Michelin Primacy 5 lands in SA
Buying tyres is often a grudge purchase that forms part of car ownership. Unfortunately, it's a non-negotiable part of being a private road user, and many drivers often opt for the cheapest option. But simply having new tyres on your car is only one aspect to consider, as cheaper rubber can be just as risky as worn-out ones. Your tyres assist in every aspect of driving, from braking and acceleration to cornering and fuel consumption, and with changing road conditions, it is imperative your car is as safe as can be.
Michelin is a leading tyre manufacturer that has proved time and time again that it's a force to be reckoned with in high-performance environments. It offers a brilliant balance of grip and longevity in its Pilot Sport and Cup offerings, which many other manufacturers fall short of. But its expertise in performance tyres is only a small aspect of the brand, and its eco lineup has a new name in the South African market. Called the Primacy 5, on paper, it appears to be a brilliant option for daily commutes.
In your typical day-to-day commutes, your tyres need to be ready for anything. Yes, more affordable tyres might be firm enough to last nearly as long as some premium offerings. But they lack predictability, stopping power and cornering grip, especially in the rain, compared to more established brand offerings. This is mostly due to the lack of highly-engineered rubber compounds and extensive testing and research on cheaper options. It's worryingly common for owners to cheap out on tyres, but this is rarely a good idea. This new tyre from Michelin offers a few tricks that you should consider when your tyres start looking like slicks.
The Primacy 4s were the product to use in the everyday use bracket, and just a quick Google search will reveal that almost all tyre experts consistently rank it in the top five. Now the Primacy 5s take it to a new level, so let's compare the two. The Primacy 5s now offer an extended lifespan of 18%, which equates to approximately 7,000km of extended driving over the 4s. So naturally, it has improved value over time. The Primacy 5s also come with Michelin's new Silent Rib Gen-3 technology, which decreases road noise and vibrations but, more importantly, improves wet braking by 4%. Rolling resistance has also been improved by 5%, which, over time, will save you at the petrol station too, and its environmental impacts have been reduced by 6%.
The Primacy 4s are a great tyre option and have been my go-to recommendation for years, so to add this level of improvement to an already established leading product is impressive. We have noticed that Michelin and BF Goodrich have kept pricing close to the outgoing options, so the price of the Primacy 5s will likely be similar to or slightly more expensive than the Primacy 4s. Cost is one of the primary reasons why buyers choose sub-par tyres, and while Michelin tyres are expensive, the extra cost is justified.
The benefits you’ll receive with better tyre compounds, such as longevity and improved rolling resistance, will save you some money in the long run, and that is excluding the safety benefits. Yes, it's harder to fork out a bit more cash for what seems like the same product, but Michelin is one of the leaders in tyre development and research. So the next time you need a new set of rubber, consider the more expensive options as more of a long-term and potentially life-saving investment rather than a grudge purchase.
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