The successor to the outstanding 3ST and the undisputed best ultra high performance tire out there in the market. I present to you all the Michelin Primacy 4st. Based on press test results from Europe, the Primacy 4 has came first 3 times while consistently being highly recommended by all magazines since it was launched. Let’s take a look at some facts to see how well this tire performs.
Table of Contents
1. Wet braking.
Wet braking has somewhat been a standard test where Michelin really differs from other competitors. Here again, we saw how well Primacy 4 shine by stopping 2.5m less than other premium brands. Apart from the results above, there was a joint press test done by Zhihu and Auto Bild which included most of the current market leaders in the touring car segment. In the wet braking test conducted, the Primacy 4 claim top spot. It even beat the highly sorted Michelin Pilot sport 4.
Primacy 4 again ran supreme on having the best wet braking tire of its class. This is not surprising as Michelin consistently is able to ace in wet performance while balancing out the other criteria’s nicely.
2. Wet handling
The ability to handle your car during wet conditions are deem critical to get yourself out of trouble. When the tire reacts to your steering input, you should be able to steer yourself out of trouble more easily. From the joint test, Primacy 4 came out on top again this time having the highest average speed throughout the circuit.
3. Aquaplaning
Aquaplaning seems to be the only real “weakness” of Primacy 4 as it came in 4th in the standings by clocking in 70.7 km/h at a 15% slip. This was considering a water layer of 8mm which is pretty much uncommon unless you meet a puddle of water.
4. Dry braking
While the Primacy line has been known for its wet performance, not much was known about it’s dry performance. In the press test , Primacy 4 came joint first in dry braking. It was tied with continental Continental Max contact 6 while out performing PS4 , Dunlop SP Sport MAXX and the Turanze RE003 from Bridgestone.
5. Rolling resistance
Primacy 4 once again came in top when it comes to rolling resistance. They were only beaten by Landsail LS588 which was in a different league when it comes to the wet braking results.
6. Wear
With a UTQG of 340, the Primacy 4 was labelled the same level as it’s predecessor Primacy 3ST. Wear performance is not a high requirement for the touring segment but it needs to be reasonable to keep the wallet in check. Primacy 4 definitely fit the bill.
7. Cost
Being the best tire in its class, Primacy 4st is the most expensive tire you can get in the market. As of writing, a 225/45 R17 cost RM 429 compare to RM352 of Continental Max Contact 6. The tires are definitely not cheap, but its worth every ringgit you pay for.
| Name | Tire Size | Price(RM) |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 195/60R15 | 320 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 195/65R15 | 325 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 195/55R16 | 440 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 195/60R16 | 445 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 205/55R16 | 455 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 215/55R16 | 510 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 225/55R16 | 600 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 205/60R16 | 435 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 215/60R16 | 450 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 215/65R16 | 500 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 205/65R16 | 505 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 225/60R16 | 600 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 235/60R16 | 580 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 215/45R17 | 460 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 225/45R17 | 558 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 215/50R17 | 540 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 215/55R17 | 528 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 225/50R17 | 568 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 235/45R17 | 660 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 215/60R17 | 600 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 225/55R17 | 650 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 245/45R17 | 765 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 235/50R17 | 780 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 235/55R17 | 730 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 225/60R17 | 690 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 215/45R18 | 580 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 235/50R18 | 730 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 225/55R18 | 718 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 245/45R19 | 970 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 215/55R18 | 680 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 225/45R18 | 660 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 245/45R18 | 788 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 245/50R18 | 833 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 255/45R18 | 830 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 255/40R19 | 1190 |
| Michelin Primacy 4st | 255/40R19 | 1190 |
Summary
Overall Primacy 4st is an absolute beast. Top in the class for wet braking, wet handling, dry braking and rolling resistance. To keep it simple, fantastic tire and definitely worth your money.