Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs Bridgestone Potenza Sport: The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and Bridgestone Potenza Sport are two high-performance tires that have become popular among drivers who seek superior handling and grip. The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was launched in 2021 and maintains its position as an ultra-high-performance (UHP) tire, positioned between Michelin’s touring tire, the Primacy 4+, and the ultra-ultra-high-performance (UUHP) Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. The Pilot Sport 5 had an impressive debut, jointly topping its only tire test in 2022 with outstanding wet performance.
In the other corner, we have Bridgestone’s Potenza Sport, which also debuted in 2021 and has consistently finished in the top three in most of the press tests it has participated in. Bridgestone’s Potenza Sport is firmly positioned as a UUHP tire, which is one grade lower than the Pilot Sport 5’s UHP positioning. When comparing these two tires, we must be cautious as they come from different segmentation groups. Although they share similar tire sizes, especially in the 17 and 18-inch areas, their primary requirements are different. Without further ado, let’s bring the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and Bridgestone Potenza Sport head-to-head in a battle!
Table of Contents
Results
Results below were taken from the 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test with a total of 13 tires tested. The graph below shows the comparison between Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs Bridgestone Potenza Sport based on the relevant performance category. The Pilot Sport 5 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
For handling performances, the evaluation was done on the average speed rather than the preferred lap times or subjective rating. The tire size of interest is a 225/40 R18 which is a common tire size for Audi A3 Sedan & Hyundai Veloster Turbo. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a fancy Toyota GR Yaris which has the same designated OE tire size as the tested tire size.
Wet
Safety has always been the primary concern when it comes to the need for wet performance. The Pilot Sport 5 made a breakthrough in wet braking performance by managing to brake 2.1 meters earlier than the Potenza Sport. This 2.1-meter advantage in braking distance is significant and cannot be ignored. With a lead in wet braking, we would have expected the Pilot Sport 5 to continue its dominance in wet handling. However, we were surprised when the Potenza Sport achieved the fastest lap of the test with an average lap speed of 86.9 km/h, compared to a mid-tier finish of the Pilot Sport 5 with an 84.8 km/h average lap speed. The Potenza Sport was also the number one tire when it comes to wet circle by finishing a wet circle lap 0.9 seconds faster than the Pilot Sport 5.
Both tires were indistinguishable in straight aquaplaning performances as both had a slipping speed of 78 km/h. However, things were slightly different in lateral aquaplaning, with the Pilot Sport 5 topping the charts and the Potenza Sport having a deficit of 0.24 m/sec2 in comparison. Overall, the Pilot Sport 5 performed better in objective wet performances such as wet braking and aquaplaning, while the Potenza Sport is stronger in wet handling performances.
Potenza Sport:
- -5.1% in wet braking
- +2.5% in wet handling (average speed)
- +0.8% in wet circle
- -0.1% in straight aquaplaning
- -8.1% in curved aquaplaning
Dry
One of the most critical performances in the ultra ultra high performance segment is to have a very strong showing in dry conditions. The Potenza Sport took the lead in dry braking as it managed to out-brake the Pilot Sport 5 by 1.2 meters. As expected for a track-certified tire, the Potenza Sport was the second-best tire in the test for dry braking.
While the dry braking differences were quite clear, both tires also had a strong showing in dry handling, placing them in the top four standings. Once again, the Potenza Sport was the best handling tire, achieving the highest average speed of 115.5 km/h, while the Pilot Sport 5 had an average speed of 114.6 km/h. In summary, the Potenza Sport is definitely the stronger tire in dry conditions in both handling and braking performances.
Potenza Sport:
- +3.6% in dry braking
- +0.8% in dry handling (average speed)
Noise
In the pass by noise test, Pilot Sport 5 was found to be 0.7 dB quieter compared to Potenza Sport.
Potenza Sport:
- -1% in exterior noise (+0.7 dB)
Rolling Resistance
When it comes to extreme sporty tires, rolling resistance is definitely not something the user has in mind when purchasing the tire. However with the sustainability topic being more prevalent, it is good to know where they stand. Potenza Sport recorded a higher rolling resistance coefficient value of 9.9 N/kN which is the highest among the competition while Pilot Sport 5 had a lower coefficient value of 9.2 N/kN.
Potenza Sport:
- –12.9% in rolling resistance
Price
Both tires were priced in the premium segment region with the Pilot Sport 5 being €18 more expensive than Potenza Sport.
Tire size: 225/40 R18
Pilot Sport 5 : €126
Potenza Sport: €108
Difference: -17% more cheaper for Potenza Sport.
Summary
Based on the test results, the Potenza Sport seems to be extremely good in handling performances, whether in dry or wet conditions, while the Pilot Sport 5 was stronger in objective metrics such as wet braking, noise, and rolling resistance. As we are comparing cross segments here, there is no clear winner from our side, and it really depends on what your main requirements are.