Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Pirelli P Zero

When speaking on performance tyres, very few in the world come close to both Michelin and Pirelli’s production capabilities.

Two of their respective flagship high performance tyre models are Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4 S and Pirelli’s P Zero.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S was released in 2017, acting as a performance-orientated version of their successful Pilot Sport 4 model.

The Pirelli P Zero is an Ultra High Performance (UHP) tyre that has been manufactured by Pirelli since 1987.

There are many versions of the Pirelli P Zero branching off from the base model, including, but not limited to:

• P Zero (PZ4)
• P Zero (PZ4) NCS
• P Zero (PZ4) NCS Elect
• P Zero Nero
• P Zero Rosso

This article will layout the key features of both these flagship models and determine what makes them such sought after tyres today.

Pilot Sport 4 S Overview

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is a popular summer tyre that is manufactured with high performance capabilities in mind.

Being the high performance version of the Pilot Sport 4, the Pilot Sport 4 S offers motorists a reliable tyre developed with state-of-the-art technologies for safety, durability, and control.

Michelin’s Dynamic Response technology arrives on the Pilot Sport 4 S. This enhances the durability of the model as well as the handling responsiveness.

Performances across both wet and dry conditions is also improved through Bi-Compound Technology, developed by Michelin themselves. The Bi-Compound Technology doesn’t just improve performance across weather conditions – it also enhances on-track capabilities.

Car brands like Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have chosen the Pilot Sport 4 S as an Original Equipment (OE) tyre.

The Pilot Sport 4 S replaced the Michelin Pilot Super Sport upon its release in 2017.

P Zero Overview

The Pirelli P Zero is also a summer tyre model, acting as Pirelli’s answer to the Ultra High Performance tyre market.

Equipped with Pirelli’s special s-shaped grooves, the premium tyre model delivers low noise levels and heightened driving control. These grooves also helps reduce aquaplaning, creating a stronger grip in wet conditions.

Along with the grooves of the tyre, the P Zero’s asymmetric tread pattern enhances braking performance, making the tyre gather fantastic handling and control.

Three solid ribs on the centre of the tyre’s tread pattern further enhances braking and traction at high speeds, further emphasising the UHP tyre status the model holds in today’s market. The stiffness of the tyre gives you that performance during sharp turns and top speeds.

Luxury performance car brands such as Aston Martin, Bentley, and Ferrari are amongst the top manufacturers that chose the P Zero as an OE tyre.

Tyre Label Ratings

Tyre label ratings are an EU regulated ranking system that tests and ranks tyre models in key performance categories. Label ratings can differ between different tyre sizes.

The performance categories label ratings target are as follows:

Fuel Efficiency – Ranked A to G

Wet Grip – Ranked A to G

Tyre Noise – Ranked with numbers and A to C/Decibels (dB)

Pilot Sport 4 S Label Ratings

Fuel efficiency label ratings consist of either B, C, or D for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, with common ratings across tyre sizes being C or D.

Wet grip ratings are predominantly A or B across all tyre sizes for the Pilot Sport 4 S.

Tyre noise level ratings for the Michelin tyre model is between 71B and 74B.

P Zero Label Ratings

The Pirelli P Zero has fuel efficiency label ratings range between E and A, with an average rating of C across tyre sizes.

The UHP tyre’s wet grip ratings are mostly A or B, with the noise levels ranging anywhere from 68A to 75B.

Pilot Sport 4 S Awards

The Pilot Sport 4 S has been a successful tyre model for Michelin since its release in 2017, collecting many tyre test awards and recognitions.

The Michelin summer tyre has scooped back-to-back accolades in DriverReview’s latest annual customer choice awards. The Pilot Sport 4 S was named ‘Best Tyres for High Performance Cars’ in both 2022 and 2023, outlining the high performance capabilities of the tyre.

It’s not just the high performance category in which the Pilot Sport model has been successful in – the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S was awarded the ‘Overall Tyre’ award in EVO’s 2020 tyre test.

Given the Michelin model’s niche high performance market, the Pilot Sport 4 S has been a very popular and successful model in regard to both experts and tyre buyers alike.

P Zero Awards

The Pirelli P Zero has also been successful within the tyre industry since its release.

The most noticeable award for the P Zero was in 2023, where the P Zero E model won ‘Tyre of the Year’ at the Automobile Awards in Paris. This was decided by 40 industry experts, emphasising how much of a milestone this award was for Pirelli.

Another strong recognition for the Pirelli model was at the 2023 DriverReview Customer Choice Awards, where the tyre was “Commended” for being the ‘Best Tyres for High Performance Cars’, the same category the Pilot Sport 4 S won.

Overall, the Pirelli P Zero has been a staple in the tyre industry, being recognised as a top UHP tyre model by industry experts and customers.

Customer Reviews

Powered by DriverReviews, our customer review system allows our customers at Blackcircles.com to review their previously purchased tyre.

The four main categories our customers review are:

• Overall Ratings
• Would the customer buy the tyres again
• Does the car feel better to drive
• Were the tyres value for money

Pilot Sport 4 S Customer Reviews

• Overall rating of my tyres – 4.8/5
• I would buy the same tyres again – 4.8/5
• The car feels better to drive – 4.6/5
• The tyres were value for money – 4.2/5

P Zero Customer Reviews

• Overall rating of my tyres – 4.6/5
• I would buy the same tyres again – 4.7/5
• The car feels better to drive – 4.2/5
• The tyres were value for money – 4.1/5

Pilot Sport 4 S Common Tyre Sizes

• 235/35 R19
• 255/35 R19
• 285/30 R20

P Zero Common Tyre Sizes

• 255/35 R20
• 295/35 R21
• 235/35 R19

Pilot Sport 4 S Common Car Models

• Volkswagen Golf
• Volkswagen Golf GTI
• Audi S3

P Zero Common Car Models

• Audi A6
• Jaguar F-Pace
• Porsche Macan

Price Ranges

Prices for tyre models in general will typically vary between different tyre sizes.

Fully fitted tyre prices for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S ranges from £170.32 to £508.49.*

Fully fitted tyre prices for the Pirelli P Zero ranges from £130.73 to £654.84.*

*Please note, prices outlined are as of today’s date (03/04/24) with prices potentially fluctuating in the future.