Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 69 · 137 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test (wear)
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 23 road tests and 137 + 13,422 owner reviews. How we score
Primacy 4 is ahead, 80–70
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Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 69 · 137 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test (wear)
Tests 84 · 23 tests Owners 77 · 13,422 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”
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Energy Saver | Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 21 tests | 71 | 86 |
| Reviews found online | 67 | 75 |
Energy Saver: 60% × 70.6 + 40% × 67.1 = 69
Primacy 4: 60% × 85.9 + 40% × 75.4 = 82
| Source | Energy Saver | Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 22 tests | 69 | 85 |
| Reviews found online | 67 | 80 |
Energy Saver: 60% × 69.2 + 40% × 66.5 = 68
Primacy 4: 60% × 85.5 + 40% × 79.5 = 83
| Source | Energy Saver | Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests | ≈ 68 (est.) | 75 |
| Reviews found online | 67 | 76 |
Energy Saver: 40% × 68.4 (est.) + 60% × 67.3 = 68
Primacy 4: 40% × 75.4 + 60% × 75.8 = 76
No road tests of comfort for Energy Saver. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
| Source | Energy Saver | Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 15 tests | 72 | 74 |
| Reviews found online | ≈ 66 (est.) | ≈ 66 (est.) |
Energy Saver: 60% × 72.1 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 70
Primacy 4: 60% × 73.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 71
No owner ratings of noise for Energy Saver or Primacy 4. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
| Source | Energy Saver | Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests | 74 | 85 |
| Reviews found online | 74 | 75 |
Energy Saver: 60% × 74.4 + 40% × 74.3 = 74
Primacy 4: 60% × 84.8 + 40% × 75.4 = 81
| Source | Energy Saver | Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 64 | 75 |
| Source | Energy Saver | Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 15 tests | 75 | 93 |
| Category | Michelin Energy Saver | Michelin Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 70 | 80 |
| Dry | 69 | 82 |
| Wet | 68 | 83 |
| Comfort | 68 | 76 |
| Noise | 70 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 74 | 81 |
| Handling (owners) | 64 | 75 |
| Efficiency | 75 | 93 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Energy Saver
Primacy 4
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 | Energy Saver | Primacy 4 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 92% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 99% #3/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 99% #5/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 95% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 99% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 89% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 96% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 98% #4/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 98% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wear | Treadwear | 95% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 87% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 88% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch 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 | 67% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 63% #10/10 · 2022 AutoBild SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #2/20 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | #3/21 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Value | Cost | 69% #11/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 83% #8/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #5/20 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | #4/6 2025 Wybór Kierowców Summer Tire Test 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
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
The Michelin Primacy 4 is generally praised for its comfortable ride, low road noise, and strong braking and safety in both dry and wet conditions. While many users report excellent tread longevity across tens of thousands of kilometers, some note faster wear on heavier electric vehicles or rough surfaces. It is viewed as a premium touring tire that is unsuitable for winter conditions, prompting some drivers to weigh its high price against newer models like the Primacy 5 or cheaper alternatives.
“Gomme alternative a Primacy 4 Buongiorno, ho una Peugeot 208 del 2020 con delle Michelin Primacy 4 205/45 R 17 88 V, le ho da 4 anni, circa 20000km all’anno tranne quest’anno che non le ho sostituite con le invernali e che quindi dovrei portarle ad usura completa con il prossimo “giro” delle gomme per altri 20000km. In totale arriverò a quasi 100000km, quindi super ammortizzate e le consiglierei sempre anche per la tenuta. Visto che entro fine estate pensavo di sostituirle tutte e quattro, vorrei capire se ci fossero delle alternative un più economiche ma altrettanto valide (un cambio gomme al momento mi costa circa €650-700). Read more”
“I might try to have a look at one today. There are two Uniroyal shops near me. Whether they have one in stock to look at though...? The trouble is they look really nice online but I'd like to see them in the flesh first. The old tyres (above photo) that were on these wheels were that nice square edged profile that I like, much the same as the Michelin Pilot Sports. These are going on my sons Golf EV so I'm also trying to consider if they are A rated for fuel, the best wet grip I can find and the lowest decibel level. The best choice I can find is the Michelin Primacy 4 which are A, A and 68. But on Black Circles it says they were designed for BMW. I'm sure they fit any wheel but do those properties still hold? I've always bought Pilots but B, B and 72, and its this 72 that really bugs me, is whats making me invest so much time into getting the right tyre for Toms EV. I'm getting a Tesla this Tuesday which does in fact come with the Pilots so they must be good on EV's anyway. Who knew buying tyres was so complicated.”
“Michelin Primacy 4 or Conti UC6 - Virtus GT Hey, i recently got a Virtus GT with stock Apollo alnac 4g tyres - looking to upgrade them. As per ChatGPT my options are Michelin Primacy 4 and Continental UC6 - budget is not really a problem. Overall i want good grip, handling, comfort and low cabin noise. Not going for Pilot Sport 4, because don't want to compromise on comfort for performance when i am not going to push my car too much, hence PS4 is a no no. But read it somewhere that with Primacy 4, there is a noticeable difference in mileage not sure if it means going up or down. Need recommendations on what i should get! Thanks in advance”
Based on 43 community posts
| Attribute | A · Michelin Energy Saver | B · Michelin Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 4 | 57 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 16″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| UTQG | — | 340 A A |
| Sizes in common | 4 | 4 |
Michelin Energy Saver
Michelin Primacy 4
Winner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better efficiency, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 93 vs 75 on efficiency.
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 83 vs 68 on wet.
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 82 vs 69 on dry.
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 75 vs 64 on handling.
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Michelin Primacy 4, 83 vs 68 on our wet score.
Michelin Primacy 4, 82 vs 69 on our dry score.
Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 71 on the noise score, within 3 points.
Michelin Primacy 4, 76 vs 68 on our comfort score.
Michelin Primacy 4, 81 vs 74 on our treadwear score.
Michelin Primacy 4, 93 vs 75 on our efficiency 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