In the world of all-season tires for sports cars, luxury sedans, and high-performance vehicles, the Yokohama Advan Sport AS Plus and Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 stand out. These tires offer exceptional handling, wet traction, and year-round confidence. Let’s see which tire comes on top.
Being a tire engineer, my tests reveal that, the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 excels in dry and winter performance, fuel economy, steering, and wet traction, while the Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ offers better lateral traction and longer tread life. And yes, it’s quieter off the two as well.
Table of Contents
Info about their Sizes
The Yokohama Advan Sport AS Plus comes in 16 to 21 inches rims, and they have the following specs.
- Speed ratings: W and Y.
- Load ratings: SL and XL.
- Tread depth: 11/32″ on all.
- Weight range: 21 to 33 lbs (average weight is heavier, relatively).
- Treadwear warranty: 55k miles.
- UTQG rating: 440 AA A.
Review this tire here: https://tiredriver.com/yokohama-advan-sport-a-s-plus-review/
On the other side, Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 comes in 16 to 22 inches wheels, and they come with the following specifications.
- Speed ratings: Y on all.
- Load ratings: SL and XL.
- Tread depth: 10/32″ on all.
- Weight range: 19 to 35 lbs.
- Treadwear warranty: 45k miles.
- UTQG rating: 540 AA A.
Review this tire here: https://tiredriver.com/michelin-pilot-sport-all-season-4-review/
Construction of Both Tires
Let’s start here with the Yokohama’s asymmetric tread design.
The tire comes with 5 total ribs, where the two outer shoulder ribs are characterized by a lot of lateral voids, and in-groove notches.
Though since they don’t “laterally” cut through all the way, these ribs are continuous running, just like the 3 central ribs.
Speaking of which, these ribs form 4 circumferential channels, where one of them is very tough passing (referring to its zigzag structure).
This is due to the central most rib (which is although narrowest), forms a lot of off-set edges.
Moving on, it’s neighboring ribs are broader, and so they come up with more pronounced in-groove biters.
One of them incorporates linear sipes, while the other displays a wavy siping pattern.
Internally, the tire is constructed with a single ply of polyester casing, supplemented by twin steel belts and an overlay of spirally wrapped nylon.
On the other hand, the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4, also comes with an asymmetric tread design, showcasing 5 total ribs. Though these ribs are more streamlined.
These 3 ribs basically form more straight forward circumferential channels.
Each rib has a unique design. I mean see how the central (most) rib, for instance, is equipped with lateral in-groove notches.
The ribs on either side, while having similar notches, differ in their siping patterns.
To illustrate, one rib showcases V-shaped sipes, while its counterpart features circular ones.
Shoulder lugs also differ in a similar manner.
One one side, you see linear lateral siping, forming a “T” shape with thick longitudinal grooves.
While the other side, has slightly different siping pattern, as one can see form its tread pattern (image).
Internally, this tire is fortified with a two-ply polyester casing, accompanied by two steel belts and a nylon cap ply.
Pavement Performance Analysis
The core aspects determining dry performance include a tire’s acceleration, braking efficiency, and cornering paired with steering responsiveness.
Let’s start with the grip.
Overall Grip
Now overall grip is divided in to two parts, directional grip, and lateral traction.
Directional grip is measured by tire’s braking efficacy, and it depends on the central tread area, as it bears the majority of the weight when a tire moves straight.
And here the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4, offers better performance, showcasing shorter braking distances on average (on tests).
The tire offers multiple in-groove notches, spanning various directions, ensuring a solid grip from numerous angles, resulting in a better longitudinal traction.
Though still, a more important advantage here, is it’s lighter weight.
With lighter construction, Michelin AS basically creates a smaller momentum force (or inertia). And this allows it to stop 2 feet quicker in comparison.
On the flip side, when it comes to lateral traction the opposite happens. As this traction depends on shoulders, the Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ with its more streamlined continuous running shoulder ribs, offer greater lateral grip in comparison.
Though interestingly, that doesn’t mean the tire offers better overall handling. You see, handling is a mixture of lateral grip and steering response. And Yokohama lacks in later.
Steering Feedback
Let me start off here by saying that, in the world of ultra-high performance all-season tires, the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 stands out prominently when it comes to overall handling.
And this is all thanks to its superb steering response.
The tire clearly conveys it’s traction limits, notably when transitioning into and out of corners. Moreover, it also offers a great balance between over and under-steering, especially during mid-cornering phase.
Basically there are 3 phases of cornering:
- Entering the corner: Which requires you to slow down quickly, and as already explained Michelin stand out here.
- Mid-cornering: Where you need a lot of steering precision.
- Exiting: Where you have to straighten the vehicle.
Now unlike the Michelin, the Yokohama doesn’t measure up as well in these aspects, relatively speaking. The tire’s slower braking plus heftier weight puts more pressure on lugs, causing them to bend.
This deformation, and the subsequent time taken for the tread to revert to its original form, adversely affects its performance in dry lap testing.
That’s why Yokohama lacks by over 2 seconds in overall handling (lap time tests), compared to Michelin.
Wet Performance
Wet performance can be broadly classified into two main categories: the tire’s proficiency in maintaining grip on damp surfaces and its capability to resist hydroplaning.
Let us explore both dimensions.
Wet Traction
A tire’s wet performance largely hinges on its adeptness in expelling water from its tread. This capability rests primarily on the tire’s sipe and groove design. Let me explain.
