Comparison: Continental UltraContact vs. Michelin Primacy 4+ vs. Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2 vs. Pirelli P ZERO PZ4

In the wet, the balance shifts. The Primacy 4+ holds a slight overall wet performance advantage, but the more revealing number is aquaplaning resistance: the UltraContact scores just 64.5 versus 76.9 for the Michelin — a gap that ADAC flagged as a clear weakness. Standing water is the Continental's most exposed area. The Michelin's wet performance is not without caveats either — more recent comparative tests show its stopping distances and handling response falling behind newer designs, and some owners have reported aquaplaning in heavier rain. Neither tyre is outstanding in the wet, but the Primacy 4+ is the more confident choice when conditions deteriorate.

Dry performance is where the UltraContact makes its strongest argument. Its dry braking score of 91 is genuinely competitive for a touring tyre, and testers consistently praised its balanced, confident character on dry roads. The Primacy 4+ scores 86.2 in dry braking and testers noted precise turn-in and good steering feedback, but it doesn't match the Continental's raw stopping authority on dry tarmac. If your roads are reliably dry, the UltraContact's edge here is real and worth having.

The Primacy 4+ is noticeably the more refined tyre. Comfort scores 86.6 versus 75 for the UltraContact, and noise scores 84.1 against 75 — meaningful differences you feel on a long motorway run. Michelin positions it as a tyre that maintains its safety properties even as it wears, and owners back up the refinement claim: quiet ride and smooth feel are the most frequently praised qualities. Continental owners are not unhappy either — low noise was mentioned seven times across customer reviews, and one Mercedes E-Class owner switched from Uniroyal and reported noticeably quieter motorways and improved fuel consumption. But the Michelin's edge in comfort is clear. On mileage, both are strong, with the UltraContact scoring 88 against Michelin's 83.8 — a marginal advantage in tread life that adds to its long-term value case.