Michelin Pilot Sport 5

The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 builds on the impressive range of ability of the PS4, improving the tread life, having sharper more precise steering, and offering higher levels of grip in the dry and wet.

Tire review data from 67 tire reviews averaging 85% over 343,217 miles driven, and 10 tests with an average result of 3rd.

Dry Grip 91%
Wet Grip 93%
Road Feedback 81%
Handling 82%
Wear 82%
Comfort 84%
Buy again 84%

First On MarketJanuary 2022
Wheel Size17 - 21"
Width205 - 285mm
Profile30 - 55
Rolling ResistanceA - C
Wet GripA - B
Noise (dB)72 - 75
Winter RatingNot Winter Rated

The Pilot Sport 5 is ranked 16th of 78 Summer Max Performance tires.

This tire replaced the Michelin Pilot Sport 4.

In Depth Tire Comparisons

Tests Included

10

Best Result

1st

Worst Result

6th

Average Result

3rd

Latest Tire Test Results

2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tires for Asia Test
3rd of 6 tires
  • Michelin Pilot Sport 5 secured third place with balanced performance. It excelled in aquaplaning tests, leading both longitudinal (78.1 km/h) and lateral (3.31 m/s²) measurements. The tire also performed well in wet handling with an 80.93s lap time. However, its rolling resistance was high at 8.54 N/kN, and comfort scores were average at 6.5 points, falling short of premium expectations.
View Full Test >>
2024 Auto Express Summer Tire Test
4th of 8 tires

  • Summary

    The Michelin Pilot Sport 5, despite high expectations, delivered solid but not podium-placing performance. It excelled in deep water conditions, winning both curved and straight aquaplaning tests. The tire showed good results in dry conditions, ranking third in both dry braking and handling. However, its wet performance was mixed, with strong results in wet cornering but only fourth-best in wet braking and handling. The tire's behavior in wet conditions was noted as somewhat inconsistent, with good cornering grip that dropped off abruptly. Refinement was decent, offering quiet performance over most surfaces and good bump absorption. Its fuel economy was mid-range, ranking sixth out of eight.

    Results

    The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 achieved an overall score of 99.4%, priced at £120.03. It dominated aquaplaning tests, ranking 1st in both curved and straight aquaplaning (100% each). In wet conditions, it tied for 3rd in wet cornering (99.10%), but ranked 4th in both wet braking (97.00%) and wet handling (98.80%). Dry performance was strong, with 3rd place rankings in both dry braking (97.90%) and dry handling (98.80%). The tire tied for 3rd in cabin noise (95.4%) and ranked 6th in rolling resistance (90.20%).

    .
View Full Test >>
2024 Sport Auto Summer Tire Test
2nd of 6 tires
  • Excellent controllability thanks to very high grip level on wet and dry tracks, shortest dry braking distances. Rolling resistance and pass-by noise are low.
  • Moderate aquaplaning protection in curves, partially somewhat bouncy ride.
  • Balanced and very safe to drive on both wet and dry roads.
View Full Test >>

Questions and Answers for the Michelin Pilot Sport 5

2022-01-26 - When do you expect to review the new Pilot Sport 5 tires?

I'm working hard to be the first on the new PS5, but realistically it's not possible to test before spring so I'm expecting March time.

2022-04-10 - Why PS5, compared to Asym 6, can be both average in wet grip/handling and excellent at aquaplaning resistance? Intuitively, a tire that better resists aquaplaning performs better in wet conditions, right?

Wet handling uses around 1 mm of water which doesn't really challenge a new tires aquaplaning properties so is more about the mechanical grip of the compound, where aquaplaning tests are usually conducted in 8 mm of water which is all about tread design.

2022-06-14 - I have kia stinger with pilot sport 4 tires and had a punctured front left tire. I cannot find the ps4 to buy anymore just the pilot sport 5. Will it be ok to switch both front tires to ps5 and keep the rear tires in ps4? They are new ps4 less than a 1000km.

Yes, mixing the Pilot Sport 5 and Pilot Sport 4 is totally ok as long as you match the left and right on the axle.

