Comparison: Continental UltraContact vs. Michelin Primacy 4+ vs. Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2 vs. Kumho Ecsta PS71
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Michelin wins on comfort and consistency; Continental wins on dry braking — choose your priority.
Two premium touring summer tyres, two very different philosophies: the Continental UltraContact puts short braking distances front and centre, while the Michelin Primacy 4+ — the refined successor to the widely praised Michelin Primacy 4 — prioritises long-lasting comfort and rolling efficiency. Both are aimed at everyday drivers of family saloons and SUVs, but their strengths pull in opposite directions. In the ADAC 2023 summer tyre test on 205/55 R16, the only mutual benchmark available, the Primacy 4+ finished 3rd overall out of 50 tyres while the UltraContact landed 7th — a meaningful gap that tells a story about how each tyre performs across the full test spectrum.
UltraContact
Primacy 4+
These tyres were not tested together in the same test. The scores below are aggregated from different independent tests, so direct comparison should be taken with caution.
Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71Wet performance is where the comparison becomes more nuanced. The Primacy 4+ carries Michelin's reputation for safe, predictable wet behaviour, and it delivers on that in braking and lateral grip. However, its aquaplaning resistance is only modest — a reminder that even a refined premium tyre has limits in standing water. The UltraContact's aquaplaning score of 64.5/100 is the single biggest blot on its scorecard; in deep-water conditions it reaches the limits of grip earlier than most rivals and is a clear weak point versus the Michelin. Neither tyre excels at aquaplaning, but if you regularly drive in heavy rain or on flood-prone roads, the Primacy 4+ offers a more reassuring margin.
Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71On dry roads the UltraContact is the sharper tool. Its dry braking score of 91/100 is genuinely outstanding, producing some of the shortest stopping distances in its class. Turn-in response is crisp and lateral grip holds well, giving drivers a sense of confidence rarely found in a comfort-oriented tyre. The Primacy 4+ is no slouch on dry tarmac — cornering stability is reassuring and progressive — but its dry braking lags noticeably behind the Continental. Drivers who frequently travel on motorways and want the shortest possible stopping gap in an emergency will find the UltraContact the more compelling choice. The Continental also earns a strong mileage score of 88/100, suggesting the dry compound is hard-wearing as well as grippy.
Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71Continental UltraContactMichelin Primacy 4+Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2Kumho Ecsta PS71Ride comfort is where the Michelin Primacy 4+ establishes a convincing lead. Its comfort score of 86.6/100 and noise score of 84.1/100 put it among the quietest and most absorbent touring tyres tested — road irregularities are filtered smoothly and motorway drone stays pleasantly subdued. The UltraContact's stiffer, grip-focused compound transmits more road texture into the cabin and generates marginally more tyre noise, which is an acceptable trade-off for its braking advantage but noticeable on longer journeys. Fuel economy also favours the Michelin: its rolling resistance figure contributes to better fuel consumption over time, an advantage that compounds meaningfully across the 40,000–50,000 km lifespan typical of the Primacy 4+.
The overall ratings — Michelin Primacy 4+ at 76/100 versus Continental UltraContact at 53/100 — reflect the ADAC result and highlight a structural difference: the Primacy 4+ is a more rounded, consistent performer across the whole test matrix, whereas the UltraContact trades some wet and comfort performance for exceptional dry braking and durability. For most private drivers who value a quiet, fuel-efficient, comfortable tyre that still performs safely in the wet, the Michelin Primacy 4+ is the stronger all-round choice. The Continental UltraContact suits drivers who spend most of their time on dry roads, demand the shortest possible stopping distances, and are willing to accept a busier ride and an aquaplaning weakness in return for that edge.
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