Michelin Pilot Super Sport Review: Is It The Best Performance Tire on the Market?

Testing of Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires

Purchasing Process - Where to Buy Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires

Installation of Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires

This is an optional step, however, depending where you got your tires from, you might want to visually inspect them to ensure no physical damage during transit. Since I do not fully trust myself with catching every detail, I called in for help of two of my cats that inspected every inch of these tires. Jokes aside, you should inspect them to ensure that they are not damaged and that they are not old.

Installation of Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires

Since these are performance tires, I think that it is safe to assume that you don't drive a regular car. I would highly advise you to install these tires at a reputable shop. I got used to going to Discount Tire since they seem to be the most qualified and experienced in tire installation field. However, there are other higher end shops that will do right by you when it comes to installing Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires properly.

Don't cheap out and go to some guy on the street that promised you to install these tires for $10 a tire. Normal rate for installing tires is between $20 and $40 plus tax. If you are planning on driving pretty fast or take your car to the track, being cheap gets very risky. Also, less experienced shops might mess up your car's electronics. This recently happened when a shop did not set my brother's Audi RS7 to the right mode while they were swapping its wheels out. The car left the shop raised too much which then resulted in a broken sensor and need to reprogram the car. That's a bad way to get a $2,500 bill. The sad part here is that the shop had 4.8/5.0 reviews on Google, but wasn't one of the large tire shop chains like Discount Tire.

Dry Grip and Traction

At the core of this gripping performance is a Le Mans-inspired dry compound that adorns the outer tread of these tires. This unique compound is nothing short of a marvel when it comes to ensuring that the tires adhere to the road, lending a hand to drivers for that precise control and instantaneous responsiveness we all yearn for on a clear sunny day. One thing to note is that Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires might not give your car the best grip right off the line, it all will depend on how much torque does your car have. My rear tires on the 2015 M4 were 275 width, and I always had trouble keeping the car from fish tailing, same story with the 2018 M4 Competition.

I found better grip from Toyo R888 or even Federal 595RS-RR (super budget but super grippy tire) than I did with Michelin Pilot Super Sport. However, I would not take Federal tires to the track, since God knows what would happen there. Tires that are great from the dig do not necessarily perform great in other racing setting, like track. Think of it more in terms of American cars with all of the crazy horsepower: might be great on a straight line, but that weight will get you on the first turn.

But the magic doesn't stop at the compound. The Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires have a nifty technology called the Variable Contact Patch. It's like having a smart companion that adjusts the tire's contact patch as it deforms, ensuring a consistent handshake with the road. This subtle yet impactful technology plays a starring role in amplifying the tire's grip and handling, making each drive a performance to remember.

Now, let's talk about the Twaron belt these tires boast of. It's a lightweight yet strong companion to the tire, enhancing stability even as the speedometer needle climbs. This belt ensures the tread stays flat and friendly with the road, a camaraderie that translates to better grip and traction.

The tread pattern on these tires also tells a tale of Michelin's dedication to superior dry traction. With reduced grooving, the tires flirt more with the road, a design tweak that contributes to better handling and an assured grip, making every dry terrain a playground for driving enthusiasts.

As you rev up and hit the high notes on the speed scale, these tires hold their own, offering high-speed handling that instills confidence and evokes a grin. Michelin isn't shy about their achievement, heralding a remarkable up to 12% better handling than competitors. It's a statement of what superior dry grip and traction can bring.

And it's not just the technical jargon that sings praises. Drivers have had their share of joy, voicing their appreciation for how these tires stick to the road, even when pushing the pedal a bit harder. This consistent performance makes the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires a cherished choice among those who crave an unyielding grip and an exhilarating drive on dry terrains.

Wet grip, Traction, and Braking

I feel like there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to Michelin Pilot Super Sport use on wet pavement. When the tires are brand new they might not be as grippy as compared to when they have been broken in. This can happen due to various reasons such as mold release agents not having worn off completely, surface of the tires still being too smooth, curing process that has hardened the tires, etc. Many of these issues resolve themselves within the first 500 miles or so.

Once the tire break-in period has past, you can tell that Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires are amazing when it comes to stopping distance, traction, cornering and hydroplaning resistance. The only times that I felt like there is a possibility to hydroplane was when the tires were already facing the end of their life.

Keep in mind, if your car has a lot of torque and is light, you will have trouble taking off fast on wet pavement. Logically thinking, if Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires do not grip too well when taking off from the dig on dry, they will not stick any better on wet pavement. So no surprises there.

