Buy the Pilot Sport 4S if you drive a powerful sports car, run big wheels or go on track. Buy the Pilot Sport 5 if you drive a hot hatch or sport sedan on 17- to 19-inch wheels, mostly on the road.
They aren't old and new versions of the same tire. The 5 replaced the Pilot Sport 4. The 4S sits above both. Both carry the same 30,000-mile treadwear warranty, and in a size they share they cost about the same.
How they compare
Pilot Sport 4S | Pilot Sport 5 | |
|---|---|---|
Tire Rack category | ||
Made since | 2017 | 2022 |
Replaced | Pilot Super Sport | Pilot Sport 4 |
Treadwear warranty | 6 years / 30,000 miles | 6 years / 30,000 miles |
UTQG | 340 A A in most sizes; 320 B A in a few | |
Sizes at Tire Rack | 122, 17 to 23 inches | 11, 17 to 21 inches |
255/40R18 at Walmart | ||
Latest test we found | Tire Rack 2025: 5th of 11 | Tyre Reviews 2023: 2nd of 6 |
Launch years and lineage are from Blackcircles. Its article gives both 2021 and 2022 for the Pilot Sport 5, and the tire reached Australia in 2022 (WhichCar). Prices were checked in October 2026.
Where each one sits in Michelin's range
The Pilot Sport 4S is the grippier, more focused tire. Blackcircles calls it "an ultra-high-performance summer tyre" that sits higher in Michelin's range, aimed at powerful sports cars. Tire Rack says it's "designed for serious drivers" and "excels in warm dry and wet conditions."
The Pilot Sport 5 is the road tire. It "effectively replaces" the Pilot Sport 4, according to WhichCar, which reported Michelin's launch goals. Those were longer wear than the Pilot Sport 4, and grip that holds up better as the tire wears. Michelin also claimed 20% fewer particle emissions than the Pilot Sport 4. WhichCar gave no wear figure to back the longer-life claim.
Tire Rack describes the 5 as a "balance of responsive handling, confident grip, and long service life in both dry and wet conditions."
Both are summer tires. Neither is meant for near-freezing temperatures, snow or ice (Tire Rack). Walmart's listing for the 4S says it isn't recommended where temperatures stay below 45°F. If you're tempted to run one tire all year, read can you run winter tires year round first, because the same logic works in reverse.
What the tests show
We couldn't find a published test that put the two side by side. So here's each tire in its most recent test we could open, against its own field.
Pilot Sport 4S: Tire Rack, 2025
Tire Rack tested 11 summer tires in 275/35R19 on a BMW M2 in July 2025 (Tire Rack).
Tire | Overall score |
|---|---|
Kumho Ecsta Sport S | 7.95 / 10 |
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | 7.82 / 10 |
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 | 7.79 / 10 |
Vredestein Ultrac Pro | 7.40 / 10 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S | 7.39 / 10 |
Toyo Proxes Sport 2 | 7.36 / 10 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (BMW original equipment) | 7.35 / 10 |
Top seven of 11 shown. In the wet, the 4S needed more than 10 feet longer to stop from 60 mph than each of the top three. Testers also noted "chattery understeer" when pushed to the limit. Tire Rack's summary line: "An aging category icon that faces strong competition at this point."
That's a fair warning. The 4S is still good. It's just no longer the automatic class leader it was.
Pilot Sport 5: Tyre Reviews, 2023
Tyre Reviews tested six tires in 225/40 R18, with a Golf GTI used for the wet handling runs (Tyre Reviews). The Pilot Sport 5 finished second overall behind the Continental PremiumContact 7 and got a "Highly Recommended" rating.
Test | Pilot Sport 5 | Best in test |
|---|---|---|
Dry braking | 33.65 m (110 ft) | 33.0 m, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 |
Wet braking | 29.1 m (95 ft) | 27.1 m, Continental PremiumContact 7 |
Subjective dry handling | 100 points, joint 1st | Pilot Sport 5 and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 (tie) |
Predicted wear | 30,595 km (about 19,000 miles), 1st | Pilot Sport 5 |
The wear figure is a projection from a 12,000 km convoy test, not a full tire life. Still, it backs up the launch claim. The 5 was the longest-lasting tire in the test, and joint best to drive in the dry by the tester's feel. It gave up about 2 m (6.6 ft) in wet braking to the winner.
