Switching to the Pilot Sport 4 was a night-and-day difference. Straight away I noticed a huge improvement in grip. The wheelspin I used to get when accelerating a bit too enthusiastically in the wet completely disappeared. Even now, with the tread about halfway worn, the tyre still performs brilliantly. There’s no loss of traction in the wet, and it remains composed when cornering hard. It’s probably more tyre than the Swift realistically needs, but I enjoy every bit of it and would happily recommend it.
In terms of comfort, the Michelin is noticeably better than the Hankook. My car has very stiff suspension, so I feel every bump, but the Pilot Sport 4 manages to take the edge off a little. Road noise is on the higher side, though this may be more down to the poor sound insulation of the Swift than the tyre itself.
Another strong point is wet safety. I’ve driven through plenty of standing water on the motorway and haven’t experienced any aquaplaning so far, which gives a lot of confidence.
Overall, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is an excellent choice if you drive a relatively modest car but still enjoy pushing it as if it were something quicker. It delivers impressive grip, strong wet performance, and good comfort, even several years into its life.

