New Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 high performance tyre launched
Building on the Pilot Sport 5, the S 5 has a new tread compound designed for performance car applications
Michelin’s Pilot Sport series has been a staple of high-performance tyres for decades, and now the latest iteration - the Pilot Sport S 5 - has arrived.
Sitting above the more widespread Pilot Sport 5, the S 5 is initially available as a 21-inch tyre designed for sports cars and super saloons, with a revised tread design geared towards summer use.
> Michelin Pilot Sport 5 ultra-high performance tyre now available
Just four 21-inch options are available at launch (245/40, 275/35, 275/35 XL and 325/30 XL), although more are expected to be added later down the line. Michelin has worked with OEMs such as Ferrari, Porsche and Lucid to tailor the Pilot Sport S 5 to the demands of new-age performance cars, with a focus on dry road and track performance.
Its internal construction uses a blend of aramid and nylon for improved response and feedback, with larger tread blocks than the Pilot Sport 5 for a larger, less flexible contact patch.
It’s not nearly as aggressive as the track-biased Pilot Sport Cup 2, though, so expect the new tyre to be more adept in wet conditions. Large, longitudinal grooves at the outer edges of the tread have been designed with this in mind.
The Pilot Sport S 5 is rated B for wet weather grip across all sizes, and D for rolling efficiency (although the larger extra load offerings score C for the latter). If the PSS5 becomes available in the popular 235/35 R19 size, it's certain to be a part of the annual evo performance tyre test, where we test grip, feel, refinement and ride quality in both wet and dry conditions.
Bridgestone’s Potenza Sport won last year’s test, but Michelin has strong previous form, winning in 2020 and 2021 with the PSS5’s predecessor, Pilot Sport 4 S.