Tread life and warranty
On paper the two last the same. Tire Rack lists a 6-year, 30,000-mile treadwear warranty for both. On a staggered car, with wider tires at the rear, the rear warranty is halved to 15,000 miles (Tire Rack).
The UTQG grade gives a rough guide too. Tire Rack's spec sheet lists the 4S at 300 AA A in the sizes we checked (Tire Rack). Most Pilot Sport 5 sizes are 340 A A, but a few, like 255/35ZR19, are 320 B A, and some are still pending (Tire Rack). So the 5 grades a little higher for wear and a step lower for wet traction. Check the grade for your exact size. NHTSA describes the treadwear number as a comparison against a control tire rated 100.
In the one wear test we found, the 5 came out best of six. There's no matching figure for the 4S from the same test.
Sizes: the deciding factor for many cars
For a lot of cars, the choice is made for you. The 4S comes in far more sizes, and most of them are for big wheels.
Wheel diameter | Pilot Sport 4S at Tire Rack | Pilot Sport 5 at Tire Rack | Pilot Sport 5 at TFS Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|
17 in | 5 | 2 | 5 |
18 in | 17 | 5 | 7 |
19 in | 26 | 2 | 5 |
20 in | 33 | 1 | 3 |
21 in | 23 | 1 | 2 |
22 in | 15 | 0 | 0 |
23 in | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 122 | 11 | 22 |
Our count from the size lists on Tire Rack (4S), Tire Rack (5) and TFS Wheels, counting each width and aspect ratio once. Retailers stock different sizes, so check two before you decide.
If your car runs 20-inch or bigger wheels, the 4S is probably your only choice of the two. On 17- or 18-inch wheels you'll likely find both. Our guide on how to read a tire size explains the load and speed codes to match.
Price
In a size they share, the two cost about the same. Walmart listed a 255/40R18 Pilot Sport 4S at $288.99 and a Pilot Sport 5 at $308.99. A set of four is $1,155.96 vs $1,235.96, so the 5 was $80 more in this size.
Retailer | Pilot Sport 4S | Pilot Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
Walmart, 255/40R18, per tire | $288.99 (99Y XL) | $308.99 (99W XL) |
TFS Wheels, 255/40R18, per tire | Not checked | |
Blackcircles UK, all sizes, fully fitted |
Note the speed ratings in that Walmart listing. The 5 shows as 99W, while Tire Rack lists the same size as 99Y. Check the full size on the order before you pay. In the UK, Blackcircles had the Pilot Sport 5 at £121.99 fitted in 225/45R17.
Fitting costs the same for either. Our guide to how much new tires cost lists the extras.
Which one for your car
Choose the Pilot Sport 4S if | Choose the Pilot Sport 5 if |
|---|---|
Your car runs 20-inch or larger wheels | Your car runs 17- to 19-inch wheels |
You do track days or autocross | You drive mostly on the road |
You want the higher-grip tire in Michelin's range | You care most about tread life and road manners |
Your car came with the 4S and you want a match | You're replacing a Pilot Sport 4 |
Our guides to your first track day and autocross vs track day cover what else to bring. Neither tire is a 200-treadwear track tire, which our piece on 200-treadwear tires explains.
On a BMW that came on run-flats, check whether you want a run-flat version at all. See run-flat vs regular tires.
What to do today
- Read your exact size, load index and speed rating off the door label.
- Check which of the two is sold in that size at two retailers.
- If you're on 20-inch wheels or bigger, shortlist the 4S. Otherwise, price both.
- Compare the full size code on each listing, including the speed rating letter.
- Check the DOT date code when the tires arrive, and plan for winter if you live where it freezes.
Sources are linked in the text. Main references: Tire Rack test, Tyre Reviews test, Tire Rack Pilot Sport 5 and Blackcircles.
Featured image: Dodge Viper Wheel Michelin Pilot Sport Cup by Ryan Gsell, CC BY 2.0. Source
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