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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Michelin Energy Saver vs Michelin Primacy 4 — Compared (September 2026)

Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.

Tire A Michelin

Michelin Energy Saver

Summer Premium Touring tires

Michelin Energy Saver tread pattern
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
76/100
137 owner reviews
Dry
81
Wet
76
Snow
52
Comfort
80
Noise
37
Treadwear
85
Handling
71

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Michelin

Michelin Primacy 4

Summer Premium Touring tires

Michelin Primacy 4 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
90/100
23 professional tests
User signal (40%)
79/100
185 owner reviews
Dry
87
Wet
83
Snow
–
Comfort
77
Noise
75
Treadwear
82
Handling
77

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better noise, wet and dry. Pick the Michelin Energy Saver if comfort and treadwear matter most to you.
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Category breakdown

7 categories, side by side

Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.

Dry

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 6
A — Michelin Energy Saver
81
B — Michelin Primacy 4
87
Why this score
SourceEnergy SaverPrimacy 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 79 88
Tyre Reviews owners 83 85
Dry Braking (% of best) 92% 97%
Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 99%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 7
A — Michelin Energy Saver
76
B — Michelin Primacy 4
83
Why this score
SourceEnergy SaverPrimacy 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 79 85
Tyre Reviews owners 71 81
Wet Braking (% of best) 89% 91%
Wet Handling (% of best) 95% 89%

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Michelin Energy Saver
52
B — Michelin Primacy 4
–

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Energy Saver leads by 3
A — Michelin Energy Saver
80
B — Michelin Primacy 4
77
Why this score
SourceEnergy SaverPrimacy 4
Professional tests (TWG score) – 74
Tyre Reviews owners 80 83

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 38
A — Michelin Energy Saver
37
B — Michelin Primacy 4
75
Why this score
SourceEnergy SaverPrimacy 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 37 75

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Energy Saver leads by 3
A — Michelin Energy Saver
85
B — Michelin Primacy 4
82
Why this score
SourceEnergy SaverPrimacy 4
Tyre Reviews owners 85 82

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 6
A — Michelin Energy Saver
71
B — Michelin Primacy 4
77
Why this score
SourceEnergy SaverPrimacy 4
Tyre Reviews owners 71 77
DriverReviews owners – 86

Scores at a glance

Michelin Energy Saver vs Michelin Primacy 4: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Energy SaverMichelin Primacy 4
Relative Score 73 81
Dry 81 87
Wet 76 83
Snow 52 –
Comfort 80 77
Noise 37 75
Treadwear 85 82
Handling 71 77

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Personalize

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Important
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Test data

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryTire ATire BΔBoth?
Dry Braking Dry 92% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 97% #5/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test -5.3 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 99% #12/13 · Tyre Reviews Best Summer Touring Tyres -0.3 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 88% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 73% #1/8 · 2024 AMS Summer SUV Tyre Test +15.1 Different tests
Noise Other 95% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 97% #2/13 · Tyre Reviews Best Summer Touring Tyres -1.2 Different tests
Price Other 100% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 100% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 0 Different tests
Value Other 79% #11/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 52% #16/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +27.1 Different tests
Wear Other 95% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 86% #4/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +9.6 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 7% #15/47 · 2018 AutoBild Summer Tyre Overview 25% #4/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test -18.3 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 95% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 97% #4/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test -2.3 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 0% #5/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 0 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 89% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 91% #5/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test -2.6 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 95% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test 89% #5/13 · Tyre Reviews Best Summer Touring Tyres +6.3 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Michelin Energy Saver

The Michelin Energy Saver is widely regarded as a class-leading tire for longevity and fuel efficiency, often exceeding 40,000–60,000 miles for many users. While it excels in dry conditions and provides a comfortable, quiet ride, it receives consistent criticism for a decline in wet-weather performance as the tread wears down and a tendency for the rubber compound to develop sidewall cracking over time.

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and durability
  • Noticeable improvements in fuel economy
  • Low road noise and high ride comfort
  • Reliable dry-weather handling and stability

Cons

  • Significant loss of wet-weather grip as the tire ages
  • Susceptibility to sidewall cracking and dry rot after 3-4 years
  • Hard compound can feel 'skating' or insecure in cold or wet conditions
  • Lack of road feedback for spirited driving

Observations

  • Users with heavier vehicles or those driving on rough, pothole-prone roads noted that the sidewalls can be fragile and prone to damage.
  • Drivers of small hatchbacks (e.g., VW Polo, Ford Fiesta) frequently reported that the tire significantly improved steering lightness and overall handling compared to budget alternatives.
  • Owners of high-mileage commuters and taxis consistently praise the tire for its cost-per-mile value, despite the performance drop-off in later years.
Tire B Michelin Primacy 4

The Michelin Primacy 4 is widely regarded as a premium, long-lasting touring tire that excels in comfort, noise reduction, and consistent wet-weather performance. While it is highly praised for its longevity and safety, some enthusiasts find its handling 'floaty' or lacking in road feedback compared to sport-oriented tires, leading to a polarized experience depending on driving style.

