Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Continental Premium Contact 6

[DomV77]

Hey All,

I'm looking for some new tyres for my 2007 MX5 however me choosing tyres is a nightmare.
I'm looking for a 215/45/R17
I've got two options:
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Continental Premium Contact 6

My concern is that the Continental is classed as a premium touring tyre, not a high performance tyre. Yet it is classed as the alternative to the Michelin?
Which would you choose and why? If you have either of these tyres, what are they like?

Thanks.

[jagnet]

Having used both, for me it's the PS4 by a country mile.

In fairness, I think the problems that I had with the Conti were down to rim width v tyre width and they just didn't like the combination of 225/45 tyres on a 7J rim despite these being factory sizes. The Michelins have no problems with this setup so I don't know why the Conti tyres felt so goppingly awful. Playing around with the pressures made no difference.

The Contis had grip, but it felt as though the tread moved around relative to the rim so much that the car would lurch into corners and feedback to the steering wheel was as vague as a politician's promise. Even my 205/55 winter tyres felt more sporty and dynamic in comparison. I know that the trend is to thin and soft sidewalls to improve rolling resistance etc, but this took it to a whole new level.

[ACB85]

Michelin PS4 - had them on my BMW 325i M Sport. Felt wonderful, never found the limit in the dry. Needed to be doing anti-social speeds and beyond perhaps. In the wet they communicated very nicely where the limit was, nice and progressive.

Also I would recommend the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 specifically. I have these on my Focus ST mk3 and they are epic tyres. Put them on before a road trip to Italy. Did a few runs over the Stelvio Pass, Umbrail Pass and I had all the traction I could ask for.

Pirelli - are significantly better when warm, I think higher grip level than the Michelin once 'turned on'. Not tried in cold conditions yet

Michelin - also at there best when warmed. However, did well even when cold, manageable with RWD in light snow

Not exactly a fair test due to different drivetrains but I feel the Pirelli is more hardcore so suits the ST nicely. If you want a slightly better all round tyre then can't go wrong with Michelin. Try and get them from Costco - £450 fitted, nitrogen filled.

[thecremeegg]

I have PS4s on my Z4 and I think they're a fantastic tyre and if they're anything like the PS3s they replaced, incredibly well wearing - the PS3s on the back did 15k and the fronts 28k!

[Baldchap]

I put PS4s on my last car and they were genuinely excellent. Truly like making grip where there shouldn't be any. The current one is on Contis but is 4wd, so I can't directly compare, but they're inoffensive in that they work adequately.

[jon-]

The Conti has yet to beat a PS4 in a test, the closest it's got is a couple of second places

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2018-AZ-Summe...
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2018-AMS-Summ...

[peterg1955]

I had PS4 on my GT86 (on 18" wheels) and they were fantastic so after I got my 2002 911 last year I put PS4 tyres on and have since done 6000 miles in all weathers and they have been equally impressive and I'm also really impressed with the wear rate having just measured the tread depths which are still 6mm+ all round!

[DomV77]

jagnet said:

Having used both, for me it's the PS4 by a country mile.

In fairness, I think the problems that I had with the Conti were down to rim width v tyre width and they just didn't like the combination of 225/45 tyres on a 7J rim despite these being factory sizes. The Michelins have no problems with this setup so I don't know why the Conti tyres felt so goppingly awful. Playing around with the pressures made no difference.

The Contis had grip, but it felt as though the tread moved around relative to the rim so much that the car would lurch into corners and feedback to the steering wheel was as vague as a politician's promise. Even my 205/55 winter tyres felt more sporty and dynamic in comparison. I know that the trend is to thin and soft sidewalls to improve rolling resistance etc, but this took it to a whole new level.

The Conti sounds rather dissapointing based on this, a shame really but that's how things go.

Seems like the Michelin is the way to go

[DomV77]

ACB85 said:

Michelin PS4 - had them on my BMW 325i M Sport. Felt wonderful, never found the limit in the dry. Needed to be doing anti-social speeds and beyond perhaps. In the wet they communicated very nicely where the limit was, nice and progressive.

Also I would recommend the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 specifically. I have these on my Focus ST mk3 and they are epic tyres. Put them on before a road trip to Italy. Did a few runs over the Stelvio Pass, Umbrail Pass and I had all the traction I could ask for.

Pirelli - are significantly better when warm, I think higher grip level than the Michelin once 'turned on'. Not tried in cold conditions yet

Michelin - also at there best when warmed. However, did well even when cold, manageable with RWD in light snow

Not exactly a fair test due to different drivetrains but I feel the Pirelli is more hardcore so suits the ST nicely. If you want a slightly better all round tyre then can't go wrong with Michelin. Try and get them from Costco - £450 fitted, nitrogen filled.

Sounds like you can't go wrong with the Michelins then. Pleasing to hear.

If I'm honest, I'm not a fan of Pirelli. I've got the P Zero Nero GT on currently and it's equivalent to driving on ice. Lots of understeer and plenty of oversteer with no feedback as to what's going on. Yes I know they're below the P Zero but I'm put off by this.

I'd prefer an all round performer too so Michelin it shall be.

[DomV77]

thecremeegg said:

I have PS4s on my Z4 and I think they're a fantastic tyre and if they're anything like the PS3s they replaced, incredibly well wearing - the PS3s on the back did 15k and the fronts 28k!

This is good to hear!
That's impressive wear from those tyres! Let's see if the new ones will follow suit eh

[DomV77]

Baldchap said:

I put PS4s on my last car and they were genuinely excellent. Truly like making grip where there shouldn't be any. The current one is on Contis but is 4wd, so I can't directly compare, but they're inoffensive in that they work adequately.

Infinite grip then haha, jks. But sound like they're a dman good tyre!