2022-09-28 - How come the pilot sport 5 is only available as a 97y not a 93y as well for the 245/40 r18 tire. The pilot sport 4 was available in both and I had the 93y. Is the 97y still suitable?

You can always go up in load rating so the 97Y will be fine. They might release a 93Y in the future if the market demands it however there's a chance it would be the same tire with a different sidewall so don't worry about fitting the 97Y.

2022-09-30 - Can you please have a chat with Michelin to find out about when the new tire size will arrive ? With only 44 launched I think there are a lot more to come as the PS4 were 130+ size. I am especialy interested in 215/50R17 for my Honda Civic

Unfortunately I don't have any new data yet, you could try contacting Michelin directly through their website and they might be able to give you a hint!

2022-11-05 - What is the new tire tread depth of the ps5? My brand new ones fitted prior to an MOT measured 6.5mm during the mot and were described as 23% worn

The new tread depth of the PS5 varies by size. Our test size of 225/45 R17 had 7.6mm at new, but larger wider tires often start with less.

2022-12-21 - I have a Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG, fitted with four new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 in late 2021. Unfortunately, the offside rear wheel was damaged and had to be replaced over the summer, and was fitted with a Pilot Sport 5 as the PS4 was no longer available. As the nearside PS4 had very little wear and the PS5 has much the same tread pattern, I was advised it wasn’t necessary to ‘match’ it with a replacement. Is this accurate?

I'm sure you could get lots of different opinions on this, and while I'd rather have the axle matched in this case I'm sure it won't be a huge issue. one thing to note, the PS5 will wear much more slowly than the PS4 so keep an eye on things.

2023-05-11 - Is it ok to fit an SUV with (275/45/R20) Michelin PS5 or better stick with PS4 SUV? The PS5 is given as an option in the Michelin web site for both Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 but not for Mercedes GLE (probably because the 265/45/R20 is not available?)

If you can get the correct load rating it shouldn't be an issue, but finding a PS5 in an SUV load rating could be tricky.

2023-09-04 - Does the 5 have a rim protector? The protruding rubber that reduces risk of curbing? My Ps4s have them but no info online about it on the 5.

Rim protection varies by tire size, but in my testing I've found the PS5 to have a small rim protector. If rim protection is important to you, I suggest looking at the Potenza Sport.

2024-09-11 - When l rotate the PS 5 tires on my Mazda MX5 should l keep them on the same side or cross them over

Assuming you have the same front and rear size, you should rotate them in an X pattern, eg front left to right rear.

If you have different sizes front and rear then you can only rotate them side to side.

