Comparison: Continental UltraContact vs. Michelin Primacy 4+ vs. GoodYear UltraGrip Performance+ vs. Pirelli Cinturato (C3)

Wet performance is where the comparison becomes more nuanced. Both earn an A wet grip EU label, and both post competitive wet braking numbers — the Primacy 4+ averages 80 across its measured wet braking results, the UltraContact 85, which sounds like a Continental win but the overall wet picture is more complex. The UltraContact's aquaplaning resistance is a documented weakness, scoring just 64.5 versus the Primacy 4+'s 76.9 — a substantial gap that translates into meaningfully less confidence in standing water. The Primacy 4+'s EverGrip compound is specifically designed to maintain wet safety as the tyre wears, which is a real-world advantage over a full tyre life. That said, even the Michelin draws criticism for modest aquaplaning reserves and wet handling that shows its age compared to newer designs — some testers flagged longer stopping distances and slower wet handling times in 2025 testing. Neither tyre is a wet-weather specialist, but the UltraContact's aquaplaning deficit makes it the more exposed of the two in heavy rain.

This is where the Primacy 4+ makes its clearest case. Its comfort score of 86.6 and noise rating of 84.1 comfortably outclass the UltraContact's 75 across both metrics, and the test data backs this up: Tyre Reviews rated the Primacy 4+ best-in-test for comfort and second-quietest in its 2025 assessment. Real owners consistently echo this — one Mercedes E-Class owner who switched to the UltraContact specifically praised how extremely quiet it became on motorways, yet the Primacy 4+ still scores higher on the same dimension. On rolling resistance, the Primacy 4+ again leads, with a score of 82.4 versus the UltraContact's more average fuel efficiency — though Continental owners do report improved fuel consumption compared to prior tyres. On mileage, both perform well: the UltraContact scores an impressive 88 for projected wear, confirmed by ADAC as delivering very high tyre life, while the Primacy 4+ sits at 83.8 — both strong, but the UltraContact nudges ahead for pure longevity.

On dry roads, the UltraContact has a genuine edge. Its dry braking score of 91 versus the Primacy 4+'s 86.2 is a meaningful gap, and ADAC testing confirmed it as well-balanced with strong dry handling capabilities. The UltraContact feels composed and accurate in everyday dry conditions, with owners noting its confident, planted character on faster roads. The Primacy 4+ is no slouch — testers praised its direct turn-in, precise steering response and safe handling dynamics on dry asphalt — but it doesn't match the UltraContact's stopping bite. In their one shared test, the ADAC 2023 205/55 R16 assessment across 50 tyres, the Primacy 4+ finished 3rd overall and the UltraContact 7th, suggesting the Michelin's broader balance tips the overall result even if Continental wins the individual dry braking metric.