MOST Malaysian drivers don’t think twice about tyres.
They’re a wear-and-tear item, swapped only when bald, usually with whatever’s cheapest or in stock.
However, tyres aren’t just black circles.
They’re the only thing in contact with the road, and they decide how well a car stops in the rain, how steady it feels at speed, and how quiet it is inside.
Enthusiasts know this, which is why they’ll pay more for better grip or comfort, where budget allows. Car makers know it too; premium brands even co-develop tyres.
Ignore them if you like, but the right set can change the way a car drives.
Enter the Michelin Primacy 5 (P5).
Fitted to a Proton X50, the P5 leans the SUV towards quiet, easy-going motoring rather than point-and-squirt responses. After four months of use, that low-drone character of the 215/60 R17 tyres remained.
The relatively tall sidewall helps ride comfort and can reduce harsh impacts compared with lower-profile sizes.
As a result, ride comfort is tidy. On patched city streets and across highway joints, impacts are rounded of and the car settles quickly, which is good for school runs and weekend dashes.
On coarse Malaysian tarmac, conversations are easier, though very rough chip-seal stretches still raise volume at speed.
Wet-road behaviour is secure, with predictable traction and braking in rain, and mid-corner bumps don’t unsettle it.
Turn-in is measured rather than eager, steering lacks the initial bite keen drivers seek in brisk lane changes, and initial pedal feel is softer than sportier patterns, though stops remain repeatable.
Against the factory-fitted GitiComfort SUV520 that served for two and a half years, the P5 is quieter inside and out, rides with more polish and rolls more easily, which can help efficiency if pressures and alignment are kept in check.
Michelin says Silent Rib Gen-3 features reduce vibration and noise; EverGrip and EverTread compounds contribute up to 13% shorter wet braking versus premium rivals even when worn; and the MaxTouch contact-patch design helps deliver 24% more mileage than other premium brands.
Michelin also quotes 13% lower rolling resistance, which suits electric vehicles.
Larger 18 to 19-inch sizes carry a full-ring velvet line for a more premium and pleasing look; the 17-inch test set uses standard sidewalls.
Apart from tailpipe emissions, tyre wear is a growing source of microplastic pollution.
This is where Michelin has an edge as well.
A study by German motoring club ADAC published in May 2025 covering 160 tyre models found Michelin tyres emit 26% fewer particles than the premium-tyre average; the nearest competitor emitted 20% more per kilometre and per metric ton of transport than Michelin.
The P5 range spans 25 sizes from 16 to 19 inches; the 17-inch set was RM579 apiece at publication.
For X50 owners prioritising a quiet cabin, stable wet behaviour and a calm ride over a sporty edge, the P5 is a sensible upgrade.
Buyers of similar compact SUVs should expect broadly similar traits when fitted in comparable sizes and specifications, though steering sharpness and brake feel can vary by vehicle.
