Comparison: Continental UltraContact vs. Michelin Primacy 4+ vs. Falken e.Ziex vs. Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 vs. Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV

Wet performance is where the picture becomes more nuanced. The UltraContact's wet braking score of 85 is competitive, but its aquaplaning resistance is a genuine weak point — a score of 64.5 leaves meaningful room for improvement, and ADAC's testing flagged slight wet-road weaknesses as the tyre's primary concern. If you regularly drive through standing water at speed, this is a factor worth weighing. The Primacy 4+ presents a more complex story. Its aquaplaning score of 76.9 is substantially stronger than the UltraContact's, and Michelin's EverGrip technology is specifically designed to preserve wet braking performance as the tread wears — a real advantage for anyone who runs tyres to the legal limit. That said, newer tests from 2025 are candid that the Primacy 4+'s wet grip is beginning to show its age relative to the latest competition, with longer stopping distances and slower wet handling times compared to newer designs. For most everyday conditions the Michelin still delivers reassuring wet behaviour; just don't expect it to match the absolute wet leaders in today's field.

On dry roads the UltraContact is genuinely impressive, posting a dry braking score of 91 — among the best in its class — and strong handling stability that ADAC confirmed in 2023. Continental has clearly prioritised the dry-road safety case, and real owners notice it: a Mercedes E-Class driver praised the step-up in composure compared to older rubber, while the tyre consistently earns strong grip mentions in user feedback. The Primacy 4+ is no slouch either, with Autobild testers in 2024 crediting it with short dry braking distances and precise steering response, and its objective dry handling scores are competitive. However, with a dry braking score of 86.2 versus the UltraContact's 91, Continental holds a measurable advantage when stopping distances on dry asphalt are what matter. One area where the Michelin draws attention is a noted tendency toward oversteer during rapid lane changes under certain conditions — a quirk flagged in independent testing that doesn't affect most everyday driving but is worth knowing.

This is where the Michelin Primacy 4+ pulls clearly ahead. Its comfort score of 86.6 and noise score of 84.1 outperform the UltraContact's 75 in both categories by a significant margin, and tyre reviewers in 2025 ranked it best-in-test for comfort and second quietest overall. Real-world owners consistently back this up — a Mercedes E-Class driver moving to the UltraContact described it as dramatically quieter than their previous tyres, which underlines just how much Continental has also improved in this area, yet the Michelin still leads. Rolling resistance favours the Michelin too, at 82.4, contributing to lower fuel bills over time. Both tyres deliver exceptional mileage — the UltraContact scores 88 here, the Michelin 83.8 — meaning either choice should give strong tread life. The Continental's price draws some criticism from buyers, though the combination of mileage and fuel efficiency softens the long-term cost. On Heureka, low noise is the most frequently cited positive for the UltraContact, mentioned seven times, suggesting Continental's refinement work has resonated with owners even if the Michelin remains the class leader for quiet cruising.