Tests 75 · 1 test Owners 73 · 1 review
Best test result: #1 of 6 in 2023 APAC Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Primacy 4 ST 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 1 + 14 road tests and 1 + 2,775 owner reviews. How we score
Primacy 5 is ahead, 82–73
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Tests 86 · 14 tests Owners 83 · 2,775 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (abrasion)
“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.”
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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76
Dry
Primacy 5 +177Why this score
Source Primacy 4 ST Primacy 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 12 tests 78 76 Reviews found online 73 79 Primacy 4 ST: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 72.9 = 76
Primacy 5: 60% × 76.3 + 40% × 79.2 = 77
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75
Wet
Primacy 5 +984Why this score
Source Primacy 4 ST Primacy 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 13 tests 73 83 Reviews found online 76 86 Primacy 4 ST: 60% × 73.4 + 40% × 76.3 = 75
Primacy 5: 60% × 83.4 + 40% × 86.2 = 84
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69
Comfort
Primacy 5 +1786Why this score
Source Primacy 4 ST Primacy 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests 71 96 Reviews found online 69 79 Primacy 4 ST: 40% × 70.7 + 60% × 68.5 = 69
Primacy 5: 40% × 95.6 + 60% × 79.3 = 86
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70
Noise
Primacy 5 +272Why this score
Source Primacy 4 ST Primacy 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 10 tests 73 75 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Primacy 4 ST: 60% × 72.6 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 70
Primacy 5: 60% × 75.2 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 72
No owner ratings of noise for Primacy 4 ST or Primacy 5. 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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69
Treadwear
Primacy 5 +2594Why this score
Source Primacy 4 ST Primacy 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests ≈ 68 (est.) 99 Reviews found online 71 86 Primacy 4 ST: 60% × 68.1 (est.) + 40% × 70.8 = 69
Primacy 5: 60% × 98.7 + 40% × 85.8 = 94
No road tests of treadwear for Primacy 4 ST. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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71
Handling (owners)
Primacy 5 +879Why this score
Source Primacy 4 ST Primacy 5 Reviews found online 71 79 -
75
Efficiency
Primacy 5 +1792Why this score
Source Primacy 4 ST Primacy 5 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 11 tests 75 92
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Primacy 4 ST | Michelin Primacy 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 82 |
| Dry | 76 | 77 |
| Wet | 75 | 84 |
| Comfort | 69 | 86 |
| Noise | 70 | 72 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 94 |
| Handling (owners) | 71 | 79 |
| Efficiency | 75 | 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 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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Primacy 4 ST
82
/ 100
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.
| Discipline | Category | Primacy 4 ST | Primacy 5 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 90% #5/6 · 2026 Die Reifentester Summer Tyre Test - 235/55 R18 | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #2/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 98% #8/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 100% #1/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 97% #3/6 · 2026 Die Reifentester Summer Tyre Test - 235/55 R18 | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 99% #3/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 96% #4/6 · 2026 Die Reifentester Summer Tyre Test - 235/55 R18 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 96% #3/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 97% #3/6 · 2026 Die Reifentester Summer Tyre Test - 235/55 R18 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #2/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 96% #6/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 100% #1/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 93% #4/6 · 2026 Die Reifentester Summer Tyre Test - 235/55 R18 | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 98% #2/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 98% #2/6 · 2026 Die Reifentester Summer Tyre Test - 235/55 R18 | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 100% #2/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 99% #4/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise (tester's mark) | Noise | 100% #1/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 95% #3/6 · 2026 Die Reifentester Summer Tyre Test - 235/55 R18 | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | 100% #1/6 · 2026 Die Reifentester Summer Tyre Test - 235/55 R18 | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/6 2023 APAC Tyre Test | #4/6 2026 Die Reifentester Summer Tyre Test - 235/55 R18 | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Primacy 4 ST
Pros
- Exceptional durability and tread life
- High levels of wet and dry grip
- Superior ride comfort
Cons
- Slightly higher noise levels compared to the segment-leading quiet tire (Continental CC6)
- Fuel efficiency is competitive but not class-leading
Tire B Primacy 5
Pros
- Strong wet performance: many reviewers cite confident grip, good aquaplaning resistance and predictable braking in heavy rain and standing water.
- Quiet, comfortable ride: many describe low noise and good absorption of bumps and potholes, often as a clear improvement over previous tyres.
- Low rolling resistance and fuel economy: several report lower fuel consumption (for example about 0.5 L/100 km less, or 1 L less) and improved EV efficiency.
Cons
- Road noise on rough or coarse asphalt: several reviewers report droning, resonance or unbearable noise. Some say it was louder than their previous Continental, Giti or Falken tyres.
- Soft, vague or less direct handling: reviewers report slow steering response, a squishy feel, sidewall buckling or squealing in hard cornering, and a less sporty feel than Pilot Sport or Continental tyres.
- Traction problems in some cases: a few reviewers report wheelspin or slipping when pulling away, including in the dry and on a diesel Golf.
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Primacy 4 ST
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Primacy 5
Community sentiment for the Michelin Primacy 5 is broadly positive, with drivers consistently praising its low cabin noise, smooth ride comfort, and stable wet performance. However, some users report mixed experiences, noting surprisingly harsh ride quality, faster-than-expected tread wear, or limited initial size availability in certain markets.
team-bhp.com
“205/55 R16 - A common size missed and 205/60 R16 launched. Customers won't be able to upsize too as the variation is ~3.25% between both.”
r/mazda3
·3 upvotes ·2026-09-28
“Upsize to 225/45. Thicker walls, less prone to pothole damage, more comfortable ride. Don’t get performance-oriented tires, they do perform better on paper but as the tradeoff they’re noisy and short-lived. I live in area that doesn’t really get cold, so my top choice is michelin primacy 5.”
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
#low cabin noise#ride comfort and smoothness#tread life and wear#wet grip performance#Primacy 5 vs Pilot Sport 5#comparison with Continental PC7
Based on 63 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Primacy 4 ST | B · Michelin Primacy 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 7 | 86 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 16″ – 22″ |
| Sizes in common | 6 | 6 |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Michelin Primacy 4 ST
82
/ 100
Michelin Primacy 5
Winner: Michelin Primacy 5 — better treadwear, comfort and efficiency. It leads or ties in every category we score. Michelin Primacy 4 ST rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 1 review), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Primacy 5 scores 94 vs 69 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Primacy 5 scores 86 vs 69 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want lower fuel or energy use
Michelin Primacy 5 scores 92 vs 75 on efficiency.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Primacy 5 scores 84 vs 75 on wet.
Tire A · Michelin Primacy 4 ST
Tire B · Michelin Primacy 5
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Primacy 4 ST or Primacy 5?
Which is better in the wet, Primacy 4 ST or Primacy 5?
Michelin Primacy 5, 84 vs 75 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Primacy 4 ST or Primacy 5?
Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 77 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is quieter, Primacy 4 ST or Primacy 5?
Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 72 on the noise score, within 3 points.
Which is more comfortable, Primacy 4 ST or Primacy 5?
Michelin Primacy 5, 86 vs 69 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Primacy 4 ST or Primacy 5?
Michelin Primacy 5, 94 vs 69 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Primacy 4 ST or Primacy 5?
Michelin Primacy 5, 92 vs 75 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