Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Review: The Ultimate Ultra-High-Performance All-Season Tire for Exceptional Driving Experience
Pros
- A steering feel that is both exceptionally positive and responsive
- The tire is able to interact effectively with the driver and provides the driver with a wealth of information regarding the road.
- Excellent cornering grip for a compound that is designed for all seasons.
- Excellent tracking in a straight line and stable performance at high speeds
- An outstanding performer on wet roadways, with superior traction and stopping power.
- Surprisingly good over mild snow, especially in comparison to other products in this category
- Long treadwear warranty and high treadlife expectancy
Cons
- The ride is somewhat stiff, especially over more significant road imperfections.
- When traveling at faster speeds, particularly over rough terrain, the tread will emit a distinct growling sound.
- Extremely high in cost.
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The concept of ultra-high-performance tires that can be used in every season is abhorrent to true auto fans. This is due to the fact that these tires have never produced the best level of grip and traction on dry surfaces, and it is quite unlikely that they ever will.
To what extent, however, should that concern you? Even while turning corners, the most recent generation of high-performance all-season tires performs quite well. These tires are ideal for daily driving. Additionally, as a bonus, you obtain at least some traction in the snow. And without a doubt, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is one of the most impressive instances of this type of product.
The French corporation has consistently maintained a position of leadership at the forefront of all performance categories. This is due to the fact that the world’s oldest tire firm develops its goods through participating in the most popular racing series all over the world, including Formula 1. And who wouldn’t want the technologies used in Formula One on their vehicle?
However, much like other Michelin tires, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is on the pricier end of the spectrum. You do, however, always receive performance that is of a high level. There is simply no more affordable tire brand that comes close to competing with Michelin in the majority of categories.
The question that has to be answered is how the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ stacks up against other premium tires. Given that this is an all-season tire, there are a few different categories that need to be discussed before we can arrive at a conclusion.
In order for the tire to outperform the competition, it needs to be able to perform well in a variety of situations, such as dry and wet pavement, roads covered in snow, as well as comfort and longevity. These are the very topics that I intend to discuss in my evaluation, which will also include a comprehensive breakdown of how the performance was delivered.
But before we get into it, let’s take a look at the several elements that Michelin incorporated into the Pilot Sport A/S 3+.
What are the features of the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+?
Michelin claims that its Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tire offers the highest level of confidence in the winter as well as superior traction in dry and wet conditions. The company was able to accomplish those goals by putting its cutting-edge Helio+ Technology to use. Extreme Silica Technology tread compound with sunflower oil is a component of this technology. It enhances traction in colder weather and on wetter roadways.
The tread was given a performance-oriented design by the engineers, which featured an aggressive asymmetric pattern. The tread design has stiff blocks on the outboard shoulders, which enhance the tire’s capacity for lateral grip and dry cornering. On the inner of the tire, there are four wide circumferential grooves that reduce the likelihood of hydroplaning and improve traction on terrain that are wet.
In addition, Michelin deployed its Variable Contact Patch 3.0 technology in order to distribute the contact patch in an even manner across the tire. They adapted this technology from their designs for endurance racing, and it should make the tire more durable even when it is subjected to vigorous driving.
In the end, the internal structure conforms rather well to the norms established for the category. It consists of two high-tensile lightweight steel cords that are strengthened with a polyamide rope that has been spirally coiled to provide more predictable handling, the capacity to operate at high speeds, and better riding comfort.
The French tiremaker provides the tire in a variety of popular sizes, ranging from a wheel diameter of 16 inches all the way up to a diameter of 22 inches. Michelin covers a wide range of vehicles with these dimensions, including high-end sports cars, muscle cars, sports compact cars, sports sedans, and sports coupes. In addition, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ could be a smart choice for you if you wish to install wider wheels and combine them with tires that have lower sidewalls.
What are the maintenance indicators?
On the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+, the company utilized the tread wear indicators (TWIs), which are an industry standard, in order to monitor the tread depth. These indicators can only indicate you when the tread is completely worn out, not the exact amount of tread that is still left on the tire. several manufacturers, such as Continental, add easier-to-read indications that can display you the tread depth in a more specific manner. These types of indicators can be found on several of their products.
TWIs are thin rubber bars that are recessed into the circumferential grooves of the tire. These grooves run the entire circumference of the tire. These bars will become more noticeable as the tread on your tires wears down. In addition, when the tread depth reaches 2/32 of an inch, the bars will be fully flush with the surface of the surface. When this happens, you should immediately get new tires for your vehicle. If you don’t, you run the risk of having no traction in the snow or the rain when driving. In addition, it is against the law to drive with tread that is any shallower than 2/32 of an inch in several places.
