Differences between Pilot sport 4 and 4s

[Ulikefishsticks]

So I had my 2 rears replaced yesterday at a tire shop. I had told them to put on the same tires as the front so they would match obviously. Today I was checking out the car and I noticed they had put the Pilot Sport 4S on the rear. The fronts are still the Pilot Sport 4. Should I be worried and go back to shop or will I be fine? I have a little bit of tread left on the fronts before I get to the point where I need to swap them out. What are everyone's thoughts?

 

[MerlintheMad]

I did the exact same thing, and put another c. 4K miles on my PS4 fronts before replacing them. No issues whatsoever. The extra 4K miles on the fronts were 90% road trip, including four passes on the Tail of the Dragon; so, I pushed the mostly worn out fronts vigorously at the end. Before the road trip, as I was getting the new rear PS4S on, the shop boss said (when I told them I was planning on the Dragon), "You should replace those front tires before you do that." I said that I'd be careful. And I was. But I did get the LF outside edge to separate from the belts in one spot. I noticed that a couple of days after I got back home.

I am sure that the PS4 and PS4S are intended to be used interchangeably. How this would translate into handling dynamics on the track is a wholenuther question. Probably nothing, is my guess.

 

[Ulikefishsticks]

I did the exact same thing, and put another c. 4K miles on my PS4 fronts before replacing them. No issues whatsoever. The extra 4K miles on the fronts were 90% road trip, including four passes on the Tail of the Dragon; so, I pushed the mostly worn out fronts vigorously at the end. Before the road trip, as I was getting the new rear PS4S on, the shop boss said (when I told them I was planning on the Dragon), "You should replace those front tires before you do that." I said that I'd be careful. And I was. But I did get the LF outside edge to separate from the belts in one spot. I noticed that a couple of days after I got back home.

I am sure that the PS4 and PS4S are intended to be used interchangeably. How this would translate into handling dynamics on the track is a wholenuther question. Probably nothing, is my guess.

This puts my mind at ease.

 

[Toddasaurus]

The Pilot Sport 4S is Michelin's next step up in terms of performance compared to the Pilot Sport 4. There is a difference in performance between the two, with the 4S being the better tire (ie more grip, probably even a slightly stiffer sidewall). The differences aren't huge, mind you, but they're there.

You'll be just fine with the 4S's in the rear. Consider it an upgrade, especially if you're RWD.

 

[eflyguy]

.. unless you live in a cold climate. The 4S is less tolerant of cold than the 4 (although most people ignore the fact that these are "summer" tires.)

 

[oddball]

The Pilot Sport 4 is the OEM tire. Michelin primarily sells that to manufacturers, although you can buy it from a tire shop, usually as a special order.
Pilot Sport 4S is the aftermarket tire.
The tires are very nearly identical. The pattern and sizes are identical. The warranty ratings are different, which implies they use different compounds. That's not an absolute though.

Tire manufacturers do this quite often. Same thing on my Volvo - the specific Scorpion tire that's on it is an OEM variant. If I just go to the tire shop I end up with a different variant of the tire.

But, being very nearly identical, mixing and matching is fine. Certainly better than using a completely different tire. Sometimes you can special order the OEM variant for a few dollars cheaper than the aftermarket variant, but you have to wait for delivery.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The Pilot Sport 4 is the OEM tire. Michelin primarily sells that to manufacturers, although you can buy it from a tire shop, usually as a special order.

And, interestingly, more expensive than the 4S. That was what my tire/wheel guys said, looking up prices for me in the shop.

.. unless you live in a cold climate. The 4S is less tolerant of cold than the 4 (although most people ignore the fact that these are "summer" tires.)

I didn't find that to be the case. But then, I'm not one of those ignoring that they are summer tires; so, by driving carefully, I'm not pushing either the 4 or 4S enough to feel/notice this tolerance difference for cold.

 

[Dodger Blue]

I had a slow leak on my left rear a couple weeks back, turned out to be a hole in my sidewall so it couldn't be repaired. They ended up putting the Pilot Sport 4S's on both rears at my request, the tread on the front is still great after 18k miles. Seems to work just fine.

 

[Wan El Guapo]

. According to this tyre review the 4S is better for aggressive sriving, track work.

 

[MerlintheMad]

. According to this tyre review the 4S is better for aggressive sriving, track work.

Wasted, totally, on me then.

 

[kotto]

I bought my car, made a 1,000 mile road trip home with it, then immediately pulled my OEM wheels off to put on my winter set. Now that it's almost warm, I pulled them back out and noticed that my fronts were PS4S while the rears were PS4. I'm hoping this setup is fine on my AWD, although I think I'd rather have the stickier tires in the rear for the obvious reasons.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I bought my car, made a 1,000 mile road trip home with it, then immediately pulled my OEM wheels off to put on my winter set. Now that it's almost warm, I pulled them back out and noticed that my fronts were PS4S while the rears were PS4. I'm hoping this setup is fine on my AWD, although I think I'd rather have the stickier tires in the rear for the obvious reasons.

I drove c. 4K miles with PS4 on the front and brand new PS4S on the rear. The difference in traction was not noticeable to me: it would take a real driver like Randy Pobst to point to differences like that. Anyone else would just be engaging in forum blather.

 

[vipeboy2000]

I bought my car, made a 1,000 mile road trip home with it, then immediately pulled my OEM wheels off to put on my winter set. Now that it's almost warm, I pulled them back out and noticed that my fronts were PS4S while the rears were PS4. I'm hoping this setup is fine on my AWD, although I think I'd rather have the stickier tires in the rear for the obvious reasons.

eh... it's probably better this setup for fun driving with the awd.. just means you won't understeer as much. and with awd you don't have to worry about the tail end as much.

 

[MerlintheMad]

eh... it's probably better this setup for fun driving with the awd.. just means you won't understeer as much. and with awd you don't have to worry about the tail end as much.

Since the Stinger AWD tends to oversteer, I don't think that's a recommendation on the face of it!

 

[vipeboy2000]

Since the Stinger AWD tends to oversteer, I don't think that's a recommendation on the face of it!

i feel it has a initial tendency to oversteer but balances out nicely... having slightly sticker tires up front will make up for the staggered setup when pushed really aggressively.. but of course.. having the same compound is best for predictability.

 

[lakinxo]

The Pilot Sport 4 is superior in aquaplaning resistance, while the Pilot Sport 4S has better figures in wet handling and braking. However, the minor difference between the Pilot Sport 4 and the 4S is minimal. Driving on slick roads requires all three characteristics, especially in terms of safety.

 

[RM7]

.. unless you live in a cold climate. The 4S is less tolerant of cold than the 4 (although most people ignore the fact that these are "summer" tires.)

The PS4S is a pretty decent colder weather performance tire. Mind you, you shouldn't be out there driving it in freezing temps, but it does pretty damn good compared to some of the softer performance tires. We have this issue a bit running autocross here and the absolute highest traction tires are often not as good as something like this, because it simply does a little better at those cooler temps. We shoot up into the 80s and 90s on the pavement, but when the sun is blocked it cools of fast.

 

[D.J.]

The Pilot Sport 4 is superior in aquaplaning resistance,

How is it superior in aquaplaning resistance with the exact, identical tread pattern?

What's your source?

 

[AdrianG]

I kept the PS4S on here in Colorado over this past winter instead of putting on my Pirelli winter tires, and the PS4S were surprisingly good.

 

[D.J.]

The life expectancy and associated warranty is nearly double for the 4S ve the 4