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YouTube Review

Top 3 Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Reviews

Given 89% while driving a Volkswagen Golf MK7 R 300 BHP (225/40 R18) on mostly country roads for 2,000 spirited miles
I've bought the new Michelin Pilot Sport 5 for my Golf R as I previously had the Pilot Sport 4 tires. What a fantastic difference these new tire are. Theres far less noise, the grip in the wet is better and the dry grip is almost the same if not better as well. I would definitely be buying these again.
Helpful 454 - tire reviewed on January 12, 2022
Given 99% while driving a BMW 420d (225/45 R18) on a combination of roads for 37,000 spirited miles
So after 20 years of getting GY's (loved most of them), Continental (loved all of them), Pirelli (hated most of them) and Bridgestone (hated all of them), I got first time ever Michelin PS5 2 years ago on my 4 series coupe Bmw, they're 225/45/18 size. After that I was so amazed by Michelin generally that I changed to them on all of my cars including 911 997 and as long as they make them this good I'll keep buying them. The wear is amazing and like they told me in the tire shop (that they will stay the same all their legal life) they did. So after 60k km, yes 60k km they were down to legal limit and just today I put a set of new ones. The GY and Continental always performed well at the beginning but after half of the life it would go significantly down. This performed 50% better in wear than ever before. Max I got before on any tire was 40k km. Yes compared to Pirelli Cinturato P7 run flats the car was equipped from new there is a bit of less steering precision but my God have well they keep corners at Dolomiti mountain roads both in wet and dry and all the way at 50k km, I could actually say that only at around 55k km the back end was much happier going out. I was so blown away by them that I also got for the same car winter Alpin 5 tires and they are amazing as well. I can just say (in my case other people can have different opinions) there is Michelin and then there are other tires.
Helpful 123 - tire reviewed on April 2, 2024
Tire reviews and ratingsTire Reviews Replies
That's some incredible mileage from the Pilot Sport 5! Michelin work hard on their total life performance, which isn't something that's often tested, so it's great to see real world experiences at end of life.
Given 90% while driving a BMW 140i xdrive (265/35 R18) on a combination of roads for 1,000 spirited miles
245/40/18 Fronts 265/35/18 Rears Got these on my stage 2+ 470bhp/710nm M140i. I had Goodyear Super Sports on and I didn’t really gel well with them. The road feedback was definitely better (had PS4 before the super sports) but for grip Wet & Dry the PS4 was much better. This new PS5 is the same story. Fantastic grip dry and wet, little less noisy than the PS4. However the same issue with the vague steering feel is there same as the PS4. You know you have the best of the best tire but it can be a little unpredictable if you do find the limits of the tire to know what the tires doing. It’s definitely noticeable after coming from the Goodyears to the Michelin’s but take nothing away the Michelin, it’s is in a different league IMO when it comes to my car and the way it’s set up anyway. I had quite a lot of traction issues with the Goodyears, didn’t seem to get the power down as smooth as I liked, and since going back to Michelin I can comfortably get the power down without my traction light thinking it’s Christmas flashing on and off. I’ll compensate the vague steering feel for the sheer grip you get back. My new choice of tire from now!
Helpful 165 - tire reviewed on March 29, 2022
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Latest Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Reviews

