Menu

OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tyre your vehicle came with always the best tyre?

Jonathan Benson
Tested and written by Jonathan Benson
10 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the OE vs Aftermarket - Is the tyre your vehicle came with always the best tyre?, displaying how each tyre performed across all test categories. The spider chart below provides a complete overview of performance, where one hundred percent represents the best performance in each category. The larger the area covered by each tyre's plot, the better its overall performance.
How to read these charts: For each test category, data is presented relative to the best performing tire. The direction indicates whether lower or higher values are better - pay close attention to this when interpreting results.

Performance Overview

This radar chart shows relative performance across all test categories, with 100% representing the best performance in each category. Reference tires may have gaps where data is not available.

Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Giti GitiSport GTR3

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Spread: 1.95 M (5.7%) | Avg: 34.65 M

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Super Sport with a result of 33.93 M. The difference between best and worst was 5.4%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Super Sport
    33.93 M
  2. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
    34.14 M
  3. Giti GitiSport GTR3
    35.88 M

Dry Handling (s)

Spread: 2.35 s (3.4%) | Avg: 71.48 s

Dry handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Giti GitiSport GTR3 with a result of 69.99 s. The difference between best and worst was 3.2%.
  1. Giti GitiSport GTR3
    69.99 s
  2. Michelin Pilot Super Sport
    72.1 s
  3. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
    72.34 s

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Spread: 4.27 M (15.5%) | Avg: 29.48 M

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S with a result of 27.51 M. The difference between best and worst was 13.4%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
    27.51 M
  2. Michelin Pilot Super Sport
    29.16 M
  3. Giti GitiSport GTR3
    31.78 M

Wet Handling (s)

Spread: 2.09 s (4.6%) | Avg: 46.47 s

Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S with a result of 45.48 s. The difference between best and worst was 4.4%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
    45.48 s
  2. Michelin Pilot Super Sport
    46.35 s
  3. Giti GitiSport GTR3
    47.57 s

Comfort Performance Overview

Subj. Comfort ( Points)

Spread: 3.00 Points (30%) | Avg: 8.50 Points

Subjective Comfort Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S with a result of 10 Points. The difference between best and worst was 30%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
    10 Points
  2. Michelin Pilot Super Sport
    8.5 Points
  3. Giti GitiSport GTR3
    7 Points

Overall Findings

Based on the weighted scoring from all tests, here are the overall results:

Position Tyre Score
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S 0%
2 Michelin Pilot Super Sport 0%
3 Giti GitiSport GTR3 0%

Discussion

15 comments
  1. Arass archived

    Hi, I have BMW X5M 2018 F85
    It came with PSS*
    285/30/21 front and 325/30/21 rear

    My options are either to buy the same PSS* or go for PS4S generic
    I do daily commute and long journey in UK so has mixture of wet and dry. Never do track but does go to german autobans occasionally

    What do you advise? PSS* or PS4S?

    Thanks

    #8641
  2. Kerim Genc archived

    Hi I have Mercedes CLS, my current tyre is MPS3 ZP Acoustic Moe* 245/35R20 Y & 275/30r20 Y, I'm Looking to change to the PS4S but in noticed the PS4S MO compared to the PS4S has a decrease of Wet Grip from A to B and efficiency from C to D so would you rather go for The PS4S MO or The PS4S or MPS3 ZP Acoustic MOE* I'm really confused in which to go for.

    #7477
    1. TyreReviews Kerim Genc archived

      How much do you enjoy the quiet ride? The acoustic foam really does help there, otherwise I'd probably aim for the PS4S MOE, but perhaps they're the same size as the c63 or similar vehicle which is why it seems they're more dry optimised.

      #7478
      1. Kerim Genc TyreReviews archived

        Thank you very much, your videos are really good, helps so much and learn so much about Tyres thank you for the help!!

        #7485
  3. Ragfdgg archived

    Questions is, can I put BMW oe tire on non-bmw vehicles? I need tires for Fiesta ST better than MPS4. I dont want to change Super Sports for Pilot Sport 4.

    #6641
    1. TyreReviews Ragfdgg archived

      You can, your car won't set on fire, but who knows how it will actually be without testing. I would guess fine.

      #6642
      1. Ragfdgg TyreReviews archived

        TY for Yr answer. Pls let me be correct: Michelin Pilot Super Sport is any different than Michelin Pilot Super Sport * (OE BMW)?

        #6646
        1. TyreReviews Ragfdgg archived

          Yes, bmw do modify the tyres for their vehicles. How much they're different is not public knowledge sadly.

          #6647
  4. igeo archived

    Thank you for the great review! Looking to replace the OE rims & tyres on my Fiesta ST mk8, OE tyres are the Michelin Pilot Super Sports 205/45R17, now looking at 225/35/R18. Any suggestions or should I go again with the PSSs? The use will be sporty road driving mostly in hot & dry climate (Greece).

    #6198
    1. TyreReviews igeo archived

      This video covers most of my thoughts, but as you're changing wheel size to non-oe you're adding in another layer. I'd go with the PS4S if you want to stick with Michelin

      #6204
  5. enricoazzoni archived

    I look forward to the track day test hoping to see Bridgestone S007 Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2 Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport R and RS and even Continental more sporty tyres in the mix.

    #6072
    1. TyreReviews enricoazzoni archived

      Conti don't have a track tyre in the UK at the moment sadly! And the S007 is in so few sizes, like the SuperSport RS, they're sadly unlikely to be in it

      #6074
  6. enricoazzoni archived

    great review as always and very informative, having watched the video and read the review I can say I totally like your style of reviews and the only thing I would change is the time, I would enjoy even longer reviews.
    The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 s if I am right should be the result of the Michelin tyre technology developed from their Formula E Gen 2 Tyre.
    In 2020 Michelin is using the Gen 3 tyre for their Formula E specific tyre whose tread resembles a mix between the energy saver + and the cup 2 so I would expect maybe a cup 3 in the near future derived from Michelin experiences in Formula E.

    #6071
    1. TyreReviews enricoazzoni archived

      There's no Cup 3 due, with the Cup 2 Connect just rolled out, however there is the Pilot Sport 5 / 5S range coming next year, which looks a bit interesting :D

      #6075