Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs. Toyo Proxes Comfort — It’s a clash across segments as Toyo’s Proxes Comfort, a touring tire built for smoothness and daily civility, dares to challenge the ultra-high performance giant, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5. One promises refined comfort, the other delivers razor-sharp precision. Can a touring tire hold its own against a UHP legend? Let the battle of balance versus performance begin.
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Results: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs Toyo Proxes Comfort
The results presented here are from the 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tire Test, where 20 of the best tire models were selected from an initial pool of 52. Given the high cost and extensive nature of wear testing, we were delighted to have it included. The accompanying graph provides a side-by-side comparison of the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs Toyo Proxes Comfort across various performance categories, with the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 serving as the benchmark at 100%.
The tire size of interest is the 225/40R18 tire size, a popular choice for vehicles like the BMW 3 series Audi A4. For further insights into various tire sizes, feel free to consult our latest tire size table. The tests were conducted using a standard BMW 1 series as the test vehicle.
Wet
In wet braking, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 stops in 43.2 meters, while the Toyo Proxes Comfort takes 47.5 meters—a 4.3-meter difference, meaning the Toyo needs about 9% more distance to stop. On the wet handling track, the Pilot Sport 5 averages 73.3 km/h, which is 1.4 km/h faster than the Toyo at 71.9 km/h, giving the Michelin a 2% advantage in cornering grip. In straight-line aquaplaning, the Pilot Sport 5 holds on at 80.5 km/h versus 79.9 km/h for the Toyo, a 0.6 km/h gap or roughly 1% better water evacuation speed.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 clearly outperforms the Toyo Proxes Comfort in all wet tests, especially in braking where the gap is significant. For wet-weather confidence, the UHP tire shows its dominance.
Proxes Comfort:
- -9% in wet braking
- -2% in wet handling
- -1% in aquaplaning
Dry
Surprisingly, the Toyo Proxes Comfort goes toe to toe with the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 in dry conditions. In dry braking, the Michelin stops at 33.5 meters, just 0.5 meters shorter than the Toyo at 34 meters—a difference of only 1%. For dry handling, the Pilot Sport 5 laps at 120.5 km/h, while the Toyo trails slightly at 119 km/h, giving the Michelin just a 1% edge in cornering speed. For a touring tire, the Proxes Comfort puts up an impressively close fight against a UHP benchmark.
Proxes Comfort:
- -1% in dry braking
- -1% in dry handling
Wear
When it comes to wear, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 lasts significantly longer than the Toyo Proxes Comfort. The Michelin records 52,170 km, while the Toyo delivers 38,110 km—a difference of 14,060 km, or about 37% more mileage in favor of the Pilot Sport 5. Despite being a UHP tire, the Michelin shows superior durability over the touring-focused Toyo.
Proxes Comfort:
- -27% in mileage
Comfort & Noise
In terms of subjective comfort, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 5 points, slightly ahead of the Toyo Proxes Comfort at 4.3 points, giving the Michelin a 3.5% advantage in perceived ride quality. However, when it comes to noise, the Toyo runs quieter at 72.4 dB compared to the Michelin’s 74.3 dB—1.9 dB less, translating to a 3% lower noise level. The Michelin delivers a more refined ride feel, but the Toyo counters with a noticeably quieter cabin.
Proxes Comfort:
- -3.5% in subjective comfort
- +3% in exterior noise (-1.9 dB)
Rolling Resistance
The Toyo Proxes Comfort edges out the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 in rolling resistance, measuring 8.59 N/kN compared to Michelin’s 8.94 N/kN. That’s a 0.35 N/kN difference, giving the Toyo a 4% lower rolling resistance, which could translate to slightly better fuel efficiency. While the Michelin excels in performance, the Toyo offers a minor efficiency advantage.
Proxes Comfort:
- +4% in rolling resistance
Price
For the 225/40 R18 size, the Toyo Proxes Comfort is priced at €84, while the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 costs €124. That makes the Toyo €40 cheaper, or 48% more affordable, offering a significantly lower entry point for those prioritizing budget.
Tire size: 225/40 R18
- Pilot Sport 5 : € 124
- Proxes Comfort : € 84
Difference: -48% more cheaper for Proxes Comfort
Summary
From a tire expert’s perspective, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is the clear dominant winner. It delivers stronger wet and dry performance, superior mileage, and better ride comfort—all while being a UHP tire. That said, the Toyo Proxes Comfort impressed me with how closely it matched the Michelin in dry grip and offered lower noise and rolling resistance at nearly half the price. If you want top-tier all-round performance, go Michelin. If budget is key and your driving is more comfort-focused, the Toyo holds surprising value.
Dr Edwin Pang