Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 0 + 2 road tests and 300 + 195 owner reviews. How we score
Primacy 3 is ahead, 70–64
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests – · none yet Owners 60 · 300 reviews
“I have the Maxx TT on my car for about 1000 Km which included two slalom sessions. I am very pleased with the ride quality and dry traction. It is much quieter than the OEM tires. I have not had a chance to drive in wet road yet.”
Tests 73 · 2 tests Owners 67 · 195 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 20 in 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (wear)
“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.”
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | SP Sport Maxx TT | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests | ≈ 66 (est.) | 74 |
| Reviews found online | 65 | 69 |
SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 66.5 (est.) + 40% × 64.6 = 66
Primacy 3: 60% × 74.1 + 40% × 69.2 = 72
No road tests of dry for SP Sport Maxx TT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).
| Source | SP Sport Maxx TT | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests | ≈ 67 (est.) | 72 |
| Reviews found online | 64 | 71 |
SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 64 = 66
Primacy 3: 60% × 71.8 + 40% × 71.2 = 72
No road tests of wet for SP Sport Maxx TT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).
| Source | SP Sport Maxx TT | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 66 (est.) | ≈ 69 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 53 | 68 |
SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 53.3 = 61
Primacy 3: 60% × 68.9 (est.) + 40% × 67.8 = 68
No road tests of comfort for SP Sport Maxx TT or Primacy 3. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
| Source | SP Sport Maxx TT | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests | ≈ 62 (est.) | 72 |
| Reviews found online | 53 | 59 |
SP Sport Maxx TT: 60% × 61.8 (est.) + 40% × 53.2 = 58
Primacy 3: 60% × 72.4 + 40% × 58.9 = 67
No road tests of treadwear for SP Sport Maxx TT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).
| Source | SP Sport Maxx TT | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 61 | 68 |
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT | Michelin Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 64 | 70 |
| Dry | 66 | 72 |
| Wet | 66 | 72 |
| Comfort | 61 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 58 | 67 |
| Handling (owners) | 61 | 68 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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.
SP Sport Maxx TT
Primacy 3
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | SP Sport Maxx TT | Primacy 3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #3/14 2011 Auto Zeitung Max Performance Tyre Test | #1/16 2018 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | – | Different tests |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Community members generally praise the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT for its quiet road manners, respectable dry and wet grip, and solid track and cold-weather road performance compared to stock competition-oriented tires. Some drivers note relatively soft sidewalls during aggressive slalom events on heavier vehicles or limited grip before coming up to temperature. Overall, drivers find it to be a capable, comfortable summer tire that balances performance and daily drivability.
“We have these tires on my 18 Grand Sport and my wife’s 17 Z51 Convertible driving in Ohio. Very pleased with these tires! Probably should be OEM for these cars. Handle very well. Doesn’t throw gravel up on the cars like stock tires. Cold weather grip is very good! Stock MPSS are scary below 50 degrees. We have had good success with Discount Tire for purchase and install.”
“In Hong Kong, if your style is aggresive, sport maxx is not enough, i am using AD08 and RE11 is not bad”
“After 3 sessions of autoslalom, I can say that the sidewall is too soft for this heavy car. I have the front tires set at 39 psi cool. I may try higher pressure next time to see if it can reduce the tire roll and maintain traction. In term of day to day driving, this is a great quiet summer tire. It performs well in wet too.”
Based on 19 community posts
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.
“Currently riding on Michelin Primacy 3 ZP run flats that originally came with the car. Have approximately 15k miles on it and Mercedes are already recommending I purchase new rear tires. What other options would you recommend as replacements? I would like all season tires that last much longer but also don't want to compromise the comfort and ride. Front tire: 245/40 R19 Rear tire: 275/35 R19”
“I have Pirellis on my 2014 F31 wagon. I have overinflated them slightly (3 psi front, 2 psi rear) because with the pressures placarded on the door post they are not responsive enough. With the overinflation they make fine street tires . At the limit they are still a bit soft, but the limits are so high that I have no business driving like that on the public highway. Tire Rack, I believe, tested Michelin Primacy 3 ZP (zero pressure, or run-flat all season tires ) and liked them. I have no thoughts about Continentals , so that I am only muddying your waters by adding in the Michelins for consideration.”
“So I have decided there is no way I am paying for the Bridgestone Ecopias at over £200 a tyre, and as such, I have come across the Michelin Primacy 3 on Costco, which I can get fitted for approx £93 a tyre (I only need two on the rear) They seem to have good reviews. My actual tyre size for my i3S should be 195/50 R20, but getting 195/55 R20 instead should only add up to another inch or so in height, so I'm reckoning I should be okay. What are people's thoughts?”
Based on 23 community posts
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT | B · Michelin Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 5 | 42 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 18″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Sizes in common | 4 | 4 |
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT
Michelin Primacy 3
Winner: Michelin Primacy 3 — better treadwear, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Primacy 3 scores 67 vs 58 on treadwear.
Michelin Primacy 3 scores 68 vs 61 on comfort.
Michelin Primacy 3 scores 68 vs 61 on handling.
Michelin Primacy 3 scores 72 vs 66 on dry.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Michelin Primacy 3, 72 vs 66 on our wet score.
Michelin Primacy 3, 72 vs 66 on our dry score.
Michelin Primacy 3, 68 vs 61 on our comfort score.
Michelin Primacy 3, 67 vs 58 on our treadwear score.
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
