tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Primacy 4+ — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Pilot Sport 4 leads, 80–77 Narrow edge

Check price on Amazon · Pilot Sport 4 or Primacy 4+ on Amazon
Add your size for an exact match
/R

Both Amazon links then search this exact size.

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Tire AMichelin

Pilot Sport 4

Summer

Tests 84 · 21 tests Owners 74 · 12,686 reviews

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

“CC2s fitted yesterday. Initial subjective reaction are they deffinately seem both quieter and more comfortable than the stock PS4. I did a non scientific noise test using a app on my phone. On my way to have the tyres changed I drove a section of the A460 toward & from Cannock, approx half a mile in each direction. I did exactly the same run at the same speed with the CC2s a couple of hours later. This is a fairly rough surface well worn tarmac but I avoided all ruts & holes. PS4: 41psi 50mph, average noise level 67.4db. The average being registered by the app, not my calculation. CC2: 40 psi 50mph, average noise level 64.6db. In both cases the phone lay on the central console forward of the tray & armrest. The comfort feeling is the CC2s are softer, damping ridges & ruts better than the PS4, while driving a route of 14 miles each way I drive every Tuesday & Thursday & consists of a wide range of different surfaces including the newer super smooth quiete tarmac.”

Tire BMichelin

Primacy 4+

Summer

Tests 83 · 10 tests Owners 72 · 39 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 20 in 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test (noise)

Category by category

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

  1. 85

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 4 +7
    78
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score)8882
    Reviews found online8172
    Dry Braking (% of best)100%79%
    Dry Handling (% of best)98%91%
  2. 87

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 4 +8
    79
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score)9182
    Reviews found online8176
    Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best)80%83%
    Transverse Aquaplaning (% of best)80%70%
    Wet Braking (% of best)96%91%
    Wet Circle (% of best)96%97%
    Wet Handling (% of best)96%98%
  3. 78

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 4 +5
    73
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score)8373
    Reviews found online7172
  4. 74

    Noise

    Pilot Sport 4 +2
    72
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score)7675
    Reviews found online72–
    Exterior Noise (% of best)90%83%
  5. 70

    Treadwear

    Primacy 4+ +12
    82
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 4+
    Professional tests (TWG score)7690
    Reviews found online6170
  6. 78

    Handling

    Pilot Sport 4 +10
    68
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 4+
    Reviews found online7868
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Pilot Sport 4Michelin Primacy 4+
Relative Score 80 77
Dry 85 78
Wet 87 79
Comfort 78 73
Noise 74 72
Treadwear 70 82
Handling 78 68

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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Pilot Sport 4

Primacy 4+

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryPilot Sport 4Primacy 4+ΔBoth?
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 89% #6/11 · 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test 83% #13/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +5.8 Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 79% #8/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 +21.4 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #6/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test 91% #2/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 +7.1 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 97% #2/11 · 2022 AutoBild Sports Cars UHP Summer Tyre Test 84% #4/8 · 2023 Motor Summer Tyre Test +13.4 Different tests
Exterior Noise Noise 90% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 83% #4/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 +6.7 Different tests
Noise Other 99% #6/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test 99% #3/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test −0.5 Different tests
Price Other 56% #11/11 · 2020 AMS 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test 93% #6/8 · 2023 Motor Summer Tyre Test −36.6 Different tests
Value Other 59% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 67% #8/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test −7.6 Different tests
Wear Other 96% #5/16 · 2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test 92% #2/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +4.9 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 100% #1/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 50% #2/8 · 2023 Motor Summer Tyre Test +50.0 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 99% #3/7 · 2019 EVO Summer Tyre Test 96% #10/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +3.0 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 70% #5/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 88% #2/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test −17.5 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 91% #2/7 · 2019 EVO Summer Tyre Test 92% #5/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 −1.0 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 96% #2/7 · 2019 EVO Summer Tyre Test 88% #2/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 +8.3 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #16/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 0% #5/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 0.0 Different tests
Longitudinal Aquaplaning Wet 80% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 83% #5/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 −3.3 Different tests
Transverse Aquaplaning Wet 80% #5/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 70% #3/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 +10.0 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 96% #3/7 · 2019 EVO Summer Tyre Test 91% #5/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +5.0 Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 96% #10/10 · 2022 AMS Performance Summer Tyre Test 97% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test −0.8 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 96% #9/10 · 2022 AMS Performance Summer Tyre Test 98% #6/8 · 2023 Motor Summer Tyre Test −1.9 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Pilot Sport 4