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and longevity
  • High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
  • Consistent performance even as the tire wears
  • Strong wet-weather grip and aquaplaning resistance

Cons

  • Vague steering feel and lack of road feedback
  • Soft sidewalls can feel 'mushy' or 'floaty' during spirited driving
  • High price point compared to competitors
  • Increased noise levels as the tire ages

Observations

  • Users with heavier vehicles or EVs often report a 'floaty' sensation, which some mitigate by increasing tire pressure.
  • Drivers of performance-oriented hatchbacks often find the tire's touring-focused design disappointing compared to UHP alternatives.
  • The tire is frequently noted for transforming the ride quality of vehicles previously fitted with harsh run-flat tires.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin Energy Saver

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Michelin Primacy 4

Positive

Community opinion on the Michelin Primacy 4 is largely positive, praising its exceptional wet braking capabilities, impressive longevity, low cabin noise, and smooth ride quality. While some users note limitations in heavy snow or rougher tarmac surfaces, it is widely recommended as a top-tier touring tire for daily driving compared to sportier alternatives like the Pilot Sport series.

r/i20nline_india ·21 upvotes ·2025-07-21

“Review: Michelin Primacy 4 ST I own a 2023 N8 DCT and recently changed all four tyres from the stock CEATs after one of the tyres’ sidewall was punctured on hitting a rather deep pothole at high speed. Cost: INR 9,750 per tyre Existing tyre buyback: INR 1,000 per tyre (~15k kms) Review: I’ve been using the new tyres for a few weeks now and I’m happy with the upgrade. The difference is noticeable, but only if you pay attention. I’d say a non-savvy person won’t notice anything different unless you ask them to pay attention. At low speeds, the road noise is reduced and the vehicle is noticeably silent (almost dead silent if the roads are smooth and the engine is at low revs) and smoother. At high speeds, the noise level difference is not very noticeable due to the engine and wind noise, but the smoothness and grip is noticeably better. That said, I wouldn’t say the stock tyres are bad (in terms of both - noise and grip) as a lot of reviewers like to point out; definitely not a night and day difference for me. Lastly, I believe the fuel efficiency has improved due to the lower rolling resistance, but I don’t have enough data to claim this confidently. My verdict is to only upgrade if your current tyres are worn out. Personally, I don’t think spending close to 40k is worth it for the budget conscious. But if you have the money to spare, you will definitely be happy with the upgrade. Read more”

r/AutomobileRO ·2 upvotes ·2025-09-22

“Am avut primacy 4 pe o electrica. Destul de dezamagit de faptul ca dupa ~ 28.000 km s-au tocit rau de au ajuns cam la 3 mm. Placute la condus, silentioase, dar nu cele mai aderente. Pilot sport 4 pe aceiasi electrica cu primacy 4. Huruie de te doare capul. Aderenta nu o simt neaparat wow fata de primacy 4. Nu le mai suport si abia astept sa le trec pe iarna, oricum asta fiind ultima incaltare cu ele. Pe o termica am primacy 5, si sunt cele mai ok din experienta mea. Cele mai silentioase si aderente din cele 3. Dupa 20.000 km uzura a scazut cam cu 1 mm. Recomandarea mea e sa alegi primacy 5 fara ezitare.”

r/nzev ·1 upvote ·2026-02-11

“Both our Polestar2 (new) and 2016 Leaf (Jap import) arrived with Primacy 4s on them. The FWD Polestar needed fronts replaced at ~35k km and being 245/45 R19s Primacy were too pricey so went with Kumho Ecsta PS71 equivalents for a lot cheaper and negligible difference in performance. The rears on the Polestar are still going strong at 45k km and look like at least 60k km will be likely. We also fitted Kumhos on our previous Leaf and were very satisfied with performance and life.”

r/nzev ·1 upvote ·2026-02-11

“When I bought my freshly imported 2014 Nissan Leaf in Sept 2020 it had 27,xxx km on the odometer and a full set of Michelin Primacy 4 that were sidewall dated from very late 2018, so likely only very low mileage on them. I put another 47,000km on them before replacing with a full set of Toyo Proxes C100 Plus in April 2024 which have also been great. The Michelin fronts were certainly very worn particularly the shoulders. I really rate Toyos so would encourage you to have a look. I’ve since put 21,000km on the Toyos and even after 12,500km, in May 2025 at their most recent WOF, the fronts still measured at 7mm and rears 8mm. P.S I paid $900 total for the 4 x Toyos inc. fitting, disposal etc.”

Top themes
#Wet braking and grip#Ride comfort and low noise#Tread wear and longevity#Comparison with Pilot Sport#Performance on EVs and hybrids

Based on 31 community posts

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Energy Saver B · Michelin Primacy 4
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresSummer Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin

Michelin

Winner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better noise, wet and dry. Pick the Michelin Energy Saver if comfort and treadwear matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 75 vs 37 on noise.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 83 vs 76 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 87 vs 81 on dry.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 77 vs 71 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin Energy Saver
Tire B · Michelin Primacy 4

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.