Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Tire Review

The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is the latest tire in the Michelin range, following on from the huge success of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4. These ultra-high performance tires are billed as a premium tire, but just how well do these tires stack up?

Well, we have run all our tests to bring you a full breakdown of everything you need to know. So, here is our Michelin Pilot Sport 5 review.

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Michelin have stated the main points of improvement on the new Pilot Sport 5 is to the overall grip, the wet weather performance and also to the lifespan of the tire. It is too early to say how the lifespan of the tire compares to the previous generation or competitors in its class, but so far the tire is showing even wear across the tread in our testing. 

These tires also come equipped with a “Wear2Check” indicating the tread life left in the tire. This makes it easy for the driver to monitor the tire wear. 

The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 also comes updated with a new matte side wall finish, designed to make it stand out from the Pilot Sport 4, and giving a look associated with the Michelin Cup 2 track tire.

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Review

In order to give you the full picture of whether you should consider the Michelin Pilot Sport 5, we have tested the tire on a range of criteria and here are the results.

Dry Performance

On dry roads, the Pilot Sport 5 performs superbly. It offers fantastic levels of grip and is very confidence inspiring, allowing you to push the limits without fear of losing control.

The Michelin engineers have improved the compound from the previous model which has given the tire better high speed cornering capability and greater levels of stability.

We found during testing that the tire gave an excellent amount of feedback and that the grip was progressive and very predictable. The steering was precise and the tire also reacted quickly to changing road conditions.

Wet Performance

Wet performance is an area where the Pilot Sport 5 has made serious improvements over the Pilot Sport 4. The grip and traction are fantastic and hold up very well in both damp and wet conditions.

Despite its function as a high performance summer tire, it is able to dispel water from its tread pattern extremely effectively, allowing the tire to remain in contact with the ground even in the harshest of downpours.

It also returned some of the shortest braking distances in wet weather conditions, showing off its ability to counteract hydroplaning and perform no matter the conditions.

Comfort

Despite the fact that the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is a performance tire, it actually does surprisingly well in terms of comfort. While certainly not as quiet or as smooth as a premium touring tire, on normal roads these tires can be incredibly smooth and quiet.

On bumpy or uneven roads, these tires do well to absorb much of the shock and keep your drive pleasant. However, it still needs to be clear that these are performance tires and will always sacrifice a little bit of comfort and quietness to achieve those ends.

But as a performance tire, you won’t find many more comfortable than the Sport 5.

Longevity

A huge selling point for the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is its MaxTouch Construction design. This technology has been worked diligently by the french company and focuses on distributing the forces of the tire evenly in different road situations. The result is an incredibly durable and long lasting tire that you can rely on for the long haul.

Warranty 

Surprisingly enough, Michelin have yet to provide a specific warranty for the Pilot Sport 5. However, other tires within their Pilot Sport class of ultra performance tires have warranties that range from 20,000 miles to 45,000 miles. So, we expect the range to be somewhere in there.

Update: Michelin have now included a 30,000 mile warranty for the Pilot Sport 5.

Pricing

As a premium brand, Michelin tires are typically priced higher than other, lesser known alternatives. The prices can start from north of $300 per tire which can feel expensive for many buyers. 

However, as a high performance tire from a premium brand, the price point for the Pilot Sport 5 isn’t that abnormal and is actually very competitive.

Tire Sizes for Michelin Pilot Sport 5

205/40 R17	245/40 R17	205/45 R17	215/45 R17	225/45 R17	245/45 R17	225/50 R17
215/55 R17	225/55 R17	245/35 R18	255/35 R18	265/35 R18	205/40 R18	215/40 R18
225/40 R18	235/40 R18	245/40 R18	255/40 R18	275/40 R18	215/45 R18	225/45 R18
235/45 R18	245/45 R18	255/45 R18	235/50 R18	235/35 R19	255/35 R19	275/35 R19
225/40 R19	235/40 R19	245/40 R19	255/40 R19	285/40 R19	225/45 R19	235/45 R19
245/45 R19	245/35 R20	255/35 R20	255/40 R20	275/45 R20

Summary

The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tire is a clear upgrade over the Pilot Sport 4 and should impress buyers looking for a high end, durable tire that not only performs well, but all feels great to drive on. These tires match up incredibly well against most of its competitors with stand out durability and surprisingly excellent wet road performance.

Our Michelin Pilot Sport 5 review gives this tire an impressive 9.6/10.