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry traction with outstanding resistance to aquaplaning
  • Noticeable improvement in ride comfort and a reduction in cabin noise compared to standard run-flat tires
  • Progressive and predictable breakaway limits during spirited driving

Cons

  • Faster-than-average treadwear, particularly under aggressive driving or on rear-wheel-drive performance cars
  • Softer sidewalls can lead to a slight lack of initial steering precision and a vague feel at the limit for hardcore enthusiasts
  • Performance drops off significantly in cold, freezing, or snowy winter conditions
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport 4 review

Tire B Primacy 4+

Pros

  • Excellent ride comfort and a smooth, compliant 'limousine-like' feel over bumps
  • Strong and reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions, inspiring confidence
  • Noticeable improvement in quietness and traction compared to predecessor tires or factory options

Cons

  • Loud road noise and a harsh drone on rough or coarse asphalt surfaces
  • Soft sidewalls can reduce steering agility and initial responsiveness compared to dedicated sport tires
  • High premium price point relative to competitors
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

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Positive

The community widely regards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 line as a premium upgrade offering exceptional dry and wet grip, precise handling, and superior ride comfort compared to OEM or run-flat tires. While celebrated for performance, users frequently discuss its high price tag, faster treadwear, and noticeable drop in EV efficiency. Some drivers also note increased road noise and reduced traction when temperatures drop near freezing.

bimmerfest.com ·2024-10-19

“Wow! You burn rubber. I totally appreciate what you’ve said and on my old e60 I ran both contis D06 and Michelins ps4 for 3 sets each. Both different feel and wear. Contis lasted longer but didn’t feel as nice as PS4. Now I’m in another BMW and cannot rotate the same way with a staggered wheel size. I’m in NC, when I drove PS4, in cold weather, they wore out quickly. They are a summer tire for sure, but I will use a slightly higher pressure to lengthen service life. That camber is rough on the inner tire shoulder / tread and the all season contains held up better there.”
bobistheoilguy.com ·2 upvotes ·2020-11-13

“First time post for me on Bitog. I just installed the new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 AS tires on my 2017 Mazda GT. Noise doesn't seem to be an issue I'm experiencing. Prior to the new Pilot Sports 4's all seasons I had the Michelin Pilot Sport AS 3+ and the 4's are much quieter on the Mazda. The 4's feel a tad bit softer in ride, quieter and handle just as nice. However, they are new rubber and the tread pattern is completely different from the Michelin Pilot Sports AS 3+ . I've only put about 500 miles on them, but so far, I really like them for their ride comfort, noise, stability and wet/dry grip levels. They feel like a more mature AS3+ if you have them now”
r/RZ34 ·1 upvote ·2026-10-08

“Switched from the garbage stock Potenza's to Continental DWS06 a week after grabbing my Z. Absolutely fucking worth it. I got Swift R lowering springs installed and that also made a great improvement. Z feels much more confidant and way more composed on my twisty roads and roundabouts My ND Miata also came with the same Potenza's and I went with the Michelin PS4's. Transformed the handling as well”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Run-flat replacement upgrade#Treadwear and longevity#Cold weather performance#Road noise and comfort#EV range and efficiency#Comparison to Continental tires

Based on 246 community posts

Tire B

Michelin Primacy 4+

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 B · Michelin Primacy 4+
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available6266
Rim diameters16″ – 20″16″ – 21″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Michelin Primacy 4+

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Michelin Primacy 4+ if treadwear matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Primacy 4+ scores 82 vs 70 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 78 vs 68 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 87 vs 79 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 85 vs 78 on dry.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin Primacy 4+
Check price on Amazon

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

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.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.

80

Narrow edge

Pilot Sport 4

Amazon