Michelin has come out with a tire with a very unique value proposition that piqued my interest. The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 has performance characteristics similar to one of their most well-known summer tire, but with rubber suitable for mild winter use. As a Canadian who always has a “toy” in the stable, I needed to experience this for myself.
Interestingly enough, Michelin touts this tire as “the first all-season tire chosen by Chevrolet for the Corvette.” And while I can only assume that means the latest generation of the flagship sports car, what better way to test them out than on my shiny black 1997 Corvette?
Other than the drive home from the shop, the first occasion I spent any meaningful time with these tires with these tires was in the pouring rain. It was surprisingly uneventful and a night-and-day difference compared to the dry-rotted Bridgestone Potenza S001s these replaced—no sliding, no hydroplaning, just reliable and predictable acceleration, braking, and grip. Michelin touts that these tires use what they call Helio+ technology, meaning the deep channels ensure water displacement happens quickly, therefore reducing the risk of hydroplaning.
Now, these aren’t the tires you put on your high-horsepower toy if you spend lots of time at the track, or push your car to the limits. Anyone doing that knows to buy dedicated summer tires with top-tier performance, like Michelin’s Pilot Sport 5 or Cup 2. For the rest of us mortals who own fun cars but rarely get to push them anywhere near their limits, tires like that are an absolute waste of money, now that the Pilot Sport All-Season 4 is here.
Don’t get me wrong, these tires can take a beating, and next year, I plan on taking them to a track day to see what the car can do. I’m confident the operator will be the performance limiting factor, not the tires, as long as I don’t do too many laps before letting the tires cool down. In everyday driving on the streets, with sharp on-ramps, bumpy roads, and spirited driving within the realm of reasonable on city streets, I haven’t yet lost grip or even triggered traction control once with these sticky black rings beneath me. Even in heavy rain.
Comfort and road noise are also well-controlled for a performance-focused tire. Unlike others in this category, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 doesn’t sacrifice ride quality for grip, making long drives more comfortable. In comparison to its summer-only counterparts, this tire is quieter, adding to the overall driving experience, and the shoulder seasons are extended thanks to the cold-weather ability.
For those seeking year-round performance without the hassle of seasonal tire changes, the Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 is an outstanding choice. They don’t quite replace the need for a dedicated winter tire in harsh conditions, but they’re perfect for cars you’d want to drive year-round as long as the forecast doesn’t call for a snowstorm. [Just make sure to rinse the salt off, even on dry winter days! —Ed.] From their quiet ride to their exceptional handling, it’s clear Michelin put their decades of experience into this product and knew what they were doing.
