Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Tire Review and Rating

Written By Slavcho Andov
Last Updated June 16, 2021

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Dry

Wet

Snow

Comfort

Noise

Treadwear

Pros

Marvelous traction on dry and wet
Relatively quiet for an ultra-high-performance tire
Provides plenty of feedback through the steering wheel
Excellent aquaplaning resistance
20,000-mile treadwear warranty

Cons

The ride comfort is not so good
Tire sizes are slightly limited
A sudden drop in performance as you reach the end of the tread

What are the features of the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2?

Before I begin, I need to clear the air in terms of the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2.

These tires are two generations older than the current ones, so I will avoid making comparisons with them; instead, I will compare them with other brands from the same generation.

Michelin designed the PS2 using applying parts of the F1 technology that the company used at that time. When you put both tires side by side, you will notice many similarities in terms of design. The main focus of the tread pattern was to stop the tire from deforming when cornering hard.

The pilot sport PS2 utilizes a technology called Variable Contact Patch or VCP for short. It increases the area of contact that the tire has with the surface when cornering, which increases grip and enables tires to maintain traction even at the limit.

To provide the best traction in multiple conditions, Michelin used its C3M technology, which is essentially mixing different compounds. They are placed throughout the tire in key places so that the tires can perform optimally. In the Pilot Sport PS2 case, the outside of the tire has a softer compound that helps with dry performance. For wet conditions or stability at higher speeds, the middle of the tire has a harder compound.

Speaking of wet conditions, the tire compound isn’t the only feature that Michelin has. Down the middle, the Pilot Sport SP2 has four grooves that help channel water while maintaining grip. The blocks have small sipes that more the excess water to the sides, meaning that wet performance should be top-notch.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

No matter how hard I try, I cannot find any faults with the Pilot Sport SP2 on dry tarmac. All technology that Michelin put into these tires functions just as advertised.

The straight-line stability is superb regardless of which speed you are driving at. Even when you approach the absolute limit, the Pilot Sport PS2 will keep the car in check.

I was impressed mainly by how well the tires corner, something you won’t find in most of the competitors from that era. No matter how hard you throw the car into a corner, the tires will change direction while maintaining traction. Thanks to the lower profile and stiffer sidewall, you will never feel the tire squish, something that I appreciate in an ultra-high-performance tire.

Enthusiasts in the driver seat often refer to some tires as dull or mutes; well, that’s not the case with the Pilot Sport PS2. When you hold the steering wheel, you can almost feel the imperfections in the road as the tires transfer that information through the steering wheel.

I have only one minor complaint, and that is when the tire wears down. As you start to get to the end of the usable tread, the tires will begin to lose performance, like any other tire. I found it interesting that the drop in performance for the Pilot Sport PS2 isn’t as gradual as I thought; it almost felt immediate, like a flip of a switch.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

Remember that F1 design I mentioned in the features section? It’s not just for show and actually plays a massive role in the performance on wet surfaces.

Thanks to the grooves, the Pilot Sport PS2 has one of the best aquaplaning resistance in the category. Combine that with the sipes, and you almost feel like you are driving on dry pavement.

Yes, I will admit that the tires will lose traction more easily on wet than in dry, which is nothing surprising. What was surprising was how much I could push them to the limit before they started to lose grip.

Hard acceleration, cornering, stopping, you name it, the Pilot Sport PS2 will comply and get the job done marvelously without any issues.

How is it over snow?

I cannot stress this enough – ultra-high-performance summer tires are not designed for snowy conditions. With this in mind, you can assume how the Pilot Sport PS2 would perform or won’t.

Two things prevent these tires from having traction on snow: the tread design and rubber compound. There is nothing that enables the tire to dig in the snow and find traction. As for the compound, it’s designed for optimal performance in warm temperatures, so I cannot recommend driving them in cold weather.

It would be like having plastic tires.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Ultra-high-performance tires aren’t touring tires, so you cannot expect low noise and high comfort levels.

With that said, I will have to praise Michelin for managing to keep the noise levels decent. I won’t compare the Pilot Sport PS2 with touring tires, but I have to admit that it’s not as loud as I thought.

As for comfort, that’s a different story, and you may guess what I’m about to say. The Pilot Sport PS2 are not very comfortable tires due to the low profile and stiffer sidewall. Since there isn’t too much rubber on the sides and the one there isn’t too flexible, the ride comfort is quite compromised.

Is it good for off-roading?

The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2’s capabilities end with dry and wet performance, which I can talk about for days. For off-roading, all I can say is don’t bother.

The first problem is that you have no traction in any situation, and the second is that you may damage them. You may drive over a dirt road for a short distance, but don’t push it.

Is the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ideal for sporty driving?

I cannot think of a better application for the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2, as it’s a tire specifically designed for that. Driving them on the road is rewarding, but once you take your car to the track, you can feel how good the tires are.

One of the best tires in this class from that era that you should consider for sporty driving.

Should I buy the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2?

Absolutely, as long as you have a car that can be driven enthusiastically and you are the type of person that likes that. Excellent ultra-high-performance summer tires with plenty of grip in dry and wet conditions that almost talk to you when driving.

People that have owned ultra-high-performance tires are aware, but I feel like I should mention this. If you decide to buy the Pilot Sport PS2, keep in mind that you will be sacrificing ride comfort.

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Warranty

Tires that are designed to be driven to the limit are not usually ones that have a long lifespan. With that said, the Pilot Sport PS2 is not too bad, considering that Michelin sells them with a 20,000-mile treadwear warranty.

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Pricing: Is it worth the money?

Yes, when you consider the overall package. The starting price for the Pilot Sport PS2 is around $160, which is not cheap. On the other hand, you can have some mid-range ultra-high-performance tires for this price, which will not be as good as the Michelin.

Despite the 2 newer generations of tires from this series, the Pilot Sport PS2 is not bad, but it lacks behind the newer ones from Michelin. Essentially, you are getting an older premium tire for the price of a mid-range one.

Conclusion

My takeaway on the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 is to buy them because they are entirely worth it.

You will be getting one of the best dry and wet performance with them, even when compared to some modern tires. Michelin put a lot of effort and technology to provide stability on the straights and grip in the corners. As long as you replace them a bit sooner than the absolute end of their life, you may never notice the drop in performance.

With performance aside, you should know that even the noise levels are decent, ride quality will take a hit. In other words, they cannot be compared to touring tires.