Michelin Primacy vs Pilot: Tested & Comparison in 2023

Henry

Written by

Henry Speciale

Steven

FACT-CHECKED BY

Steven Schiller

michelin primacy vs pilot

Michelin has so many popular tires that make picking one harder. If you are contemplating on the best tire between Michelin Primacy vs Pilot, you’ve come to the right place because we’ll give you a rundown of all the best features you need to know about Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs. Michelin Primacy 4.

We found that the strongest features of Michelin’s Primacy 4 lies in fuel efficiency, more durable wear life, and low rolling resistance while the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 provides luxury vehicle owners an excellent sporty driving experience because of its dynamic steering and superior wet and dry stopping power.

Factors Michelin-Primacy Michelin-Pilot
Wet Good Winner
Dry Tie
Noise Low Noise Winner, Quiet
Comfort/Ride Quality Equal, steady and pleasant Equal, stable and comfortable
Snow and Ice Unusable in snow Not fit for snow
Price Pricier More affordable
Mileage warranty Winner, higher Lower

What Are They?

1. Michelin Primacy

michelin-ps4

Michelin Primacy includes seven tires:

  • Michelin Primacy Tour A/S grand touring all-season tire for passenger cars, SUVs, and CUVs
  • Michelin Primacy All-Season tire for passenger vehicles
  • Michelin Primacy LTX all-season tire for light trucks
  • Michelin Primacy XC all-season tire for light trucks and SUVs
  • Michelin Primacy MXM4 all-season tire for passenger cars
  • Michelin Primacy 3 summer tire chosen as OEM for luxury vehicles such as BMW 5&7 Series, Mercedes Benz S-Class, and Audi 6
  • Michelin Primacy HP summer tire for luxury vehicles

2. Michelin Pilot

pilot-mxm4-vs-primacy-mxm4

The Michelin Pilot family has 18 tires. Here are some of the popular tires in this product line.

  • Michelin Pilot Sport 4S max performance summer tire evolved from the legendary street tire, Michelin Pilot Super Sport
  • Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Ultra high-performance all-season tire
  • Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 performance tire for wintry conditions
  • Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 ultra-high performance summer tire for classic Porsches
  • Michelin 4 x 4 Diamaris high-performance tire for SUVs and CUVs

Similarities and Differences: Michelin Pilot vs Primacy

1. Warranties

Both tire families are covered by Michelin Promise Plan, which includes a manufacturer’s warranty, access to roadside assistance for 3 years, and free tire replacement within 60 days from the date of purchase.

2. Tire Diversity

Michelin tires can be classified by season and vehicle type or category.

In terms of season, both families have options for all-season, summer, and winter.

When it comes to category, both families have options for passenger cars, sports utility vehicles, crossovers, luxury vehicles, and light trucks. They have tire designs that were chosen as OEM for high-end cars.

3. Reviews

michelin-pilot-vs-primacy

This section will compare two summer tires, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Primacy 4.

 01 Specifications

Obviously, the Primacy 4 is heavier than the Pilot Sport 4, although they have the same maximum load capacity, tire pressure requirement, traction and temperature ratings (A A).

As expected of most performance tires, Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4 can be driven at a higher speed and has a lower treadwear rating (320).

The Primacy 4 promises 15,000 miles more in warranty than the Pilot Sport 4.

Specifications

Michelin Primacy 4

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Tire category

Grand Touring Summer

Max Performance Summer

Tire Size inspected

245/45R19

245/45R19

Tread depth

8.8/32 in.

9.5/32 in.

Max Load

1874 pounds

1874 pounds

Max PSI

50 psi

50 psi

Tire Weight

26 pounds

25 pounds

Speed rating

V (149 mph)

Y (186 mph)

UTQG rating

340 A A

320 A A

Mileage Warranty

35,000 miles

20,000 miles

 02 Tire Design

Tire-Design

Michelin Primacy 4 was introduced in 2018. It was available in 14 sizes for 16-18 inch wheels. The brand claimed that it brakes 2.5 meters shorter than rival tires when new and 5.1 meters shorter when worn.

