Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs Goodyear Asymmetric 6: Both are max-performance summer tires. These tires possess increased contact patch with uninterrupted tread ribs to provide firm road grip. Moreover, their bulky shoulders ensure stable cornering even at high speed.
Goodyear Asymmetric 6 offers a good experience while driving on a dry track. Moreover, its shoulders are specially optimized for a fully commanded steering response on both dry or wet track.
Examine the treads on these tires closely. They hold the key to knowing which to choose. In fact if you visit my "tread design" page, picking the right tire would never bother you.
The performance of Michelin Sport is optimized by its Bi-compound tread. It offers stable rides in the rainy season because its tread grips firmly on wet pavements. It gets the edge over its competitor due to its efficient hydroplaning resistivity.
In comparison with Sport 5, Asymmetric 6 offers better dry grip, enhanced steering control, and the financial benefits of lower price and improved fuel averages. However, Michelin tire shows better wet grip, hydroplaning resistance, and quieter noise profile.
Table of Contents
Side By Side Comparison
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Goodyear Asymmetric 6
Sport 5 characterizes an asymmetrical tread having three central ribs and four circumferential channels. All of these ribs and grooves run uninterrupted along the circumference of the tire. Two ribs have sipes marked just at their edges, and the central one has sipes marked along its whole width. Lateral grooves among its shoulders are broad and deep. As its tread is deeper than its competitor, so, its grooves have a larger vacuum for water evacuation.
The Tread pattern of Asymmetric 6 is very similar; it also has three ribs, four circumferential channels, and bulky shoulders. However, its voids are comparatively shallower. Its siping pattern is also a bit different; two of the central ribs are marked by complete sipes, while the third one has sipes on both its edges. Horizontal grooves among its shoulder blocks are relatively less wide.
| Michelin Sport 5 | Asymmetric 6 | |
| Tire type | Summer max-performance tire | Summer max-performance tire |
| Usage | Passenger cars, high performance cars | Passenger cars, high performance cars |
| Winter service rated | No | No |
| Tested size | 225/45R17 | 225/45R17 |
| Tread Depth | 7.6 mm | 7.1 mm |
| Weight | 9.48 kg | 8.98 kg |
| Load capacity index | 94 | 94 |
| Speed rating | Y | Y |
Road Grip Comparison
Asymmetric shows a better grip on dry surfaces taking advantage of the bulkier tread. Its contact patch is optimized by Dry contact plus technology of Goodyear. Hence, its braking distances are lesser than its competitor. On a dry road, it stops after 32.6 meters when brakes are applied at the speed of 100km/h. however, its wet grip performance ranks below in the comparison. Its relatively longer wet braking is credited to the lesser hydroplaning resistivity of its shallower tread.
In contrast, Sport 5 loses to the contestant due to a less efficient dry grip. In the test, its dry braking is longer than the competitor reaching 33.2 meters. Nevertheless, it takes advantage of increased tread depth to remove water from the road surface. Due to this, its tread can bite over the pavement firmly. Thus, its wet braking is shorter than the competitor. It covers 31.3 meters when the vehicle decelerates from 80 km/h.
| Pilot Sport 5 | Asymmetric 6 | |
| Dry Braking distance (100 to 1km/h) | 33.2 m | 32.6 m |
| Wet Braking distance (80 to 1km/h) | 31.3 m | 31.5 m |
Handling Comparison
On a dry track, Goodyear offers comparatively enhanced steering efficiency. Its response was faster and more controlled in the handling test, and the lap time was recorded at 91.3 seconds. The same story goes for wet handling, where it takes the lead by showing a lap time of 64.02 seconds.
In contrast, Pilot 5 ranks lower for steer management. Its comparatively lesser handling efficiency on a dry road is evident from its longer lap time (92.48s) in the test. On a wet track, its deeper shoulder grooves resist aquaplaning and improve the cornering traction a lot, yet it stands behind the competitor by a few milliseconds.
| Pilot Sport 5 | Asymmetric 6 | |
| Dry lap time | 92.48 s | 91.35 s |
| Wet lap time | 64.08 s | 64.02 s |
Comparison of Hydroplaning Resistance
Asymmetric ranks at a lower position for aquaplaning resistivity because its tread depth is lesser. Due to this feature, its voids offer decreased capacity to channel the standing water in the backward direction. That is why its float speed is lesser than the contestant.
