Michelin’s Pilot Sport A/S 3 is a premium tire for all seasons capable in all weather conditions, excluding heavy snow. It is available in an H speed and V speed version, as well as the ultra high performance versions: W and Y. The tire is available in different variants. Rim sizes range from 19 to 20 inches. The official test results give it a wet grip rating of C and a fuel rating of B.
The Michelin noise rating is 69 decibels. The Pilot Sport A/S 3 offers a generous 45,000-mile warranty and the treadwear on the tire has a rating of 500. Have a look at our Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 review.
Technologies Used in the Pilot Sport A/S 3
Michelin’s renowned technologies feature in the A/S 3 to create the performance that everyone expects from a high performance tire.
Helio
Michelin’s unique Helio material increases traction in winter weather, which includes rain and light snow. Their proprietary silica compounds combined with sunflower oil prevents shrinkage of the tire in the cold.
Circumferential Grooves
The Pilot Sport A/S 3 is no different to Michelin’s other all-season tires with regard to the use of the circumferential grooves on the tires. These grooves channel water to avoid hydroplaning. The little slits in the tires give extra grip in the cold weather conditions.
Variable Contact Patch
Michelin’s lab-developed Variable Contact Patch, which causes even flow along the tire surface, makes a tougher tire at fast speeds around corners.
FAQ’s
Here are some of the most asked questions around the Pilot Sport A/S 3.
What Are the Pros and Cons of the Tire?
The pros include the following:
- Great traction in dry and wet conditions
- Incredible steering response and cornering
- Comfortable ride
- Average road noise
The cons are limited in comparison:
- Lower levels of traction in snow and ice
What is an All-Season Tire?
As the name suggests, an all-season tire is engineered to deal with year-round weather conditions. This results from utilizing a moderate natural rubber content, which prevents the tire from solidifying in temperatures below freezing, thus improving the traction. The moderate tread depths of the tire create a longer lifespan for the tread life.
Do You Need to Change Your Tires During the Year?
Because they are all-season tires, they perform well throughout the year and don’t need replacing unless there are extreme winter conditions with harsh snow.
What Cars Are Best Suited to the Pilot Sport A/S 3?
Pretty much any vehicle that will drive in a combination of hot and cold temperatures and dry and wet surfaces. Michelin says that they consider the Pilot Sport A/S 3 to be three season tires. Driving through the summer into the fall and winter, including snowy areas. However, in deep snow, it’s time to change to full winter tires.
Tests Performed on the Pilot Sport A/S 3
Michelin set a series of test courses at the NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans and invited driving teams to try the Pilot Sport A/S 3. These tests included a 60 to zero miles per hour braking drill in both dry and wet conditions. The A/S 3 outperformed its competitors by stopping in 113.9 feet on the dry surface and 117.7 feet on the wet surface.
The next test was a handling test. The Pilot Sport A/S 3 demonstrated strong traction as the vehicle twisted through tight S-bends. As the vehicle accelerated out of the corners, the tire behaved solidly and reliably.
The tires responded well during the wet autocross course, giving the driver confidence and once again defeating the competitors.
Verdict on the Pilot Sport A/S 3
The simple tread design of the tire is aesthetically pleasing, yet it is so much more than that. The contour of the tire and the compound create a performance tire of note. The pattern of the tread is not directional, which is unusual. Its asymmetrical design gives off less noise and creates sharper handling. The tires can be rotated front to rear and side to side because of the non-directional tread.
This ultra-high performance tire for all seasons prolongs the safety lifespan of the tire performing with maximum grip. It is for this reason, as well as the exceptional street handling, that drivers of performance cars love this tire. Not to mention the flexible and comfortable ride.
To quote Shawn Molnar, the BMW Blog writer, who was not a Michelin fan before the tests at NOLA Motorsports Park: “Initial impressions were as follows: ‘Consistent and progressive break-away; lots of grip when cold; excellent steering feel and accuracy for a street tire though more vague than dedicated track tire or streetable track tire.’”
He went on to say, “To be clear: the Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 3 completely blew my mind through the autocross when stacked against stiff summer-performance tire competition. The Michelin shouldn’t have won – but it did, and by a good margin. Unreal. It was very un-all-season-tire-like; as the old adage goes, ‘put that in your pipe and smoke it.’”
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Reviews
Out of 126 tire reviews of the A/S 3, this tire received an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. 91% of those rating the tire agreed that they would purchase it again. Highest marks went to the tire’s attributes of dry traction and its handling of corners
One of the respondents claimed that the Pilot Sport A/S 3 are phenomenal tires. In his words, “They are smooth and comfortable highway companions, but they are still willing to play. The tires handle 80mph on-ramps and patched-over mountain roads with equal ease. They have rim protectors that have saved me from curb rash numerous times…They are compliant and sturdy enough to withstand the unavoidable potholes in my area…As a year-round tire, these excel. Grip remains strong in the cold. And in the summer, the tires’ grip threshold exceeds my limits of bravery on the most technical of back roads.”
Michelin’s Pilot Sport A/S 3 does not disappoint. The tire gives necessary traction in most conditions and provides a fun ride in most vehicles. For those who live where the seasons vary and sometimes need to drive in the snow, this tire will work well for you.
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