MICHELIN Pilot Sport 4 215/50 R17 95Y summer Review

The appearance of tires Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S (Michelin Pilot Sport 4 Es) can be called unexpected. It was only in 2015 that the Pilot Sport 4 tires were introduced, and just a year later, the French manufacturer presents the “PS 4S” at the Paris Motor Show. The essence of this gesture has so far remained unclear, since the Michelin PS4 tires have proven themselves well in independent tests, in particular in tests of the British Auto Express. Marketed as an improvement on the Pilot Sport 4, the Pilot Sport 4 S will eventually replace the Michelin Pilot Super Sport UHP model. The introduction of the Michelin Pilot Sport PS4 S summer tire marks the end of the reformatting of the model range, which is entirely intended for sports modifications of serial passenger cars. In the new "table of ranks" this model is at the very top, being the flagship. Its target audience are owners of cars with the highest dynamic performance. Accordingly, a size range was formed, made up of more than three dozen sizes for wheels with a bore diameter of 19 and 20 inches. According to representatives of the French tire concern, it covers approximately 90% of this market niche. A significant part of the technical solutions was taken from the world of circuit racing, not only automobile, but also motorcycle. One of these "borrowings" was the rubber compound. This model has two. The outer side of the tread, namely the small section of the tread located here in the shoulder area, is made of a rubber compound that is slightly stiffer than in the middle. Due to this, the transverse accelerations that occur during maneuvering are transferred to the power elements of the frame much faster, which has a positive effect on the efficiency of control. In addition, this compound contains elastomers that reduce heat, which reduces rolling resistance and wear. In turn, about two-thirds of the tread closer to the inner shoulder area are made from a rubber compound with a high content of "silica". In addition, it includes other types of functional elastomers. They give the tread the ability to literally stick even to wet roads due to the tight fitting of even the smallest irregularities on its surface. How successful the use of such a sophisticated solution for a civilian tire turned out to be can be judged by tests that compared the length of the braking distance of this model with similar products from other leading manufacturers. The difference in favor of the Pilot Sport 4 S ranged from 0.83 meters dry to 0.1 meters wet. To stop completely, this tire needs from 27 to 33 meters, which none of its competitors could demonstrate. The use of "bi-compound" has improved the efficiency of other technological solutions used in the regular Pilot Sport 4. Dynamic Response is an example.