Maxxis Premitra HP6 vs Michelin Primacy 5
- TR Score
- 8.2/10
- Owners say
- 65% · 3
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 62
In the 6 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Primacy 5 finished ahead 5 times and the Premitra HP6 once. The Premitra HP6 lapped the dry handling course 1.6% faster; the Primacy 5 lasted 61.5% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Michelin Primacy 5 if you prioritize low running costs (fuel/EV range), long tread life, comfort, and strong aquaplaning security on motorways in heavy rain. Choose the Maxxis Premitra HP6 if you want sharper steering and better handling pace for twistier driving and you're value-focused-but it's a weaker choice if you frequently encounter deep standing water at speed.
Where the Premitra HP6 is stronger
- Handling agility and pace: quicker dry handling in 4/6 tests (e.g., Auto Express 53.71s vs 54.87s; Auto Zeitung 61.8s vs 62.5s)
- Strong lateral wet grip: wins wet circle in 5/6 tests (often with clear margins, e.g., Motor 0.733 vs 0.692)
- Competitive wet performance on the stopwatch in mixed conditions (wins wet handling in 3 tests; wet braking split 3-3 overall)
Where the Primacy 5 is stronger
- Best-in-class efficiency: consistently lowest rolling resistance (~7-8% better than Maxxis where measured) and strong fuel/range results
- Outstanding longevity and lower environmental impact: big wear advantages (e.g., ADAC 56,000 km vs 37,200 km; lower abrasion 54 vs 76 mg/km/t)
- Aquaplaning security in standing water: wins straight aquaplaning in all 6 tests and curved aquaplaning in 4 tests (including double-digit gains in some results)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Premitra HP6 vs Primacy 5 at a glance
| Category | Premitra HP6 | Gap | Primacy 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won6 shared tests | 1 | 5 | |
| Dry14 measurements | 6 | 8 | |
| Wet29 measurements | 12 | The Primacy 5 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 2.3% higher speed (6 tests) | 17 |
| Comfort10 measurements | 2 | The Primacy 5 was 1.1 dB quieter (4 tests) | 8 |
| Value10 measurements | 0 | The Primacy 5 lasted 61.5% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) | 10 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.2/10 | The Primacy 5 by 0.6 | 8.8/10 |
| Owner rating3 and 62 reviews | 65% | The Primacy 5 by 17 points | 82% |
| Pricein the 4 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Primacy 5 was dearer in 4 of 4 | +31.9% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 56 | 38 sizes made in both | 88 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 6 tests in 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Premitra HP6 | Field | Primacy 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Express Summer Tire Test | P4 of 8 | P6 of 8 | |
| 2026 Motor Summer Tire Test | P6 of 9 | P5 of 9 | |
| 2026 Vi Bilagare Summer Tire Test | P8 of 10 | P6 of 10 | |
| The BEST Summer Tires for 2026 Tested and Rated | P8 of 12 | P6 of 12 | |
| 2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P8 of 16 | P7 of 16 | |
| 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tire Test | P7 of 10 | P6 of 10 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 6 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Premitra HP6
Primacy 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 75%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 6 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Premitra HP6
Primacy 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Premitra HP6
Not ahead in any category
Primacy 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Premitra HP6 65% from 3 reviews and the Primacy 5 82% from 62. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Premitra HP6 | Gap | Primacy 5 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | 0.3% | 126 | 1-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 65.76 | 1.6% | 66.78 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| scored | 7.6% | scored | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 129 | 0.6% | 128 | 3-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 125 | 1.8% | 127 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 76.37 | 0.1% | 76.45 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| scored | 30.2% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.6 | 5.9% | 1.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12.49 | 2.7% | 12.83 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 48.2 | 2.3% | 49.3 | 0-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | 5.8% | 11.6 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| scored | 52.3% | scored | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| scored | 50% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 69.65 | 1.1 dB | 68.58 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 73.9 | 0.1 dB | 74 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20,567 | 61.5% | 32,933 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.84 | 7.6% | 5.41 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.45 | 2.7% | 5.3 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 76 | 28.9% | 54 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0.11 | 31.5% | 0.08 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Premitra HP6 scores 8.2 and the Primacy 5 8.8 out of 10.
