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Michelin Primacy MXM4 Review: Premium Quality at a Premium Price – Expert Assessment

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Michelin Primacy Mxm4 Review

Pros

  • For a grand-touring tire, this one has exceptional reactivity as well as steering feel.
  • Excellent levels of grip and traction on dry ground
  • Exceptionally high levels of roadway steadiness
  • Handling in the rain is up there with the best in the category.
  • On damp terrain, short stopping distances are required.
  • Super-plush ride quality
  • Even at really high speeds, the driving environment is remarkably peaceful and silent.
  • The treadlife of the Primacy MXM4 tires is generally praised positively by their owners.

Cons

  • Extremely expensive for such an aged tire
  • In the grand-touring category, the treadwear warranty is significantly behind the competition.
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On the market, the classifications of tires designated as touring and grand-touring are by far the most sought after options. This is mostly attributable to the excellent value that these tires provide, as they are not unduly expensive despite having exceptional treadlife and a lifespan of at least four to five years.

The performance of these tires is not known for being particularly good; more specifically, their handling is where they fall short. As the most technologically advanced tire producer in the world, Michelin recognized a potential in this market.

The company’s goal in developing the Primacy MXM4 was to provide drivers of luxury and performance automobiles with a tire that combined the long treadlife of a grand-touring tire with the responsive and grippy handling characteristics of a high-performance tire.

And that was fantastic news for the owners of these vehicles, since the already available grand-touring tires on the market were also available in smaller sizes for “regular” passenger cars and even some compact city residents. [Citizens of these vehicles] could now get the performance of grand touring tires in their “regular” passenger automobiles.

The Primacy MXM4 has been around for about ten years at this point, which brings up an interesting point. Other premium tire manufacturers have caught up in terms of performance, and some of them are even offering longer warranties on treadwear at cheaper costs.

Michelin recently reduced the price of the Primacy MXM4 in order to better compete with the industry’s other tire manufacturers; nonetheless, the tire is still somewhat pricey.

However, this did not deter customers too much, and the Primacy MXM4 is still much sought after by owners of premium cars who are not intimidated by the prospect of paying a higher price for a product of superior quality. And, for that matter, whose Michelin tire does not have a high price tag?

When compared to other other grand-touring tires, is the additional expense of the Primacy MXM4 warrant its purchase? In my extensive analysis of the Michelin Primacy MXM4, I’m going to specifically address this question and answer it. I will discuss every facet of the tire, including its traction in dry and wet conditions, its ability to function in the snow, its comfort levels, and its treadlife.

However, before we jump to any judgments based on what I’ve said, let’s examine what it is that makes the Michelin Primacy so special and why it costs so much.

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What are the features of the Michelin Primacy MXM4?

Michelin Primacy Mxm4 Review

According to Michelin, the Primacy MXM4 is a tire that was created for premium precise handling. This is something that you don’t often hear in a statement for a grand-touring tire, but it is something that Michelin claims the tire does.

In addition, Michelin asserts that the tire provides a ride that is both quiet and comfortable, which is something that customers who purchase premium automobiles do in fact request.

As a result of these attributes, the French manufacturer asserts that the Primacy MXM4 continues to be the OEM tire of choice for the vast majority of luxury automobile manufacturers.

But what are the characteristics of the Primacy MXM4 that give Michelin the ability to have such faith in it? Despite the fact that the tire is somewhat old, it nevertheless ranks among the most technologically advanced options available in its category because to the sunflower oil that is included in the trademarked Helio Compound.

The all-weather rubber compound was developed to operate well in hot weather, but also to keep its great dry and wet grip in freezing circumstances. This was accomplished by designing the compound to have a certain chemical structure. In addition, Michelin asserts that the tread compound maintains its pliability even on cold and slippery terrain, an attribute that is essential for adequate grip.

The Helio Compound can be shaped into an asymmetric tread pattern thanks to the molding process. According to Michelin, the tread pattern was built with European roads in mind. This implies that it should offer superior handling on tight and twisty alpine routes, but it should also offer exceptional stability at higher speeds (the German Autobahn).

To be more precise, the tread has rounder shoulders, which allow progressive and predictable cornering. This is something that you won’t typically see in grand-touring tires.

In the meantime, the Primacy MXM4, much like the majority of tires in its category, features four large circumferential grooves to improve its resistance to hydroplaning. These grooves then channel the water through the sipes that are equipped with 3-D Variable Thickness Sipe Technology. This not only improves grip in the winter, but it also makes the biting edges more aggressive.

Michelin implemented its Comfort Control Technology into the Primacy MXM4 tire in order to make the tire as comfortable as it possibly could be. This innovation reduces the amount of noise and vibration that is caused by driving by utilizing a mix of computer-optimized tread design and precise production procedures.

In addition, Michelin incorporated their MaxTouch Construction into the design of the tire. This technique, according to the manufacturer, enables even wear across the tread of the tire, as well as the retention of the biting edges required for wet and snowy traction throughout the lifetime of the tire.

It has twin steel belts that are strengthened with BAZ (Banded At Zero) spiral-wrapped polyamide cord, which assures high-speed capability and enhanced tread wear. The internal architecture of the Primacy MXM4 is standard for the category. In the meantime, the polyester cord body ensures a cushioned and comfortable ride.

