Comparison: Continental UltraContact vs. Michelin Primacy 4+ vs. Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 vs. GoodYear UltraGrip Performance 3

Wet weather is where the gap between these two narrows, and where each shows a different kind of vulnerability. The UltraContact scores 85 for wet braking — competitive for a premium tyre — but its aquaplaning resistance is a notable soft spot, scoring just 64.5 against the Primacy 4+'s 76.9. ADAC flagged mild wet-road weaknesses, and it is worth noting that aquaplaning, not braking, is where puddles can catch out UltraContact owners. The Primacy 4+, by contrast, offers more reassuring aquaplaning reserves overall — Michelin's EverGrip technology and self-rejuvenating compound are designed specifically to maintain wet grip as the tyre wears. However, recent testing has revealed that the Primacy 4+'s wet braking (80) and wet handling are beginning to show their age against newer designs, with some testers reporting longer stopping distances and slower wet handling times than fresher rivals. Both tyres earn an EU wet grip label of A, but real-world wet performance is more nuanced than the label suggests.

This is the Michelin Primacy 4+'s home territory. With a comfort score of 86.6 and a noise score of 84.1, it leads this category convincingly — TyreReviews rated it best-in-test for comfort and second-quietest in its 2025 test. Owners consistently describe a serene, smooth ride, and the tyre's low rolling resistance (82.4) translates into real fuel savings over high annual mileage. One Mercedes E-Class owner captured it well: quieter motorway cruising and measurably lower fuel consumption after switching. The UltraContact is no slouch here — owners frequently cite low noise as a strength, and one E-Class driver found it dramatically quieter than the Uniroyal it replaced — but its comfort score of 75 trails the Michelin. Where the UltraContact more than holds its own is mileage: scoring 88, it matches or beats the Primacy 4+ on longevity, making the higher price of entry easier to justify over a tyre's full life. Both tyres carry an EU fuel efficiency label of B or better, confirming strong environmental credentials across the range.

On dry asphalt, the Continental UltraContact is the sharper tool. Its dry braking score of 91 is among the best in the premium segment, and ADAC's 2023 verdict described it as well-balanced with notably strong dry-road performance. Real owners back that up — good grip is one of the most frequently cited positives. The Primacy 4+ also pulls up cleanly on dry roads, scoring 86.2 for dry braking and earning praise in multiple tests for direct turn-in and confident handling, but it does not match the UltraContact's outright stopping bite. Where Michelin occasionally draws criticism is at the limit in dry conditions — one tester noted an oversteer tendency during quick lane changes and load reversals, a behaviour absent from Continental's more composed profile. For everyday dry-road confidence, both deliver well; if stopping distance is your benchmark, the UltraContact has the edge.