Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 vs Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS
- TR Score
- 8.3/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 24
- TR Score
- 9.3/10
- Owners say
- 81% · 2
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 and the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS have met in 1 independent tests and the record is level at 0-0.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pick the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS if your goal is maximum dry lap time and consistent performance over a full track session-its dry braking and long-run pace advantages are repeatable across both tests. Choose the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 if you want a more conservative semi-slick for occasional trackdays and you place extra weight on wet-braking security in heavier water conditions (as shown in the AutoBild result), accepting that it won't match the Trofeo RS for sustained dry pace.
Where the Pilot Sport Cup 2 is stronger
- Stronger wet braking in AutoBild 2026: 47.0 m vs 53.3 m (about 11.8% shorter), suggesting better water evacuation in heavy-braking zones
- More tread grooves/void ratio (per test notes) can make it a safer bet when conditions are variable or damp-to-wet
- Lowest set weight in the AutoBild test, which can marginally help unsprung mass/response depending on fitment
Where the P Zero Trofeo RS is stronger
- Best-in-class dry braking in both shared tests (28.8 m and 27.2 m), including shorter stops than other track-focused tyres in the AutoBild field
- Faster dry handling and hot-lap pace in both tests (e.g., 148.53 s vs 150.58 s), with strong precision and feedback reported
- Stronger long-run consistency (e.g., 152.35 s vs 155.6 s in AutoBild) and less lap-to-lap fall-off during sessions
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 Cup 2 vs P Zero Trofeo RS at a glance
| Category | Pilot Sport Cup 2 | Gap | P Zero Trofeo RS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won1 shared test | 0 | 1 level | 0 |
| Dry3 measurements | 0 | 3 | |
| Wet2 measurements | 0 | 2 | |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.3/10 | The P Zero Trofeo RS by 1.0 | 9.3/10 |
| Owner rating24 and 2 reviews | 82% | Too close to call | 81% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 22 | 10 sizes made in both | 33 |
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 1 test in 2024
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 Cup 2 | Field | P Zero Trofeo RS |
|---|---|---|---|
| The BEST Track Day Tyres for 2024 | P1 of 6 | P1 of 6 |
Performance profile
5 measurements from the one shared test, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure.
Where each is furthest ahead
Pilot Sport Cup 2
Not ahead on any measurement here
P Zero Trofeo RS
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 95%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
Pilot Sport Cup 2
P Zero Trofeo RS
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.
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 Cup 2 | Gap | P Zero Trofeo RS | Wins | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.9 | 12% | 27.2 | 0-1 | |||||
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| 141.4 | 1.7% | 138.9 | 0-1 | |||||
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| 146.6 | 2.8% | 142.5 | 0-1 | |||||
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| 30.7 | 4.2% | 29.4 | 0-1 | |||||
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| 81.8 | 0.1% | 81.9 | 0-1 | |||||
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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 Cup 2 scores 8.3 and the P Zero Trofeo RS 9.3 out of 10.
| Pilot Sport Cup 2 | Category | P Zero Trofeo RS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Dry | 96 | ||
| 65 | Wet | 16 | ||
| 46 | Comfort | - | ||
| 85 | Value | 15 | ||
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 Cup 2 | Category | P Zero Trofeo RS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.5 | Dry Grip | 10 | ||
| 6 | Wet Grip | - | ||
| 9 | Road Feedback | 10 | ||
| 9.2 | Handling | 10 | ||
| 6.2 | Wear | 5 | ||
| 7.4 | Comfort | 4 | ||
Owners rate the Pilot Sport Cup 2 82% from 24 reviews and the P Zero Trofeo RS 81% from 2. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
- 82%from 24 reviews
- 86%would buy again
- 190,850 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners largely agree the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 delivers outstanding dry grip and sharp, confidence-inspiring responses once it has some temperature in it, with many also praising steering feel and dry handling. Where opinions turn, it is mainly in cooler or wetter use: around two in five owners mention limited wet grip, and roughly one in five flag aquaplaning and cold-weather performance as particular weaknesses. Durability also draws criticism, with around one in five dissatisfied with tread life, and a similar share noting it can be heat-sensitive in terms of delivering its best performance.
- Exceptional dry grip once up to temperature
- Sharp steering feel and driver feedback
- Strong, immediate dry handling and turn-in
- Reassuring and progressive behaviour at the limit
- Wet grip can be lacking, especially in cold and wet conditions
- Aquaplaning resistance is a weak point in standing water
- Needs heat and struggles in colder conditions
Summarised by AI from 19 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 24 Pilot Sport Cup 2 reviewsI use these 100% for street driving. They don't really start to shine until they have some heat in them though. It's very hard to get sufficient heat in them on the street though, so I feel I'm not really getting the most out of them. They are very comfortable and have great turn in. Steering response is fabulous and extremely good on the brakes. In heavy rain they are not terrible, but they aren't great. Because of that I may switch to 4S tires (or S5 if available) once I'm ready for new tires. These Cup 2's though still have a lot of tread left on them so I may be still 3 seasons from needing new tires - they may expire based on date before I wear them out fully.
