Pirelli Cinturato C3 vs Michelin Primacy 5 Energy
Ahead in each discipline
The Pirelli Cinturato C3 and the Michelin Primacy 5 Energy have met in one independent test so far, and the Primacy 5 Energy finished ahead. The Primacy 5 Energy was stronger in value.
Performance profile
Their shared test recorded too few of the same measurements to chart, so the chart shows what owners rate each tyre on every question.
Where owners rate each higher
Cinturato C3
Primacy 5 Energy
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Cinturato C3 91% from 19 reviews and the Primacy 5 Energy 95% from 13. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tyres' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tyre that did better.
| Measurement | Cinturato C3 | Gap | Primacy 5 Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value Primacy 5 Energy ahead | |||
| Wear km | 23,800 | 63.9% | 39,000 |
| Abrasion g | 2,059 | 42% | 1,194 |
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 tyres shared.
Head to head in 1 test in 2025
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Cinturato C3 | Field | Primacy 5 Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 DEKRA Wear Test of Michelin Primacy 5 Energy vs Rivals | P7 of 8 | P1 of 8 |
Cinturato C3 vs Primacy 5 Energy: your questions
Is the Pirelli Cinturato C3 or the Michelin Primacy 5 Energy the better tyre?
The Pirelli Cinturato C3 and the Michelin Primacy 5 Energy have met in one independent test so far, and the Primacy 5 Energy finished ahead. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Cinturato C3 scores 9.4 and the Primacy 5 Energy 7.9 out of 10.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.3/10 for the Cinturato C3 and 9.5/10 for the Primacy 5 Energy.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Cinturato C3 91% from 19 reviews and the Primacy 5 Energy 95% from 13. 83% of Cinturato C3 owners would buy it again, against 92% for the Primacy 5 Energy.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Cinturato C3 is made in 35 sizes (16 to 20 inch) and the Primacy 5 Energy in 52 (16 to 22 inch). 19 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Cinturato C3 is graded A for wet grip and B for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Primacy 5 Energy A and A.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre 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 tyres 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 Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.