The bold claim from Michelin on the launch of their new tyre is they expect the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S to be "one of the most successful sports tires ever designed by Michelin for the general public."

A tyre that is designed for sports cars and high performance saloons, we are also told that the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S offers "unparalleled driving pleasure thanks to its exceptional steering precision and directional stability.  It provides maximum performance and safety on all surfaces due to its optimized tread footprint which grips the road in all situations, even the most extreme."

The new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S replaces the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres, and are available from all the major tyre retailers as of this month.  The new tyre is available at launch in 34 sizes for 19 and 20 inch wheels.  The outgoing MPSS was already an exceptionally well rated tyre by many and a firm favourite across the Cayman and Porsche fraternity, so the replacement certainly has a lot to live up to. 

Tyre Sizes (at launch)

Braking Performance

The PS4S' dual compound technology benefits both the tyre's wet and dry surface braking performance.  The outer tread uses a new hybrid compound that promotes grip on dry surfaces while the inner part uses a new compound that contains silica combined with elastomers that give the PS4S to superior performance in wet conditions.

Tests performed by TÜV SÜD in June and July 2016 show the PS4S having a shorter stopping distance than five of the obvious premium competitors on both dry and wet surfaces.

Wear Performance

Tyre longevity was evaluated by DEKRA Test Center, using 255/35-19 96Y XL PS4S tires. These tyres were the only one to last longer than 50,000 kilometers (31,068 miles).  The PS4S reportedly achieved a mileage of 52,032 kilometres (32,331 miles), a distance exceeding that of its nearest rival, the Pirelli PZero Nero GT, by 2,602 kilometers (1,616 miles).



On-track Performance

The TÜV SÜD testers also found that the PS4S delivered the best lap time on a 2.6 km (1.6 mile) circuit, completing the course 0.40 seconds faster than the nearest competitor and 1.39 seconds quicker than the slowest.

On-road Performance

According to Michelin, the Pilot Sport 4 S also "passes a new milestone in terms of reducing road noise, while providing good levels of driving comfort." Other bells and whistles include a velvet-like sidewall relief, like that seen on the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, as well as a wheel protecting design.

An interesting video about the new tyre hosted by the guys at Engineering Explained is well worth a watch...