Tests 82 · 2 tests Owners 78 · 57 reviews
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy 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 57 + 13,422 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: Pilot Sport 5 Energy 80, Primacy 4 81.
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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”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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81
Dry
Primacy 4 +182Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Energy Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 21 tests 83 86 Reviews found online 79 75 Pilot Sport 5 Energy: 60% × 82.7 + 40% × 79.1 = 81
Primacy 4: 60% × 85.9 + 40% × 75.4 = 82
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81
Wet
Primacy 4 +283Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Energy Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 22 tests 80 85 Reviews found online 81 80 Pilot Sport 5 Energy: 60% × 80.3 + 40% × 81.3 = 81
Primacy 4: 60% × 85.5 + 40% × 79.5 = 83
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72
Comfort
Primacy 4 +476Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Energy Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests ≈ 70 (est.) 75 Reviews found online 73 76 Pilot Sport 5 Energy: 40% × 69.6 (est.) + 60% × 73.3 = 72
Primacy 4: 40% × 75.4 + 60% × 75.8 = 76
No road tests of comfort for Pilot Sport 5 Energy. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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–
Noise
No comparison71Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Energy Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 15 tests – 74 Reviews found online – ≈ 66 (est.) Primacy 4: 60% × 73.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 71
No owner ratings of noise for 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.
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80
Treadwear
Primacy 4 +181Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Energy Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 3 tests 83 85 Reviews found online 75 75 Pilot Sport 5 Energy: 60% × 83.2 + 40% × 74.8 = 80
Primacy 4: 60% × 84.8 + 40% × 75.4 = 81
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77
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport 5 Energy +275Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Energy Primacy 4 Reviews found online 77 75 -
74
Efficiency
Primacy 4 +1993Why this score
Source Pilot Sport 5 Energy Primacy 4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 15 tests 74 93
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy | Michelin Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 81 |
| Dry | 81 | 82 |
| Wet | 81 | 83 |
| Comfort | 72 | 76 |
| Noise | – | 71 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 81 |
| Handling (owners) | 77 | 75 |
| Efficiency | 74 | 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.
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Pilot Sport 5 Energy
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.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Sport 5 Energy | Primacy 4 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/4 · 2025 TUV and DEKRA Test of Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Tesla-Spec Rivals | 99% #3/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/4 · 2025 TUV and DEKRA Test of Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Tesla-Spec Rivals | 96% #2/8 · 2022 Motor Crossover Summer Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 100% #1/4 · 2025 TUV and DEKRA Test of Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Tesla-Spec Rivals | 93% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wear | Treadwear | 100% #1/4 · 2025 TUV and DEKRA Test of Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Tesla-Spec Rivals | 87% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 88% #4/4 · 2025 TUV and DEKRA Test of Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Tesla-Spec Rivals | 83% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/4 2025 TUV and DEKRA Test of Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Tesla-Spec Rivals | #4/6 2025 Wybór Kierowców Summer Tire Test R16 | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Sport 5 Energy
Pros
- Strong grip and confidence in wet conditions, with owners reporting stable, trustworthy handling and better cornering in the rain
- Good dry handling and high-speed stability, with resistance to aquaplaning reported as better than a set of winter tires
- Low rolling resistance and improved efficiency, including one EV owner who went from 3.8 to 4.2 miles per kWh and another who reported good consumption for a UHP tire
Cons
- Road noise is not fully eliminated, and some reviewers still found it loud or noted it increasing slightly toward 10,000 km
- One reviewer found the ride harsh and firm and not bouncy enough, attributing this to the noise-reducing insulation
- Long-term durability is still unproven, as most reviews are early impressions and one reviewer is waiting to see how the tires last in Singapore's heat
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
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Michelin Primacy 4
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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy | B · Michelin Primacy 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 32 | 57 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 23″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| UTQG | — | 340 A A |
| Sizes in common | 2 | 2 |
Which one should you actually buy?
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy
Michelin Primacy 4
Too close to call: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy and Michelin Primacy 4 are within 2 points overall. Michelin Primacy 4 is stronger on efficiency and comfort.
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 93 vs 74 on efficiency.
Michelin Primacy 4 scores 76 vs 72 on comfort.
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Pilot Sport 5 Energy or Primacy 4?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport 5 Energy or Primacy 4?
Neither, by our numbers: 81 vs 83 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport 5 Energy or Primacy 4?
Neither, by our numbers: 81 vs 82 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport 5 Energy or Primacy 4?
Michelin Primacy 4, 76 vs 72 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport 5 Energy or Primacy 4?
Neither, by our numbers: 80 vs 81 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
Which rolls more easily, Pilot Sport 5 Energy or Primacy 4?
Michelin Primacy 4, 93 vs 74 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