81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
73/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
78/100
53 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV vs Dunlop SP Sport 01 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
70
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
68/100
134 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV — better wet, dry and comfort. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport 01 if treadwear matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 78 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 78 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 96 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 70 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 67 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Comfort
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 63 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 65 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 46 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
SP Sport 01 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 42 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 54 | 69 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | SP Sport 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 69 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV | Dunlop SP Sport 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 70 |
| Dry | 95 | 79 |
| Wet | 91 | 68 |
| Snow | 93 | – |
| Comfort | 78 | 66 |
| Noise | 67 | – |
| Treadwear | 65 | 69 |
| Handling | 81 | 69 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
70
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV is widely praised for its high-performance handling, superior wet and dry grip, and refined ride comfort. However, a significant portion of the user base reports dissatisfaction regarding rapid tread wear, with many owners of mid-to-large SUVs experiencing premature replacement intervals.
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry braking performance
- High levels of steering precision and handling confidence
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong traction and stability during spirited driving
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, particularly on heavier SUV models
- High price point relative to the total mileage achieved
- Increased road noise as the tread wears down
- Soft rubber compound prone to puncture damage
Observations
- Owners of mid-size SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, VW Tiguan, and Ford Edge frequently report premature wear, often requiring replacement under 15,000 miles.
- High-performance vehicle owners (e.g., BMW X5) report better longevity and satisfaction, suggesting the tire performs best when matched with specific high-performance chassis tuning.
- Run-flat variants are noted for a firmer ride and increased noise compared to standard versions.
The Dunlop SP Sport 01 receives highly polarized feedback, with users divided between those who value its predictable handling and longevity and those frustrated by significant road noise and inconsistent wet-weather performance. While many owners appreciate the tire's stiff sidewall for steering precision and cornering stability, a substantial number of reviewers report that noise levels increase dramatically as the tread wears down. Overall, it is viewed as a capable, long-lasting summer tire for daily driving, though it often falls short of expectations for high-performance vehicles.
Pros
- Excellent tread longevity and durability for many users
- Predictable, progressive handling and steering feedback
- Strong dry-weather grip and cornering stability
- Stiff sidewall construction provides a precise, 'on-rails' feel
Cons
- Significant and increasing road noise as the tire wears
- Inconsistent or poor wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- Harsh ride quality due to stiff sidewalls
- Performance drop-off once tread depth reaches 3-4mm
Observations
- Users with heavy SUVs (e.g., Audi Q5, Skoda Yeti) often report high satisfaction with longevity and stability, though noise remains a common complaint.
- Owners of high-horsepower performance sedans (e.g., C63 AMG) frequently report that the tire struggles to manage torque, leading to excessive wheel spin and poor traction.
- BMW owners specifically noted that 'Star Rated' versions of this tire are essential for preventing drivetrain shuddering issues on certain X3 models.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV | B · Dunlop SP Sport 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Continental
70
/ 100
Dunlop
Winner: Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV — better wet, dry and comfort. Pick the Dunlop SP Sport 01 if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 91 vs 68 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 95 vs 79 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 78 vs 66 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 81 vs 69 on handling.
Tire A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
Tire B · Dunlop SP Sport 01
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV also compared with
Dunlop SP Sport 01 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.