72
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
70/100
29 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Avon ZT5 vs Continental Eco Contact 5 — 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
74
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
69/100
91 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental Eco Contact 5 — better wet and handling. Pick the Avon ZT5 if comfort and dry matter most to you.
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Category breakdown
5 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)
ZT5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | ZT5 | Eco Contact 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 76 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 79 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Eco Contact 5 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | ZT5 | Eco Contact 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 68 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
ZT5 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | ZT5 | Eco Contact 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 68 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Eco Contact 5 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | ZT5 | Eco Contact 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 74 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Eco Contact 5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | ZT5 | Eco Contact 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 69 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Avon ZT5 | Continental Eco Contact 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 74 |
| Dry | 81 | 77 |
| Wet | 67 | 77 |
| Comfort | 74 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 73 | 74 |
| Handling | 65 | 69 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
Tire A
74
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Avon ZT5 is a polarizing budget-to-mid-range tire that receives high praise for its value, comfort, and dry-weather performance, but faces significant criticism regarding wet-weather grip and handling stability. While many users report excellent longevity and a smooth ride, a notable subset of drivers experiences unpredictable 'tramlining' and poor traction in wet conditions, suggesting inconsistent performance across different vehicle chassis.
Pros
- High value for money and competitive pricing
- Excellent tread life for many users
- Comfortable ride quality and low road noise
- Strong dry-weather grip and handling
Cons
- Reported lack of grip in wet conditions
- Significant 'tramlining' and steering instability on uneven surfaces
- Inconsistent performance leading to safety concerns for some drivers
- Soft sidewalls causing a 'bulbous' appearance and handling issues
Observations
- Users with smaller hatchbacks like the Fiat Punto and Skoda Fabia generally report positive experiences with comfort and value.
- Drivers of heavier or more performance-oriented vehicles occasionally report issues with wet-weather traction and handling stability.
- Some users noted that the tire's soft sidewall construction may contribute to handling quirks on specific vehicle geometries.
The Continental EcoContact 5 is a polarizing tire that excels in fuel efficiency and longevity but receives significant criticism for its wet-weather performance and road noise. While many users praise its low rolling resistance and durability, a substantial portion of the user base reports poor traction in wet conditions and high noise levels on coarse road surfaces.
Pros
- Excellent fuel economy and low rolling resistance
- High tread longevity and durability
- Reliable and predictable dry-weather handling
- Consistent performance across a wide range of vehicle types
Cons
- Poor wet-weather grip and increased risk of aquaplaning
- High road noise on coarse or uneven asphalt
- Thin sidewalls prone to bulging or damage from potholes
- Performance degradation as tread depth decreases
Observations
- Users with smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., Fiat 500, Renault Clio) frequently reported issues with wet-weather traction and wheel spin.
- Drivers of heavier vehicles or those with high-torque engines noted that the tire's performance in the wet was particularly underwhelming during acceleration.
- Owners of vehicles with 17-inch or larger wheels reported higher sensitivity to road noise and surface imperfections.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Avon ZT5 | B · Continental Eco Contact 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Avon
74
/ 100
Continental
Winner: Continental Eco Contact 5 — better wet and handling. Pick the Avon ZT5 if comfort and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental Eco Contact 5 scores 77 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Avon ZT5 scores 74 vs 68 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Avon ZT5 scores 81 vs 77 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental Eco Contact 5 scores 69 vs 65 on handling.
Tire A · Avon ZT5
Tire B · Continental Eco Contact 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Avon ZT5 also compared with
Continental Eco Contact 5 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.