Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Tire Review

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‍About the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2

Michelin is renowned for producing some of the best ultra-high performance tires on the market. And the Pilot Sport PS2 is no exception. It’s one of the company’s most popular UHP tires.

According to Michelin, this tire is engineered to deliver high performance cornering, combined with excellent wet and dry performance.

Some of today’s most popular performance sedans, sports cars and sports crossovers use this tire as original equipment. And this is enough proof that its quality and performance are top-notch.

Like other Michelin UHP tires, the Pilot Sport PS2 is also quite expensive. However, when you consider its premium features and performance, you are assured of getting value for your money.

Design Features and Technologies

According to Michelin, this tire is designed to provide ultimate dry and wet traction, as well top-notch cornering performance. To achieve these goals, Michelin has outfitted it with several features and technologies like:

Advanced Tread Compound

The Pilot Sport PS2 comes with two different rubber compounds, which have been molded into an asymmetric tread pattern.

For the first compound, Michelin has utilized a hybrid of silica and carbon black, which cover the tire’s outer shoulder and the contact patch.

And for the second compound, Michelin has utilized high silica, which forms the tire’s inside shoulder.

These two unique rubber compounds are designed to deliver the highest levels of traction both in dry and wet conditions.

Also, they are designed to provide enhanced cornering grip, especially when driving at high speeds.

Larger Outside Shoulder Blocks

Michelin has also provisioned this tire with larger outside shoulder blocks, as well as a continuous center rib.

These two features help to provide enhanced cornering grip and top-notch steering response.

Thanks to these two features, you will enjoy exceptional feedback and amazing cornering grip, especially when you push your car to the limits.

Wide Circumferential Grooves

The Pilot Sport PS2 also comes with wide and deep circumferential grooves, as well as several lateral grooves on its tread.

These grooves work together to evacuate water from the tire’s tread surface, thus helping to reduce the risk of aquaplaning on wet roads.

Sturdy Internal Construction

Inside the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 are two high-tensile steel belts, reinforced with a nylon and aramid filament.

This sturdy internal construction is designed to enhance the tire’s durability and strength during high-speed driving. Also, they help to improve its overall ride quality, while giving it better steering response.

Performance in Different Conditions

As earlier mentioned, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 is an ultra-high performance tire. And ultra-high performance tires are renowned for their outstanding dry traction and reliable wet performance. So, does the Pilot Sport PS2 live up to these expectations?

We mounted a set of this tire on a Honda Accord 2020 and assessed its performance in different conditions. And after hours of rigorous testing, we made the following observations.

Dry Performance

Ultra-high performance tires are renowned for their outstanding dry traction and grip. So, does the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 match up to expectations?

Without a doubt, the Pilot Sport PS2 is one of the best ultra-high performance tires that you can buy today.

Throughout the test ride, we never experienced any issues with this tire. Dry traction and grip were exceptional, high-speed stability was outstanding while steering response was equally great.

So, if you are planning to be doing some light racing on the track with your car, then the Pilot Sport PS2 has got you covered in this aspect.

As far as ultra-high performance tires go, you will struggle to find one that can outperform the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 on dry tarmac.

Wet Performance

As noted earlier, the Pilot Sport PS2 is designed to provide reliable dry and wet performance. So, is that the case?

The Pilot Sport PS2 is equally exceptional when it comes to wet and slippery surfaces. We subjected this tire to numerous tests on extremely wet and slippery conditions. And it didn’t disappoint even for a single minute.

It delivered outstanding grip and traction in wet and slippery surfaces, which can be attributed to its excellent hydroplaning resistance.

Also, it felt well balanced in rainy conditions, without any instances of oversteer or understeer.

Simply put, you are assured of a safe driving experience with this tire in rainy conditions, even when you push your car to its limits.

Overall, I can confidently say that the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 is one of the best UHP tires I’ve driven on in rainy conditions. It handles decently, accelerates without problems, and stops confidently.

Performance in Snowy Conditions

Ultra-high performance tires are not built for driving in snowy conditions. They lack the tread compound and other design features needed for serious winter driving.

To this end, we didn’t bother assessing this tire’s performance in snowy conditions. But, according to drivers who have used it in snowy conditions, it will provide you with a certain level of usable traction.

With that said, we would never recommend the Pilot Sport PS2 for serious winter driving. So, if you live in an area that experiences prolonged and harsh wintry conditions, you should equip your vehicle with a set of dedicated winter tires.

Off-road Driving Performance

The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 is not built for off-roading conditions. First, it lacks adequate tread depth, needed to handle thick and deep mud.

Second, its tread compound is not sturdy enough to resist chips and cuts from rocks and tree stumps.

Therefore, prolonged driving with this tire on hard-packed surfaces may lead to serious damage on its tread.

Simply put, if you are an off-roading enthusiast, then you should outfit your vehicle with the right set of off-roading tires.

Ride Quality

Is the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 refined and comfortable? As mentioned earlier, the Pilot Sport PS2 is a highly responsive tire. And this responsiveness may reduce its comfort to a certain level.

During our tests, we noticed that the ride felt quite firm. And this is something you can expect from a ultra-high performance tire.

It was also quite noisy, especially when travelling at high speeds. While the tire may not be overly intrusive, it’s not as comfortable as some of its competitors.

Warranties and Guarantees

Michelin stands behind its tires with strong warranties and guarantees. And this is also the case with the Pilot Sport PS2.

The Pilot Sport PS2 comes with a workmanship and materials warranty as well as a treadwear limited warranty.

Workmanship and Materials Warranty

The Pilot Sport PS2 comes with a 6-year workmanship and materials warranty. Under this warranty, Michelin offers to replace the tire with a comparable new one, if it becomes unserviceable due to workmanship and materials defects.

Michelin will replace it either with a free one or do the replacement on a pro-rated basis, depending on when the tire becomes unserviceable.

If it’s removed from service during the first 2/32-inch of the original usable tread, Michelin will replace it with a comparable new one, free of charge.

On the other hand, if the tire becomes unserviceable when more than 2/32-inch of its original usable tread is worn, then the replacement will be done on a pro-rated basis.

Treadwear Limited Warranty

Michelin stands behind this tire with a 20,000-mile treadwear warranty. Under this warranty, Michelin will replace your Pilot Sport PS2 tire if it wears down to its treadwear maintenance indicators, without attainining the warranted mileage.

So, if your tire wears down to its treadwear indicators without attaining 20,000 miles, then it’s eligible to be replaced. All replacements under this warranty are done on a pro-rated basis.

Sizes and Fitment

Michelin produces this tire in several sizes, ranging between 17 inches and 22 inches. It can fit a wide range of vehicles like:

• Dodge Caliber SRT4
• Honda S2000 and Accord
• Infiniti Q45 and G35
• Subaru Impreza WRX
• Chevrolet Cobalt, Impala SS, Corvette and Camaro SS
• Mazda RX-7, RX-8 and Speed3
• Porsche Cayman, 911 and Boxster
• Volvo S70 and V70
• Pontiac Trans Am, GTO and G8
• Ford Mustang GT
• Cadillac CTS

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Pros

• Outstanding dry performance
• Reliable traction in wet conditions
• Excellent cornering performance

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Cons

• The ride is quite firm

Should You Buy the Pilot Sport PS2?

If you are in the market for a high-quality ultra-high performance tire that will never disappoint you, then the Pilot Sport PS2 will be a great choice. Unlike some of the other UHP tires on the market, the Pilot Sport PS2 performs exceptionally well in almost all conditions. And considering that it also comes with a 20,000-mile treadwear warranty, you can rest assured you will get value for your money.