Continental stops shorter on dry; Michelin rides quieter and stays safer as the tread wears.
Both the Continental UltraContact and the Michelin Primacy 4+ occupy the same premium summer touring segment, yet they pull in subtly different directions. Continental's UltraContact is built around exceptional dry braking and long tread life — a safety-first tourer that returns impressive economy in the process. Michelin's Primacy 4+, successor to the respected Primacy 4, leans further into refinement: among the quietest and most comfortable premium summer tyres on sale, with low rolling resistance and solid mileage credentials. In the one direct head-to-head between them — the ADAC 2023 group test across fifty tyres — the Michelin finished third and the Continental seventh, and that gap captures much of the story.
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 UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
Continental UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
Continental UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
Continental UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2The wet picture is more nuanced — and arguably more consequential for everyday driving. Both tyres carry the EU's top A wet grip label, but the data diverges sharply in one critical area: aquaplaning resistance. The UltraContact scores just 64.5 here, a genuine weakness that independent testers and the brand's own positioning acknowledge. The Primacy 4+ scores 76.9 — substantially better, reflecting Michelin's EverGrip compound technology, which is designed to sustain safety performance as the tread wears. On wet braking itself, the Continental holds a narrower advantage (85 vs 80 in measured scores), though several independent evaluations have flagged the Michelin's wet stopping distances as longer than newer rival designs. Real-world Primacy 4+ owners have noted aquaplaning episodes in standing water too, so neither tyre is complacency territory in heavy rain — but the Continental's aquaplaning deficit is the more pronounced concern of the two.
Continental UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
Continental UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2On dry roads the UltraContact holds a meaningful advantage where it matters most: braking. Its dry-braking performance score of 91 sits clearly ahead of the Primacy 4+'s 86.2, and independent testing consistently confirms Continental's composure on dry tarmac — balanced, predictable, with the kind of progressive character that builds driver confidence. The Michelin is no liability in the dry; AutoBild has praised its direct turn-in and precise steering feel, and its dry handling scores are respectable. But the UltraContact's edge in outright stopping performance is real and consistent, and for a driver whose primary concern is safety margins in an emergency stop on dry asphalt, the Continental is the more reassuring tool.
Continental UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
Continental UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
Continental UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2
Continental UltraContact
Michelin Primacy 4+
Goodyear Efficientgrip 2 SUV
GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2This is where the Primacy 4+ makes its strongest case. Its comfort score of 86.6 and noise rating of 84.1 comfortably outpace the UltraContact's 75 in both categories, and this gap is backed by real-world experience — Tyre Reviews 2026 awarded the Michelin best-in-test comfort and second quietest overall. Owners consistently describe a smooth, hushed ride that suits long-distance and motorway use particularly well. The UltraContact is no embarrassment here; customers switching from other brands note genuine improvements in cabin quietness, and its EU fuel label skews heavily toward B. But the Michelin's rolling resistance score of 82.4 gives it a consistent efficiency edge that EV and hybrid drivers will feel over time. Tread life slightly favours the Continental (mileage score 88 vs 83.8), meaning both are strong long-haul propositions, but those who run tyres to full wear depth will appreciate the Michelin's EverGrip technology maintaining wet safety as the tread thins.
The right choice between these two comes down to what you prioritise most. If shortest dry braking distances and tread longevity define your criteria — and you want a composed, efficient tyre that delivers genuine emergency-stop safety — the Continental UltraContact is the more focused instrument. It consistently leads where stopping power is concerned. If you spend most of your time on motorways and urban roads where refinement, low noise, and running costs define the daily experience, the Michelin Primacy 4+ is the more well-rounded companion. It placed higher in the only shared group test, delivers a superior comfort experience, and its EverGrip compound keeps wet performance alive longer into the tyre's life. Just go in clear-eyed about its aquaplaning limitations in standing water. The Continental wins on dry safety and mileage; the Michelin wins on comfort, refinement, and all-weather longevity.
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