What are the maintenance indicators?

The Primacy MXM4 is equipped with tread wear indicators (TWIs), just like every other Michelin tire on the market today. Because they display the driver how much tread depth is left, these indicators are critical for safety because they provide for adequate safety when driving on surfaces that are wet or covered in snow.

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If the tread depth of the tires is insufficient, then the tires will not be able to channel water out of the tire, which will result in decreased hydroplaning resistance. As you surely already know. When the tread depth of the Primacy MXM4 falls below 2/32 of an inch, which is the threshold at which you should immediately replace the tires, you should do it promptly. If you don’t do this, you run the danger of substantially reduced traction, stability, and braking performance in wet and snowy conditions.

With the help of the TWIs, you will have no trouble keeping an eye on the tread depth. These are thin rubber inserts that have been molded to fit into the grooves that go all the way around the tire. When a tire is brand new, the tread wear indicators are deeply embedded into the grooves. Nevertheless, when the tread wears down, the bars become increasingly obvious to the viewer. Once the tread depth reaches 2/32 of an inch, the TWIs will be level with the surface and will no longer protrude.

If we can trust the folks who have owned this tire for a while, then we won’t have to worry about that happening very soon. Even on some of the more powerful vehicles, owners claim that the treadlife is good.

Having saying that, the warranties on the treadwear are not particularly spectacular. For models with H- and V-Speed ratings, Michelin offers a treadwear warranty good for 55,000 miles; for models with W-, Y-, and Z-Speed ratings, the company offers a treadwear warranty good for 45,000 miles.

These figures can make you think that the tire is a fantastic deal, but I want to bring to your attention the fact that the treadwear warranty on all sizes of the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is 80,000 miles.

How does it behave on a dry tarmac?

Michelin Primacy Mxm4 Review

On dry terrain, the Primacy MXM4 is the tire that performs the best overall in terms of handling and braking, making it the best rubber in its category. The engineers’ dedication to doing their best work definitely paid off.

The tire’s responsive and direct character, which is reminiscent of a high-performance tire, impresses me right from the beginning of my experience with it.

When you put the Primacy MXM4 through its paces in the corners, it rapidly reveals a great deal of character. The handling is quite light on the feet, and the cornering grip is exceptional for the category.

Despite the tire’s advanced years, it still has the lowest stopping distances in its category. This is despite the fact that it has the oldest tires. At the end of the day, the Primacy MXM4 gives drivers of more powerful cars exceptional traction for quick acceleration laps.

How is it over wet and slippery roads?

Michelin Primacy Mxm4 Review

Even in wet conditions, the Primacy MXM4 demonstrates its superior performance. On wet roads, the tread compound is a wonder worker because it maintains the exceptional grip, traction, and braking that it normally possesses.

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In addition to that, the tire has an exceptional level of performance in wet conditions. Even while driving through water that is several inches deep, the resistance to hydroplaning is remarkable. In these conditions, the traction is exceptional, and the handling seems to have a sure footing to it.

When it comes down to it, the Primacy MXM4 outperforms practically every other premium competition by providing the driver with more stopping power when driving on wet roads.

With that being said, how is it on snowy roads?

When temperatures drop below freezing, the Primacy MXM4 does have the sensation of being soft and malleable; this translates to good grip across snowy and ice terrain.

However, some of the more current competitors have tread patterns that are slightly more aggressive and have zigzag sipes, which provide more biting edges for driving over snow.

Therefore, the MXM4 is suitable for driving in wintry circumstances as a whole, but it is not the best in its class in this regard. Also, keep in mind that under extremely severe winter circumstances, the Primacy is not a suitable replacement for a true winter tire.

Is it suitable for off-road driving?

Driving off-road is not something that the Primacy MXM4 was created for and it is not something that it is intended to do. You might be able to drive on some hardpacked roads for short distances here and there, but you should try to avoid doing so for extended periods of time. Not only can you not count on the tire to give you solid traction, but it is also quite susceptible to damage.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Even though I had high expectations for a premium grand-touring tire, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Primacy MXM4 performed in this regard. Even when traveling at highway speeds, the tire makes almost no noise, giving passengers an exceptionally smooth ride quality and shielding them from the effects of road vibrations.

Should I buy the Michelin Primacy MXM4?

If you drive a premium sedan or coupe, then the Primacy MXM4 should absolutely be on your shortlist of performance parts to purchase. The grand-touring tire made by Michelin is not only extremely quiet and comfortable, but it also offers the best handling capabilities of any tire in its class, and it does so over both dry and wet terrain.

Having said that, if you possess a car that is less extravagant, such as a number of mid-size sedans, you should think about purchasing additional grand-touring tires. The Continental PureContact LS is the first tire that springs to mind because of its well-balanced performance, but the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack also impresses with its exceptionally long treadlife.

In addition, the Premier A/S, which is a more recent addition to the lineup of Michelin tires, is still another alluring alternative that satisfies the majority of requirements and comes with an extended treadwear warranty.

In spite of this, no other tire can match the Primacy MXM4’s overall performance, which is why this product is deserving of the accolade of “highly recommended.”

More information on the Michelin Primacy MXM4 Review can be found at: HILLYARD’S RIM LIONS are the creators of this video.

 

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