| Premitra HP6 | Category | Primacy 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Dry | 62 | ||
| 68 | Wet | 77 | ||
| 18 | Comfort | 76 | ||
| 62 | Value | 92 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Premitra HP6 | Category | Primacy 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Dry Grip | 8.5 | ||
| 7 | Wet Grip | 8.7 | ||
| 6 | Road Feedback | 7.6 | ||
| 6.7 | Handling | 7.8 | ||
| 6 | Wear | 9.1 | ||
| 7.3 | Comfort | 8.4 | ||
Owners rate the Premitra HP6 65% from 3 reviews and the Primacy 5 82% from 62. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Maxxis Premitra HP6
- 65%from 3 reviews
- 31,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Premitra HP6 reviewsTires are spongy, imprecise, indirect, and very unsporty on dry roads. They are quiet and save fuel. In wet conditions, they are average and completely okay. Despite AAA and BMW * approval, they do not fit a sporty front-wheel drive car like a Fiesta MH 155 HP. Very affordable and completely fine for everyday use. Sportiness compared to Continental PremiumContact 6 or Bridgestone Potenza Sport is non-existent.
Michelin Primacy 5
- 82%from 62 reviews
- 78%would buy again
- 378,963 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Michelin Primacy 5 highly (82% average), most often praising its notably comfortable, refined ride and strong wet-weather confidence. Around three quarters of reviewers mention noise, and while many find it very quiet, a sizeable minority report intrusive droning on certain road surfaces. Grip and efficiency are commonly highlighted as strengths (especially in the wet and for rolling resistance), but around one in five owners feel it sacrifices dry handling and steering precision compared with sportier alternatives.
- Very comfortable, smooth ride quality
- Low road noise for a touring tire (especially at speed)
- Strong wet grip and reassuring wet traction
- Low rolling resistance / good efficiency
- Can be noisy or drone on rougher road surfaces
- Soft, less confident dry handling in corners
- Less direct steering feel / reduced precision
Summarised by AI from 62 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 62 Primacy 5 reviewsThe tires are very silent and comfortable. Despite this they are very grippy in the dry and wet and give a good feedback. Driven in 40+ degrees in summer until now in rainy 5 degrees autumn and they make the drive 100% secure.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 56 sizes of the Premitra HP6 and 88 of the Primacy 5, 38 of them made in both.
| Category | Premitra HP6 | Primacy 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 56 sizes, 15 to 18 inch | 88 sizes, 16 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 38 sizes 195/55 R16195/60 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/55 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16225/55 R16225/60 R16205/45 R17205/50 R17205/55 R17and 26 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A100% | A100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C89%B11% | B88%C12% |
| EU label noise | 70-72 dB B100% | 70-72 dB B95%A5% |
| On the market since | 2024 | 2025 |
| Replaced | - | Michelin Primacy 4+ (2022) |
| Awards | - | Highly Recommended: Best Tires for Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Best Tires for Large Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Primacy 5 was the dearer tire in 4 of the 4 tests that listed prices, by 31.9% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Maxxis's Premitra HP6 and Michelin's Primacy 5 sit in the same “daily-driver summer tire” space, but their engineering priorities are noticeably different. Across six shared 2026-group tests (16-18 inch fitments), the Maxxis repeatedly looks like the more agile, grip-forward option on handling circuits, while the Michelin leans hard into efficiency, refinement, and long-life ownership.
