My current car (2018 Audi Q5) needed new tires, so I got a set of Michelin Primacy Tour A/S's to get an idea of how I might like them on Gravity. My previous tires were Michelin Crossclimate 2s. The original tires on the car were Continental Crosscontacts. My previous car (2010 Subaru Outback) also came with Crosscontacts, and I replaced them with Continental TruContacts when they wore out.
The Primacies are easily the best of the bunch. Cruising on smooth pavement, they are an absolute dream--quiet and comfortable, soaking up small bumps for an excellent ride. In more spirited driving, the Primacies really shine compared to these other tires. The CrossClimate 2s had quite high handling limits, but they would wail in protest at anything over 50% of their maximum grip. It's been a while since I drove on the Continentals, but I remember them (especially the TruContacts) having grip just a little lower than the CrossClimate 2s, but without so much of the drama in curves. The Primacies, however, really feel as though they are pulling you around the corner. No drama, no complaints, just plenty of lateral grip. Turn-in is very responsive too, noticeably more so than the other three tires. With the others, I was negotiating turns more by eye than by feel; these are the first tires that really give me a visceral sense of how the vehicle is moving over the road and where it's headed. They have injected a lot more fun into my vehicle. I've driven once so far on a very wet road during moderate-to-heavy rain. The water was never deep enough to test hydroplane resistance, but the grip of the Primacies was outstanding. I stabbed at the brake once to see if I could get the car to skid or engage the ABS. Nope. The tires just yanked on the road and rapidly decelerated, sending my bag on the front seat flying. My one small complaint about the tires is that on rough pavement, they are a little more noisy than I would like. (Note that I am very sensitive to noise and I hate it. Most people probably wouldn't notice.) I have not been able to do a direct sound comparison to other tires, so the noise is mostly comparing the Primacies on different road surfaces. My only "off-road" experience so far is just my gravel driveway; I can't tell too much at a maximum speed of 8 m.p.h.
Overall, the Primacies seem like an excellent choice for Gravity. They are everything that I would want in a grand touring tire. They deliver an outstanding ride that is quiet most of the time. They have more grip than I will probably ever use on a public road. They are responsive and make the car fun to drive. And they seem safe and confident in wet conditions. I will reserve my final judgement until I can get a test drive, but my current bet is that these will be my choice. I placed my Gravity order with the 20/21" wheels, but I honestly don't think that I'll like the Hankook tires very much. I want something that is more responsive and engaging to drive. I was worried that the lower profile of the 21/22 wheels would make the ride too harsh, but a little math tells me that the sidewall height of the 21/22" wheels on Gravity is within a couple of millimeters of the sidewall height of my current tires (235/55R19). Of course, the suspension tuning is different, and Gravity is nearly 50% heavier . . . but the 21/22s and Michelins will probably be the sweet spot for me.
