Michelin
Pilot Sport 4S
Max Performance Summer Tire
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is a max performance tire for sports cars and expensive luxury vehicles. Its performance in the summer season makes it a non-competition tire in the max performance category, which is why it has been so popular still in 2024.
| Tire type | Max Performance Summer Tire |
| Price range | $226-$1223 |
| Tread Warranty | 20000-30000 |
| Run-flat | No |
| Vehicles type | Sporty Sedans, Coupes, luxury vehicles |
| Driving conditions | Dry and Wet |
Every fan of sports cars and enthusiast drives has heard of or tried driving with this Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tire. It is one of the most popular tires Michelin has ever produced in their lifetime.
The reason for this tire’s success is its high-performance drive which is unlikely to match with any other performance tires, the responsive drive, with perfect traction and grip makes it an unbeatable tire even after many years of its launch.
Although Michelin launched a new version of this tire, still this tire is more in demand than the new version, which is surprising for Michelin Tire as well.
So what is happening, is whether this tire provides the performance, that drivers are finding no reason to move on from it or is there something else that keeps drivers stick with this tire?
We will talk about this in this review, with how this tire is unique, how it performs, and whether it is still a perfect tire to drive in 2024. So Without further ado, let’s start with it.
Table of Contents
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S features
The tire has features and technology that no normal tire comes with. It features a premium touch sidewall construct, which improves the tire’s visual presence with its performance on fast corners while improving stability. With that, the variable contact patch 3.0, further enhances cornering and shoulder performance on summer tracks.
This tire while being so good at performance is also eco-centric, it is a low rolling resistance tire, which improves the fuel and energy mileage, and with the help of Michelin Total Performance Technology, the tire is also more durable than its predecessor.
Basic features of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
While being durable and eco-friendly, the Pilot Sport 4S features Michelin Acoustic Technology. This technology is built to improve tire sound and comfort performance, and its presence in this tire makes it a quiet and comfortable tire to drive in wet and dry conditions. The tread sequencing and void ratio further improve the quality of the tire, it delivers a comfortable drive even at a faster pace.
With comfort, the max performance of this tire is improved due to the Dynamic Response Technology. This technology improves tire traction and grip in wet and dry conditions, especially on fast turns. The cornering is improved due to this technology, and the handling response is on another level in summer seasons.
Tread pattern and design
Although this tire is visually appealing, its performance is far more better than it looks. The tire features a slick design, which might not be ideal for tread life, but it is perfect for a responsive drive on fast tracks. The center rib features edgy corners and a straight design with notches, it helps in achieving stable straight drive and reliable traction and grip.
The asymmetrical design tread features different shoulder and intermediate ribs. The outboard shoulder and rib feature a slick design with open shoulders and notches. It helps the tire perform better in wet conditions while improving tire response. The inboard rib and shoulder feature notches and cuts, which help in improving tire traction and grip, and better cornering and stability on fast tracks.
Assurance and warranty
The tread of this tire is not impressive, even the tread performance in this category is not impressive. Usually, the tire in the max performance summer category stands for 20-30K miles, and going above that means, you are not driving this tire at its maximum ability.
Similarly, this Pilot Sport 4S comes with a 20-30K miles treadwear warranty based on size and variants, it has tread depth from 7/32-10/32. The durability of the tread also depends on driving conditions and style, if you drive purposefully on fast tracks, then it will hardly reach its warranty period, otherwise, this tire can go beyond the 30K miles mark as well.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S specification
The tire is assembled and manufactured in the part of USA and France, which makes it a high-quality tire just based on its production area. It comes with a high-speed rating of Y, which means you can reach 186mph with this tire with no problems.
The 300AAA ratings also show its low treadwear life, however, this is the standard in the max performance category. The AA and A ratings in traction and temperature make it a reliable tire to drive in different dry and wet conditions. The tire can carry from 1102 lbs to 2769 lbs depending on size, however, it is recommended to not put so much weight on this tire, due to its soft tread and low-depth tread, which affect tire wear.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance
The performance of this Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is known to many sporty car drivers. The tire performs brilliantly in dry conditions, whether it is highways, city daily routes, or fast tracks. The tire is made to deliver the best performance in different conditions. When it comes to reliable traction and grip, there is no match for this tire in dry conditions. With maximum grip, the response and corner control of this tire are also exceptional, it delivers one of the most responsive drives in the max performance tires category. With quick brakes and acceleration, the tire is also enjoyable and safe to drive at a higher pace.
Similar to dry conditions, the drive of this tire in wet conditions is also exceptional. Below 70mph the tire can handle the deepest waters with no troubles, however going above this speed it sometimes hydroplanes and loses control, which is very common with any other tire. So it grips perfectly in wet conditions, provides responsive handling and brakes, and provides a smoother ride in wet and rainy conditions. The hydroplaning resistance of this tire is also great, at normal speed it never hydroplanes and delivers safe and peaceful rides in wet conditions.
With performance in different conditions, this Pilot Sprot 4S is also a comfortable and quiet tire to drive in the summer seasons. The tire provides noiseless drive even at a higher pace, and the cabin comfort of this tire is also great, which makes it a smooth and peaceful tire to drive on highways and fas tracks.
Some alternative Options
Michelin Pilot Sport S 5
This is the new version of Pilot Sport 4S: the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5. It is also a better performer than its predecessor tire when it comes to reliable traction and grip, better comfort, and smoother drive in wet and dry conditions. However, the limited sizes of this tire make it less known to the masses of sports car drivers. Also, the price is much higher than the Pilor Sport 4S of this Pilot Sport S5, and due to the not-so-big difference in performance, the previous version still seems like a fair trade and a better option to drive in 2024.
Read the complete review of Michelin Pilot Sport S 5
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
The new Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 is the only threat to the Pilot Sport 4S. The reason for that is this Continental tire is very competitive in performance and the price ranges are lower than the Michelin tire. There is very little difference in both of these tires’ performance, the Continental tire performs better in wet conditions and is more comfortable than the Pilot Sport 4S. On the other hand, the Michelin tire is better in dry conditions and provides a more responsive ride than the ExtremeContact Sport 02. So you can decide for yourself what type of performance you desire with your vehicle.
Read the complete review of Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Another great max performance tire by Michelin but a little older than Pilot Sport 4S. This Michelin Pilot Super Sport is also a great tire, it has a similar performance to the Pilot Sport 4S and comes at a lower price range. The difference between these two tires is that Pilot Super Sport comes at a lower price range and also provides less durable and responsive rides. So if you want to achieve maximum performance, then Pilor Sprot 4S will be a better choice in 2024.
Final words
As you can see in this Michelin Pilot Sport 4S review, this tire is still one of the best options to drive in 2024. It achieves great performance in wet and dry conditions and great tire to drive with luxury vehicles due to its comfortable and responsive rides. Other than its treadwear life, there is no bad thing in this tire that needs improvements to further satisfy sports car drivers.
References
https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tires/michelin-pilot-sport-4-s
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Michelin/Pilot-Sport-4-S.htm