% from 135 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. 83% of Pilot Sport 5 owners would buy it again, against 71% for the Ultrac Pro.
Which is more expensive?
In the 5 tests that listed prices, the Pilot Sport 5 was the dearer tyre in 5 of them, by 33% 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 5 is made in 66 sizes (16 to 22 inch) and the Ultrac Pro in 98 (18 to 24 inch). 39 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Pilot Sport 5 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ultrac Pro A and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Ultrac Pro is the newer design: it reached the market in 2024, the Pilot Sport 5 in 2022. The Pilot Sport 5 replaced the Michelin Pilot Sport 4. The Ultrac Pro replaced the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+.
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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.
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