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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Michelin Primacy 4 vs Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61 — 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 Yokohama

Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61

Summer Premium Touring tires

Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
67/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
85/100
11 owner reviews
Dry
84
Wet
77
Comfort
56
Noise
35
Treadwear
86
Handling
91

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better noise, comfort and wet. Pick the Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61 if handling and treadwear matter 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 3
A — Michelin Primacy 4
87
B — Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61
84
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BluEarth XT AE61
Professional tests (TWG score) 88 77
Tyre Reviews owners 85 95
Dry Braking (% of best) 95% 92%
Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 98%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 6
A — Michelin Primacy 4
83
B — Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61
77
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BluEarth XT AE61
Professional tests (TWG score) 85 69
Tyre Reviews owners 81 89
Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 88%
Wet Circle (% of best) 94% 98%
Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 96%

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 21
A — Michelin Primacy 4
77
B — Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61
56
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BluEarth XT AE61
Professional tests (TWG score) 74 45
Tyre Reviews owners 83 72

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Primacy 4 leads by 40
A — Michelin Primacy 4
75
B — Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61
35
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BluEarth XT AE61
Professional tests (TWG score) 75 35

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) BluEarth XT AE61 leads by 4
A — Michelin Primacy 4
82
B — Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61
86
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BluEarth XT AE61
Tyre Reviews owners 82 86

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) BluEarth XT AE61 leads by 14
A — Michelin Primacy 4
77
B — Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61
91
Why this score
SourcePrimacy 4BluEarth XT AE61
Tyre Reviews owners 77 91
DriverReviews owners 86

Scores at a glance

Michelin Primacy 4 vs Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Primacy 4Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61
Relative Score 81 74
Dry 87 84
Wet 83 77
Comfort 77 56
Noise 75 35
Treadwear 82 86
Handling 77 91

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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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?
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 86% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 85% #8/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +0.7 Same test
Dry Braking Dry 95% #3/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 92% #6/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +3.1 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #12/13 · Tyre Reviews Best Summer Touring Tyres 98% #5/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +1 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 82% #5/13 · Tyre Reviews Best Summer Touring Tyres 77% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +4.7 Different tests
Noise Other 98% #3/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test 95% #1/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +2.3 Different tests
Range Other 92% #3/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 91% #6/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +1 Same test
Value Other 100% #8/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 96% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +4.3 Same test
Wear Other 92% #2/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 62% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +29.8 Same test
Overall Ranking Overall 25% #4/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 14% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +10.7 Same test
Straight Aqua Straight 88% #8/8 · 2024 AMS Summer SUV Tyre Test 80% #8/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +8.5 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 88% #2/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 75% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +12.5 Same test
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #5/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 0% #8/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 0 Same test
Wet Braking Wet 91% #5/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 88% #6/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +3.5 Same test
Wet Circle Wet 94% #9/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test -3.9 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 98% #12/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test 96% #5/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test +1.7 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 Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61

The Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61 is widely regarded as a high-performance tire that excels in wet and dry handling, offering impressive grip and stability for SUVs and crossovers. While users frequently praise its responsive steering and cornering capabilities, the consensus is divided regarding ride comfort and cabin noise, with several owners noting that the stiff sidewalls can lead to a harsh experience on imperfect road surfaces.

Pros

  • Excellent grip and braking performance in both wet and dry conditions
  • Responsive and sharp steering handling
  • High stability during cornering due to rigid sidewall construction
  • Competitive price point for a premium-branded tire
  • Even and durable tread wear

Cons

  • Noticeable cabin noise, particularly on aged or rough road surfaces
  • Stiff sidewall construction results in a harsh ride on bumpy or unpaved roads
  • Comfort levels are highly dependent on road surface quality

Observations

  • SUV and crossover owners generally report high satisfaction with handling and cornering stability.
  • Users driving larger, heavier vehicles like the Alphard Hybrid noted that the tire's stiffness is more pronounced on uneven road surfaces, impacting perceived comfort.
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

Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61

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

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Primacy 4 B · Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresSummer Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin

Yokohama

Winner: Michelin Primacy 4 — better noise, comfort and wet. Pick the Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61 if handling and treadwear matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 75 vs 35 on noise.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 77 vs 56 on comfort.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61 scores 91 vs 77 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Primacy 4 scores 83 vs 77 on wet.

Tire A · Michelin Primacy 4
Tire B · Yokohama BluEarth XT AE61

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.