Given 93% while driving a Mercedes Benz C250 CDI Blutec (225/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 13,000 spirited miles
Two sets later, first one on 225/45r17 which i drove for about 6-7000 kilometers before selling those wheels, and now on my 18 inch combo of 225/40r18 and 255/35r18 which I did around 22-23.000km to this point... Man I love this tire... Such combination of comfort, sportiness and performance is honestly hard to match... At this mileage front tires are at only 50% of legal depth tread, and rear ones surely have over 65% left to them, and I drive rather hard. I find this apsolutely mind-blowing tread life for UHP tires... Will buy again, and again, and again, until they come with PS6
Helpful 8 - tire reviewed on October 9, 2024
Given 83% while driving a Volkswagen Golf GTI MK7 (225/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 10,000 spirited miles
Pretty good dry grip, even better wet grip. Wear is reasonable considerigng it's an UHP terry, but it is expected from Michelin anyhow. I've been using PS4 earlier which I found a bit better than these PS5. There is an annoying noise at about 100 km/h. At the end of the day I like these tires. I am using them for the 2nd season.
(On my other car I am using Falken Azenis FK520, and those are not much inferior to these Michelins.)
Helpful 8 - tire reviewed on October 5, 2024
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Given 87% while driving a Peugeot RCZ GT 156THP (235/45 R19) on a combination of roads for 1,000 average miles
Only done 1000 miles but these new Michelin sport 5s are very good and a noticeable improvement on the 4s.
They handle well, no notice able uneven wear pattern as yet.
They are quiet too.
And pot holes seem less jarring, more adsorption from the rubber compound?
Helpful 10 - tire reviewed on September 8, 2024
Given 85% while driving a BMW 325i (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 1,500 spirited miles
Very impressed with the dry grip, didn't think you could have such grip without going to a semi slick, this is worlds ahead of other premium tires I have felt. (looking at you pzero and pilot super sport, although on very different cars, which were not mine) They also do not compromise on wet grip, even on the ancient chassis of the e36, it felt perfectly safe to drive in a downpour with standing water. They're also still comfortable and quiet which is not always a given with performance tires.
Helpful 11 - tire reviewed on September 3, 2024
Given 83% while driving a Mercedes Benz C250 (255/35 R19) on mostly town for 1,500 average miles
I bought the PS5s to replace run flat Pirelli P-Zeros, as I wanted tires that would be more comfortable and last longer. I started off a bit disappointed as they felt less grippy and made the steering quite vague. But after a thousand kms they have changed and now prove to have great levels of grip. They are quiet, ride well (noticeably better than the old run flats) and that sidewall looks fantastic. The Pirellis had slightly more grip and better steering feel, but the expected longevity of the Michelins is worth the trade-off. Only thing I wish they had would be better rim protection as it's quite narrow.
Helpful 9 - tire reviewed on August 25, 2024
Given 100% while driving a BMW 320d XDrive saloon (225/50 R17) on a combination of roads for 15,000 spirited miles
One of the best summer tires that i bought
Helpful 10 - tire reviewed on August 14, 2024
Given 80% while driving a Honda Accord Euro (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 300 spirited miles
Now I've only had these tires fitted for a little over a week so take my review with a pinch of salt, but I feel like I have driven the car enough to give a brief review of how they feel. Firstly - the grip. I've heard lots if great things about how grippy these tires are and they are very much true. You can carry lots of speed into corners and they'll just grip up and go round them without any hassle. The difference is especially noticeable coming from the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus fitted by the previous owner. The steering is quite sharp, with very little hesitation and slip when you turn in. The level of grip in both the dry and wet is very impressive and confidence inspiring. They also very comfortable and quiet for daily driving which again is impressive considering the performance. Can't comment on wear since I've only had them for so little time. The only drawback, like many have mentioned is the feedback. For a sporty tire it really doesn't provide a lot of feedback and feel back to the driver. Yes, the steering is sharp and the grip is incredible, but I definitely wished there was more feedback provided. Still, considering how good of an all rounder the PS5s are, I can still easily recommend them.
Helpful 11 - tire reviewed on August 12, 2024
Given 89% while driving a Ford Falcon xr6 (245/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 2,500 spirited miles
Hands down the best tires I've used on this car, the only negative is the highish price, but they are worth every penny. Stable and predictable at the limit, with a very neutral balance, with the on-centre response being fairly good, the steering feels communicative and with a nice weighting, at all speeds. On highways and country roads, they are nice and quiet, and easily ride over bumps. In the rain, these are by far the best tires I have ever used, great through heavy rain and stop amazingly. I still haven't aquaplaned on the PS5, which is a testament to the great life of the tire, and I have noticed no wear at all.
Helpful 13 - tire reviewed on June 27, 2024
Given 66% while driving a SEAT Ibiza 1.0 TSI 115 (215/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 2,485 average miles
Got this tires as i didn't had much of choice because Michelin stopped the making of the Pilot Sport 4. They do not grip as the ps4, i tried to "play" with all 4 wheels tire pressure, and i can get it to grip and handle at the ps4. I'm completely do not have the confidence to throw and play with my car on corners and turns, like for 3 times i almost got thrown to the side of the road. with the ps4 it did not happen to me to me at all.... im with kw street comfort coilovers for almost 4 years, and these tires doesnt give me the grip and the confidence as it wanted... and its not very cheap either...




Pros -
tire is more comfort and "gentle" as comparing to the ps4.
breaking is really super good.
tire definitely have more "meat" on it.

Cons -
grip and handling is not as i expected from tire that should be a good upgrade from the pilot sport 4.
will not buy again.
im looking for new set of 4 tires and would defiantly replace them very soon.
Helpful 41 - tire reviewed on June 10, 2024
Given 83% while driving a SEAT Leon (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
My experience so far:

Wet:
The grip on wet roads is fantastic, like no other tire I have ever had. No aquaplaning, no early understeering, nothing... just good grip.
They give a lot of confidence in corners and the braking is really powerful too. This may sound weird, but sometimes I even go out driving when it's raining hard, just because it's fun with these tires on. I bought these tires mostly because of their promised wet weather (grip) performance, I have no regrets here.

Dry:
Strong braking performance. Cornering does not feel a lot different than my previous Hankook UHP tires, but those were worn down to nearly the minimal legal tread depth, which meant good grip on dry roads. The Michelin PS5's are new with full tread, so I guess it's impressive they feel simular.
When really pushing the car understeers normally and predictably. The tires seem to do especially well in longer and faster corners when compared to short tight corners. They're good in short corners too, but not exceptional. Temperature does play an important role here, I think.

