Last updated on July 25th, 2024 at 11:48 am
Quick highlights
| Tire type | Grand Touring All-season Tire |
| Price range | $182-$369 |
| Run-flat | No |
| Vehicles type | Sedans, Crossovers, and SUVs |
| Driving conditions | Dry, Wet, and Snow |
The tire that almost every EV driver is familiar with is the Michelin Primacy MXM4. It has been the OE tire for new EVs and some other conventional luxury vehicles, which is why it is popular in the grand touring tires category.
This tire is the choice of car manufacturers due to its luxury performance, low fuel consumption, and nature-friendly technology, which deliver smoother rides by reducing environmental impact.
The tire was launched in 2011, and after 13-14 years, this Michelin Primacy MXM4 is still rolling on the roads and selling in the retailer’s shop. The tire was so overperforming when it was launched that it is still a driveable tire after many years.
Usually, drivers prefer this tre with their EVs or luxury vehicles because of its smoother ride and noiseless drive. This tire does not provide something unique. Many tires, especially in the grand touring tire category, deliver a smoother quality drive than this tire, so why is it still in demand?
Let’s find out whether this tire is still a good choice in 2024 or if you should move on to better versions, which were more recently launched and are being made based on today’s road standards. But first, let’s discuss how Primacy MXM4 was built.
Table of Contents
Tread, Compound, and Internal Structure
This Primacy MXM4 is a Michelin total performance tire, which means it is manufactured to deliver reliable performance, long treadwear performance, luxury feel, and fuel-saving performance. The tire’s build is designed based on that.
The tire features Michelin Green X technology, which ensures low rolling resistance and releases less CO2, making it environmentally friendly. Michelin’s comfort control technology results in a comfortable and noiseless ride, enabling the optimized footprint.
The performance is optimized due to a sunflower oil-based and silica-based compound, which holds the tire firmly in dry and wet road conditions. The 3D sipes enhance the tire’s performance in wintery and slippery conditions.
Wet Road Performance
Tires’ wet performance is really important because rain can happen anytime, especially if the tire is all-season in a grand touring category. So, when it comes to Michelin Primacy MXM4 in wet conditions, the tire is not as good as the new all-season tire.
The tire slips if the water is high on the road or if you are driving at a faster pace. So driving this tire in wet conditions is not the most reliable option. At low rain, or at slow speed, the tire will be good, but contrary to that, it will be a mess to drive.
The silica-based compound won’t help that much if the tread design is not optimized for wet conditions. The narrow grooves and fewer edgy ribs make it underperformer in wet conditions. It might be a good performer at that time, but in 2024, there are far better options in the all-season category for rainy weather.
Dry Road Performance
Dry roads and tracks are the best conditions for driving this tire. Although its response is not as good as that of a high-performance tire, you will still enjoy the ride with it on fast, dry tracks.
The tire features a symmetrical pattern with continuous ribs, which is perfect for a responsive and smoother drive. It is not only excellent on the fast track but also perfect for everyday city road commutes.
When it comes to highways, you will also get perfect results there as well. The tire has a very stable handling and achieves reliable control on highways. The short brakes and quick acceleration make it a favorable tire to drive in warm weather.
All that, along with a comfortable and quiet drive, makes this tire still popular in 2024 for dry conditions, especially with expensive sedans and electric vehicles.
Winter Terrain Performance
As we mentioned earlier, this Michelin Primacy MXM4 is not the best performer in wet conditions, and the same goes for winter terrains. Both of these conditions require resistance to stick in slippery conditions, which this tire lacks, resulting in poor performance in these conditions.
When it comes to light snow conditions, the tire does perform moderately; it is barely driveable though. However, when the conditions worsen, the tire drops all its support and dances around with zero control.
This is why this Michelin MXM4 is not the most reliable tire for driving in winter conditions; if you want to buy this tire for its comfort and smooth drive, you must buy a separate winter terrain tire if there is snow.
Compared to newer all-season touring tires, this tire’s performance on winter terrain is far lower than standard, so if snowdrops in your driving routes, you should go with newer all-season grand touring tires.
Comfort and Noise
Another great thing, rather than dry road performance, that makes this Primacy MXM4 so desirable even after many years is its comfortable and quieter driving experience.
Due to its optimized footprint, the tire contacts the ground effortlessly, making it a durable and quiet tire on highways and city streets. With that, the cabin comfort of this tire is also very luxurious, making it a smoother tire to drive in all seasons.
The combination of both peaceful and comfortable drive delivers a smoother and more reliable ride all year round. With low rolling resistance features, this tire consumes less energy and fuel, making it a safe and eco-friendly tire to drive in 2024.
The durability of the Tire
The Michelin Primacy MXM4 comes with a 55K miles treadwear warranty, which is still quite the same as with newer grand touring tires. When it comes to durability, this tire is still competitive.
Unlike other tires, this tire’s dry-condition performance doesn’t drop after the tread wears off, so, with durability, it is reliable for long-run performance.
One important thing is that the tire has a softer sidewall and tread, so driving in rough conditions might damage the tread and result in early wear. Make sure to drive in recommended conditions, and proper maintenance will enhance this tire’s life and performance.
Comparison with competitive tires
Michelin Primacy MXM4 V.S. Michelin CrossCliamte 2
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is a relatively new tire and one of the best of this time. It’s a grand touring tire in the all-season category, the same as the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tire. The difference between these tires is that the Primacy MXM4 focuses more on comfort and Eco, while the CrossClimate 2 is more toward overall all-season performance.
When it comes to performance, CrossClimate 2 is a far better option in any drive conditions and weather, especially in wet and snowy conditions. It has better treadwear durability and a smoother ride than MXM4. Surprisingly, the rates of CrossClimate 2 are also cheaper than MXM4 while being an 8-year-old tire.
The only advantages of Primacy MXM4 over CrossClaimte 2 are its response and better fuel mileage in dry conditions. Other than that, CrossCliamte 2 is a winner among both tires.
Michelin Primacy MXM4 V.S. Michelin Primacy All Season
The Michelin Primacy all-season is a standard touring tire in the all-season category. Compared to the Primacy MXM4, the Primacy All Season is a more expensive tire and has better driving in wet and snowy conditions.
Both tires are quite similar in terms of comfort and pricing. However, the MXM4 is a better tire for passenger cars in terms of dry-road handling and durability.
Based on that, you can pick the tire according to your needs. If you want a more responsive and durable drive, go with Michelin Primacy MXM4, and if you wish to improve wet and snow performance, go with Michelin Primacy All Season.
Michelin Primacy MXM4 V.S. Michelin Defender 2
The Michelin Defender 2 is also a new tire and the successor to the famous Defender T+H tire. It is also a standard touring tire, so you may not get as comfortable a ride as the Primacy MXM4.
Other than that, the Defender 2 is a better tire in almost every other aspect. It performs better in dry, wet, and snowy conditions; it has far more durable treadwear, better grip, responsive handling, and cheaper rates.
So, if you want a better tire at affordable rates, then Michelin Defender 2 will be a better option. However, if you care about the environment and are looking for more luxurious rides, then Michelin Primacy MXM4 will be a better option.
Final Feedback
As you can see, in 2024, the Michelin Primacy MXM4 is still relevant and better in some places. So, if you have decided to pick an MXM4 in 2024, it won’t be a bad decision, as it is still a very competitive tire and performs very similarly to other all-season grand touring tires.
