Comparing Michelin Primacy 4 Vs Pilot Sport 4
The Michelin Primacy 4 and Pilot Sport 4 have little in common. The former is a high-performance all-season tire with excellent road manners, good fuel economy, and long tread life. It will also keep you safe, regardless of whether you’re driving in dry, wet, or snowy conditions.
The same couldn’t be said about the Pilot Sport 4. Here is an ultra-high-performance summer tire that ticks three boxes (dry performance, wet traction, and comfort). But it fails to deliver on snowy roads. Also, if you push it to its limits, this model may need replacement quite soon.
Despite these differences, many people can’t seem to decide whether to pair their car with one or the other. That is why we have come up with this comprehensive guide. Apart from highlighting the distinguishing features of both models, we’ll compare their performance.
Public Service Announcement: Tire Rack has some of the best selection of tires on the planet. They offer a more seamless, low stress buying experience. And since they are an online-only shop, Tire Rack can deliver a better quality product at a lower price compared to other name brands. Check out the current tire offers from Tire Rack.
Michelin Primacy 4
The Michelin Primacy 4 is a premium all-season tire designed for passenger cars, small SUVs, and minivans. A sunflower and silica tread compound helps this model offer excellent grip and traction on both dry as well as wet surfaces. But it doesn’t stop at that.
Sunflower oil also has a positive impact on this tire’s road life. At the same time, it has brought down the Primacy 4’s rolling resistance and, by extension, gas consumption. I have spoken to many drivers who vouch for this model’s excellent fuel economy.
EverGrip Technology further sweetens the deal. This technology helps the Primacy 4 offer consistent road traction regardless of the remaining tread. Plus, Comfort Control Technology reduces road noise by a few decibels, helping you enjoy a quiet and comfortable ride.
Then come the Green X and 3D Sipe Technologies. While the former enhances this model’s fuel efficiency by reducing its rolling resistance. The 3D Sipe Technology interlocks the biting edges at high speed and in inclement weather. So, better traction is all but guaranteed.
Don't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is all about performance. This model is engineered to deliver excellent high-speed stability, cornering grip, and steering feedback. At the same time, it offers an extremely comfortable ride for an ultra-high-performance summer tire.
While the Primacy 4 has the silica and sunflower oil tread compound, this model features a silica and carbon black mixture. The carbon black in the compound does what sunflower oil does for the Primacy 4 – improving this model’s wear resistance and overall road life.
The penny drops when you compare the two tires’ tread patterns. As expected, this model doesn’t have your average symmetric tread design. Instead, its tread pattern has large shoulder blocks for excellent high-speed stability and better responsiveness during driving.
Michelin has also equipped this model with two technologies (Dynamic Response and Premium Touch) that you don’t get with the Primacy 4. Both technologies help improve this model’s handling precision and road manners. You can thus expect a relatively comfortable ride.
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
The Main Differences
This section will help you decide whether the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 or the Primacy 4 should go on your vehicle.
Comparing Off-Road Performance
Neither of these tires is designed for off-roading.
Off-road tires come with specific design elements to withstand rough terrain challenges. Features like reinforced sidewalls, large voids between tread blocks, and deep tread patterns enable them to provide the necessary grip on rocks, mud, and sand.
As you might guess, both these tires lack these design elements. As such, if you’re planning to do a lot of off-roading, it’s recommended to opt for all-terrain or mud-terrain tires.
Winner: Tie
Comparing On-Road Performance
How do they perform in dry conditions?
Here’s why the Pilot Sport 4 is a better performer on dry roads:
- Larger tread blocks and two center ribs increase its dry grip and stability. They do that by expanding this model’s contact patch, which is the area of the tire that comes in regular contact with the road.
- A softer tread compound helps it conform better to the road surface. This, in turn, enables this model to offer better road grip, especially when compared with the all-season-oriented Primacy 4.
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
How do they perform on wet roads?
If you prioritize wet traction, opt for the Primacy 4.
This model comes with multiple circumferential and lateral grooves for quick and effective water evacuation. While the Pilot Sport 4 also has channels to disperse water, they are not as deep or as wide as their counterparts on the Primacy 4.
Additionally, this model has more sipes in the tread blocks than the Pilot Sport 4. These biting edges help it offer better traction in rainy conditions.
Winner: Michelin Primacy 4
Are they good in the handling department?
Given the fact that it’s a summer tire, it shouldn’t be surprising to note that the Pilot Sport 4 offers better handling than the Primacy 4.
The Pilot Sport 4 has a much more aggressive tread pattern with wider sipes than the one on the Primacy 4. This enables this model to offer better handling in dry and wet conditions. Plus, thanks to a carbon black compound, this tire delivers superior braking performance.
More importantly, the Pilot Sport 4’s sidewall is much stiffer than its counterpart’s. As such, this model stands a better chance of maintaining its shape and offering better handling at high speed.
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Comparing on Snow Performance
While none of these tires is optimized for snowy conditions, the Primacy 4 can still be relied upon to keep you safe in mild-to-moderate inclement weather.
A high silica content in its tire’s tread compound has made it more flexible than the Pilot Sport, whose compound has a higher concentration of carbon black. Plus, thanks to its deeper tread depth, the Primacy 4 evacuates snow and slush more quickly and effectively.
That said, all the above design elements won’t mean much if you’re driving in harsh wintry conditions. So, if your area receives more than its fair share of snow, invest in dedicated snow tires.
Winner: Michelin Primacy 4
Comparing on Treadwear and Durability
Whatever your driving style and road conditions, the Primacy 4 will last longer.
That is simply because this tire prioritizes longevity over performance, whereas the reverse is true for the performance-oriented Pilot Sport 4.
Both these tires’ treadwear warranties also reflect this reality – while the Primacy 4 is warrantied for 55,000 to 60,000 miles (depending on tire size), the Pilot Sport 4 comes with a 20,000-mile treadwear warranty.
Winner: Michelin Primacy 4
Comparing on Comfort
The Primacy 4 is better for drivers who want a more comfortable driving experience.
This model comes with Michelin’s proprietary Comfort Control Technology that helps absorb road vibrations and dissipate road noise. Also, its sidewall is much softer than the Pilot Sport 4’s, explaining why this tire glides over minor road imperfections.
Winner: Michelin Primacy 4
Comparing on Price
The Pilot Sport 4 costs much higher than the Primacy 4.
This shouldn’t be surprising given that it’s a summer performance tire, whereas the Primacy 4 is an all-season model. So, only go for the Pilot Sport 4 if you have deep pockets. Or if you, too, prioritize performance over longevity.
Winner: Michelin Primacy 4
Pros and Cons
Let’s look at the areas where these tires excel as well as those where they disappoint.
Michelin Primacy 4 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers a quiet and comfortable ride
- Is more reliable to drive in mild wintry conditions
- Lasts much longer and comes with an extended treadwear warranty
Cons
- Lags the Pilot Sport 4 in high-speed stability and handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers exceptional steering responsiveness and feedback
- Delivers excellent high-speed stability and cornering grip
- Exceptional handling characteristics on dry roads
Cons
- Tends to be noisy at highway speeds
Which Tire Should You Choose?
If you prioritize comfort over performance, opt for the Michelin Primacy 4. This model offers a plush ride that can put your fellow passengers to sleep. It will also last longer than the Pilot Sport 4, while being helpful in mild snowy conditions.
However, if you want excellent high-speed stability, dry grip, and cornering performance, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is a no-brainer.