The treadlife of this performance tire, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+, is surprisingly long, which is a blessing. Although it does not have the same level of durability as the Continental DWS06 or the Bridgestone RE980AS, the gap between the three is not very wide. You should still have no problem using this tire for at least another three years. In addition, Michelin offers a treadwear warranty that is competitive with other products in this category, covering 45,000 kilometers.
How does it behave on a dry tarmac?
Excellent responsiveness may be expected from the steering. The instantaneous response of the tires to the driver’s input demonstrates the performance capabilities of the tire. When seen from this angle, it is among the greatest ultra-high-performance all-season tires that are currently on the market.
In addition, there is an extraordinarily high level of communication between the driver and the tire. At the limit, you will be able to tell immediately through the steering wheel which tire is beginning to lose traction.
In addition, in contrast to a good number of other ultra-high-performance all-season tires on the market, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ delivers exceptional levels of traction and grip. It has the characteristics of a summer performance tire, and in some ways it even feels like one. It has responsive steering, exceptional traction and grip, and remarkable stability at high speeds.
Aside from that, even if you are responsible for track duties, the Michelin will have your back. Although a summer tread compound will function more effectively there, the outstanding performance of an all-season tire like the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ cannot be denied.
How is it over wet and slippery roads?
When driving in wet weather, one of the greatest tires you can choose is the Pilot Sport A/S 3+. Even on the slippery wet surface, it continues to have a responsive and eager steering feel. This urgency is accompanied by great traction and a remarkable resistance to hydroplaning.
In addition, when driving on wet roads, the tires have a very balanced feel to them; there is neither understeer nor oversteer. To put it another way, you won’t have any concerns about your personal safety while you’re behind the wheel, even if you drive your vehicle to its absolute maximum. In the end, the braking distances in the rain are among the shortest of all the distances measured for this category.
I have to admit that, all things considered, they are one of the nicest tires that I have ever drove on while the road was wet. It is able to accelerate without any problems, turn beautifully, and stop better than very few other tires on the market.
With that being said, how is it on snowy roads?
The Pilot Sport A/S 3+ did not change my mind about the fact that I would never advocate an ultra-high-performance all-season tire for serious winter driving conditions. Nevertheless, in comparison to the other tires in the category, it fares quite well. To be more specific, Michelin made enhancements on this front and claims that snow traction is increased by 28% in comparison to the previous generation of the Pilot Sport A/S 3.
The level of performance that could be achieved on snow genuinely astonished me. The tire has extremely high longitudinal traction in light snow, and it even handles well in the corners of the curves. Additionally, the stopping distances are very respectable for the class.
In spite of this, if you reside in a region that gets severe winter weather, you absolutely must invest in a good pair of winter tires. You shouldn’t utilize the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ over snow on a daily basis; rather, save it for emergency situations. This is especially true if the roads become covered in ice, as this tire does not perform very well in such conditions.
Is it suitable for off-road driving?
Even though some sizes are suitable for crossovers, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ was not created with the intention of being used for off-roading. To begin, the tire does not have sufficient tread to give you with adequate traction, which is especially important on surfaces that are damp.
The tread compound of the tire is not resistant to cuts and chips from rocks, which is another drawback of this model. To put it another way, driving for an extended period of time on hardpacked terrain can cause the tread of the tires to become damaged. In addition, jagged rocks are capable of easily punching holes in the softer rubber.
Is it comfortable and refined?
Although the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ provides an enjoyable driving experience when behind the wheel, the increased responsiveness reduces the level of comfort. There is no getting past the fact that the ride on these tires is on the firm side. Although this is to be expected from ultra-high-performance tires, it is still possible to obtain a ride that is more comfortable in other places.
In addition to this, the Michelin’s noise performance is not up to the standards of any award-winning vehicles. Even though the tires aren’t particularly loud, there is still a discernible tread growl when driving over coarse surfaces. At the very least in this respect, the most of the competitors are very similar to one another in terms of the noise they produce.
More of the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Review may be seen in this video, which was produced by DailySquad.
Should I buy the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+?
The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is currently regarded as one of the greatest ultra-high-performance all-season tires available on the market. This is especially important to keep in mind if you care about how well your vehicle performs and how much fun it is to drive.
To be more specific, Michelin performed an excellent job of ensuring that the tire performs exceptionally well in a wide variety of environments. When the roads are dry, the handling is superb, and it maintains that level of excellence even when the pavement is wet. In addition, the French engineers made an excellent job of enhancing the snow traction, which is excellent for the category as a whole.
Despite this, the uncomfortable ride and audible tread growl might put off some prospective customers. Additionally, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ might be somewhat pricey for the majority of buyers.
In spite of everything, the reason you purchase an ultra-high-performance tire is because of the performance it offers. In addition, the competitor to Michelin’s all-season performance tire is widely regarded as either the greatest or one of the best in its class. It is without question going to earn my highest recommendation.
