Summer tire Updated September 2026

Michelin Primacy HP review

Name: Michelin Primacy HP
Brand: Michelin

Relative score from owner reviews only

Owners 63 · 204 reviews analysed

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The Michelin Primacy HP is widely regarded as a premium, long-lasting touring tire that excels in dry conditions and offers impressive fuel efficiency. While many users praise its longevity and stability on motorways, a significant portion of the user base reports concerns regarding wet-weather performance, particularly as the tread wears down, and a high price point that some feel is not justified by its aging characteristics.

Community sentiment Mixed Read the buzz

#grip vs playfulness#comparison to pilot sport#summer tire limitations#tread cracking concerns#low rolling resistance

What owners say

No road-test results yet, so every score here comes from owner reviews found online.

How scores work

Relative score: 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
Road tests: 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
Owner reviews: 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.

By owner reviews

63/100

From 204 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.

Would buy again 59%

Dry

Overall dry

63.9

Corner stability

60.7

Dry traction

63.9

Steering response

61.7

Wet

Overall wet

Wet traction

64.1

Comfort

Overall comfort

61.2

Treadwear

Overall treadwear

62.3

Handling

Overall handling

61.5

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Michelin Primacy HP specs & sizes

Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.

Size	Retailer
215/45 R17	Amazon

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What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 204 owner reviews found online.

Pros

Exceptional tread life and longevity
Strong dry-road grip and handling
High fuel efficiency and low rolling resistance
Stable and comfortable ride quality for long-distance cruising

Cons

Noticeable decline in wet-weather grip as tread depth decreases
High retail price compared to competitors
Increased road noise as the tire ages
Poor performance in snow and icy conditions

Worth knowing

Owners of heavy FWD vehicles and MPVs frequently report high satisfaction with tread wear, though some note a decline in wet-weather responsiveness on these platforms.
Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., GT86, FR-S) often find the tire's low-grip characteristics unpredictable or unsuited for spirited driving.
Users with larger rim sizes (17-18 inch) occasionally report increased road noise and 'tramlining' on uneven surfaces.

1 published test appearance

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2010 Autocar tire Test - FWD · 205/55 r16

5th of 6

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Autocar

What owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of the scores above.

Community opinion on the Michelin Primacy HP is divided depending on use case: enthusiasts frequently criticize them for lacking grip compared to dedicated Pilot Sport performance tires, though many appreciate their playful, low-traction slide characteristics on cars like the GR86/BRZ. Owners also note their low rolling resistance and suitability for mild climates, but raise occasional discussions around shoulder cracking with age and their limitation as summer-only rubber.

bobistheoilguy.com

“I noticed these cracks at around spring this year. The car experiences frequent moments of hard driving so I'm thinking of replacing the tires next spring when the car comes out of hibernation as I'm a little worried about how they're going to hold up despite there still being plenty of thread left. The tires are original to the car (2016 Scion FRS). Date code of this one is 4215, but they're all within a couple of weeks or so and they're all in the same condition. Tires and car have 25,000km on them.”

2021-12-28

r/ft86 ·3 upvotes

“You will notice the difference, but if you don't track, autocross, or canyon carve, I wouldn't bother. You don't have to stick with Primacy but it's not worth the PSS. The only reason I would go PSS in that instance, is if the price is similar to Primacy HP (it might actually be similar). If you drive in snow at all I would not go with PSS. Do not go with anything more aggressive than PSS for day to day street driving. There are people who daily drive more aggressive RS3s, RE-71s, ZII Star Specs, etc. but they track/autocross, know the limits, and take it easy around standing water.”

2016-01-25

mbworld.org

“Sounds as if Aus is rationalising inventory John. Pity because the HP is a good dirt road tyre with stones around. That said the XM2 is also a tough tyre & designed to take knocks that would damage High Performance summer tyres.”

g42.bimmerpost.com

“BIMMERPOST / Classifieds Asking Price: USD 30.00 Location: ✓ Local Pickup Only Item Interest These tires were removed from my F10 535i M Sport with 15k miles on them. They have 3/32nd (30%) of tread depth remaining. They are great for those of you looking to do some burnouts or donuts. Both tires have not been patched. I am asking $30 local pick up only in SoCal 91765.”

gr86.org

“So long as you’ve got some tread, the stock Primacy HP tires are plenty safe for Bay Area weather all year ‘round. Just don’t drive anywhere that gets real winter weather or freezing temps. I’d avoid trips up to Tahoe in January. And don’t climb Mt. Diablo or Mt. Hamilton when they get their occasional dusting of snow. (I live in upstate NY now, so I’m familiar with tires & winter conditions …but I’m also a Bay Area native.)”

2024-11-11

mbworld.org

“I have these tires on my 2013 GL550 and they handle really well here in Chicago. They are a little loud for me, but do great in the snow and rain.”

Sentiment breakdown

Positive42%

Mixed42%

Negative17%

Top themes

#grip vs playfulness#comparison to pilot sport#summer tire limitations#tread cracking concerns#low rolling resistance#oem fitment discussion

From 36 threads and comments.