Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Primacy 5 — 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 21 + 11 road tests and 12,698 + 2,704 owner reviews. How we score

Primacy 5 leads, 83–81 Narrow edge

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.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Tire AMichelin

Pilot Sport 4

Summer

± 4

Tests 85 · 21 tests Owners 76 · 12,698 reviews

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

“Those are Pilot sport 4 (all season). If it had s after the 4 it would be the summer high performance version. I put the pilot sport 4 on wife's GTI autobahn 2016. Great handling tire, stiff side walls, not the smoothest ride but best overall.”

Michelin Primacy 5
Tire BMichelin

Primacy 5

Summer

± 4

Tests 84 · 11 tests Owners 83 · 2,704 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (abrasion)

“New Shoes Primacy 5 Energy Extremely quiet and efficient, my previous usage was 21kwh/100km, now it's just 18.9kwh/100km.”

Category by category

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

  1. 87

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 4 +9
    78
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 10 tests8977
    Reviews found online8479

    Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 89.3 + 40% × 84.1 = 87

    Primacy 5: 60% × 76.7 + 40% × 79.3 = 78

  2. 89

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 4 +5
    84
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 20 / 11 tests9382
    Reviews found online8485

    Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 92.6 + 40% × 84.4 = 89

    Primacy 5: 60% × 82.4 + 40% × 85.4 = 84

  3. 76

    Comfort

    Primacy 5 +12
    88
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 5 tests8399
    Reviews found online7280

    Pilot Sport 4: 40% × 82.5 + 60% × 72.2 = 76

    Primacy 5: 40% × 98.6 + 60% × 80.3 = 88

  4. 71

    Noise

    Primacy 5 +1
    72
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 9 tests7376
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 73.3 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 71

    Primacy 5: 60% × 75.5 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 72

    No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 4 or Primacy 5. 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. 71

    Treadwear

    Primacy 5 +17
    88
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests7891
    Reviews found online6085

    Pilot Sport 4: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 59.8 = 71

    Primacy 5: 60% × 90.8 + 40% × 84.9 = 88

  6. 81

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Sport 4 +2
    79
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 5
    Reviews found online8179
  7. 76

    Efficiency

    Primacy 5 +16
    92
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport 4Primacy 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 14 / 9 tests7692
Scores at a glance
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Primacy 5: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Pilot Sport 4Michelin Primacy 5
Relative Score 81 83
Dry 87 78
Wet 89 84
Comfort 76 88
Noise 71 72
Treadwear 71 88
Handling (owners) 81 79
Efficiency 76 92

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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

Pilot Sport 4

± 4

Primacy 5

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.

DisciplineCategoryPilot Sport 4Primacy 5ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 80% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 94% #6/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 80% #3/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 98% #8/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 90% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 100% #3/10 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 80% #5/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 89% #5/8 · 2026 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 80% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 99% #3/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 70% #8/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 89% #5/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 97% #4/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test 93% #6/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 70% #4/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 96% #6/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 78% #7/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 100% #1/12 · 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 70% #5/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 100% #1/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #6/10 · 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test 99% #4/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 96% #5/16 · 2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test 100% #1/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 80% #2/9 · 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 100% #1/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #16/20 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test #1/10 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 59% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 76% #5/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #7/9 2022 AUTO Straßenverkehr Summer Tire Test R19 #3/8 2026 Auto Motor Und Sport Summer Tire Test R17 – 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 5

Pros

  • Exceptional ride comfort and smooth absorption of road imperfections
  • Significantly reduced road noise on smooth asphalt and general highway cruising
  • Strong wet weather performance with high resistance to aquaplaning

Cons

  • Softer sidewalls can result in less direct steering response and reduced dry handling precision compared to sportier alternatives
  • Some users report loud resonance and increased vibration on rough or poor asphalt surfaces
  • Occasional wheel-spin or reduced initial bite during aggressive acceleration from a standstill
All owner themes in the Primacy 5 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.

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”

r/BoltEV ·5 upvotes ·2026-04-29

“Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires are noisy (a followup) I have been asked on this sub if the PS4 tires on my wife’s Bolt are noisy, and I wasn’t sure how to answer. Well, we made two 60-mile round trips this past weekend, mostly on highways with 55 and 70 mph speed limits, and I have to say that the tires are kind of noisy. Certainly not as quiet as EV-oriented tires are. The grip is fantastic, so we really like them. If you are sensitive to noise, though, these Max Performance class tires are probably not for you.”

