215/55 R18 Tyres

I chose XL-rated tires because I tend to drive a bit faster, and they provide better stability with less sidewall flex. I use them only during the winter, and they've been excellent. They are no noisier than winter tires, and in my experience they perform better in about 90% of winter conditions. The only exception is deep snow, where proper winter tires still have an advantage, although these tires handle it quite well too.

I bought these after looking at the tests. They offer performance close to premium tires while being very affordable. That's actually the reason I chose this tire. If you don't have extreme winter conditions where you are, you can go for this tire. If the winter conditions are bad, Barum might be a good alternative since it's still reasonably priced.

Tyres are mostly fine, although I expected more from them. They came pre installed with the car and I'd say that although I did not have any major problem, they are not suited for my driving style. Handling in dry is fine and have sporty feeling but in wet could be much better, specially at the end of life, moment in which the front tyres (car is FWD) started to lose a little bit of grip and started to "squawk" even at lower speeds.

For me, the worst is the comfort and noise. I have the feeling that they are too rigid and let vibrations come to the body of the car. For instance, in other car I had Goodyear Efficientgrip installed and they were way better. Now I decided to install Falken ZE320 and they are more adapted to my preferences.

## Michelin Primacy 5 Energy — update after one season

I bought the Michelin Primacy 5 Energy tyres on 20 May 2026 and fitted them a few days later. After one summer season and approximately 10,000 km, I can give a more balanced opinion than in my initial review, written just a week after fitting them.

My VW ID.3 Pro (204 HP, 310 Nm, rear-wheel drive) is fitted with 215/55 R18 99V XL tyres with rim protection.

Handling and stability remain the biggest advantages. Compared with the factory weird Continental EcoContact 6 (95T), the Michelins make the car feel much more planted and predictable. The stiffer sidewalls are a major improvement over the original tyres, which made the car feel rather soft and boat-like.

I also tested them in the mountains on wet asphalt, in cold and rainy conditions, including tight hairpin bends. I deliberately tried to break traction, and although it was possible, I had to push the car quite hard. When traction was finally lost, it was only briefly. This gave me a positive impression of their wet grip and predictability, although it wasn't a controlled test.

Energy consumption is another significant advantage. Compared with the original Continental EcoContact 6, I've observed a reduction of around 1–2 kWh/100 km — a meaningful difference for an EV.

Noise is where I have to revise my initial opinion. Despite their official external noise rating of 69 dB, I expected them to be quieter inside the cabin. They aren't excessively noisy, but road noise is more noticeable than I had hoped.

My expectations probably come from previous experience. The quietest summer tyres I've ever owned were Dunlop Sport BluResponse, which I used around 2015. They were exceptionally quiet and comfortable, although I remember them wearing relatively quickly. Of course, comparing tyres across different cars and wheel sizes isn't entirely fair.

The noise level isn't a deal-breaker. Considering the improvement in handling, stability and energy consumption, I'm still happy with my choice.

And one small detail still makes me smile: the clear Michelin branding and the little Michelin Man raising his hand as if greeting me whenever I walk up to the car. A small thing, perhaps, but it genuinely improves my mood.

Overall: After one season and approximately 10,000 km+, I still consider the Michelin Primacy 5 Energy 99V XL a significant upgrade over the factory Continental EcoContact 6. Excellent stability, reassuring wet grip and lower energy consumption make them a very good choice for my needs. I just expected them to be quieter inside the cabin.

Tyres are clearly made to last long, good grip with mild and hot temperatures, but at low temperatures it was bad, so be careful when wet and cold.
Tyres were a bit stiff, but silent the first half of their lifespan, then became a bit noisy.
Anyhow, a decent tyre.

Had these on my VW ID.3 with a 95T index-weird for an EV, right? It really should be 99V XL for a heavy electric vehicle. After 3 years, l've got used to them, but these tyres are strictly for city driving, and that's it.
Steering feedback is heavily muted, as if there's a carpet between the tyre and the road. The extremely soft sidewalls make the car float like a boat on water. Cornering is tragic-you can completely forget about taking sharp turns fast.
You actually have to drive 10 to 20 km/h slower compared to normal tyres.
Noise levels are average. On the plus side, rolling resistance is very low, so fuel/energy consumption is great-but it's definitely not worth the trade-off.
Fun fact: you can find the PremiumContact 7 for the exact same price.