Michelin PS4S
 

I bought my 08 coupe S last year, and it had the factory G-Force Comp Sports on it. They were brand new tires in stock size. I hated them. They were garbage tires that are too small for the car, and I did my best to burn through them quickly. In the wet they were unpredictable with no traction, and in the dry they were greasy in the Florida heat.

I increased tire size on the factory 19" rims to 245/40ZR19 front, 275/35ZR19 rear

I got new tires last week. The Pilot Sport 4S is the next iteration of PS, and I love them. I've been a Michelin guy (Michelin Man??) for over 20 years, with most of those being on some form of Pilot Sport. My CLS550 and my Dinan 435 have Super Sports on them, and I drive them to the very edge of traction. The 4S are better in every way.

The 4S are quieter, more comfortable, more predictable on turn in, more responsive on turn-in (requiring less input), and stickier. Tread wear is better (300 v 260), and they are similarly speed rated (Y 186+). All in all, the Pilot Sport 4S is a better tire than anything in it's class (Ultra High Performance Summer) in both wet and dry.

The following is my observed testing of the tires (yes, I do this with every set of tires I put on a car)
I have changed the brakes for both tests to Stop-Tech front rotors and Hawk Blue pads front and rear (factory Akibono calipers), and steel braided liness. No other mods
These were conducted at the Sebring International Raceway

test G-Force PS4S
60-0 117' 101'
0-60 5.6 5.4
Lateral G .87 .92 (250' skidpad)
Full course 2:49.25 2:31.02 (best of 6 laps)

Very nice~ Currently own PSS and I heard about 4S tires. I do not track the car but I am thinking about getting 4S tires when I have to replace PSS. Thanks for the review, I love PSS but if it's better then I don't even have to think about it :D

I have been on 4S' since May; love them. Went to these after I drove some PSS to the end of their life. Just wish it would get above 40° outside so I can drive on them again.

I think the "velvet" sidewall is cool too. The tires were a huge upgrade over the Potenza RFTs that came stock on my car. Note: Car has been buffed since this photo, lol!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.myg...f72b703fe9.jpg

What are two numbers about? Min/max for these tires or comparison with previous tires?

Too bad my PSS3 tires still have a lot of miles left.

Nice review.

I'm torn on these. I'm on my 3rd set of PSS ;) and love them. When I got this most recent set I priced out the PS4S and they were a couple hundred more than the now discontinued PSS in the same sizes. Logically I'd get these next, but at some point, I pass the point of diminishing returns for a street driven car and have to look at the S04 and Continental offerings more closely. Everything I've heard is these are outstanding tires though.

It's more so a small improvement performance wise, but a larger improvement in tire noise and ride comfort.

I find the PSS3 to have a little more grip and better ride than S-04.

Those seem to have limited size availability. Tire Rack doesn't list them in 245/40 275/35 sizes. S04s are indeed pretty rough riding.

I had the Pontenzas on the stock sedan S wheels. I put the Michelins on coupe wheels.

The Continental Extreme Sport is decent as well at a lower price. the PS4s are pricey

The first number was with the stock tires, second with the PS4S

Ryne is correct. There is VERY little improvement over the PSS, and at the ragged edge of grip the PSS actually gives better feedback, but the noise and comfort were far more important to me. The PSS is not discontinued; they wanted to, but too much demand from OEMs. Most of us will only realize the difference through cabin noise and ride.

Thanks for the update. Yeah, a year ago Tire Rack said the PSS was being discontinued (Discount Tire was already out of 275/35/19, and cancelled my order) but they appear readily available still.

I'll be replacing my rears again soon and sticking with the PSS.

The Firestone Firehawks are supposed to be awesome at a lot lower price than the PS4S $580 after rebate. I recently went and got some AS3+ and they are pretty great. I know they don't have the ultimate grip of the PS4S but they have better stats then most of the Summer Tires.

The PS4S are the top dogs, but there are others that are less expensive and should be close to their performance.

There is a new General G-Max RS. I had some General Exclaims and loved them. These new G-Max RS are being sold for less then they will be later due to them being new to the market. The same thing happened with the G-Max AS05. Reviewers are saying they are better than the Hankook V12s which are pretty grippy when their new. They are $609 at tirerack.

Right, but in that case, you're comparing the best in class UHPAS tire to the second tier summer tires :)


I'd love to get AS3+ for my wifes Accord :icon17:

Nobody should be running all-season tires in the southern half of California except the poor. Top-tier tires work better in the rain that A/S. Just check Tire Rack for fairly objective tests.

What's rain? Funny, didn't know tires that run $740 a set were only for the poor. I guess I should have gotten some Nexen Summer tires, if they have those.

I went more for the treadwear and the reviews, not to get the highest grip while sacrificing wear.

