Table of Contents
Quick highlights
| Tire type | Max Performance Summer Tire |
| Price range | $173-$571 |
| Run-flat | Yes |
| Vehicles type | Sporty Coupes and Sedans |
| Driving conditions | Dry and Wet |
Michelin has been known for their innovation and advancements, and this Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is a perfect example of that.
This Pilot Sport 4 doesn’t need any reviews or appreciation as it has already made its name in the market and every sports car enthusiast has heard about this tire more than once.
The tire is in a max performance summer category, which makes it the most aggressive tire to drive on fast summer tracks.
It was launched in January of 2016, and still, after 8 years, the tire has been doing great, and still one of the top tires to drive on fast summer tracks with sporty sedans and coupes.
As it is in the summer category, it is not driveable in winter terrains, and due to its soft shoulders, it will not be any good in winter terrains anyway, other than that in wet and dry conditions, this tire shines like diamond, especially if you are in dire need of an enjoyable fast drive.
With performance, the tire is also comfortable, however, the noise of treads sometimes ruins the comfort level. With that, it is not very durable, even this whole max performance category has low tread life tires.
So after many years, no better tire has come out in the max performance tire categories, Let’s find out in this review, whether there is a better option than this tire or if is it still the best tire to drive on the fast summer tracks of 2024.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 pros & cons
Pros
- Perfect steering response and control on fast tracks and everyday city drives.
- Excellent traction and grip in wet and dry conditions.
- Unexpectedly comfortable drive, being in the high-performance category.
- High load-carrying capabilities with fast acceleration and shortest brakes.
Cons
- Noisy drive on fast tracks
- Low tread life with a high price, fewer miles per dollar.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 features
This Michelin Pilot Sport 4 when launched was one of the most advanced tires of Michelin, with optimal performance it comes with technologies including
premium touch Technology: which enhances tread life and improves vehicle control.
RunFlat Technology: This keeps the tire moving after a puncture.
Dynamic Steering Technology: improves the tire grip and tread durability on fast corners and tracks.
With that, there are many new and old technologies utilized in this Pilot Sprot 4 tire, which makes a perfect tire for summer and dry seasons.
Basic features of Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Multiple noticeable features include that make the Pilot Sport 4 the greatest high-performance tire for sporty vehicles.
Ultra-Reactive Tread Pattern
The tread pattern is designed to adapt continuously to the road, optimizing the contact patch for improved safety and performance. This ultra-reactive design helps in maintaining grip during sudden maneuvers and offers a more responsive driving experience.
Variable Contact Patch 2.0
This technology involves optimizing the contact area between the tire and the road, depending on driving conditions. It helps in evenly distributing pressure across the tire’s surface, enhancing both grip and tire wear.
Elasto Sport Compound
The tire uses an innovative rubber compound known as the Elasto Sport Compound, which includes silica and functional elastomers. This compound is designed to offer excellent grip and traction, both in dry and wet conditions. The combination of materials helps enhance the tire’s flexibility, improving contact with the road surface and providing better handling and braking performance.
Tread pattern and design
The tire features a slick asymmetrical tread pattern with continuous ribs and multiple groove channels. The low-depth tread tire makes it more responsive on the road and a better performer on summer fast tracks.
The tread notches and shoulder ribs help in improving brakes and traction, also it improves the traction and control on fast corners. With that, the four grooves channel the water through the tire and make it a hydroplaning-resistant tire in heavy rainfalls and deep-standing water.
With the help of computer-optimized compound and tread design, this tire performs perfectly in wet and dry conditions making it a proper summer tire for fast tracks and city road drives.
Assurance and warranty
The tire comes with only a 20K miles treadwear warranty, which is not shocking if you’re looking for a tire in the max performance tires category. Some tires in this category do not even come with any warranty, due to the harsh drive of max-performance tires.
Also, the wear of the tire is not optimal it wears off sometimes earlier than the warranty period, it totally depends on the driving conditions and style of the driver. If you rarely drag race with this tire then it will be fine, but if you are always on the tracks to win the bet, then it will probably wear off at about 15K miles.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 specification
| Speed rating | W-Y(168-186)MPH |
| Load Index | 81(1019 lbs) – 115(2679 lbs) |
| Manufactured in | France, Hungary, Denmark, France |
| Wheel diameter | 16-21” |
| Ply rating | 4 ply rated |
| Treadwear, Traction, Temperature | 200-320, AA-A, A |
| Noise Reduction | No |
As you can see, the tire is rated 200 on treadwear, which states its treadwear life, compared to touring tires’ 900 ratings, it is not even close. However, the perfect traction and temperature rating state that you may not find the more responsive and versatile tire to drive on summer tracks.
With that, the high-speed ratings and high load indexes make it a great tire for quick acceleration and for carrying heavy weights around. The lack of work in the noise sector, sometimes makes it an unfriendly tire to drive, especially at a fast pace.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 performance
This Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is a summer max performance tire, so you can only expect it to run in wet and dry conditions. Testing its performance on winter terrains and off-road mud terrains will not make sense, as it is not made for those conditions.
So when it comes to dry and summer roads, the tire performs the best. The best thing about this tire is its responsive steering and control over the vehicle. the tire delivers the feel that sports car drivers have longed for. With that, the traction, grip, and control on corners are also exceptions, even at a fast pace, the tire delivers safe and stable rides.
When it comes to wet conditions, although the response is not as good as on dry roads, it is hard to find other tires that deliver as a responsive drive in wet conditions as this tire. With that, the traction and grip are also awesome, although, due to the absence of sipes and open shoulders, it sometimes loses grip at a faster pace.
With the max performance drive, the tire is also high quality, which delivers very comfortable rides on city streets. So if you are tired of races and fast track driving, you can enjoy comfortable and smooth rides with this tire as well.
Why not to buy the Michelin Pilot Sport 4
If you want a tire that keeps running for many years and delivers versatile performance in different conditions of all seasons, then this Pilot Sport 4 will not make sense, as it is the opposite of that. You may need touring all-season tires to fulfill the desire like these, as touring tires are much more durable, more versatile, and perform better in winter terrains.
Read the Complete Review of Michelin CrossClimate 2
If you are looking for a more advanced tire in this category, which launched recently, then again there are better options than the Michelin Pilot Sport 4. Michelin recently introduced a more advanced version of this tire, Michelin Pilot Sport 5, which features higher quality rubber and innovative advancements, which makes it a better tire for summer tracks.
Read the complete review of Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Who is this Tire for
This Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is a tire made for sports car drivers who love fast-track driving with reliable and comfortable drives. If you want a tire that saves you some money and delivers high-quality and high-performing rides on city roads and tracks, then this is the perfect tire for your sporty coupes and sedans.
Final words
As you can see, even after many years, this Michelin pilot Sprot 4 is a perfect tire to drive on summer tracks and dry conditions. The tire has been doing great since its inception, even its newer model has not touched this tire’s wind, which makes it an even more reliable tire to drive.