Temperature:
In my opinion it makes a very noticable difference whether it's below or above 15 degrees (Celcius) outside in terms of cornering. The PS5 seems to really come alive on a warm day. And then the above mentioned short corners suddenly become a lot more fun too. This is probably the case for most (UHP) tires, but still it's worth noting that PS5 dry cornering feels more "sporty" as the temperature rises.

Comfort etc:
They are firm but not uncomfortable. I did have to try a few different pressures before I found the best balance between comfort and performance. Ofcourse there are more comfortable tires out there, but that is not what you are looking for when you buy UHP tires.
I drive fairly briskly on average, sometimes near the limit where "safe" to do so, but never like a maniac. But I also drive many boring 100-120 km/h stretches on cruise control. The PS5 seems to be the perfect tire for all of the above. A good balance of comfort/noise and performance.

Wear:
After 5.000 km the front tires are now at 7,0mm. They were 7,5mm when new. You can do your own math, but to me it seems like they should be able to reach 40-50.000 kilometers when you take care of them.

Any negatives?
Well, they do feel slightly "heavier" than my previous summer UHP tires (mounted on the same rims). In terms of acceleration and fuel economy they are not as good yet. This will probably get better once the tires wear down, but still: about 10% extra fuel on average highway use (cruise control on) seems a lot. Even for brand new tires, where 3-5% extra fuel use can be expected. I swapped back to my winter tires briefly, to check if it was the wheels/tires or something else. But it's the tires. I have now done around 5.000 km on these tires and it seems to be getting better slowly, in terms of fuel use.

All in all very happy with these Michelin Pilot Sport 5's. And I think they look pretty good too.
Helpful 25 - tire reviewed on May 27, 2024
Given 90% while driving a Audi A3 Sportback (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 750 spirited miles
I will preface this with the fact that this is an initial review. Updates will follow.
I fitted the PS5s about 1200km ago coming from Bridgestone Potenza Sport, both on 225/45 R17 (94Y)

I have had the opportunity to test them in dry and wet conditions, on motorways and along country roads. Type of driving: commuting + spirited when possible.
Compared to Bridgestones when new, the PS5s have more (and more, and more) grip on dry surfaces. The car is planted on 4 wheels, the feeling is to have an AWD car instead of a FWD.
Where the Bridge showed a “dancing” rear during spirited driving, with the Mich you are on rails. And that is confidence inspiring.
On wet surfaces no differences at all.

When it comes to handling and feedback at the wheel, distinctions must be made.
Sportiness increases proportionally with speed! As long as you are travelling at low speeds, I agree with Johnatan that these tires are slightly slow in following the steering wheel commands (in this the Bridgestones gave a quicker feel), but the higher the speed increases, the more the tires respond instantly to steering wheel input. And it doesn't just depend on the steering-assist calibration, the feel during turn-in is exactly the same as the Bridgestones, without being too nervous at the limit. With the PS5s you are forced to drive very fast. And, oh, they are lovely!

The only drawback, for me, is the road feedback. The refinement over bumps is achieved at the expense of the rubber-to-road connection.
It is the French way of conceiving sportiness, but for cars of modest performance to be used every day on the road (no track), I think it is a compromise you can live with.

As for wear, the tires came with 8mm tread depth. I'll update the review after 10k kms
Helpful 44 - tire reviewed on April 25, 2024
Given 88% while driving a Volkswagen Golf 5 GTI (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 3,000 spirited miles
Got a set of pilot sport 5 for my tuned Mk 5 golf Gti after I watched the tire review youtube video. Best tire I've ever had on the car , came with Dunlop Sport max which where terrible in the wet .Got a set of Yokohama not sure the model of Tire sorry but they where even worse .The pilot sport are fantastic in the dry car goes round corners like its on tracks only down side is , there is a bit of road noise not bad but a small price to pay i suppose . I've only done roughly 3000 miles so cant say what overall ware is like . But if you are looking for a Tire that grips has good feedback and not much sidewall roll pilot sport 5 is definition worth consideration.
Helpful 37 - tire reviewed on April 18, 2024