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Michelin Pilot Super Sport

*Est. $195

Reviewed

February 2012

by ConsumerSearch

Max-performance summer tires

Pros

Best-in-class traction and handling
Decently quiet, comfortable ride
30,000-mile tread warranty

Cons

For summer driving only
Expensive

Where to Buy

for $249.00

Our Analysis
Specs

Michelin regains the max-performance summer tire crown with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, experts and owners say. It's an update to the venerable Michelin Pilot Sport PS2, designed to grip tighter, brake faster and last longer. Apparently, it works: It wins two top tests and sweeps the owner ratings at TireRack.com, earning the highest possible rating of "superior" for everything -- wet and dry performance, ride comfort, noise and even tread wear. In fact, while most of its rivals don't offer any tread-wear warranty at all, Michelin backs its Super Sport for 30,000 miles, and an independent test confirms that this tire really does last.

Like other max-performance summer tires, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport would slide on snow and ice. If you need a year-round tire for your performance car, reviews say the Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position (*Est. $185) performance all-season tire is your best bet.

ConsumerReports.org and TireRack.com both include the Michelin Pilot Super Sport in their latest tests of high-performance summer tires; TireRack.com tests on wet and dry pavement and gives more detailed results, while ConsumerReports.org tests more tires and checks for rolling resistance and tread wear. Motor Trend also tests this tire, but the test is brief and it's part of a Michelin press event. More than 160 owners have rated the Michelin Pilot Super Sport at TireRack.com.

Where To Buy

Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tire - 235/35R19 91Z XL

1 New from $249.00

In Stock.

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org tests the Michelin Pilot Super Sport alongside 22 other UHP summer tires. Editors rank the tires by wet and dry braking and handling and hydroplaning resistance, as well as their ride comfort, noise level, rolling resistance and tread life.

Review: Ultra-High-Performance Summer Tire Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. Tire Rack

"'Wow' handling and ultimate traction" make the Michelin Pilot Super Sport "the new superstar in the max performance summer category," expert testers conclude. It beats the former champ, the Continental ExtremeContact DW, as well as the Pirelli P Zero and Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position, on both wet and dry test tracks.

Review: Clash of the Titans: Testing Two New Max Performance Summer Heavy Hitters, Editors of TireRack.com, June 14, 2011

3. Tire Rack

The Michelin Pilot Super Sport ranks highest among max performance summer tires in owner reviews here, with more than 160 ratings posted. It beats all other tires in the class on every measure -- wet and dry performance, ride and noise comfort, and tread wear.

Review: Michelin Pilot Super Sport, Contributors to TireRack.com

4. Motor Trend

At a Michelin press event in Dubai, Scott Mortara tries out the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Although Mortara says the test is way too short to really get a feel for the Super Sport -- a few laps in Porsches and some wet skidpad and dry and wet braking in Audi TTs, against rival tires handpicked by Michelin -- he's impressed with what he sees and calls the Super Sport "possibly the best all-around ultra-high-performance tire on the market."

Review: Testing the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, Scott Mortara, Feb. 7, 2011

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