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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV vs Pirelli Scorpion Verde — 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
Tire B Pirelli

Pirelli Scorpion Verde

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Pirelli Scorpion Verde tread pattern
Objective (60%)
65/100
4 professional tests
User signal (40%)
82/100
148 owner reviews
Dry
86
Wet
83
Snow
86
Comfort
34
Noise
70
Treadwear
76
Handling
68

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV — better comfort, handling and dry. Pick the Pirelli Scorpion Verde if treadwear and noise matter 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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 9
A — Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
95
B — Pirelli Scorpion Verde
86
Why this score
SourceContiSportContact 5 SUVScorpion Verde
Professional tests (TWG score) 100 84
Tire Rack owners 78 94
Tyre Reviews owners 84 78
SimpleTire owners – 89
Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 92%
Dry Handling (% of best) 100% 98%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 8
A — Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
91
B — Pirelli Scorpion Verde
83
Why this score
SourceContiSportContact 5 SUVScorpion Verde
Professional tests (TWG score) 96 83
Tire Rack owners 70 84
Tyre Reviews owners 80 69
SimpleTire owners – 86
Wet Braking (% of best) 99% 88%
Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 98%

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 7
A — Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
93
B — Pirelli Scorpion Verde
86
Why this score
SourceContiSportContact 5 SUVScorpion Verde
SimpleTire owners – 89

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 44
A — Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
78
B — Pirelli Scorpion Verde
34
Why this score
SourceContiSportContact 5 SUVScorpion Verde
Professional tests (TWG score) – 1
Tire Rack owners 63 87
Tyre Reviews owners 70 71
SimpleTire owners – 91

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Scorpion Verde leads by 3
A — Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
67
B — Pirelli Scorpion Verde
70
Why this score
SourceContiSportContact 5 SUVScorpion Verde
Professional tests (TWG score) 46 57
SimpleTire owners – 80

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Scorpion Verde leads by 11
A — Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
65
B — Pirelli Scorpion Verde
76
Why this score
SourceContiSportContact 5 SUVScorpion Verde
Tire Rack owners 42 73
Tyre Reviews owners 54 60
SimpleTire owners – 93

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) ContiSportContact 5 SUV leads by 13
A — Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
81
B — Pirelli Scorpion Verde
68
Why this score
SourceContiSportContact 5 SUVScorpion Verde
Tyre Reviews owners 81 68
DriverReviews owners – 84

Scores at a glance

Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV vs Pirelli Scorpion Verde: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryContinental ContiSportContact 5 SUVPirelli Scorpion Verde
Relative Score 81 73
Dry 95 86
Wet 91 83
Snow 93 86
Comfort 78 34
Noise 67 70
Treadwear 65 76
Handling 81 68

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Test data

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryTire ATire BΔBoth?
Dry Braking Dry 100% #1/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 92% #4/8 · 2020 ViBilagare SUV Tyre Test +8.1 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #1/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 98% #4/8 · 2020 ViBilagare SUV Tyre Test +1.6 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 98% #2/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 98% #2/8 · 2020 ViBilagare SUV Tyre Test +0.4 Different tests
Grass Traction Grass 89% #6/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 96% #6/10 · 2022 AutoBild SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test -6.7 Different tests
Gravel Handling Gravel 100% #2/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 98% #7/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test +1.6 Different tests
Gravel Traction Gravel 96% #3/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 98% #6/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test -1.3 Different tests
Mud Traction Mud 82% #7/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 92% #5/10 · 2022 AutoBild SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test -10.5 Different tests
Noise Other 96% #4/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 94% #2/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test +1.7 Same test
Price Other 100% #7/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 88% #5/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test +12.1 Same test
Overall Ranking Overall 100% #1/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 25% #4/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test +75 Same test
Straight Aqua Straight 96% #6/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 96% #5/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test -0.3 Same test
Wet Braking Wet 99% #2/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 88% #5/8 · 2020 ViBilagare SUV Tyre Test +11.5 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #1/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test 98% #6/8 · 2020 ViBilagare SUV Tyre Test +2.3 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV

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.
Tire B Pirelli Scorpion Verde

The Pirelli Scorpion Verde is a polarizing tire that receives high praise for its initial comfort, low road noise, and smooth handling characteristics. However, user experiences are significantly divided regarding tread longevity and wet-weather performance, with a notable subset of owners reporting premature wear and inconsistent traction in adverse conditions.

Pros

  • Excellent ride comfort and low road noise levels when new.
  • Strong dry-road handling and steering precision.
  • Good fuel efficiency due to low rolling resistance.
  • Generally positive performance in light snow and varied all-season conditions for many users.

