tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Primacy 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51 — Compared

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

Primacy 4 is ahead, 78–72

Check price on Amazon · Primacy 4 or Ecsta HS51 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

Primacy 4

Summer

Tests 82 · 23 tests Owners 74 · 13,367 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2021 Camper Van / SUV Tyre Test (noise)

“Am at Saifees, Mumbai. One of my Primacy 4 got punctured at an angle, so is wasted. The tread depth on these 4 year old, 41350 km run is just less than 4mm, so due for replacement after another 5-10k (3mm depth). Saifee tells me Primacy 5 may come at year end. Some tyres willl be manufactured in India (unconfirmed, but usually Saifee knows better) , but can't predict which ones. Meanwhile I've taken an Apollo Alnac in very good condition for Rs.1500/- and will change all tyres together to Primacy 5.”

Tire BKumho

Ecsta HS51

Summer

Tests 75 · 6 tests Owners 69 · 1,662 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test (straight aqua)

Category by category

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

  1. 80

    Dry

    Primacy 4 +6
    74
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score)8576
    Reviews found online7471
    Dry Braking (% of best)99%98%
    Dry Handling (% of best)99%97%
  2. 81

    Wet

    Primacy 4 +5
    76
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score)8579
    Reviews found online7673
    Wet Braking (% of best)91%97%
    Wet Handling (% of best)100%96%
  3. 76

    Comfort

    Primacy 4 +7
    69
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score)76–
    Reviews found online7469
  4. 72

    Noise

    Primacy 4 +6
    66
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score)7665
  5. 77

    Treadwear

    Primacy 4 +7
    70
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score)8273
    Reviews found online7165
  6. 74

    Handling

    Primacy 4 +6
    68
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4Ecsta HS51
    Reviews found online7468
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin Primacy 4Kumho Ecsta HS51
Relative Score 78 72
Dry 80 74
Wet 81 76
Comfort 76 69
Noise 72 66
Treadwear 77 70
Handling 74 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

Primacy 4

Ecsta HS51

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.

DisciplineCategoryPrimacy 4Ecsta HS51ΔBoth?
Dry Braking Dry 99% #2/10 · 2022 AutoBild SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test 98% #3/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test +0.9 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #2/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test 97% #20/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +2.2 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 96% #5/7 · 2019 NAF Summer Tyre Test 85% #9/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test +11.1 Different tests
Noise Other 100% #1/8 · 2021 Camper Van / SUV Tyre Test 97% #5/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test +2.9 Different tests
Price Other 55% #8/8 · 2021 Camper Van / SUV Tyre Test 82% #2/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test −26.4 Different tests
Value Other 79% #7/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test 99% #3/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test −19.5 Same test
Wear Other 92% #2/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test 71% #12/12 · 2020 ADAC SUV Summer Tyre Test +20.8 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 90% #2/11 · 2021 Autonavigator Summer Tire Test R16 8% #13/43 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Shootout +82.3 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 98% #4/10 · 2021 All Road SUV Summer Tyre Test 100% #1/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test −2.1 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #3/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test 0% #9/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test 0.0 Same test
Wet Braking Wet 91% #4/10 · 2020 New 17 Inch Summer Tyre Test 97% #5/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test −6.2 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #1/11 · 2021 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test 96% #20/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +3.8 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A 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
All owner themes in the Primacy 4 review

Tire B Ecsta HS51

Pros

  • Impressive wet and dry weather traction
  • Excellent value for money compared to tier-one premium brands
  • Low road noise and enhanced ride comfort

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls can cause a wobbly or loose feeling during aggressive cornering
  • Some users experienced faster-than-expected tread wear on the front axle
  • Occasional complaints regarding poor steering feedback and high-speed handling at the limit
All owner themes in the Ecsta HS51 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Michelin Primacy 4

Positive

Community sentiment towards the Michelin Primacy 4 is generally positive, with drivers frequently praising its quiet ride, comfort, and dependable wet and dry braking performance. Several owners note impressive longevity reaching over 50,000 to 70,000 km, though some EV and SUV drivers report accelerated wear and fragile sidewalls over rough terrain. It is commonly viewed as a premium touring tire that commands high prices compared to competitors.

r/ItalyMotori ·1 upvote ·2026-03-26

“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”
r/polestar2 ·2025-09-28

“Michelin Primacy 4 in Snow Alright, I have some pretty fresh Primacy 4 tires that came on my 2022. I live in Minnesota and don't commute much in winter but do make some shorter trips in a metro area. What is the likelihood that I'm going to want/need different tires for winter? I thought about getting a set of Crossclimate tires and just using them year round but it seems like such a waste to not use up these nice Primacy 4 tires. It probably won't be very cost effective to un-mount and mount every year. Let me have it. Read more”
qashqaiforums.co.uk ·2022-06-03

“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”
Top themes
#tread life and longevity#cabin noise and comfort#wet and dry grip#comparisons with Pilot Sport#EV tire performance#sidewall damage and punctures#premium pricing

Based on 44 community posts

Tire B

Kumho Ecsta HS51

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

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Primacy 4 B · Kumho Ecsta HS51
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available5727
Rim diameters15″ – 20″14″ – 18″

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Primacy 4

Kumho Ecsta HS51

Winner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better comfort, treadwear and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 76 vs 69 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 77 vs 70 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 80 vs 74 on dry.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 72 vs 66 on noise.

Tire A · Michelin Primacy 4
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta HS51
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.

78

Leads

Primacy 4

Amazon