In contrast, Sport 5 prevents hydroplaning very efficiently because its deep channels have more water wiping capability. Resultantly, it can move with higher floating speeds, maintaining stable traction on a wet pathway even at 87.44 km/hour.
| Pilot Sport 5 | Asymmetric 6 | |
| Floating speed | 87.44 km/hr | 84.1 km/hr |
Comparison of Rolling Resistance
While rolling, Asymmetric 6 encounters lesser friction in comparison. As energy consumption against rolling resistance is lower, its fuel efficiency is better than the competitor as well.
On the other side, more rolling friction comes across Sport 5, making it an energy soaking tire in comparison. As it increases hysteresis while moving, you would need to burn more fuel to get the same mileage as its competitor.
| Pilot Sport 5 | Asymmetric 6 | |
| Rolling resistance | 8.84 kg t | 8.48 kg t |
Comparison of Noise and comfort
Asymmetric 6 makes a lower noise than its competitor due to its shallow voids. As its grooves offer less free space, the revolution and resonation of wind waves are minimized. As a result, less noise is generated. In the test, it was the quietest tire with 67.8dB. However, its score for subjective comfort was relatively lesser, and it got 9 out of 10.
Michelin Sport was among the noisy tires in the test as its rolling sound was significantly loud (70.7 dB). The reason for this high noise profile is its open and deeper tread which provides a lot of volume for circulation and collision of wind particles. Nonetheless, its score for subjective comfort was higher than its competitor. The reason for enhanced comfort level seems to be lateral stability provided by strong sidewalls and balanced traction qualities of the bi-compound tread.
| Pilot Sport 5 | Asymmetric 6 | |
| Subjective comfort score | 9.8 | 9 |
| Noise level | 70.7 dB | 67.8 dB |
Tread Composition
Michelin Sport tire is built through MaxTouch technology, which utilizes a bi-compound structure in tread composition. The tread pattern comprises two Le Mans-derivative compounds; the outer portion includes hybrid elastomers for better dry grip while the inner ribs and shoulder contain silica enhancements and functional elastomers to provide a firm wet grip. Its internal construction is also sturdy because its high-strength steel carcass is reinforced by the spiral wrapping of nylon and aramid. On the top 1 ply polyester cord casing is applied for balancing the tension in the tread. Plus, its sidewalls are built with cutting-edge Premium touch technology for a velvet checkered look, enhanced lateral stability, and chip/scratch resistance.
On the other side, the Goodyear tire is also built with strong polymers and enhanced with exclusive substances to provide better on-road traction. Its robust tread polyester includes resin additives that provide multiple benefits. Firstly, the tread’s ability to roll is increased resulting in less rolling resistance and fuel consumption. Secondly, tread becomes sound absorptive and noise emission is reduced. Thirdly, resin particles increase the micro-contact of tread, making its dry grip stronger. It also includes rim protectors to prevent damage to the rim wheel.
| Pilot Sport 5 | Asymmetric 6 | |
| Tread enhancements | Le-Mans compounds; Hybrid elastomers, Silica elastomer | Resin additives |
| Rim carcass | Steel carcass with rim protectors | Steel carcass with rim protectors |
Durability and treadwear
Both tires present long tread life due to their optimized tread polymers. The tread pattern of Asymmetric makes it fairly durable as it encounters decreased rolling resistance. Hence, frictional wear of tread rubber is slower than its competitor. But its tread composition is not as sturdy as the competitor due to which its durability ranking gets lower. Moreover, it does not carry a guarantee of tread life from the manufacturer as Goodyear gives no mileage or treadwear warranty for this product.
In contrast, Michelin 5 shows a relatively longer tread life due to efficient tread composition. Tough its design predicts its faster wear as its faces a higher rolling resistance and tread rubber can be consumed faster because it is subjected to more wear and tear. Nevertheless, the dual-compound feature and MaxTouch enhancements reduce the wearing effects of rolling friction, making it more durable in comparison. Likewise, Michelin tires guarantee its tread life with a 6-years warranty. Plus, it also has a uniform wear warranty for up to 2/32’’.
Quick Summary
These are summer tires specialized for high performance vehicles.
Michelin Sport 5
- Offer better grip on the wet pavement
- presents higher resistivity against aquaplaning.
- has a higher subjective comfort score.
- Carries longer warranty for treadwear.
Asymmetric 6
- Shows comparatively enhanced dry grip.
- Permits fully commanded steering on dry and wet tracks.
- Face lesser rolling friction, provides better fuel average.
- Produces less noise than the competitor.
- Available for purchase at a comparatively lesser price.
