Tests 75 · 2 tests Owners 74 · 152 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 14 in 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test (noise)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin CrossClimate 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 2 + 23 road tests and 152 + 13,399 owner reviews. How we score
Primacy 4 is ahead, 80–75
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Tests 84 · 23 tests Owners 77 · 13,399 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.
-
76
Dry
Primacy 4 +682Why this score
Source CrossClimate Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 21 tests 78 86 Reviews found online 74 77 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 99% 99% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 90% 99% CrossClimate: 60% × 77.9 + 40% × 73.6 = 76
Primacy 4: 60% × 86 + 40% × 76.8 = 82
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76
Wet
Primacy 4 +783Why this score
Source CrossClimate Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 22 tests 75 86 Reviews found online 78 79 Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 87% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 96% 100% CrossClimate: 60% × 75.4 + 40% × 77.8 = 76
Primacy 4: 60% × 85.6 + 40% × 79.4 = 83
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68
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source CrossClimate Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / – tests 71 – Reviews found online 65 – CrossClimate: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 64.9 = 68
-
74
Comfort
Primacy 4 +276Why this score
Source CrossClimate Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests ≈ 70 (est.) 76 Reviews found online 76 76 CrossClimate: 40% × 70.4 (est.) + 60% × 76.2 = 74
Primacy 4: 40% × 76 + 60% × 76.2 = 76
No road tests of comfort for CrossClimate. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
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69
Noise
Primacy 4 +271Why this score
Source CrossClimate Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 15 tests 71 74 Reviews found online ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 67 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 97% CrossClimate: 60% × 70.7 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 69
Primacy 4: 60% × 73.6 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 71
No owner ratings of noise for CrossClimate 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.
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74
Treadwear
Primacy 4 +781Why this score
Source CrossClimate Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests 74 85 Reviews found online 75 75 CrossClimate: 60% × 73.8 + 40% × 75.2 = 74
Primacy 4: 60% × 85 + 40% × 74.5 = 81
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73
Handling (owners)
Primacy 4 +376Why this score
Source CrossClimate Primacy 4 Reviews found online 73 76 -
76
Efficiency
Primacy 4 +1793Why this score
Source CrossClimate Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 15 tests 76 93
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin CrossClimate | Michelin Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 80 |
| Dry | 76 | 82 |
| Wet | 76 | 83 |
| Snow | 68 | – |
| Comfort | 74 | 76 |
| Noise | 69 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 74 | 81 |
| Handling (owners) | 73 | 76 |
| Efficiency | 76 | 93 |
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
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
CrossClimate
80
/ 100
Primacy 4
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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.
In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, Michelin CrossClimate finished ahead 0 times and Michelin Primacy 4 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | CrossClimate | Primacy 4 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% | 99% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 90% | 99% | −8.7 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 94% #4/11 · 2017 All Season VS Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 87% | 100% | −12.9 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 96% | 100% | −4.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Noise | Noise | 100% | 97% | +2.7 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 91% #4/10 · 2017 All Season Tyre Test | 87% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/8 · 2017 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | 83% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #4/10 2017 All Season Tyre Test | #3/21 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Value | Cost | 65% #8/10 · 2017 All Season Tyre Test | 83% #8/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #9/14 | #1/14 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A CrossClimate
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability
- Strong wet-weather grip and hydroplaning resistance
- Reliable traction in light snow and cold conditions
Cons
- Tendency to pick up and retain small stones in the tread pattern
- Noticeable drop in performance as tread depth decreases
- Potential for reduced fuel economy compared to dedicated summer tires
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
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin CrossClimate
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Primacy 4
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.
team-bhp.com
“Am at Saifees, Mumbai. One of my Primacy 4 got punctured at an angle, so is wasted. The tread depth on these 4 year old, 41350 km run is just less than 4mm, so due for replacement after another 5-10k (3mm depth). Saifee tells me Primacy 5 may come at year end. Some tyres willl be manufactured in India (unconfirmed, but usually Saifee knows better) , but can't predict which ones. Meanwhile I've taken an Apollo Alnac in very good condition for Rs.1500/- and will change all tyres together to Primacy 5.”
r/TyreReviews
·2 upvotes ·2026-10-06
“I have on my BMW E87 118d Primacy 4 since 2020 and I think I have covered about 30k km with them and I can certainly cover another 5-10k km with them but the DOT is 2019 so I am changing them next year. I thought I would buy new ones this year, but I gave up because I will soon put on winter ones, so I will buy new summer ones next year. I am delighted with the Primacy 4, excellent and safe in the rain and in the dry, especially in the rain, I literally drive as if it were dry, that's how safe I feel, and I honestly drive a little faster and more aggressively. It is 205 55 R16 and the tires are made in Spain.”
qashqaiforums.co.uk
·2022-06-03
“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”
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 · Michelin CrossClimate | B · Michelin Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 57 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 20″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Michelin CrossClimate
80
/ 100
Michelin Primacy 4
Winner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better efficiency, wet and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want lower fuel or energy use
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 93 vs 76 on efficiency.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 83 vs 76 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 81 vs 74 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 82 vs 76 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate
Tire B · Michelin Primacy 4
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CrossClimate or Primacy 4?
Which is better in the wet, CrossClimate or Primacy 4?
Michelin Primacy 4, 83 vs 76 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, CrossClimate or Primacy 4?
Michelin Primacy 4, 82 vs 76 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, CrossClimate or Primacy 4?
Neither, by our numbers: 69 vs 71 on the noise score, within 3 points.
Which is more comfortable, CrossClimate or Primacy 4?
Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 76 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, CrossClimate or Primacy 4?
Michelin Primacy 4, 81 vs 74 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, CrossClimate or Primacy 4?
Michelin Primacy 4, 93 vs 76 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