Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Nankang AR 1: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S and Nankang AR 1 appear in 30 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, based on 29 tests.
How the Nankang AR 1 performs. It takes the win in dry, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 80/100, based on 1 test.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Nankang AR 1 still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Nankang AR 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | UUHP/Track | UUHP/Track |
| Type | Summer | Summer |
| Tests used | 29 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 3.9 | 6.3 |
| Latest test | 2026 | 2022 |
| Tire Lab Score | 87.8 | 80.1 |
Tire Lab Score
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Nankang AR 1
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Nankang AR 1 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 4.2 111011 | Avg rank 10.0 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 3.1 141910 | Avg rank 2.0 2 | Nankang AR 1 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 1.7 21 | No data | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 4.1 101110 | Avg rank 5.5 1 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 5.7 31 | Avg rank 2.0 1 | Nankang AR 1 |
💧 Wet: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Nankang AR 1
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S wins this category with an average rank of 4.2, compared to 10.0 for the Nankang AR 1.
☀️ Dry: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Nankang AR 1
The Nankang AR 1 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 3.1 for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S.
❄️ Snow: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Nankang AR 1
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S wins this category with an average rank of 1.7, compared to no data for the Nankang AR 1.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Nankang AR 1
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S wins this category with an average rank of 4.1, compared to 5.5 for the Nankang AR 1.
🔋 Efficiency: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S vs Nankang AR 1
The Nankang AR 1 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 5.7 for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S or Nankang AR 1?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S ranks higher on average than the Nankang AR 1.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nankang AR 1 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S ranks better than the Nankang AR 1.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S appears in 29 independent tests, Nankang AR 1 in 1.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →