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS
- 81%from 2 reviews
- 400 milesdriven by reviewers
All 2 P Zero Trofeo RS reviewsFitted the Trofeo RS Elect on the Taycan GTS for a track day. Traction is IMMENSE. Braking is IMMENSE. Road feedback is absolutely fantastic. You immediately connect with the tyre and you can confidently push to the limit and beyond. All its performance characteristics in the dry are truly exceptional. Lap times did not seem to get affected much by heat, the car could consistently run consecutive laps of around the same time. Unfortunately though the Taycan is a tyre destroyer even when driven properly. The tyres gave up very quickly. Alignment was set at the very limit of the settings suggested by Porsche. A bit aggressive but within factory limits. Around 2,4 bar back & forth seems to be optimal for the Taycan even though I did not really have the time to figure out exactly what was right. Overall, a thrill ride but a very short one.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 22 sizes of the Pilot Sport Cup 2 and 33 of the P Zero Trofeo RS, 10 of them made in both.
| Category | Pilot Sport Cup 2 | P Zero Trofeo RS |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 22 sizes, 15 to 21 inch | 33 sizes, 18 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 10 sizes 235/35 R19245/35 R19265/35 R19275/35 R19245/30 R20245/35 R20265/35 R20285/30 R20305/35 R20335/30 R21 | |
| EU label wet grip | D56%C44% | B52%C27%D21% |
| EU label rolling resistance | D89%C11% | D77%C23% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B100% | 69-75 dB B75%A25% |
| On the market since | 2013 | 2023 |
| Replaced | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup+ | Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R |
| Replaced by | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect | - |
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.
Michelin's Pilot Sport Cup 2 and Pirelli's P Zero Trofeo RS sit in the same “trackday-and-competition” summer category, but the shared tests show they're tuned for slightly different priorities. The Cup 2 is the better-known, more road-tolerant semi-slick baseline that many OEMs have used as a default track-capable fitment; the Trofeo RS is the newer, more purpose-built option aimed at maximizing lap time, including OE development (notably for cars like the BMW M2 CS).
Across the two shared comparisons (275/35 R19 and 335/30 R21), the pattern is consistent: the Trofeo RS is the faster tyre in the dry and tends to stay strong over repeated laps, while the Cup 2's main counterpunch is conditional-its extra tread void can help in certain wet situations, but it doesn't consistently translate into overall wet performance leadership.
Conclusion
If your priority is outright pace and repeatable track-session performance, the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS is the clear winner in this head-to-head. It led every dry metric in both tests: dry braking advantages of ~6.7% (28.8 m vs 30.88 m) and ~12.0% (27.2 m vs 30.9 m), plus quicker dry handling and long-run times (e.g., 148.53 s vs 150.58 s hot lap; 152.35 s vs 155.6 s long run in AutoBild). Professional notes back this up with praise for its precise turn-in, wide limit range, and sustained pace from lap to lap with minimal performance drop.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 makes sense as the more “entry-point” semi-slick: typically cheaper in the AutoBild test context, lighter, and in that same AutoBild dataset it delivered the best wet braking of the two (47.0 m vs 53.3 m), a meaningful margin if you're worried about sudden standing-water braking zones. The trade-off is that it struggled most in dry pace and, crucially, showed rapid degradation/pick-up from lap two in the 2026 AutoBild long-run assessment-exactly the scenario that matters in real trackdays.
Practical takeaway: choose the Trofeo RS if you want a tyre you can lean on for lap time and consistency across a full session; choose the Cup 2 if you want a more conservative semi-slick feel and you expect mixed-weather track use where wet braking confidence (not just wet cornering speed) is a deciding factor.
Pilot Sport Cup 2 vs P Zero Trofeo RS: your questions
Is the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 or the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS the better tyre?
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 and the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS have met in 1 independent tests and the record is level at 0-0. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 8.3 and the P Zero Trofeo RS 9.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 or the P Zero Trofeo RS?
The P Zero Trofeo RS led 2 of the 2 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The P Zero Trofeo RS led 3 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.4/10 for the Pilot Sport Cup 2 and 4/10 for the P Zero Trofeo RS.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Pilot Sport Cup 2 82% from 24 reviews and the P Zero Trofeo RS 81% from 2.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Pilot Sport Cup 2 is made in 22 sizes (15 to 21 inch) and the P Zero Trofeo RS in 33 (18 to 22 inch). 10 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Pilot Sport Cup 2 is graded D for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the P Zero Trofeo RS B and D.
Which is the newer tyre?
The P Zero Trofeo RS is the newer design: it reached the market in 2023, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 in 2013. The Pilot Sport Cup 2 replaced the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup+. The P Zero Trofeo RS replaced the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R.
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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