So grooves come in upfront, taking majority of water out via it’s channels, while sipes come in later, sucking up remaining (left-over) water particles.
Basically these sipes act as water collectors/containers, as they flex to generate a suction, drawing water particles in, thereby enhancing wet traction. (That’s why their effectiveness is also linked to their flexibility).
Given this, the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 emerges superior. It offers denser siping and retains optimal flexibility, particularly during aggressive maneuvers.
On the other hand, although the Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ also offers multiple siping, they only have linear structure, and that combined with its rigid rubber compound, the sipes don’t get enough flexibility to breath water particles in.
FYI: Linear siping tends to get stiffer with harsh tire maneuvers.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning resistance is another reason why the overall performance is better on Michelin.
You see this resistance is linked with grooves’ effectiveness to clear water out, and Yokohama with such packed up (continuous running shoulders), don’t allow as much water clearance in comparison.
This basically means, there’s less water going out, and more is there on sipes to deal with.
So overall, you get superior float speeds and wet traction on Pilot Sport AS, compared to Yokohama.
Winter Traction and Stability
Both tires position themselves as all-season stars, but neither holds the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. But that’s okay, none in the ultra high performance AS series have that.
And this rating basically only tells you about acceleration (that its 10% better at minimum compared to standard AS tire without this label. I mean it does not convey anything about the handling or braking, for example.
Coming to tires, my tests basically put both these tires as equals. I mean they both end getting same scores in overall winter performance.
But if you want to dive deeper, the Michelin AS 4 stands out in terms of braking and acceleration (thanks to it’s central snow vices and angular notches).
Whereas the Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ offers notable winter ratings in terms of handling, all thanks to its effective (and thick) slits on the shoulders.
These features (on both tires), basically allow for ample snow to snow contact, which is pretty important as snowflakes stick better to each other compared to rubber.
Pro-tip: For those scouting for an exceptional winter AS tire within the high-performance realm, the Nokian WRG4 (review) is a best choice.
Fuel Economy
When it comes to fuel economy, neither tire emerges as the “champion”, mainly due to their stiffer internal structures and gripping speed ratings going up to Y.
(Greater the speed rating, more the grip, and greater the rolling resistance).
Though if you have to pick one here, you should know that the Michelin Season 4 has a slight edge, as seen by its marginally lower average rolling resistance value (averaged) in comparison.
And this advantage stems from it’s lighter structure, and having a shallower tread depth, (it offer 1/32″ less tread depth compared to Yokohama).
With lighter weight, there’s reduced stress on the lugs during rotation, while lesser tread depth offers better tread stability, leading to minimized lug bending.
Lug bending basically means, more energy is lost elsewhere, in to heat, reshaping the lugs, and so on.
Tread Life
The longevity of the tread boils down to a balance between rolling resistance, tread depth, and the tire’s make-up.
Now given that the harder rubber in a tire means longer wear resistance, and the depth of the tread indicates how long it will take before the tire needs replacing, the Yokohama Advan Sport A/S Plus stands out.
The tire’s although weighs more, pushing lugs down with a greater force, its stiffer rubber still fights off wear. Moreover, this is also helped by it’s “flatter contour profile”, which is a design tweak that ensures an optimized contact patch and even pressure distribution.
Moreover, with it’s greater tread depth 11/32″ (compared to 10/32″ on Michelin, on all sizes), takes more time to reach down to tire replacement limit.
That’s why you get a longer tread life and greater 55k miles warranty on Yokohama’s tire, whereas the Michelin lags, providing you with only a 45k treadwear warranty.
FYI: The Advan Sport is actually ranked for longest lasting UHP tire in my list of top high performance all season tires. You can find the list form the search bar.
Noise Generation
Tire noise primarily results from air particles hitting the tire’s tread walls, with the shoulder voids being the main entry point for this air.
Now the Yokohama Advan Sport A/S Plus effectively counteract this, as it features more packed up shoulder lugs, substantially reducing the amount of air entry. So, it deals with the noise at the source.
I mean if you consider its tread again, (by scrolling above to the tread design section), you’d note that the tire has continuous running shoulders, whereas Michelin showcase proper lateral voids between all its shoulder blocks.
Though the difference between the two tires is pretty low (in terms of their decibel scale readings).
And that’s because the Michelin comes with superior pitch technology.
This tech has to do with varying of lugs/ribs geometry in a way, that air particles hitting them could generate a spectrum of tones/frequencies.
And these tones than try to cancel out each other, or in other words, don’t allow noise waves to get amplified, reducing in-groove resonance and cavity noise.
To Conclude
In comparing both tires, you get to see some distinctive findings.
The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 excels in dry performance, particularly due to its superior directional grip, attributed to its lightweight construction.
And although it’s counterpart leads in terms of lateral grip, the overall handling is better on Michelin, as it offer better steering characteristics.
In wet conditions, Michelin’s dense and flexible siping ensures optimal traction and hydroplaning resistance, whereas Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+’s linear and rigid sipe design reduces its efficacy.
On the fuel economy front, Michelin’s lighter structure leads the way, though with shallower tread depth, it lacks in terms of tread life.
Moreover, in terms of noise generation, while Yokohama’s design directly limits air entry, its counterpart leverages advanced pitch technology to manage and reduce noise effectively.