The problem with Tire Racks tests are that they use different Chassis, not just different cars, esp if one test is two years from another. It makes it difficult to rely on one vs another.

I do agree that some summer tires do better in the rain just like some summer tires have better grip, but there aren't that many. I am hoping to have these for two years and then perhaps I will switch to the AS 4 or PS4s You know they will have an AS 4 by 2020. But my tesla will probably be built by then.

Well I don't get the privilege of driving every tire out there. I had some PSS on my last car. I don't even think I have driven in rain since getting my AS3+. The PSS I would say were the best tires I have had. The AS3+ are pretty great, but they aren't the PSS or the PS4S.

The firestones are basically bridgestones that they don't sell here. My tire guy says they are great. I was really impressed with the General Exclaims they came on a car that I used to own. And I have heard great things about the G-Max RS. They were picked by Steve Saleen for his cars, but what does that guy know about cars. I don't race my car, just some spirited driving from time to time.

Michelin MXV4 far better than I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting much.

Nitto NT505 were pretty decent, didn't kill me, didn't really push them too hard.

Hankook V12 Grip close to the top, but after 50% wear, scary. Would never buy Hankook again.

Hankook Ventus S1 Nobile Pretty good Grip until after 50% wear, scary. Would never buy Hankook again.

Kuhmo ASX, smooth and reliable not bad grip

Continental Pro Contacts wouldn't recommend

Continental Extreme Contact DWS, really soft sidewalls and slippery when new, my traction control was going crazy when I first had them. I raised the air pressure, got used to them. Wouldn't buy them again.

Bridgestone Turanza Revo Z not made anymore, they had great grip when I owned them, wore well, shame there gone.

General Exclaim UHP not made anymore, they had great grip when I owned them, wore well, shame there gone.

Bridgestone RE92, Bridgestone should be shot for selling these pos.

Goodyear, well I had some on a Civic once, they wore fast.

Nexen N3000, they were good tires, nice grip. I think if you are going to go cheap, skip the ling longs skip the sunfulls, buy Nexens. Nexen makes the Lexani tires which cost even less than regular Nexen, if you need to, buy them.

Sumitomo HTR III good tire for the $$ but there are a lot of tires that have eclipsed them for the price.

I have had other Sumitomo tires in the past and enjoyed them. Sumitomo should be more up to date with their tires, but they mostly let falken take the lead.

The worst tires I have had would be the Hankook and the RE92. The Hankooks are like Jekyll and Hyde, the RE92s were just a horrible tire that shouldn't have come out, totally pathetic.

:icon17:





+1

I have the PSS and really like them. I track my car occasionally, including in rain, and these are some awesome tires. From street use only, better ride and more grip than Potenza S-04 Pole Position and the RE050 or RE760 that came on the car.

I'd love to try Dunlop Direzza Star Spec on this car, they were fantastic on my Miata. Wet grip is a problem, though.

Dunlop used to be shared by Sumitomo and Goodyear. I believe Sumitomo made the tires and Goodyear owned half of the company. Now Goodyear owns them all and they are going to make all new tires for Dunlop.

I have heard good things about Coopers, but never owned them, a lot are made in China.

I'm not concerned with who owns the tire maker. It's all about traction. If a Chinese brand suddenly became the king of traction, that'll be my next tire choice.

Are you sure about that? I thought they were made in Korea.

:rolleyes:

I'd consider an AS3+ as the next tire too. For the type of driving I do and the level I do it at, PSS/PS4 is just overkill. I'd still run a dedicated winter tire but would get a bit more out of the summer/AS tire.

@ezbme How would you characterize the steering feel of the as3 compared to the PSS? One thing I can't stand is that mushy feel you get with soft sidewall tires when turning the wheel or setting up for a corner.

The AS3+ haven't been known to be mushy, in fact they have been considered fairly hard. I would say they respond well to input probably equal or right below the PSS. The PS4S has some things that should make it even better.

I'm thinking about trying these tires out. On my last car i ran a few sets of Toyo Proxes T1r, then the T1s (loved the T1s in dry or rain) . I was going to pull the Toyo trigger on this car but I'd like to give the Pilot Sport S4 a shot.

Question though, for a 2010 g37 S coupe (6mt) on the stock 19 inch enkeis. Id like to upsize the 225 fronts and 245 rears. Im game for 245s up front, I'm a little skeptical about 275 in the rear on a 9 inch rim though. Does your sidewall feel a abit.. how do i put it.. chubby or Squishy in this size?

Otherwise I'm thinking maybe 265/35/19 (i know the speedometer would be a tiny bit off but that doesn't bother me as its so minimal)

I ask because i know 370z sport runs a 375 but they also have a 10 inch rim Vs our 9 inch rim on the rear, Do correct me im wrong though please

I run 245/275 on coupe wheels and don't find the minor sidewall flex to be at all objectionable.

That's good news, thanks for the input !