It utilized EverGrip technology for excellent wet grip. This technology features new tyre sculpture and a rubber compound rich in silica. They enable the tire to have a 50% bigger contact surface for water evacuation.

Additionally, the Primacy 4 promises a noiseless and relaxing ride through Silent rib Technologies. It is composed of interlocking bands between tread blocks so that drivers feel less vibration behind the wheel.

If we compare it to Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4 or Michelin PS4, the latter provides driving pleasure because of its superb handling on wet surfaces.

Thanks to the combination of elastomers, silica compound, and deep grooves, this tire maintains stability and control on wet roads, allowing users to stop their vehicle without delay.

 03 Wet

michelin-primacy-vs-pilot-sport-4

As stated, the Pilot Sport 4 has excellent wet handling and braking capabilities.

On the other hand, Michelin Primacy 4 can deliver reduced braking distances but not as good as it can do on dry roads. It has good aquaplaning resistance.

 02 Dry

all-season

The Pilot Sport 4 is praised for its excellent braking and steering precision on dry roads. The tire delivers a satisfying sporty driving experience because its steering feels responsive with good feedback.

Meanwhile, the Primacy 4 delivers fine steering, great handling, and reduced dry barking distances. Drivers enjoy low wear and fuel-saving rolling resistance.

Overall, the PS4 has superior handling but slightly slower braking.

 04 Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality

Tire-Diversity

Michelin PS4 ensures a smooth, quiet, and stable drive even when cornering at high speeds. On the other hand, the Primacy 4 has observable low noise, but the ride feels safe and smooth.

 05 Snow and ice

primacy-4

Summer tires are not intended for winter use. Thus, both models are unusable in snow and ice-laden areas.

 06 Cost

price

Michelin Primacy 4 is a few dollars more expensive than the Michelin Pilot Sport 4.

The price of Michelin Primacy 4 for a 245/45R19 tire size is $334.39, while Michelin Pilot Sport 4 can be bought at $330.15.

Pros and Cons: Michelin Pilot vs Primacy

Michelin Primacy
  • Good wet and dry performance
  • Higher treadwear rating
  • Low rolling resistance
  • Gas-saving
  • A little bit pricier
Michelin Pilot
  • Excellent wet and dry grip
  • More affordable
  • Quiet, steady, and comfortable
  • Brakes slightly slower than the Primacy

FAQs

michelin-primacy-vs-pilot-sport

Is Michelin Primacy a quiet tire?

Yes. Michelin Primacy tires are quiet because of their Comfort Control Technology. For instance, Michelin’s Primacy MXV4 was hailed as one of the quietest all-season touring tires.

Does Michelin still make Primacy?

Yes. Michelin still produces Primacy tires, and currently, there are 7 designs in this line. For example, the brand manufactures Michelin Primacy HP for luxury vehicles, Michelin Primacy LTX for light trucks, while the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S is suitable for passenger cars, CUVs, and SUVs.

How long do Michelin Primacy tires last?

The mileage warranty of Michelin Primacy tires ranges from 35,000- 55,000 miles. Four tire designs offer 55,000 miles in wear support. Michelin Primacy 3 has the shortest treadlife warranty among Primacy tires.

Pilot MXM4 vs Primacy MXM4, which is better?

The Primacy MXM4 is better on wet surfaces, but on dry terrains, the two tires are neck and neck. The Primacy seems to be a bit quieter, though.

Conclusion

I hope that this Michelin Primacy vs Pilot tires review helped you to quickly identify the suitable touring or performance tire for your vehicle.

Michelin Primacy 4 is a good touring tire for dry performance, wear, and handling on wet and dry roads, while the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is an attractive tire that can guarantee a silent and surefooted ride with good braking distances on wet and dry pavements.

Aside from checking out Michelin Primacy and Pilot Sport 4, I invite you to browse the Pilot Sport 5 vs 4s to assess how this tire evolved.

5/5 - (4 votes)
Henry-Speciale - Writer

Henry Speciale

I’m Henry, the content writer for PPMC Transport. We build our site entirely on experience and extensive market and customer research. My goal is to create a trusted platform where people can go to determine what is best for their vehicles in terms of safety and convenience. Keep an eye out for our useful guide!...more