The data tells a consistent story: Premitra HP6 frequently posts quicker lap-style times (dry and often wet) and is especially strong in lateral wet grip (wet circle), but it has a recurring vulnerability in standing-water aquaplaning. Primacy 5, meanwhile, keeps winning the running-cost and “easy to live with” metrics-rolling resistance, comfort, noise, and especially wear-yet it rarely excites in objective pace and is often described as safe, understeer-biased and less positive at the limit.
Conclusion
If you want a tire that feels more responsive and can carry speed when the road turns, the Maxxis Premitra HP6 is the more dynamic choice. It won dry handling in 4/6 shared tests and dominated wet circle (5/6), with notable margins in places (e.g., Auto Express wet circle 11.5s vs 11.93s; Motor lateral wet grip 0.733 vs 0.692). The trade-off is clear: aquaplaning resilience is a persistent weakness (Michelin won straight aquaplaning in all 6 tests, and was often materially ahead), and multiple reports flag wet-limit behavior that can feel less predictable, plus firmer ride and higher noise in some tests.
For most commuters and high-mileage drivers, Michelin Primacy 5 is the smarter long-term ownership pick. It repeatedly leads on efficiency (typically ~7-8% lower rolling resistance than Maxxis: e.g., 7.0 vs 7.53 kg/t in Auto Express; 6.8 vs 7.4 kg/t in Auto Zeitung) and absolutely crushes wear projections where measured (ADAC 56,000 km vs 37,200 km; Auto Zeitung 50,000 km vs 29,000 km). Its braking is usually solid-to-average (it edges dry braking in 5/6 tests), and it's generally stable and comfortable-just not a tire to buy for enthusiastic handling, where it's often mid-pack and sometimes notably soft/imprecise in steering response.
Practical takeaway: the Maxxis is the “value sporty” option that shines on damp, twisty roads but demands more caution in deep water; the Michelin is the “low-hassle, low-cost-per-km” option that pays you back in range/fuel and longevity, even if it feels less alive from the driver's seat.
Premitra HP6 vs Primacy 5: your questions
Is the Maxxis Premitra HP6 or the Michelin Primacy 5 the better tire?
In the 6 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Primacy 5 finished ahead 5 times and the Premitra HP6 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Premitra HP6 scores 8.2 and the Primacy 5 8.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Premitra HP6 or the Primacy 5?
The Primacy 5 led 17 of the 29 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 2.3% higher speed across 6 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Primacy 5 led 8 of the 14 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Primacy 5 lasted 61.5% longer in the wear tests (2 tests), had 7.6% lower rolling resistance (4 tests) and used 2.7% less fuel (2 tests). Owners rate wear 6/10 for the Premitra HP6 and 9.1/10 for the Primacy 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Primacy 5 was 1.1 dB quieter (4 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.3/10 for the Premitra HP6 and 8.4/10 for the Primacy 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Premitra HP6 65% from 3 reviews and the Primacy 5 82% from 62.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the Primacy 5 was the dearer tire in 4 of them, by 31.9% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Premitra HP6 is made in 56 sizes (15 to 18 inch) and the Primacy 5 in 88 (16 to 22 inch). 38 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Premitra HP6 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Primacy 5 A and B.
Which is the newer tire?
The Primacy 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2025, the Premitra HP6 in 2024. The Primacy 5 replaced the Michelin Primacy 4+.
More comparisons with these tires
vs
Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Michelin Primacy 5
8-2 in 11 shared tests
vs
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Michelin Primacy 5
0-5 in 5 shared tests
vs
Bridgestone Turanza 6 vs Michelin Primacy 5
3-4 in 7 shared tests
vs
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 vs Michelin Primacy 5
2-1 in 3 shared tests
vs
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 vs Michelin Primacy 5
2-2 in 4 shared tests
vs 
Michelin Primacy 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato C3
1-8 in 9 shared tests
vs 
Michelin Primacy 5 vs Vredestein Ultrac+
3-1 in 4 shared tests
vs
Falken ZIEX ZE320 vs Michelin Primacy 5
4-1 in 5 shared tests
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
Discussion