Michelin Pilot Super Sport in Light Snow

This one I would not recommend. My car did not do good in snow at all. There were a lot of scary moments where I thought that I'll need to get towed out from a completely flat road purely because my Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires wouldn't grip on even light snow. To make things even better, the entrance to my previous garage is at an incline. I couldn't get the car up to the garage when trying to get in at a regular pace. I ended up having to pull out the 5-series and get a running start with the M4 to finally climb up that hill. It was scary but I managed.

These tires are not meant to be used in snow, no matter if its very light. If you want to drive in snow, then you should stick to all-season tires for snow or get yourself a set of winter tires. Michelin Pilot Super Sports also do not do great on cold pavement. I used to find myself fish-tailing all of the time when the weather gets close to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius. Chances are, you didn't expect to tackle snow storms while rocking these Michelin PSS tires anyway, but I had to test it.

Handling and steering feel

What can I even say, these tires are incredible on dry pavement when going into turns. Handling feels like the car is on rails and makes me want to push it a little bit more and more with every successful turn. Below is an image of me cruising through the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee. The car handled extremely well and the stability was unmatched. Did not feel the "tire roll-over" or what others call "sidewall flex" at all. However, my tires comply fully with the exact manufacturer's specs.

Unlike other performance tires that are more sticky than the Michelin Pilot Super Sports, these ones didn't pick up too many rocks either. I would go as far as say that these were the best tires that I have tested on such winding roads as the Tail of the Dragon. Now if the roads was wet, I am not truly sure how they would have performed.

Comfort and Road Noise

Having traversed over 60,000 miles across the diverse landscapes and road conditions the United States offers, I've cultivated a profound appreciation for the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires nestled under my vehicle. My journey, a blend of urban sprawls, quaint towns, and endless stretches of highways, was as much about reaching the distant horizons as it was about the comforting whisper of my tires on the pavement.

The Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires are often lauded for their performance, but their road noise, lack thereof, and the comforting embrace they offer garnered my admiration. As someone who revels in the serenity of long drives, the minimal road noise was more than just a comfort—it was an invitation to the open road. In the picture above, I had Federal 595RS RR put on the rear of the M4 for better grip. This experiment lasted less than 5k miles. While I love the grip that these tires provided, the road noise was almost as loud as the exhaust note.

Now, comfort is a companion of the quiet, and the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires didn't fall short. Their capability to dampen the harshness of the road contributed to a ride quality that was plush and forgiving. It was not just about the lack of noise but how these tires cushioned the blows of unexpected bumps and irregularities. Each mile was a testament to Michelin's promise of delivering a tire that marries performance with comfort.

The long hours behind the wheel felt less taxing, thanks to these tires' reassuring comfort. It was an assurance, knowing that the tires are not just about gripping the road but about making the journey enjoyable.

What are the Maintenance Indicators and Specifications?

As it goes with pretty much any tires, Michelin Pilot Super Sport comes with built in Tread Wear Indicators which are small rubber lines inside of the grooves of tires that will let you know when you should change the tires. Once the surface of the tire is flat to the TWI, it's time to change the tires. As you see in the picture above, that's the Tread Wear Indicators of my tires at the moment, while I'm not at the replacement level yet, it's coming up shortly. Not bad for tires that have 22k miles on them and a few donuts.

• Maintenance Indicators:
• Tread Wear Indicators (TWI): These are small raised bars in the tire tread grooves, becoming flush with the tire's tread when it's time to replace the tire. The TWI is crucial in ensuring that the tire tread depth is within a safe limit, essential for maintaining grip and performance.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): This system alerts you when the tire pressure falls below the recommended level, ensuring the tires are always properly inflated, which is crucial for achieving optimal performance and longevity.
  

Abiding by the maintenance indicators and adhering to the specifications not only ensures that the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires deliver the performance they promise but also contributes to extending their lifespan. It's about fostering a culture of routine checks and maintenance to enjoy these tires' exhilarating performance over the long haul.

Michelin Pilot Super Sport Treadwear and Warranty

Michelin backs the Pilot Super Sport tires with a limited 30,000-mile treadwear warranty, providing an additional layer of assurance regarding the durability of these tires. 30K miles is not a whole lot, however, these are performance tires. One of the sets lasted under 15K miles for me, however, I was being a bit irresponsible and was doing donuts for quite a long stretch in them when they were brand new. I was pleasantly surprised that they lasted even that long.