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Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 vs Michelin Primacy 4+ — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 10 road tests and 62 + 39 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: SP Sport FM800 77, Primacy 4+ 78.

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Michelin Primacy 4+
Tire BMichelin

Primacy 4+

Summer

± 4

Tests 85 · 10 tests Owners 70 · 39 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (abrasion)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 76

    Dry

    Primacy 4+ +2
    78
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 9 tests≈ 73 (est.)82
    Reviews found online8171

    SP Sport FM800: 60% × 73.4 (est.) + 40% × 80.6 = 76

    Primacy 4+: 60% × 82.3 + 40% × 70.5 = 78

    No road tests of dry for SP Sport FM800. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 80

    Wet

    SP Sport FM800 +1
    79
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 9 tests≈ 78 (est.)83
    Reviews found online8474

    SP Sport FM800: 60% × 77.8 (est.) + 40% × 83.5 = 80

    Primacy 4+: 60% × 82.6 + 40% × 73.8 = 79

    No road tests of wet for SP Sport FM800. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 74

    Comfort

    SP Sport FM800 +3
    71
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 71 (est.)73
    Reviews found online7769

    SP Sport FM800: 40% × 70.6 (est.) + 60% × 77 = 74

    Primacy 4+: 40% × 73.3 + 60% × 69 = 71

    No road tests of comfort for SP Sport FM800. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  4. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    73
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests–77
    Reviews found online–≈ 67 (est.)

    Primacy 4+: 60% × 76.7 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 73

    No owner ratings of noise for Primacy 4+. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  5. 73

    Treadwear

    Primacy 4+ +12
    85
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 70 (est.)95
    Reviews found online7769

    SP Sport FM800: 60% × 70 (est.) + 40% × 77.2 = 73

    Primacy 4+: 60% × 95.3 + 40% × 68.9 = 85

    No road tests of treadwear for SP Sport FM800. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  6. 80

    Handling (owners)

    SP Sport FM800 +15
    65
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Primacy 4+
    Reviews found online8065
  7. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    78
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 8 tests–78
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop SP Sport FM800Michelin Primacy 4+
Relative Score 77 78
Dry 76 78
Wet 80 79
Comfort 74 71
Noise – 73
Treadwear 73 85
Handling (owners) 80 65
Efficiency – 78

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

SP Sport FM800

± 4

Primacy 4+

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A SP Sport FM800

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry traction with strong anti-aquaplaning capabilities
  • High value for money compared to premium brands like Michelin and Bridgestone
  • Low road noise and very quiet, smooth ride quality

Cons

  • Faster than average tread wear reported by some drivers
  • Rubber compound can harden over time, leading to reduced performance as the tire ages
  • Softer sidewalls can occasionally result in slightly less precise steering feel
All owner themes in the SP Sport FM800 review

Tire B Primacy 4+

Pros

  • Excellent ride comfort and a smooth, compliant 'limousine-like' feel over bumps
  • Strong and reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions, inspiring confidence
  • Noticeable improvement in quietness and traction compared to predecessor tires or factory options

Cons

  • Loud road noise and a harsh drone on rough or coarse asphalt surfaces
  • Soft sidewalls can reduce steering agility and initial responsiveness compared to dedicated sport tires
  • High premium price point relative to competitors
All owner themes in the Primacy 4+ review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop SP Sport FM800 B · Michelin Primacy 4+
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—66
Rim diameters—16″ – 21″

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800

Michelin Primacy 4+

Too close to call: Dunlop SP Sport FM800 and Michelin Primacy 4+ are within 2 points overall. Dunlop SP Sport FM800 is stronger on handling and comfort. Michelin Primacy 4+ is stronger on treadwear.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 80 vs 65 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Primacy 4+ scores 85 vs 73 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 74 vs 71 on comfort.

Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport FM800
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Tire B · Michelin Primacy 4+
Check price on Amazon

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SP Sport FM800 or Primacy 4+?

Which is better in the wet, SP Sport FM800 or Primacy 4+?

Neither, by our numbers: 80 vs 79 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, SP Sport FM800 or Primacy 4+?

Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 78 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, SP Sport FM800 or Primacy 4+?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800, 74 vs 71 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, SP Sport FM800 or Primacy 4+?

Michelin Primacy 4+, 85 vs 73 on our treadwear score.

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.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology