Michelin Primacy 5 vs. Vredestein Ultrac – A Battle of Unequals? Fresh off its 2025 debut, the all-new Michelin Primacy 5 has already made waves on the test circuit, toppling segment leaders with ease and signaling its intent to dominate the touring class. Now, it meets the Vredestein Ultrac — a lesser-known contender with a solid reputation but modest pedigree. Can the Ultrac punch above its weight, or will the Primacy 5 make this another effortless win? The battle is on — and Michelin isn’t pulling any punches.
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Results: Vredestein Ultrac vs Michelin Primacy 5
The results presented here are from the UTAC/Aftonbladet Summer Tire Test, where 8 of the best summer tire models were selected plus an interesting addition of 4 all season tires. The accompanying graph provides a side-by-side comparison of the Vredestein Ultrac vs Michelin Primacy 5 across various performance categories, with the Vredestein Ultrac serving as the benchmark at 100%.
The tire size of interest is the 225/45R17 tire size, a popular choice for vehicles like the Volkswagen Golf & Toyota Corolla. For further insights into various tire sizes, feel free to consult our latest tire size table. The tests were conducted using a standard Audi A3 series as the test vehicle.
Wet
In wet braking, the Michelin Primacy 5 stopped 3.5 meters shorter than the Vredestein Ultrac, which translates to a 11% shorter braking distance. Both tires posted the same wet handling lap time of 77.4 seconds, showing no advantage in outright speed. However, the subjective wet handling score tells a different story — the Primacy 5 scored 10 points compared to the Ultrac’s 8, giving Michelin a 10% edge in driver confidence and control. In straight-line aquaplaning, the Primacy 5 also held a slight advantage, maintaining grip at 79.4 km/h versus the Ultrac’s 78.6 km/h — a difference of 0.8 km/h or about 1%.
Overall, while both tires perform equally in lap speed, Michelin clearly leads in braking, feedback, and aquaplaning resistance — proving it’s not just faster, but also safer and more reassuring in the wet.
Primacy 5 :
- +11% in wet braking
- 0% in wet handling
- +10% in subj wet handling
- +1% in aquaplaning
Dry
In dry braking, the Michelin Primacy 5 stopped 0.9 meters shorter than the Vredestein Ultrac, a 3% improvement in stopping distance. When it comes to subjective dry handling, the Primacy 5 scored 9 out of 10 compared to the Ultrac’s 8, giving it a 5% advantage in overall driver feel and cornering confidence.
While the difference in braking is minimal, the Primacy 5’s sharper handling feedback adds to its edge, confirming its superior consistency even on dry roads.
Primacy 5 :
- +3% in dry braking
- +5% in dry handling
Wear
While mileage wasn’t directly tested in this comparison, previous wear tests show that the Vredestein Ultrac managed just 15,400 km, while the earlier Michelin Primacy 4+ reached 38,950 km. The new Michelin Primacy 5, with its claimed 22% increase in durability over the 4+, is estimated to last around 47,519 km. That’s a staggering 32,119 km more than the Ultrac — translating to a massive 209% longer tread life. In short, the Primacy 5 doesn’t just win on performance — it lasts more than triple the distance.
Primacy 5 :
- +209% in mileage (estimated)
Noise
In terms of subjective noise comfort, the Michelin Primacy 5 scored 10 points compared to the Vredestein Ultrac’s 8, giving it a 10% advantage. This suggests the Primacy 5 delivers a noticeably quieter and more refined ride, further reinforcing its position as the more premium and comfort-oriented touring tire.
Primacy 5 :
- +10% in subjective noise
Rolling Resistance
The Michelin Primacy 5 recorded a rolling resistance of 7.74 N/kN, slightly lower than the Vredestein Ultrac’s 7.87 N/kN. This 0.13 N/kN difference translates to about a 2% improvement in efficiency, meaning the Primacy 5 requires less energy to keep rolling — a small but meaningful gain in fuel economy or EV range.
Primacy 5 :
- +2% in rolling resistance
Price
For size 225/45 R17, the Vredestein Ultrac is priced at €91, while the Michelin Primacy 5 costs €119 — making the Primacy 5 31% more expensive than the Ultrac.
Tire size: 225/45 R17
- Ultrac : € 91
- Primacy 5 : € 119
Difference: +31% more expensive for Primacy 5
Summary
As a tire expert, the results speak for themselves — the Michelin Primacy 5 clearly dominates. It delivers significantly better wet and dry braking, sharper handling, superior ride comfort, lower rolling resistance, and a tread life that lasts over three times longer than the Vredestein Ultrac. While it comes at a higher price, the performance, safety, and longevity easily justify the premium.
Dr Edwin Pang