Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 77 · 308 reviews
“I used them for my PS3’s last year, got the cash back offer too. Saved a fortune over the other big name tyre suppliers.”
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 + 2 road tests and 308 + 196 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport 3 PS3 leads, 74–70 Narrow edge
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Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 77 · 308 reviews
“I used them for my PS3’s last year, got the cash back offer too. Saved a fortune over the other big name tyre suppliers.”
Tests 73 · 2 tests Owners 66 · 196 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 | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 2 tests | 67 | 74 |
| Reviews found online | 82 | 70 |
Pilot Sport 3 PS3: 60% × 67.2 + 40% × 82.2 = 73
Primacy 3: 60% × 74.3 + 40% × 69.5 = 72
| Source | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 2 tests | 76 | 72 |
| Reviews found online | 84 | 72 |
Pilot Sport 3 PS3: 60% × 76.2 + 40% × 84.3 = 79
Primacy 3: 60% × 71.9 + 40% × 71.8 = 72
| Source | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 70 (est.) | ≈ 68 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 75 | 67 |
Pilot Sport 3 PS3: 40% × 70 (est.) + 60% × 75.4 = 73
Primacy 3: 40% × 68.4 (est.) + 60% × 67.3 = 68
No road tests of comfort for Pilot Sport 3 PS3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Primacy 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
| Source | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests | ≈ 66 (est.) | 73 |
| Reviews found online | 66 | 57 |
Pilot Sport 3 PS3: 60% × 66.2 (est.) + 40% × 65.5 = 66
Primacy 3: 60% × 73.1 + 40% × 57.1 = 67
No road tests of treadwear for Pilot Sport 3 PS3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
| Source | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 81 | 68 |
| Source | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 54 | – |
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | Michelin Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 70 |
| Dry | 73 | 72 |
| Wet | 79 | 72 |
| Comfort | 73 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 66 | 67 |
| Handling (owners) | 81 | 68 |
| Efficiency | 54 | – |
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.
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Pilot Sport 3 PS3
Primacy 3
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | Primacy 3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #3/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | 100% #3/10 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 97% #3/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | 99% #5/10 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 89% #3/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | 95% #5/10 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #3/3 · Michelin Pilot Sport VS EV Specific Performance Tyres | 97% #6/10 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #10/16 2016 ADAC Tyre Test - 225/45 R17 | #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 sentiment regarding the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 (PS3) is mixed, with users commending its wet grip, aquaplaning resistance, and daily ride comfort. However, enthusiasts often note soft sidewalls and subdued sportiness compared to the PS2, with many recommending newer iterations like the PS4 and PS4S for sharper handling and reduced road noise.
“PS3 or rainsports do pretty well for daily use with the odd track day too.”
“Michelin PS3 MO1 vs Pirelli Pzero MO About to order 4 new tires for this 2012 Mercedes CLS500 SB (X218), but tire choices are quite limited. Sizes: 255/40R18 99Y front 285/35R18 97Y rear Currently running Pirelli Pzero MO on all corners, which are in desperate need of replacement. Unfortunately, Michelin PS4, PS5 or PS4S are not available in both these sizes in Europe. The PS4 has been quite an improvement over the PS3 iirc, so it feels wrong to go for the PS3. However, the Pirelli Pzero MO isn’t the newest PZ5 iteration nor the previous PZ4 I suppose. So… Should we go for another set of Pirelli Pzero or the Michelin PS3? (PFA) Read more”
“In the past I've used the DWS on several cars including a 2002 Carrera 4..........yes I put High Performance All Seasons on a Porsche. They were much quieter and tread wear was much better than summer tires. After years of pushing it to the limit I've mellowed in years and attitude. Not too much over the limit driving these days so the DWS fits my needs perfectly. However, I was not aware that this tire is available in 20 or 21 inch tires??? I have also had good results with Michelin PS3 All Seasons but they are not available (at least from Tire Rack) for the GL 20" or 21" set up.”
Based on 37 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.
“Is your tire size 235/55-18? You might like the Michelin Primacy 3 which is actually a good price for an 18" Michelin. They are summer tires, but that's OK if you have separate winter tires. The Goodyear Assurance Maxlife sounds like something that will last a long time. The Cooper Enduramax is good if you drive over potholes and curbs because it's supposed to be tougher”
“The Primacy3 ZP were installed today. Of course, they need a break-in period, but from some highway and city traffic, I'm already sold that these are the best replacement run-flat tires for our 18" size. The car now glides where it previously "sandpapered" its way down the road with the original harsh and noisy Pirellis. Bumps feel far more isolated. The reviews for DriveGuard have been mediocre, not great. These are far better to my senses. The 225/50-18 size is hard to find. Tire Rack carries the Primacy3 ZP, but not in that size. Another tire store in my area confused them with the non-runflat which Michelin has named the same...just Primacy3. Then, realized they couldn't get the ZP version. Very odd wholesale distribution pattern. Discount Tire was able to order them. First day, but very, very pleased. EDIT: My wife even noticed and she never notices anything about cars. She said the car felt smoother to her as a passenger!”
“Continental DWS06 Plus non-runflats, going on my car next week. Have had OEM Michelin Primacy 3's and they are like driving on bricks. I also ordered an OEM donut spare and jack kit for the trunk. Jack kit goes in lower compartment, spare kept under the horizontal floor net (Coupe).”
Based on 23 community posts
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | B · Michelin Primacy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 42 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 20″ |
| UTQG | — | 240 A A |
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
Michelin Primacy 3
Narrow edge: Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 — better handling, wet and comfort. Where the Michelin Primacy 3 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 81 vs 68 on handling.
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 79 vs 72 on wet.
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 scores 73 vs 68 on comfort.
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Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3, 79 vs 72 on our wet score.
Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 72 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3, 73 vs 68 on our comfort score.
Neither, by our numbers: 66 vs 67 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
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