In this article we will be looking at independent tire test data, and real world driver reviews of the Falken Azenis FK520 and the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 to find out which tire is best for your own driving.
The good news is that both the Falken Azenis FK520 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 are Max Performance Summer tires designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars, which means comparing the two tires is relatively simple.
Both tires are hugely popular in the market place with drivers, and both have been featured in independent tire tests.
Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been four tests which compare both tires directly!
Out of these four tests:
While it might look like the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is better than the Falken Azenis FK520 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tires are very complicated objects which means where one tire is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tires compare across multiple tire test categories.
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during two dry braking tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 stopped the vehicle in 0.35% less distance than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Dry Braking: Falken Azenis FK520
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
2023 Summer Tire Market Overview 225/45 R18 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:33.7M | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 34.1M |
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:35M | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 34.7M |
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test 235/35 R19 |
Falken Azenis FK520:32.5M | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 32.5M |
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:33.7M | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 34.1M |
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 was 0.7% faster around a lap than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Falken Azenis FK520
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test 235/35 R19 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:99.4s | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 100.1s |
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during one dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 was 0.09% faster around a lap than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:114.3Km/H | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 114.6Km/H |
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:119.2Km/H | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 119.1Km/H |
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during four wet braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 stopped the vehicle in 4.54% less distance than the Falken Azenis FK520.
Best In Wet Braking: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
2023 Summer Tire Market Overview 225/45 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:27M | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 26M |
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:43.2M | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 39.1M |
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test 235/35 R19 |
Falken Azenis FK520:40.1M | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 39.9M |
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:42.2M | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 40.6M |
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was 1.45% faster around a wet lap than the Falken Azenis FK520.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test 235/35 R19 |
Falken Azenis FK520:68.9s | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 67.9s |
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during zero wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 was 2.12% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:83.8Km/H | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 84.8Km/H |
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:73.1Km/H | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 75.5Km/H |
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during two wet circle tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was 0.88% faster around a wet circle than the Falken Azenis FK520.
Best In Wet Circle: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:11.25s | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 11.13s |
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test 235/35 R19 |
Falken Azenis FK520:13.63s | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 13.52s |
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during one straight aqua tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 floated at a 0.08% higher speed than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Straight Aqua: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:77.6Km/H | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 77.9Km/H |
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test 235/35 R19 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:78.8Km/H | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 77.1Km/H |
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:104.1Km/H | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 105.7Km/H |
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during zero curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 slipped out at a 8.82% higher speed than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:2.82m/sec2 | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 2.96m/sec2 |
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:3.38m/sec2 | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 3.83m/sec2 |
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during three noise tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 measured 2.58% quieter than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Noise: Falken Azenis FK520
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:66.6dB | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 68.3dB |
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test 235/35 R19 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:69dB | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 72dB |
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:73dB | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 73.8dB |
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during zero wear tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 is predicted to cover 19.42% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Wear: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:44800KM | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 55600KM |
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during one value tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 proved to have a 8.96% better value based on price/1000km than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Value: Falken Azenis FK520
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:11.38Price/1000 | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 12.5Price/1000 |
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Falken Azenis FK520 was better during three price tests. On average the Falken Azenis FK520 cost 26.73% less than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Price: Falken Azenis FK520
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:375 | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 500 |
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test 235/35 R19 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:595 | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 825 |
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
✓ Falken Azenis FK520:510 | Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 695 |
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during three rolling resistance tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 had a 3.13% lower rolling resistance than the Falken Azenis FK520.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test 225/40 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:8.8kg / t | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 8.62kg / t |
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test 235/35 R19 |
Falken Azenis FK520:8.48kg / t | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 8.37kg / t |
2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test 225/45 R18 |
Falken Azenis FK520:8.61kg / t | ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 8.09kg / t |
Tire Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Falken Azenis FK520 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
In total the Falken Azenis FK520 has been reviewed 29 times and drivers have given the tire 85% overall.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 has been reviewed 67 times and drivers have given the tire 85% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
In conclusion the Falken Azenis FK520 performed better in dry braking, dry handling [s], noise, value and price, while the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 performed better in dry handling [km/h], wet braking, wet handling [s], wet handling [km/h], wet circle, straight aqua, curved aquaplaning, wear and rolling resistance.
Which tire is best for you depends a lot on your driving style and situation, plus what you want from the tire. Comparing all the data in the tire reviews database, on balance Michelin Pilot Sport 5 seems to be the best tire overall.
However, it's important to note that both tires have their strengths.
Remember, the best tire for you might depend on which of these factors are most important for your specific driving needs and conditions.
Overall Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
This page has been developed using tire industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tires in the same test.
Why is this important? Tire testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tire test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tire tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tire Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tire comparison, Tire Reviews doesn't.