Buy the Continental DWS06 Plus for most cars. It ranked above the Michelin in two Tire Rack tests, has the longer warranty and costs $22 to $33 less per tire.
Buy the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 if braking is your priority. In Tire Rack's 2024 test it stopped 2.75 m (about 9 ft) shorter in the wet and was shorter in the dry and snow too. Neither tire is rated for severe snow.
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How they compare
ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus | Pilot Sport All Season 4 | |
|---|---|---|
Tire Rack category | ||
Treadwear warranty | 6 years / 50,000 miles | 6 years / 45,000 miles |
UTQG | 560 AA A | 540 AA A |
Severe snow rated (3PMSF) | No | No |
Tire Rack 2024 test | 2nd of 9 | 4th of 9 |
Tire Rack 2026 test | 7.42 / 10 | 7.15 / 10 |
245/40ZR18 at Tire Rack | $197.99 | $228.99 |
Specs and prices are from the Tire Rack 245/40ZR18 pages linked above, checked October 14, 2026. Both are 97Y XL in that size. On a staggered car, both warranties are halved for the rear tires.
The 2024 Tire Rack test
The Continental placed 2nd and the Michelin 4th, out of nine tires on a 2024 BMW 330i xDrive (Tire-Reviews). But the Michelin won three of the four braking tests.
2024 test | DWS06 Plus | Pilot Sport All Season 4 | Shorter or faster |
|---|---|---|---|
Dry braking | 35.36 m (116.0 ft) | 34.44 m (113.0 ft) | Michelin |
Wet braking | 42.37 m (139.0 ft) | 39.62 m (130.0 ft) | Michelin |
Snow braking | 27.41 m (89.9 ft) | 25.24 m (82.8 ft) | Michelin |
Ice braking | 13.17 m (43.2 ft) | 14.23 m (46.7 ft) | Continental |
Dry lap | 30.13 s | 30.26 s | Continental |
Wet lap | 32.16 s | 32.46 s | Continental |
Snow lap | 55.21 s | 55.25 s | Continental |
Testers' comfort score | 7.5 | 7 | Continental |
Testers' noise score | 7.5 | 7 | Continental |
Figures are Tire Rack's data as compiled by Tyre Reviews. Feet are converted from meters. Comfort and noise are subjective scores, where higher is better.
So the Michelin is the better braker, and the Continental is quicker around a lap, on all three surfaces. The lap gaps are small: 0.04 s in snow, 0.30 s in the wet. The wet braking gap is not small. 2.75 m is more than half a car length.
Neither tire won the test. The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus 3 did (Tyre Reviews).
The 2026 Tire Rack test
The Continental beat the Michelin again, 7.42 to 7.15 out of 10. Tire Rack tested five tires on the same 2024 BMW 330i xDrive in 235/40R19, published June 24, 2026 (Tire Rack). The Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season won with 7.62.
2026 test | DWS06 Plus | Pilot Sport All Season 4 |
|---|---|---|
Overall rating | 7.42 / 10 | 7.15 / 10 |
Dry braking from 60 mph | 110.8 ft (2nd) | 109.7 ft (1st) |
Wet braking from 60 mph | Figure not printed (1st by elimination) | 132.6 ft (2nd) |
Dry lap | 30.45 s | 30.20 s |
Wet lap | 31.90 s | 31.55 s |
The Michelin was faster this time, with the best wet lap and the shortest dry stop. Tire Rack called it "an unquestionably strong performance tire."
The Continental's wet stop isn't printed on the page, but the other four tires' places are. The Michelin's 132.6 ft was second-best and the Eagle F1 All Season took 134.4 ft. The Bridgestone Potenza Sport AS had the second-longest stop and the Eagle Sport All-Season the longest, 162.1 ft. That leaves the Continental with the shortest wet stop, under 132.6 ft. Tire Rack sums it up as "a fantastic tire when it's wet." We couldn't find its exact distance.
That's the opposite of 2024's wet result. The tire size and the test day were different, so don't treat either test as the final word.
Ride and noise
The Continental is the quieter, smoother tire in both recent Tire Rack tests. In 2024 it scored 7.5 for comfort and noise against 7 for the Michelin. The write-up describes the Michelin's "moderate levels of multi-tonal noise" and "minor harshness and jiggle" on the road (Tire-Reviews).
The 2026 test said the same thing. Tire Rack found the Continental's noise well managed and its ride well damped. The Michelin was "comfortable and composed," but its noise had "a pronounced ring" (Tire Rack). Back in 2021, Tire Rack described the Michelin's noise as "a higher pitch that varied based on the road surface" (Tire Rack).
Owners rate them about the same. Tire Rack's survey gives both 9.0 for ride quality and 8.7 for noise (DWS06 Plus, Pilot Sport All Season 4).
Snow and ice
The Michelin is better in snow, the Continental on ice. Neither carries the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF). Tire Rack lists both as "Severe Snow Service Rated: No."
The 2024 results are clear. The Michelin had the shortest snow stop of all nine tires, 25.24 m. The Continental tied for the shortest ice stop, 13.17 m, while the Michelin's 14.23 m was 7th. The 2021 Tire Rack test, on a BMW 430i Gran Coupe in 245/40R18, found the same split. The Continental's ice stops from 12 mph were "8.5 feet shorter than the nearest competitor," and the Michelin led in light snow (Tire Rack).
