The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 is a racing tire that’s designed for the open road. These tires offer exceptional grip for cornering or traveling at high speeds all summer long.
Quick Facts:
- Type: Summer Passenger Tire
- Sizes: 17’’, 18’’, 19’’, 20’’, 21’’
- Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG): 180AA
- Speed Rating: Y
- Warranty: 6 Year Limited Warranty
- Price: $$$$
What Sets It Apart
The Pilot Sport Cup 2 is a racing tire that is designed to perform flawlessly whether you are on the road or cornering on a racetrack. These tires have an aggressive race-inspired tread design that has three deep tread lines (20% deeper than most other tires) that are set off center to help with added grip when taking tight turns at high speeds.
They are also designed using Michelin’s “Track Longevity Technology 2.0,” which provides an extra durability in the shoulder of the tire to help extend its usable life. They claim that you will be able to get 50% more laps on the track with this tire compared to similar options from a competitor. That being said, because these are racing tires, they only come with a limited warranty. The tire is guaranteed against any manufacturer defects for 6 years, but they’re not covered for any set number of miles.
Comfort and Performance
If you are looking at purchasing these tires, the basic comfort of a drive is not going to be at the top of your list of priorities. For this model, Michelin has sacrificed a little bit of comfort in favor of improved high-speed performance. The tires also aren’t as quiet as you would enjoy on a standard touring tire. This is not at all to say that they are uncomfortable or that they create unbearable road noise. They will be significantly better than budget-focused tires, but just not quiet as smooth as tires designed for long comfortable drives.
Whatever small amount of comfort you do give up in these tires is more than made up for in performance. These tires are commonly used on racetracks by enthusiasts who love pushing their vehicles to the limit. You will commonly find the Pilot Sport Cup 2 on vehicles such as the Porsche 918 Spyder, Ferrari 458 Speciale, and other similar models. Whether you take your car out on the track or just love that feeling of exhilaration when you slam that gas when the light turns green, you won’t be disappointed with a set of these tires.
Safety and Durability
When evaluating the safety of these tires, you definitely have to use a slightly different criteria than you would for most others out there. These tires are extremely safe in that they will provide you with great traction and control when traveling at almost any speed. They will also help you to cruise around sharp corners without slipping an inch. Of course, drivers who choose these tires are almost always going to be driving more aggressively than the average person behind the wheel, so keep that in mind.
Also, these tires are not that safe for use in the winter; not that you would typically want to take high-speed vehicles out in the snow. Still, it is important to keep in mind that this is a summer only tire that should not be driven in the snow.
The Pilot Sport Cup 2 tire is designed to be one of the more durable tires in its class. Of course, if you are driving aggressively every time you get in your car, they won’t last that long. This is why they do not provide a milage-based warranty. Despite that, they are quite durable and if you are even a little bit responsible with your driving habits, they will last quite a while.
Who It’s For
The Pilot Sport Cup 2 is a niche tire. The only people who need them are those who have a high-end vehicle that they like to enjoy driving.
These tires are an ideal option for anyone who likes to take their car out on a racetrack where and push their vehicle its limits. While these tires are expensive, you get what you pay for with these ultra-performance tires.