Ah that's understandable. Think I'll go for the Michelins.

[DomV77]

jon- said:

The Conti has yet to beat a PS4 in a test, the closest it's got is a couple of second places

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2018-AZ-Summe...
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2018-AMS-Summ...

That's an easy win for the Michelin then.
Was looking for a test with both tyres in it, thanks!

[DomV77]

peterg1955 said:

I had PS4 on my GT86 (on 18" wheels) and they were fantastic so after I got my 2002 911 last year I put PS4 tyres on and have since done 6000 miles in all weathers and they have been equally impressive and I'm also really impressed with the wear rate having just measured the tread depths which are still 6mm+ all round!

Sounds like they work on different types of cars then!
Seems like a fairly easy win for the Michelins haha

[designforlife]

michelin PS4 are great on my DC5, my only minor complaint would be wishing they had slightly stiffer sidewalls.

[Garvin]

ACB85 said:

. . . . . . . . . Pirelli - are significantly better when warm, I think higher grip level than the Michelin once 'turned on'. Not tried in cold conditions yet. . . . . . . .

Pirellis are an adequate tyre when warm. Below 10C the grip drops off and below about 7C the grip just evaporates. They are listed as a summer tyre for a very good reason!

[Moonhawk]

I have PS4s on my V8 Vantage. I upgraded last year and find them much stickier than the stock Bridgestone Potenza. I'm very happy with them.

Never tried the Continental

[Ninja59]

DomV77 said:

Sounds like you can't go wrong with the Michelins then. Pleasing to hear.

If I'm honest, I'm not a fan of Pirelli. I've got the P Zero Nero GT on currently and it's equivalent to driving on ice. Lots of understeer and plenty of oversteer with no feedback as to what's going on. Yes I know they're below the P Zero but I'm put off by this.

I'd prefer an all round performer too so Michelin it shall be.

That is not how a well setup NC MX5 should drive get it on an alignment with someone that knows what they are doing. Mine when I first got it was within Mazda specs but each wheel was not pointing in the same direction, once reset and all happy it was a different beast.

I did later have it lowered and ARB's done and it made way more progress.

I did end up swapping over to Yokohama AD08R's but they might be a bit unsuitable for you? These made it a car that could make real progress through twisting roads without issue, the ride suffered a little as a result with the firmer sidewalls and there was more tyre noise. Rain was fairly okay, just be careful with standing water.

But either way get it on a hunter after doing the tyres with someone that knows these cars (and there is plenty, not sure on your location, but I might be able to suggest someone local ish to you) and consider it money well spent.

Edited by Ninja59 on Friday 29th June 14:53

[DomV77]

Ninja59 said:

DomV77 said:

Sounds like you can't go wrong with the Michelins then. Pleasing to hear.

If I'm honest, I'm not a fan of Pirelli. I've got the P Zero Nero GT on currently and it's equivalent to driving on ice. Lots of understeer and plenty of oversteer with no feedback as to what's going on. Yes I know they're below the P Zero but I'm put off by this.

I'd prefer an all round performer too so Michelin it shall be.

That is not how a well setup NC MX5 should drive get it on an alignment with someone that knows what they are doing. Mine when I first got it was within Mazda specs but each wheel was not pointing in the same direction, once reset and all happy it was a different beast.

I did later have it lowered and ARB's done and it made way more progress.

I did end up swapping over to Yokohama AD08R's but they might be a bit unsuitable for you? These made it a car that could make real progress through twisting roads without issue, the ride suffered a little as a result with the firmer sidewalls and there was more tyre noise. Rain was fairly okay, just be careful with standing water.

But either way get it on a hunter after doing the tyres with someone that knows these cars (and there is plenty, not sure on your location, but I might be able to suggest someone local ish to you) and consider it money well spent.

Edited by Ninja59 on Friday 29th June 14:53

Yeah I know, I do need an alignment. The current one is pretty poor.
I got the alignment when I got my coilovers fitted so I assumed they knew what they we e doing (mx5 specialist) but apparently not.

Yeah I would love some AD08R's but this is my only car so I need a road biased tyre ideally.
They do sound pretty awesome though!

Do you know anyone in the Norfolk area who could do the alignment?

[Ninja59]

DomV77 said:

Yeah I know, I do need an alignment. The current one is pretty poor.
I got the alignment when I got my coilovers fitted so I assumed they knew what they we e doing (mx5 specialist) but apparently not.

Yeah I would love some AD08R's but this is my only car so I need a road biased tyre ideally.
They do sound pretty awesome though!

Do you know anyone in the Norfolk area who could do the alignment?

Unfortunately not without 200 mile round trip to wheels in motion (generally get good reviews)? (probably one of the better ones around you?)

Thought you may say that, the only reason I changed over to the AD08R's is because it stopped being my daily, so could take the risk!

[DomV77]

Ninja59 said:

DomV77 said:

Yeah I know, I do need an alignment. The current one is pretty poor.
I got the alignment when I got my coilovers fitted so I assumed they knew what they we e doing (mx5 specialist) but apparently not.

Yeah I would love some AD08R's but this is my only car so I need a road biased tyre ideally.
They do sound pretty awesome though!

Do you know anyone in the Norfolk area who could do the alignment?

Unfortunately not without 200 mile round trip to wheels in motion (generally get good reviews)? (probably one of the better ones around you?)

Thought you may say that, the only reason I changed over to the AD08R's is because it stopped being my daily, so could take the risk!

Ah not to worry. Have spoken to Wheels In Motion and shown them the alignment, they said it was horrendous haha.
I'll have to see about heading down there one day to get the handling sorted.

Ah yeah you may aswell if it's a weekend / track car. Reap the benefits of the sticky rubber!
I really would like some though! Maybe one day eh?!