Cons

  • Frequent reports of premature tread wear, often falling well short of mileage warranties.
  • Inconsistent wet-weather performance, with some users citing aquaplaning and poor grip.
  • Increased road noise and vibration as the tire wears down.
  • Reports of structural issues, including sidewall cracking and tires becoming 'out of round'.

Observations

  • Owners of heavier SUVs and AWD vehicles (e.g., VW Tiguan, Land Rover, Jeep Grand Cherokee) report highly variable tread life, with some achieving high mileage while others report rapid wear.
  • Users with 20-inch and larger wheel sizes frequently report issues with vibration and 'out of round' tires, suggesting potential sensitivity to larger rim profiles.
  • Drivers of luxury SUVs (Volvo XC60/XC90) often report higher satisfaction levels, suggesting the tire may be better suited to specific vehicle suspension tunings.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Pirelli Scorpion Verde

Mixed

Community opinions on the Pirelli Scorpion Verde are mixed, with many users praising their dry and wet road performance, while heavily criticizing their poor snow capabilities and short tread life. Several drivers report replacing them prematurely due to rapid wear, hydroplaning concerns, or harsh ride quality, often switching to alternatives like the Michelin CrossClimate2.

r/VolvoXC90 ·31 upvotes ·2025-02-19

“Are Pirelli Scorpion Verde really that ‘not awesome’? Took our fair weather Georgia ‘23 B6 up to Michigan this past week. Great stuff, except for some slipping and sliding. I’ve read in this forum that some folks are not fans of the stock Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires. But it wasn’t enough for me to consider alternatives prior to our trip, like replacing the 32k mile tires or buying dedicated winter tires. We won’t do such trips often, once a year max. Now I’ve go my eye on the future as the Pirellis wear out. When temps were below <20F (-6C) there was some slipping and sliding when I wasn’t expecting it. My sister’s rented Atlas did not seem to suffer the same behavior. (I assume stock all season.) Any help calibrating my expectations would be welcomed. PS: we did have chains in the trunk if conditions got really bad.”

r/Lexus ·6 upvotes ·2026-06-17

“Time to start considering my next set of tires Bought my used 2010 Lexus RX450h a few years ago, and the tread is starting to get shallow, after putting about 30k on the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season tires that came with the vehicle (vehicle is at 116k total). I've been very happy with the performance I've received on the Pirelli tires; especially in heavy rains. The one thing I haven't really done is take them to the snow. But, with that said, I've been looking at other brands. The Bridgestone Blizzak and UltraWeather tires carry 80k mile warrantees, and are less expensive. Plus, the latter has the 3PMSF rating along with the M+S, so it's actually rated for snowy conditions. There's also the Michelin CrossClimate 2 to consider. Am I giving up performance in rainy conditions by going with the higher snow rated tire? The Pirelli tires are about $30ish more per tire. In the scheme of things is $100-120 per set in the scheme of things? What other brands/models are people using that gives them really good performance in rain, with some trips to the snow/ice country? FWIW: My tire size is the bigger 235/55R19 that came as an option on the vehicle Read more”

r/VolvoXC90 ·4 upvotes ·2025-02-20

“We had the stock Pirelli Scorpion Verdes on our XC40 and I can corroborate that they were pretty terrible in the snow. No complaints about them in the dry or wet though, so they would probably be fine for warmer climates. The dealer put Michelin CC2s on our XC60 before we picked it up and I concur with everyone saying they are excellent in the snow. They’re good enough that when our XC90 makes it stateside we’re going to have the dealer take off the brand new Pirelli’s and put on CC2s so I don’t have to worry about swapping snow tires on every year.”

r/LandRover ·1 upvote ·2023-07-16

“My Freelander used Scorpion Verde all-seaons from new. They weren't bad tyres, but I wouldn't buy them myself if that makes sense. They did last me a good while, but when they hit about 4mm of tread I did notice they were needing replacement soon. I ended up going with Vredestein QuaTrac Pro's. Slightly worse on fuel economy, according to the label, but they appear to hold up better. 19 inch alloys really limit what you can do. Personally I would drop down to 18 inch wheels. You get a good choice of rubber plus the bigger tyres make for a more comfortable ride.”

Top themes
#Winter and snow performance#Tread wear and longevity#Wet weather traction#Ride comfort and bumps#OEM fitment experience

Based on 23 community posts

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV B · Pirelli Scorpion Verde
CategorySummer Ultra High Performance tiresSummer Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available—53
Rim diameters—16″ – 22″
Tread depth—8/32″
UTQG—400 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—51 psi
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental

Pirelli

Winner: Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV — better comfort, handling and dry. Pick the Pirelli Scorpion Verde if treadwear and noise matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 78 vs 34 on comfort.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 81 vs 68 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Pirelli Scorpion Verde scores 76 vs 65 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 95 vs 86 on dry.

Tire A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
Tire B · Pirelli Scorpion Verde

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.