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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP vs Michelin Primacy 3 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 0 + 2 road tests and 12 + 195 owner reviews. How we score

Pilot Sport PS2 ZP leads, 73–70 Narrow edge

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Michelin Primacy 3
Tire BMichelin

Primacy 3

Summer

Tests 73 · 2 tests Owners 67 · 195 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.”

Category by category

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

  1. 75

    Dry

    Pilot Sport PS2 ZP +3
    72
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport PS2 ZPPrimacy 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 72 (est.)74
    Reviews found online7969

    Pilot Sport PS2 ZP: 60% × 72.2 (est.) + 40% × 78.9 = 75

    Primacy 3: 60% × 74.1 + 40% × 69.2 = 72

    No road tests of dry for Pilot Sport PS2 ZP. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).

  2. 76

    Wet

    Pilot Sport PS2 ZP +4
    72
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport PS2 ZPPrimacy 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 75 (est.)72
    Reviews found online7871

    Pilot Sport PS2 ZP: 60% × 74.5 (est.) + 40% × 78.2 = 76

    Primacy 3: 60% × 71.8 + 40% × 71.2 = 72

    No road tests of wet for Pilot Sport PS2 ZP. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).

  3. 70

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport PS2 ZP +2
    68
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport PS2 ZPPrimacy 3
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online7068

    Pilot Sport PS2 ZP: 60% × 69.3 (est.) + 40% × 70.1 = 70

    Primacy 3: 60% × 68.9 (est.) + 40% × 67.8 = 68

    No road tests of comfort for Pilot Sport PS2 ZP or Primacy 3. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  4. 69

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport PS2 ZPPrimacy 3
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)–
    Reviews found online71–

    Pilot Sport PS2 ZP: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 70.5 = 69

    No road tests of noise for Pilot Sport PS2 ZP. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 65

    Treadwear

    Primacy 3 +2
    67
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport PS2 ZPPrimacy 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 65 (est.)72
    Reviews found online6459

    Pilot Sport PS2 ZP: 60% × 65.2 (est.) + 40% × 64.2 = 65

    Primacy 3: 60% × 72.4 + 40% × 58.9 = 67

    No road tests of treadwear for Pilot Sport PS2 ZP. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).

  6. 77

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Sport PS2 ZP +9
    68
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Sport PS2 ZPPrimacy 3
    Reviews found online7768
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZPMichelin Primacy 3
Relative Score 73 70
Dry 75 72
Wet 76 72
Comfort 70 68
Noise 69 –
Treadwear 65 67
Handling (owners) 77 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 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.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Pilot Sport PS2 ZP

Primacy 3

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Pilot Sport PS2 ZP

Pros

  • Exceptional dry and wet grip with a glued-to-the-road feel
  • Improved ride comfort and lower cabin noise compared to standard run-flats
  • Predictable handling with gentle breakaway characteristics near limits

Cons

  • Stiff or rock-hard ride quality when kept at recommended manufacturer pressures
  • Softer sidewalls can introduce a spongy or wobbly feel during rapid direction changes on certain vehicles
  • Frustrating warranty terms for staggered setups
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP review

Tire B Primacy 3

Pros

  • Exceptional ride comfort and low noise levels
  • Strong dry grip and confident handling
  • Smooth, refined high-speed stability and cruising capability

Cons

  • Higher than average purchase price
  • Faster-than-expected tread wear reported by many users
  • Mixed feedback on wet weather performance, with some noting a lack of grip in standing water or snow
All owner themes in the Primacy 3 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP

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

Tire B

Michelin Primacy 3

Mixed

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.

mbworld.org

“Currently riding on Michelin Primacy 3 ZP run flats that originally came with the car. Have approximately 15k miles on it and Mercedes are already recommending I purchase new rear tires. What other options would you recommend as replacements? I would like all season tires that last much longer but also don't want to compromise the comfort and ride. Front tire: 245/40 R19 Rear tire: 275/35 R19”
bimmerfest.com ·2014-08-25

“I have Pirellis on my 2014 F31 wagon. I have overinflated them slightly (3 psi front, 2 psi rear) because with the pressures placarded on the door post they are not responsive enough. With the overinflation they make fine street tires . At the limit they are still a bit soft, but the limits are so high that I have no business driving like that on the public highway. Tire Rack, I believe, tested Michelin Primacy 3 ZP (zero pressure, or run-flat all season tires ) and liked them. I have no thoughts about Continentals , so that I am only muddying your waters by adding in the Michelins for consideration.”
r/BMWi3 ·7 upvotes ·2022-04-22

“So I have decided there is no way I am paying for the Bridgestone Ecopias at over £200 a tyre, and as such, I have come across the Michelin Primacy 3 on Costco, which I can get fitted for approx £93 a tyre (I only need two on the rear) They seem to have good reviews. My actual tyre size for my i3S should be 195/50 R20, but getting 195/55 R20 instead should only add up to another inch or so in height, so I'm reckoning I should be okay. What are people's thoughts?”
Top themes
#Run-flat ride quality#Tread wear and longevity#Touring comfort and low noise#Model obsolescence and replacements#OE fitment and regional availability#Price and size compatibility

Based on 23 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP B · Michelin Primacy 3
CategorySummer Max Performance tiresSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—42
Rim diameters—15″ – 20″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP

Michelin Primacy 3

Narrow edge: Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP — better handling, wet and dry. Where the Michelin Primacy 3 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points. Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 12 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP scores 77 vs 68 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP scores 76 vs 72 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP scores 75 vs 72 on dry.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP
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Tire B · Michelin Primacy 3
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Pilot Sport PS2 ZP or Primacy 3?

Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport PS2 ZP or Primacy 3?

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP, 76 vs 72 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport PS2 ZP or Primacy 3?

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP, 75 vs 72 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport PS2 ZP or Primacy 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 68 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport PS2 ZP or Primacy 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 65 vs 67 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

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