Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect: Welcome to the tire showdown: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect! It’s the battle of a standard ultra-high performance (UHP) tire versus a street-legal track tire. Can the track-focused grip and precision of the Cup 2 Connect justify switching from the versatile Pilot Sport 4 for both daily and track use? Buckle up as we explore this thrilling matchup and find out!
Table of Contents
Results: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
Results below were taken from 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tire Test with a total of 10 tires tested, The graph below shows the comparison between Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect based on the relevant performance category. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
Note that for both wet & dry handling evaluation, the average lap speed was used instead of the standard lap time & subjective rating. The tire size of interest is 235/35 R19 which is a common tire size for Audi R8 & Volkswagen Golf R. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a Hyundia I30N which is a very fast car relative to its size.
Dry
Track tires are all about dry performance, often used on dry tracks. In dry handling, which is the critical point, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect shines with an average speed of 133.7 km/h, 3.9 km/h faster than the Pilot Sport 4’s 129.8 km/h.
However, in dry braking from 100 to 0 km/h, the Pilot Sport 4 stops in 34.8 meters, 1 meter shorter than the Cup 2 Connect’s 35.8 meters. We expected the dry handling to be much better for the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect, but the loss in dry braking was unexpected.
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect:
- -3% in dry braking
- +3% in dry handling (average speed)
Wet
In wet performance, we fully expected the Pilot Sport 4 to dominate due to the wet vs. dry trade-off. The Pilot Sport 4 stops in 30 meters during wet braking from 80 to 0 km/h, significantly better than the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect’s 37.5 meters, a difference of 7.5 meters. In wet handling, the Pilot Sport 4 achieves an average speed of 87.6 km/h, outperforming the Cup 2 Connect’s 83.4 km/h by 4.2 km/h.
Around a wet circle, the Pilot Sport 4 also leads with 7.12 m/s compared to the Cup 2 Connect’s 6.93 m/s. Additionally, the Pilot Sport 4 has a higher slipping speed in straight-line aquaplaning, reaching 70 km/h versus the Cup 2 Connect’s 66 km/h, a difference of 4 km/h. Overall its is clear that the standard UHP in the form of Pilot Sport 4 out performs Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect in wet.
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect:
- -20% in wet braking
- -5% in wet handling (average speed)
- -3% in wet circle
- -6% in straight aquaplaning
Noise
In terms of exterior noise performance, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect are nearly identical. The Pilot Sport 4 measures at 68.5 dB, while the Cup 2 Connect is slightly quieter at 68.2 dB. Despite the minimal difference, they can be considered the same in terms of noise level.
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect:
- ~0% in exterior noise (-0.3 dB)
Rolling Resistance
In terms of rolling resistance, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 performs better with a resistance of 8.5 N/kN compared to the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect’s 9.4 N/kN. This means the Pilot Sport 4 has lower rolling resistance, making it more efficient by 0.9 N/kN.
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect:
- –10% in rolling resistance
Price
Given the different segmentation, we expect the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect to be more expensive. For the tire size 235/35 R19, the Pilot Sport 4 costs €212, while the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect is priced at €284. This makes the Cup 2 Connect 25% more expensive than the Pilot Sport 4.
Tire size: 235/35 R19
- Pilot Sport 4: € 212
- Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect: € 284
Difference: +25% more expensive for Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect.
Summary
As a tire expert, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect each have their clear advantages. The Pilot Sport 4 excels in wet performance, offering superior braking, handling, and aquaplaning resistance, along with lower rolling resistance and comparable noise levels. On the other hand, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect shines in dry handling, making it a standout choice for track enthusiasts despite its higher price.
The trade-off is clear: the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect delivers exceptional dry handling, but at the cost of wet performance and higher rolling resistance. Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether the increase in dry handling performance is worth sacrificing other aspects for your driving needs.
Dr Edwin Pang