Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV vs Michelin e.Primacy: The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV and Michelin e.Primacy are two tire options that cater to different market requirements. As the shift towards electric vehicles continues, the tire market is also adapting to meet the evolving needs of this industry. The e.Primacy, designed specifically for electric vehicles, has already earned the distinction of being the first carbon-neutral tire on the market. However, it does come with certain drawbacks to achieve its low rolling resistance values, as we previously discussed in our coverage of the e.Primacy versus the Primacy 4.
In this article, we will focus on the SUV segment and compare the e.Primacy to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV, which is an ultra high-performance (UHP) summer tire designed for SUVs. By pitting these two tire options against each other, we hope to answer the question of whether EV tires are truly worth it. Without further delay, let’s take a closer look at the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV and Michelin e.Primacy to see how they stack up against one another.
Table of Contents
Results
The following results were obtained from the 2023 Best Electric Vehicle Tires versus UHP Tires test, where ten tires were evaluated. The graph below depicts the comparison between Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV vs Michelin e.Primacy based on relevant performance categories, with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV serving as the reference point, indicated by the 100% mark.
The tire size of interest is 255/45 R20 which is a common tire size for Audi Q5 and the Mercedes-Benz Glc 300. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a Kia EV6 which the first dedicated electric vehicle by Kia.
Wet
Safety has always been a top priority, especially when it comes to wet performance. In wet braking tests, the e.Primacy surprisingly outperformed the Pilot Sport 4 SUV by 0.4 meters when coming to a complete stop from 80 km/h. However, when it came to wet handling, the Pilot Sport 4 SUV achieved a higher average lap speed, with only a slight advantage of 0.7 km/h.
When it came to aquaplaning, the Pilot Sport 4 SUV had the upper hand, exhibiting a slip speed advantage of 2 km/h in straight aquaplaning and a +0.64 m/sec2 advantage in lateral aquaplaning. This was not surprising, given that the e.Primacy has a tread depth of 6.3mm compared to the Pilot Sport 4 SUV’s 7.3mm. The e.Primacy was unable to dissipate water as efficiently due to its lower void volume. The Pilot Sport 4 SUV emerged as the top performer in aquaplaning, beating out the other nine tires to claim first place. In summary, the e.Primacy demonstrated good wet braking performance, while the Pilot Sport 4 SUV, with its deeper tread depth, excelled in wet handling and aquaplaning.
e.Primacy :
- +1.7% in wet braking
- -1.4% in wet handling (lap speed)
- -2.7% in wet circle
- -2.4% in straight aquaplaning
- -14% in curve aquaplaning
Dry
While shorter braking distances are achieved in dry conditions, performing well in such conditions is crucial as it represents everyday, typical usage. In this regard, the e.Primacy managed to match the Pilot Sport 4 SUV in terms of dry braking as both tires came to a stop at a distance of 34.9 meters from a speed of 100 km/h to 0 km/h. Similarly, in dry handling, both tires performed equally well, with the Pilot Sport 4 SUV edging out a lead of only 0.4 km/h. Overall, the two tires proved to be evenly matched when it came to their performance in dry conditions.
e.Primacy :
- 0% in dry braking
- -0.4% in dry handling (lap time)
Noise
e.Primacy manage to achieve a lower pass-by noise rating of 71.9 dB, compared to the 73 dB of Pilot Sport 4 SUV.
e.Primacy :
- +1.7% in objective noise (-1.1 dB)
Rolling Resistance
One of the main requirements for EV tires is to have low rolling resistance, which in turn enables longer range. The e.Primacy holds an EU “A” label rating for rolling resistance, while the Pilot Sport 4 SUV holds a “C” label rating. However, the e.Primacy not only met the label’s limits (<=6.5 N/kN), but it exceeded them significantly by achieving a rolling resistance coefficient of 5.9 N/kN, which is 10% lower than the requirement for an A label. In contrast, the Pilot Sport 4 SUV with a “C” label only managed a rolling resistance coefficient of 8 N/kN, which is at the upper end of the C limit (7.8 ≤ RRC ≤ 9.0).
With its dedicated EV concept tire, the e.Primacy clearly outperformed the Pilot Sport 4 SUV in terms of energy consumption, with a consumption rate of 13.4 KW/100 km compared to the Pilot Sport 4 SUV’s 15.3 KW/100 km. Overall, it is evident that the e.Primacy’s superiority in rolling resistance and energy consumption has been demonstrated in this test.
e.Primacy :
- +35.6% in rolling resistance
- +14.2% in energy consumption
Price
As Michelin is a renowned pioneer in technology, it is not surprising that its products are among the most expensive in the market. The Pilot Sport 4 SUV, positioned in a higher premium segment compared to the e.Primacy, commanded a premium of €13.
Tire size: 255/45 R20
Pilot Sport 4 SUV : €335
e.Primacy : €322
Difference: -4% more cheaper for e.Primacy.
Summary
Overall, both tires have demonstrated distinct differences in their intended usage. The Pilot Sport 4 SUV excelled in wet and dry handling performance, while the e.Primacy surprised us with better wet braking and exterior noise results while having the same level of dry braking performance. Since there is a clear segmentation differentiation between both products, we cannot recommend a clear winner in this comparison. Thank you for reading!