Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 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 19 + 23 road tests and 3,359 + 13,381 owner reviews. How we score

Primacy 4 is ahead, 81–68

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Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Tire AHankook

Ventus S1 evo3

Summer

± 6

Tests 78 · 19 tests Owners 56 · 3,359 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 45 in 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout (wet braking)

“Tire preferences? My MK8 has a little over 18,000 miles now and the stock tires look like they’ve already gone to sh*t? Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 aren’t as good as they advertise? What do you recommend for tires?”

Michelin Primacy 4
Tire BMichelin

Primacy 4

Summer

± 4

Tests 84 · 23 tests Owners 77 · 13,381 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test (wet braking)

“Well my answer is none of the above. You choose, they are all a lottery imo. I just bought some Michelin Primacy 4 for mine today. Size 215/55 R18”

Category by category

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

  1. 75

    Dry

    Primacy 4 +7
    82
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 21 tests8686
    Reviews found online6077

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 85.5 + 40% × 60 = 75

    Primacy 4: 60% × 85.8 + 40% × 77.2 = 82

  2. 81

    Wet

    Primacy 4 +3
    84
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 22 tests9086
    Reviews found online6880

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 90.2 + 40% × 67.5 = 81

    Primacy 4: 60% × 86.1 + 40% × 79.7 = 84

  3. 59

    Comfort

    Primacy 4 +17
    76
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 5 tests6577
    Reviews found online5576

    Ventus S1 evo3: 40% × 64.7 + 60% × 55.4 = 59

    Primacy 4: 40% × 76.6 + 60% × 76.4 = 76

  4. 73

    Noise

    Ventus S1 evo3 +2
    71
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 14 / 15 tests7774
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 77.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 73

    Primacy 4: 60% × 73.7 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 71

    No owner ratings of noise for Ventus S1 evo3 or 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. 53

    Treadwear

    Primacy 4 +28
    81
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 3 tests6185
    Reviews found online4074

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 60.7 + 40% × 40.4 = 53

    Primacy 4: 60% × 85 + 40% × 74.3 = 81

  6. 58

    Handling (owners)

    Primacy 4 +18
    76
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Primacy 4
    Reviews found online5876
  7. 68

    Efficiency

    Primacy 4 +25
    93
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Primacy 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 15 tests6893
Scores at a glance
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 vs Michelin Primacy 4: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryHankook Ventus S1 evo3Michelin Primacy 4
Relative Score 68 81
Dry 75 82
Wet 81 84
Comfort 59 76
Noise 73 71
Treadwear 53 81
Handling (owners) 58 76
Efficiency 68 93

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

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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

Ventus S1 evo3

± 4

Primacy 4

The professional test results behind the scores

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.

DisciplineCategoryVentus S1 evo3Primacy 4ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 96% #7/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 99% #3/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #7/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 99% #5/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 60% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 63% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 87% #6/7 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test 96% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 94% #6/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 96% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 98% #5/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 92% #13/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #2/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 98% #4/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 80% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 93% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 92% #4/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #1/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 98% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise (tester's mark) Noise 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 60% #7/8 · 2021 ViBilagare Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 56% #13/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test 87% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 97% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 83% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 74% #6/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test 63% #10/10 · 2022 AutoBild SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #14/20 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test #3/21 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 58% #15/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test 83% #8/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #6/8 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test #4/6 2025 Wybór Kierowców Summer Tire Test R16 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ventus S1 evo3

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and confidence in wet and dry conditions
  • Low road noise and high ride comfort
  • Competitive pricing compared to premium tier-one brands

Cons

  • Faster-than-expected tread wear, particularly on rear axles or heavy vehicles
  • Soft sidewalls leading to reduced steering feedback and precision
  • Vulnerability to sidewall damage or bubbling from potholes
All owner themes in the Ventus S1 evo3 review

Tire B Primacy 4

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and long-lasting durability
  • Low road noise and a very quiet, comfortable ride
  • Reliable and consistent wet and dry grip

Cons

  • Vague, numb, or floaty steering feel with soft sidewalls under hard cornering
  • High price point compared to competitors
  • Occasional reports of increased road noise or harsher ride as the tread wears down
All owner themes in the Primacy 4 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

Mixed

Community sentiment toward the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 is mixed, with users frequently praising its strong dry and wet grip, comfort, and competitive pricing. However, notable drawbacks include relatively fast tread wear, reports of increasing road noise over time, and mixed experiences with OEM specs versus premium competitors like Michelin.

Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Value for money#Road noise levels#Tread wear and longevity#OEM fitments and EV variants#Run-flat identification confusion#Ride comfort

Based on 33 community posts

Tire B

Michelin Primacy 4

Positive

Community sentiment towards the Michelin Primacy 4 is generally positive, with drivers frequently praising its quiet ride, comfort, and dependable wet and dry braking performance. Several owners note impressive longevity reaching over 50,000 to 70,000 km, though some EV and SUV drivers report accelerated wear and fragile sidewalls over rough terrain. It is commonly viewed as a premium touring tire that commands high prices compared to competitors.

r/i20nline_india ·21 upvotes ·2025-07-21

“Review: Michelin Primacy 4 ST I own a 2023 N8 DCT and recently changed all four tyres from the stock CEATs after one of the tyres’ sidewall was punctured on hitting a rather deep pothole at high speed. Cost: INR 9,750 per tyre Existing tyre buyback: INR 1,000 per tyre (~15k kms) Review: I’ve been using the new tyres for a few weeks now and I’m happy with the upgrade. The difference is noticeable, but only if you pay attention. I’d say a non-savvy person won’t notice anything different unless you ask them to pay attention. At low speeds, the road noise is reduced and the vehicle is noticeably silent (almost dead silent if the roads are smooth and the engine is at low revs) and smoother. At high speeds, the noise level difference is not very noticeable due to the engine and wind noise, but the smoothness and grip is noticeably better. That said, I wouldn’t say the stock tyres are bad (in terms of both - noise and grip) as a lot of reviewers like to point out; definitely not a night and day difference for me. Lastly, I believe the fuel efficiency has improved due to the lower rolling resistance, but I don’t have enough data to claim this confidently. My verdict is to only upgrade if your current tyres are worn out. Personally, I don’t think spending close to 40k is worth it for the budget conscious. But if you have the money to spare, you will definitely be happy with the upgrade. Read more”

r/ArAutos ·1 upvote ·2026-10-09

“Yokohama es la que va pero fijate que ya este año salieron las nuevas advan v61, esas geolandar g058 son modelo viejo. Las primacy 4 son modelo viejo y te las cobran como si fuesen oro. Bridgestone y continental tambien las vi a precio de oro. Pirelli son medio pelo, no son malas pero son ruidosas, ya que estás en el baile podes ir por algo mejor, como las yokohama.”

speakev.com ·2022-08-19

“I'll have to remember to get some E's. That aside, the primacy 4 fitted to the mokka only have 6.5 mm, if that, from new so perhaps they were just an older name. Gaz”

Top themes
#tread life and longevity#cabin noise and comfort#wet and dry grip#comparisons with Pilot Sport#EV tire performance#sidewall damage and punctures#premium pricing

Based on 44 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 B · Michelin Primacy 4
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available11057
Rim diameters17″ – 22″15″ – 20″
Sizes in common2121

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

Michelin Primacy 4

Winner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better treadwear, efficiency and handling. Where the Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 81 vs 53 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 93 vs 68 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 76 vs 58 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 76 vs 59 on comfort.

Tire A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Tire B · Michelin Primacy 4

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Ventus S1 evo3 or Primacy 4?

Which is better in the wet, Ventus S1 evo3 or Primacy 4?

Michelin Primacy 4, 84 vs 81 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ventus S1 evo3 or Primacy 4?

Michelin Primacy 4, 82 vs 75 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Ventus S1 evo3 or Primacy 4?

Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 71 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Ventus S1 evo3 or Primacy 4?

Michelin Primacy 4, 76 vs 59 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Ventus S1 evo3 or Primacy 4?

Michelin Primacy 4, 81 vs 53 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Ventus S1 evo3 or Primacy 4?

Michelin Primacy 4, 93 vs 68 on our efficiency 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