Tire Rack owner survey | DWS06 Plus | Pilot Sport All Season 4 |
|---|---|---|
Light snow | 8.2 | 8.0 |
Deep snow | 7.4 | 7.3 |
Ice | 7.0 | 6.9 |
Survey ratings | 5,528 | 2,577 |
Survey scores are owner ratings out of 10, not test results. The last row is Tire Rack's survey count, not its larger star-rating count. If you see real snow most winters, neither is the right tire. Our guide to all-season vs all-weather tires explains the 3PMSF option, and Pilot Sport All Season 4 vs CrossClimate 2 compares the Michelin with a 3PMSF-rated tire.
Tread life and cost per 1,000 miles
The Continental should cost less per mile. It has a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty against 45,000, and a UTQG grade of 560 against 540. We found no independent wear test with both tires in it.
Divide the set price by the warranty miles. In 245/40ZR18, a Continental set is $791.96 ÷ 50 = $15.84 per 1,000 warranted miles. A Michelin set is $915.96 ÷ 45 = $20.35, or $18.58 after the $80 card.
Size | DWS06 Plus per 1,000 miles | Pilot Sport All Season 4 per 1,000 miles | Michelin after $80 card |
|---|---|---|---|
225/40ZR18 | $13.52 | $16.98 | $15.20 |
225/45ZR18 | $15.76 | $19.91 | $18.13 |
245/40ZR18 | $15.84 | $20.35 | $18.58 |
255/40ZR19 | $21.36 | $26.67 | $24.89 |
That's warranty maths, not a wear test. How you drive and your alignment matter more.
Price in four common sizes
The Continental costs $22 to $33 less per tire in the sizes we checked. That's $88 to $132 on a set of four.
Size | DWS06 Plus | Pilot Sport All Season 4 | Set of 4 difference |
|---|---|---|---|
225/40ZR18 | $88 | ||
225/45ZR18 | $108 | ||
245/40ZR18 | $124 | ||
255/40ZR19 | $132 |
Tire Rack prices per tire, October 14, 2026, before fitting. All are Y speed rated.
Michelin's rebate narrows it. Tire Rack listed an $80 Visa Reward Card on a set of four Pilot Sport All Season 4s, valid September 3 to November 30, 2026. That cuts the set gap to $8, $28, $44 and $52 in the four sizes. No Continental rebate was listed on these pages.
Check the load index in 225/45ZR18. The Continental is 91Y standard load there, while the Michelin is 95Y XL. Buy at least the load index on your door placard. Our guide to how to read a tire size explains the codes.
The tires that beat both
Each test had a different winner. The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus 3 won in 2024, and it was $196.72 in 225/40R18 with a 50,000-mile warranty. It was the weakest of the three in 2024 snow braking, at 29.58 m. The Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season won in 2026, and it was $169.99 in 225/40ZR18 with a 45,000-mile warranty and an $80 instant rebate on four, in the same listing.
Both are worth a look if they come in your size. Our best tires for the WRX guide prices the Pirelli in 245/40R18.
Which one for your car
Choose the DWS06 Plus if | Choose the Pilot Sport All Season 4 if |
|---|---|
You want a quieter, smoother ride | You want the shortest dry and snow stops |
You see ice more often than snow | You see light snow more often than ice |
You want the 50,000-mile warranty | You want the quicker 2026 lap times |
You want the lower price | You're matching two you already have |
Choosing between the Michelin and a summer tire instead? Read Pilot Sport 4S vs Pilot Sport All Season 4. On a MK8 GTI, both of these are sold in the 18- and 19-inch factory sizes; see best summer tires for a MK8 GTI.
How to check this on your own car
The site hasn't tested these tires. Before you buy, check:
- The door placard, for your size and load index.
- One sidewall, for the brand, model, full size code and whether it has the mountain-and-snowflake symbol.
- The DOT date code on the old tires (how to read it).
- Tread depth at all four corners, written down with the mileage, so you can track wear on the new set.
What to do today
- Read your exact size and load index off the door placard.
- Decide what matters more: dry and snow braking (Michelin) or ride, ice and price (Continental).
- Price both in your size, then take off any rebate that's running.
- If you need the 3PMSF symbol, rule out both and look at an all-weather tire.
- Fit all four at once, and get an alignment.
Common questions
Which is quieter, the DWS06 Plus or the Pilot Sport All Season 4?
The DWS06 Plus, in Tire Rack's testing. It scored 7.5 for noise against 7 in 2024, and in 2026 Tire Rack noted the Michelin's "pronounced ring." Owners in Tire Rack's survey score both 8.7 for noise.
Which lasts longer?
On paper, the DWS06 Plus. Its warranty is 50,000 miles against 45,000, and its UTQG treadwear grade is 560 against 540. We found no head-to-head wear test.
Do either have the 3PMSF snowflake?
No. Tire Rack lists both as not severe-snow service rated. They're fine in light snow, and the Michelin stopped shortest in snow in the 2024 test, but neither is a winter tire.
Sources are linked in the text. Main references: Tyre Reviews 2024 test charts, Tire Rack 2026 test, Tire Rack DWS06 Plus and Tire Rack Pilot Sport All Season 4.
Featured image: All Season tire tread and code by Ken T1381 (BY-SA). Source
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