Comparison: Continental UltraContact vs. Michelin Primacy 4+ vs. Michelin Primacy 5 vs. GoodYear Efficientgrip Performance 2 vs. Hankook ION Evo

Premium

Continental

UltraContact

VS

Also compare with

UltraContact NXT

Ventus Evo

Cinturato (C3)

Continental leads on dry braking; Michelin delivers superior comfort, quietness, and aquaplaning safety.

The Continental UltraContact and Michelin Primacy 4+ are both premium summer touring tyres aimed at comfort-conscious drivers, but they serve noticeably different priorities. The Continental is built around outstanding dry braking and long tread life, while the Michelin — successor to the Primacy 4 and itself now followed by the Primacy 5 — has made its name on refined comfort, low noise, and safety that holds up as the tread wears. In their one shared test, the ADAC 2023 evaluation across a 50-tyre field, the Primacy 4+ finished third while the UltraContact came seventh. That gap reflects a real difference in all-round capability — though the Continental has more to say in specific areas than that single result suggests.

UltraContact

Good for

Drivers prioritising sharp dry braking performance High-mileage users wanting long tread life Motorway drivers seeking a quiet, refined ride Budget-aware buyers in the premium segment

Not ideal for

Drivers regularly encountering standing water or flooding Those prioritising aquaplaning resistance Buyers wanting the highest comfort and noise scores

Primacy 4+

Good for

Comfort-first drivers on mixed road types Drivers wanting safe performance as the tyre wears EV and hybrid owners seeking low rolling resistance Families prioritising all-round refinement and safety

Not ideal for

Drivers wanting the sharpest dry braking distances Those seeking the latest-generation wet handling performance R14–R15 wheel fitments — range starts at R16

Test Profile

UltraContact

Primacy 4+

Primacy 5

Efficientgrip Performance 2

ION Evo

Number of tests

1

13

5

4

1

Best position

#7

#1

#2

#1

Average position

7.0

4.3

4.8

3.3

1.0

Latest test

2023

2025

2026

2025

Available sizes

87

123

158

40

66

Tread pattern comparison

Continental UltraContact

Michelin Primacy 4+

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Verdict

These are two premium tyres with genuinely different characters, and the right choice depends on what you value most. The Continental UltraContact makes a strong case for drivers who prioritise dry braking confidence and want outstanding mileage from a quiet, capable tyre. It is the sharper tool on dry roads and holds its own in wet braking — but its aquaplaning weakness is real and worth taking seriously. The Michelin Primacy 4+ is the more rounded all-weather choice: superior comfort, lower road noise, better aquaplaning behaviour, and safety that degrades more gently over time. For most everyday drivers covering a mix of motorway and urban roads, the Michelin's broader set of strengths — backed by its higher test placement and strong owner satisfaction — makes it the more compelling option. The Continental suits those who favour dry grip and can accept the aquaplaning trade-off.