The Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 is an ultra-high performance summer tire designed to elevate both status and performance of small sporty cars, coupes, and sedans utilizing low profile tire sizes, incorporating Michelin's Life Maximized Adherence (LMA) tread compound providing predictable handling and sustained grip levels throughout the tire's service life. This tire features Variable Contact Patch (VCP) asymmetrical tread design with large independent outer shoulder tread blocks and 70% rubber-to-road contact on outboard portion of footprint, putting more rubber on pavement during extreme cornering to enhance responsiveness and sporty handling characteristics. The internal structure incorporates twin high-tensile steel belts fortified with Michelin's Banded At Zero (BAZ) technology utilizing spirally wrapped reinforcement stabilizing tread area to enhance handling and high-speed capability, combined with rayon cord body and dual sidewall reinforcements resisting lateral deflection to generate cornering force and stability. Available in sizes appropriate for performance-oriented compact and mid-size applications, the Pilot Exalto PE2 targets enthusiast drivers seeking Michelin refinement and capabilities at accessible price points below flagship Pilot Sport series. The tire delivers summer-specific performance and is not intended for use in near-freezing temperatures, through snow, or on ice.
The Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 delivers refined performance tire characteristics with excellent ride quality and relatively low tread noise levels, providing excellent handling characteristics in both wet and dry conditions while maintaining reasonable comfort and quiet operation. User reviews averaging 80% across 256,000 miles driven reveal consistent praise for the tire's versatile capabilities, with owners noting these tires handle just about anything thrown at them while road noise remains almost non-existent. Wet weather performance impresses with tires cutting through water with ease, maintaining confident traction during rainy conditions through effective water evacuation and compound formulation maintaining grip on wet pavement. The asymmetric tread design with substantial outer shoulder blocks delivers responsive cornering and sporty handling feedback appropriate for enthusiast driving, with the tire's construction providing stable high-speed characteristics and predictable limit behavior. However, longevity proves limited with users reporting approximately 5/32 inch remaining tread depth after only 18,500 miles under non-aggressive driving, indicating treadwear is not strength of this performance-oriented tire prioritizing grip and handling over extended service life. The Pilot Exalto PE2 serves enthusiast drivers seeking Michelin refinement and balanced summer performance for sporty compact and mid-size vehicles, delivering exceptional wet and dry capabilities with comfortable, quiet operation though requiring acceptance of accelerated treadwear inherent to performance tire compounds prioritizing adhesion over longevity considerations typical of touring-oriented alternatives offering substantially greater mileage expectations.
