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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Michelin Primacy 4 vs Sumitomo BC100 — 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 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
Comfort
77
Noise
75
Treadwear
82
Handling
77

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Sumitomo

Sumitomo BC100

Summer Touring tires

Sumitomo BC100 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
70/100
18 owner reviews
Dry
75
Wet
80
Comfort
72
Noise
96
Treadwear
73
Handling
66

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better dry, handling and treadwear. Pick the Sumitomo BC100 if noise matters most to you.
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Category breakdown

6 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 12
A — Michelin Primacy 4
87
B — Sumitomo BC100
75
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BC100
Professional tests (TWG score) 88 75
Tyre Reviews owners 85 75
Dry Braking (% of best) 97% 96%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 3
A — Michelin Primacy 4
83
B — Sumitomo BC100
80
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BC100
Professional tests (TWG score) 85 85
Tyre Reviews owners 81 72
Wet Braking (% of best) 94% 92%
Wet Handling (% of best) 95% 100%

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 5
A — Michelin Primacy 4
77
B — Sumitomo BC100
72
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BC100
Professional tests (TWG score) 74 –
Tyre Reviews owners 83 72

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) BC100 leads by 21
A — Michelin Primacy 4
75
B — Sumitomo BC100
96
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BC100
Professional tests (TWG score) 75 96

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 9
A — Michelin Primacy 4
82
B — Sumitomo BC100
73
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BC100
Tyre Reviews owners 82 73

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 11
A — Michelin Primacy 4
77
B — Sumitomo BC100
66
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BC100
Tyre Reviews owners 77 66
DriverReviews owners 86 80

Scores at a glance

Michelin Primacy 4 vs Sumitomo BC100: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Primacy 4Sumitomo BC100
Relative Score 81 77
Dry 87 75
Wet 83 80
Comfort 77 72
Noise 75 96
Treadwear 82 73
Handling 77 66

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

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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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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

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 97% #5/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 96% #7/8 · 2019 Mid Range Tyre Test +1.4 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 90% #2/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 91% #6/8 · 2019 Mid Range Tyre Test -1 Different tests
Noise Other 97% #2/7 · The Best Touring Tyres for 2025 Tested 100% #7/8 · 2019 Mid Range Tyre Test -2.6 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 14% #7/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 14% #7/8 · 2019 Mid Range Tyre Test 0 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 82% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 93% #5/8 · 2019 Mid Range Tyre Test -10.5 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 86% #7/12 · 2020 Tyre Reviews Ultimate Summer Tyre Test 91% #5/8 · 2019 Mid Range Tyre Test -5.1 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 86% #7/12 · 2020 Tyre Reviews Ultimate Summer Tyre Test 89% #8/8 · 2019 Mid Range Tyre Test -2.8 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 94% #6/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 92% #7/8 · 2019 Mid Range Tyre Test +1.4 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 95% #6/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 100% #6/8 · 2019 Mid Range Tyre Test -4.6 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 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.
Tire B Sumitomo BC100

The Sumitomo BC100 is generally regarded as a capable budget-friendly tire that offers surprising performance for daily commuting and standard driving conditions. While many users praise its wet and dry road confidence, others report inconsistent handling characteristics and premature wear, suggesting performance may vary significantly depending on vehicle weight and driving style.

Pros

  • Excellent value for the price point
  • Strong braking performance in emergency situations
  • Reliable wet and dry traction for standard daily driving
  • Good road-holding confidence for family-oriented vehicles

Cons

  • Tendency toward understeer during aggressive cornering
  • Reports of premature tread wear
  • Increased road noise on certain vehicle types
  • Inconsistent grip levels on imperfect road surfaces

Observations

  • Heavier vehicles, such as the 1.8-ton Volvo V90, may experience traction loss during acceleration on imperfect surfaces.
  • Users operating commercial vans reported poor handling and increased noise levels compared to passenger car users.
  • Smaller, lighter vehicles like the Fiat 500 reported unpredictable handling transitions when pushed into corners.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

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

Tire B

Sumitomo BC100

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

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Primacy 4 B · Sumitomo BC100
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresSummer Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin

Sumitomo

Winner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better dry, handling and treadwear. Pick the Sumitomo BC100 if noise matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Sumitomo BC100 scores 96 vs 75 on noise.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 87 vs 75 on dry.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 77 vs 66 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 82 vs 73 on treadwear.

Tire A · Michelin Primacy 4
Tire B · Sumitomo BC100

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.