for a customer, can we believe the Traction AA listed by the tyre manufacturer?

Posted this on Mazda3 thread but thought here may have other feedback...

Time to change my tyre after almost 3 years. Currently the stock Toyo clocked about 45000km and starts giving some sound in the carpark when turning, probably an early indicator.

Considering Primacy 4 or Pilot Sport 4.. I can see there's a lot of comparison but still can't visualise if Primacy is enough for me. Was thinking of PS4 all the while (safe bet) but if Primacy is enough for my driving style, may wanna try the touring option for comfort (yes, top 2 reasons are wanna try out how big is the diff of comfort and noise reduce while not severely sacrificing high speed handling).

My usual style is....
+ 130 to 150 on NKVE, Elite or MEX straight road (dry with little traffic)
+ 110 to 120+ on the highways above (wet)
+ Slightly reduce speed on highway cornering (more during wet. There's once I unintentionally went into those on 130 during rain, skid for awhile. No more 130 corner during wet from then)
+ 70+ during highway exit corners
+ No fast cut into Hairpins, very careful on hills
+ Max hit 170km, only once in my life. A few 160s, but usually stays below 155

Not sure if Primacy can handle the above? Or need Pilot Sport 4? Toyo Proxes T1 Sport and PS4 are both AA traction while Primacy is only A....quite worry if it's severely affecting my confidence especially exceeding 130km...

Not to say can't survive with reduced handling as I had been on Myvi with XM2 at 130 too, but confident level is extremely shaky so I don't reach above 140 that time. Only stays around 120 to 130. So just try to stay at 130 to 150 with confidence, like the Toyo have given me (very good wheels on handling despite noisy and bumpy)

Appreciate fellow forumers advises, thx!

P/s: btw is the above consider "spirited driving"?

Just my 2 sens, was in the same Dilemma as you. Primacy 4 or Pilot Sport 4. I drive similar style as you with occasional touge runs up Cameron.

My car is a tuned Volvo S60 T5 pushing almost 300bhp to the front wheels. Even with regular rotation and pressure checking I get sub 30k km on my past 2 sets of PS4.

This time trying Primacy 4. 215/50R17
Hoping it will last longer.

So far my impression of the P4 compared to PS4 after a few high speed runs from Penang to KL in both dry and raining conditions.

- Equally stable at straight highway speeds 150 to 160kph.
- During rain still feel confident at 120kph same like PS4
- hydroplane resistance almost as good as PS4
- much better ride comfort compared to PS4. It feels nice and soft over uneven road and bumps daily usage. PS4 is stiffer.
- road noise is slightly lower compared to PS4
- hard dry cornering Slightly less grip then Ps4.
- Wet corner also less than PS4
- handling PS4 definitely feels sharper and more precise compared to P4

Haven’t tried my Cameron run yet so no  comment.

I feel for daily use and Highway runs Primacy 4 does a better job with more comfort 95 percent of the time. It is only the 5 percent where u want to attack corners hard and fast up hilly roads where PS4 shines. 

Cheers

Thanks for the advices, it's very helpful. Anyway I just changed to PS4 yesterday! As previously all the votes including PMed to lowyat member go to PS4, so I ended up taking the safe path.

I noticed I don't really take hard corners so if this is the case Primacy may works for me too.

Probably will consider Primacy again when my PS4 worn out 2 to 3 years later.

Best to assume u can get max around 50k km on ps4. It excel on heavy rain condition. U will notice if u come from any other tyre brand. Dry for me similar to others, but on rain, this tyre grip. But dont drive too fast.

Haha ok, thx for the advise. Yeah usually rain I keep my speed below 110km, or even slower if visibility is extremely low. 

btw just to share where I changed it: Weng Heng Bukit Kemuning, 1 piece @ RM565 (225/45/R18). He also quoted me Primacy @RM465-485 (or similar, I forgot the exact). Free alignment and Balancing cost RM50.

Pretty good deal thx to Lowyat forum. in fact I recalled I been here many years back for my Myvi's XM2.

My car is Jul 2017, original Continental MC5 215/50/17. One of them pancit due to kena screw 🥲 so decided to change all 4, Michelin Primacy 4 for RM 1880.

First impression, damn silent! Not sure due to old vs new. But this before after was not one of the usual change new tire experience.

My car is Jul 2017, original Continental MC5 215/50/17. One of them pancit due to kena screw 🥲 so decided to change all 4, Michelin Primacy 4 for RM 1880.

First impression, damn silent! Not sure due to old vs new. But this before after was not one of the usual change new tire experience.

How's the performance so far sifu ? Planning to change the MC5 also.

Been 6 years using MC5 until the tire old enough and cracked.

Looking at the grip and braking performance more.

Silent and comfortable! Don’t need to turn my audio so loud now haha! Grip wise, I don’t drive fast much nowadays can’t really comment. Straight road braking and all is ok, high speed cornering like climbing up Genting and all no chance yet. I guess similar to MC5 perhaps.

MC5 were good at wet grip and braking.

Thats Long distance travel mate. Good to hear your comment sifu.

with some many ppl worshipping Michelin PS4, wonder if they assign to drive a car without knowing the brand, would they say the same?