Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S - Test Results

Test Statistics

29

Tests Completed

2^nd

Average Position

1^st

Best Result

5^th

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S - Official Image

Across 30 comparative tests the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S delivers consistently elite overall performance (average overall position 2.2) with frequent podium finishes and multiple “Highly recommended” awards. The dominant pattern is strong dry-road capability (often near- or best-in-test for dry handling and braking) paired with generally high wet grip, making it a very safe, fast UUHP road tyre in mixed summer conditions.

Its weaknesses are less about outright grip and more about inconsistency in specific wet disciplines and ownership metrics: curved/limit aquaplaning can be mid-pack to last, wet braking occasionally drops to the bottom tier in some newer tests, and noise/rolling resistance/price are variable with several clear “premium penalty” results (notably very high price and occasional high rolling resistance ranks).

Performance Strengths

Dry Performance (Braking & Handling) Strong Details
• 1st place overall in 2020 EVO UHP test with 1st dry braking (33.6 m) and 1st dry handling (52.15 s)
• 1st dry handling in 2025 Autobild Sportscars UUHP test (104.3 km/h) and 1st dry handling in 2024 Autobild Sports Cars test (109.9 km/h)
• 1st dry braking and 1st wet braking in 2021 Auto Bild 19" test (33.5 m dry, 45.5 m wet), contributing to 1/15 overall
• Top-tier dry braking repeatedly: 2nd/8 (+0.6%) in 2021 Sport Auto UHP, 2nd/10 (+1.7%) in 2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP, 3rd/10 (+1.6%) in 2025 Tire Rack UUHP
Wet Braking / Safety-Critical Wet Grip (often strong, occasionally class-leading) Moderate Details
• 1st wet braking in 2024 EVO test (31.4 m) helping to 2/7 overall
• 1st wet braking and 1st wet circle in 2021 Sport Auto UHP test (34.1 m; wet circle 1/8), 1/8 overall
• 1st wet braking in 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19" test (56.0 m), despite only 7th wet handling lap
• Generally near-front wet braking in several tests: 2nd/10 (+5.5%) in 2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP; 2nd/7 (+8.9%) in 2025 Autobild Sportscars UUHP
Road Manners / Comfort & Refinement Moderate Details
• Best subjective road score in 2025 EVO test (1/9) where it 'led comfortably on road refinement and steering feel' despite 5/9 overall
• 1st subjective comfort in 'Best Performance Tyres For 2025' test (1/7) and 1st subjective comfort in 2020 EVO test (1/7)
• Often strong subjective dry feel: 1st subjective dry handling in 2021 Sport Auto UHP (10 points, 1/8)
Efficiency (Rolling Resistance often competitive for a UUHP tyre) Moderate Details
• 1st rolling resistance in 2024 EVO test (8.5 kg/t) and 1st rolling resistance in 2024 Autobild Sports Cars test (8.11 kg/t)
• 2nd rolling resistance in 2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP test (+0.6% from best) and 2nd rolling resistance in 2026 Autobild Sportscars test (+2.5% from best)

Performance Weaknesses

Aquaplaning Resistance (especially curved/limit aquaplaning) variability Strong Details
• Last in curved aquaplaning in 2024 EVO test (7/7) and last in 2025 Sport Auto UUHP test (4/4, +22.3% from best)
• 11th/15 curved aquaplaning in 2021 Auto Bild 19" test (+16.1% from best) and 6th/8 curved aquaplaning in 2025 Sports Cars test (+15.7% from best)
• Mixed straight aquaplaning results (sometimes excellent like 1/8 in 2026 Autobild Sportscars, but also 7/8 in 2025 Sports Cars and 6/7 in 2024/2025 Autobild Sportscars UUHP-sized tests)
Wet Braking Consistency (occasional bottom-tier outcomes) Moderate Details
• 7th/8 wet braking in 2026 Autobild Sportscars test (+11.6% from best) and 8th/10 wet braking in 2025 Tire Rack UUHP test (+10.9% from best)
• 7th/14 wet braking in 2021 Tyre Reviews UHP test (+15.8% from best) despite 1/14 overall
Noise / NVH (often not a class leader, sometimes near-bottom) Moderate Details
• 10th/11 noise in 2023 Sport Auto UHP test (+3.4% from best) and 12th/14 noise in 2021 Tyre Reviews UHP test (+3.9% from best)
• Last for noise in 2018 Auto Bild 19" test (6/6) and last for noise in 2018 Auto Bild 20" test (8/8)
Value / Cost & occasional efficiency penalties Moderate Details
• Most expensive tyre in 2023 Sport Auto UHP test (price 11/11, +115.5% from best) and last/near-last price ranks in 2021 Auto Bild 19" (15/15) and 2021 Tyre Reviews UHP (13/13)
• Rolling resistance sometimes poor in certain tests: 13th/14 in 2021 Tyre Reviews UHP (+37.2% from best) and 9th/11 in 2023 Sport Auto UHP (+35.2% from best)

Performance Over Time

Test History

of 8

2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test

2026
Winner: Continental SportContact 7

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is strong on dry roads, posting the second-fastest dry handling lap with good turn-in and controllability at the limit. It also leads the aquaplaning test on the front a...

Strong:
Dry Handling, Rolling Resistance, Straight Aqua

Weak:
Dry Braking, Wet Braking, Wet Circle

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