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”

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 5

Positive

Community sentiment towards the Michelin Primacy 5 is broadly positive, with users frequently praising its low road noise, comfort, and noticeable improvements over factory tires and prior models. However, opinions are mixed regarding ride firmness on certain setups, and several drivers report unexpectedly rapid tread wear and mediocre wet grip under aggressive acceleration. Comparative discussions frequently position it against the Continental PremiumContact 7 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5, framing the Primacy 5 as an efficiency- and comfort-focused touring option.

teslamotorsclub.com ·2025-05-15

“So apparently Michelin Primacy 5 has been released in Australia - not in all sizes. My tyre size 235/40R19 won't be available until April 2026 - omg lol. I told them to take that size out of the website. Talk about slow rollout considering its been out in Asia for a few months.”

speakev.com ·5 upvotes ·2022-08-19

“I got a bit carried away and looked up the tyre label and Michelin's numbers for rolling resistance, and the weight of a BMW i3 . Short answer: save 6%. Here's the result as a table. RR C kg/t or N/kN mass tonnes Drag N or kJ/km Wh/km Wh/mile unit values 1 1.00 9.81 2.72 4.38 E.Primacy 5.5 1.7 92 25 41 Car tyres (C1) fuel class A 6.5 1.7 108 30 48 Car tyres (C1) fuel class B 7.7 1.7 128 36 57 Car tyres (C1) fuel class C 9.0 1.7 150 42 67 Car tyres (C1) fuel class D 10.5 1.7 175 49 78 class E is anything worse than D The total energy per mile for tyre rolling resistance of a 1.7 ton vehicle running on bottom-of-the-band class B tyres is about 57 Wh/mile, or about 22% of EVDB's broad figure for the i3's total consumption 261 Wh/mile. With Michelin E.Primacy tyres (rolling resistance from Michelin's publicity), that should drop to 41 Wh/mile for the tyres, or a saving of 16 Wh/mile, a range improvement of about 6%, or from 3.8 miles/kWh to 4.1 miles/kWh. Nice to have, but not dramatic. It does show that fuel label class C, D or E tyres are worth avoiding if you can fit better.”

r/tires ·2 upvotes ·2025-07-31

“Primacy 5 side wall damage I just hit my rear tire with some unknown metal object which completely cut it and blow my tire up. I just heard a loud bang and I drove 2-300 more meter as pulled my car over. Do you guys think the rim is still fixable and safe to use, I mean is this considered to be a big or small rim damage? My car is 17 years old 2009 Volkswagen golf/jetta 1.4 TSI MK 5 with original steel rim. The tires are Michelin primacy 5 which I just bought 4 weeks ago for nearly 700€ including installation 🥲🥲. ( half of my car’s value btw) And do you know if Michelin has a warranty about this or not? Should I also have other things checked tomorrow like alignment or brake or something when I visit the repair shop? Any tips are greatly appriciated as im a very new driver. Tire size: 205/55/R16 94V”

Top themes
#Ride comfort and bumps#Road noise reduction#Tread wear and longevity#Wet grip and braking#Comparison with Continental PC7#Fuel efficiency and EV range#Comparison with Pilot Sport 5

Based on 64 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 B · Michelin Primacy 5
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available6286
Rim diameters16″ – 20″16″ – 22″
Sizes in common2828

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Michelin Primacy 5

Narrow edge: Michelin Primacy 5 — better treadwear, efficiency and comfort. Pick the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 if dry and wet matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Primacy 5 scores 88 vs 71 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin Primacy 5 scores 92 vs 76 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Primacy 5 scores 88 vs 76 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 scores 87 vs 78 on dry.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Tire B · Michelin Primacy 5

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

Pilot Sport 4 or Primacy 5?

Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport 4 or Primacy 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 89 vs 84 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport 4 or Primacy 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 87 vs 78 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Pilot Sport 4 or Primacy 5?

Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 72 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport 4 or Primacy 5?

Michelin Primacy 5, 88 vs 76 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport 4 or Primacy 5?

Michelin Primacy 5, 88 vs 71 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Pilot Sport 4 or Primacy 5?

Michelin Primacy 5, 92 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