Tests – · none yet Owners 55 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #11 of 15 in 2022 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Avon WT7 vs Michelin Primacy 3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Primacy 3 is ahead, 70–55
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Tests 73 · 2 tests Owners 67 · 195 reviews
Best test result: #14 of 44 in 2012 Autobild 50 Tyre Braking Test (overall ranking)
“As Slacktide said Primacy 3 is a grand touring summer tire that has been replaced by the Primacy 4 (some three years ago). It's been quite popular in Europe and tire availability/choice in NA/Europe differ greatly. I'd still recommend both Primacy 3 & 4 if you're looking for a smooth riding summer tire. The Pilot Sport 2 (PS2) has been a great ultra high performance tire some 15 years ago and I had these at that time, but it has been replaced by the PS3, PS4 and the even sportier Pilot SuperSport (PSS) and PS4S. If you want something more performance than the Primacy, I'd consider the PS4. I'm currently running the PS4 on my 911 (205 & 245 16 without Porsche spec) and the PSS both on my Cooper (205/45 R17 BMW/Mini spec) and my GTI (225/40 R18 HN spec). So some kind of a 'Michelin fan' too.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
52
Dry
Primacy 3 +2072Why this score
Source WT7 Primacy 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 74 Reviews found online 43 69 -
60
Wet
Primacy 3 +1272Why this score
Source WT7 Primacy 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 Reviews found online 57 71 -
73
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source WT7 Primacy 3 Reviews found online 75 – -
64
Comfort
Primacy 3 +569Why this score
Source WT7 Primacy 3 Reviews found online 59 68 -
58
Treadwear
Primacy 3 +967Why this score
Source WT7 Primacy 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 Reviews found online 53 59 -
41
Handling
Primacy 3 +2768Why this score
Source WT7 Primacy 3 Reviews found online 41 68
Scores at a glance
| Category | Avon WT7 | Michelin Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 55 | 70 |
| Dry | 52 | 72 |
| Wet | 60 | 72 |
| Snow | 73 | – |
| Comfort | 64 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 58 | 67 |
| Handling | 41 | 68 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
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Important
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Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
55
/ 100
WT7
70
/ 100
Primacy 3
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | WT7 | Primacy 3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 9% #11/15 · 2022 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 7% #14/44 · 2012 Autobild 50 Tyre Braking Test | +1.9 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WT7
Pros
- Exceptional traction and climbing ability in deep snow
- Effective evacuation of slush and water at highway speeds
- Competitive performance in severe winter conditions compared to premium alternatives
Cons
- Poor steering feedback and lack of road feel
- Unpredictable grip levels during cornering
- Mediocre performance on dry and wet pavement
Tire B Primacy 3
Pros
- Exceptional ride comfort and low noise levels
- Strong dry grip and confident handling
- Smooth, refined high-speed stability and cruising capability
Cons
- Higher than average purchase price
- Faster-than-expected tread wear reported by many users
- Mixed feedback on wet weather performance, with some noting a lack of grip in standing water or snow
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Avon WT7
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Michelin Primacy 3
Community members generally view the Michelin Primacy 3 as a quiet, smooth, and capable grand touring tire, with several users highlighting the run-flat (ZP) version as superior in comfort to competing run-flats. However, some drivers report fast tread wear, a harsh ride compared to standard non-run-flat alternatives, and note that the model is older and increasingly replaced by newer generations like the Primacy 4.
f30.bimmerpost.com
“The Primacy3 ZP were installed today. Of course, they need a break-in period, but from some highway and city traffic, I'm already sold that these are the best replacement run-flat tires for our 18" size. The car now glides where it previously "sandpapered" its way down the road with the original harsh and noisy Pirellis. Bumps feel far more isolated. The reviews for DriveGuard have been mediocre, not great. These are far better to my senses. The 225/50-18 size is hard to find. Tire Rack carries the Primacy3 ZP, but not in that size. Another tire store in my area confused them with the non-runflat which Michelin has named the same...just Primacy3. Then, realized they couldn't get the ZP version. Very odd wholesale distribution pattern. Discount Tire was able to order them. First day, but very, very pleased. EDIT: My wife even noticed and she never notices anything about cars. She said the car felt smoother to her as a passenger!”
mbworld.org
“Continental DWS06 Plus non-runflats, going on my car next week. Have had OEM Michelin Primacy 3's and they are like driving on bricks. I also ordered an OEM donut spare and jack kit for the trunk. Jack kit goes in lower compartment, spare kept under the horizontal floor net (Coupe).”
teslamotorsclub.com
·2018-12-11
“I have just put a new set of Michelin Primacy 3 T0 Acoustics on and they have been faultless. Lots of grip, very quiet etc. They were also good last year in the snow and were from blackcircles for about £240 a tyre.”
Top themes
#Run-flat ride quality#Tread wear and longevity#Touring comfort and low noise#Model obsolescence and replacements#OE fitment and regional availability#Price and size compatibility
Based on 23 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Avon WT7 | B · Michelin Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 42 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 20″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
55
/ 100
Avon WT7
70
/ 100
Michelin Primacy 3
Winner: Michelin Primacy 3 — better handling, dry and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Primacy 3 scores 68 vs 41 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Primacy 3 scores 72 vs 52 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Primacy 3 scores 72 vs 60 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Primacy 3 scores 67 vs 58 on treadwear.
Tire A · Avon WT7
Tire B · Michelin Primacy 3
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.