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Updated September 2026

Continental PremiumContact 7 review

The Continental PremiumContact 7 is widely regarded as a class-leading tire for wet and dry grip, offering exceptional safety and confidence in varied weather conditions. While users frequently praise its handling and braking performance, opinions are polarized regarding its road noise levels and tread longevity, with some users reporting rapid wear depending on vehicle weight and driving style.

Relative score
81/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
82/100
54 reviews
Road tests
95/100
34 published tests

Owners rate it 13.3 points lower than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

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Continental PremiumContact 7
Scores

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

By owner reviews

82%
Would buy again 75%
Dry
Overall dry
92%
Wet
Overall wet
92%
Comfort
Overall comfort
74%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
75%
Handling
Overall handling
83%

By road tests

95.3%
Dry
88.8%
Wet
87.9%
Comfort
68.6%
Noise
75.6%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 54 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Continental PremiumContact 7 is widely regarded as a class-leading tire for wet and dry grip, offering exceptional safety and confidence in varied weather conditions. While users frequently praise its handling and braking performance, opinions are polarized regarding its road noise levels and tread longevity, with some users reporting rapid wear depending on vehicle weight and driving style.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry braking performance
  • High levels of road-holding and cornering stability
  • Progressive and predictable handling characteristics
  • Strong performance in cold, wet conditions
  • Improved comfort compared to previous generations

Cons

  • Higher-than-expected road noise on certain surfaces
  • Rapid tread wear reported by some users
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to a lack of 'surgical' steering feedback
  • Premium price point relative to competitors

Worth knowing

  • Users with high-torque FWD EVs and powerful RWD sedans report excellent traction, though heavy vehicles may experience faster rear-tire wear.
  • Drivers of smaller hatchbacks noted that the soft sidewalls contribute to a comfortable ride, though some enthusiasts find this compromises sharp steering response.
Test results

34 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

The BEST Summer tires for 2026 Tested and Rated · 225/45 R17

2nd of 12
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 12
Wet Handling1st of 12
Dry Braking2nd of 12
Dry Handling4th of 12
Rolling Resistance10th of 12
Straight Aqua6th of 12
Curved Aquaplaning2nd of 12
Subj. Comfort2nd of 12
Noise10th of 12

2026 Motor Summer tire Test · 225/45 R17

1st of 9
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Noise · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 9
Wet Handling1st of 9
Wet Circle1st of 9
Dry Braking2nd of 9
Dry Handling1st of 9
Rolling Resistance8th of 9
Straight Aqua5th of 9
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 9
Subj. Dry Handling2nd of 9
Subj. Comfort1st of 9
Noise9th of 9

2026 Sport Auto Summer tire Test · 205/45 R 17

4th of 7
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 7
Wet Handling3rd of 7
Wet Circle3rd of 7
Dry Braking5th of 7
Dry Handling3rd of 7
Rolling Resistance6th of 7
Straight Aqua1st of 7
Curved Aquaplaning2nd of 7
Subj. Dry Handling5th of 7
Subj. Comfort4th of 7
Subj. Wet Handling4th of 7
Noise5th of 7

2026 Vi Bilagare Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 10
Best: Subj. Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Fuel Consumption · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling2nd of 10
Wet Circle6th of 10
Straight Aqua6th of 10
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 10
Subj. Comfort6th of 10
Subj. Noise1st of 10
Rough Noise1st of 10
Fuel Consumption8th of 10

2026 Autobild Summer tire Test · 245/45 R19

6th of 20
Best: Abrasion · 2nd Weakest: Value · 20th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking6th of 20
Wet Handling10th of 20
Dry Braking8th of 20
Dry Handling15th of 20
Rolling Resistance8th of 20
Straight Aqua12th of 20
Subj. Dry Handling13th of 20
Subj. Comfort12th of 20
Subj. Wet Handling7th of 20
Noise15th of 20
Value20th of 20
Wear3rd of 20
Abrasion2nd of 20
Total Cost of Ownership15th of 20

2026 ADAC Summer tire Test · 225/50R17

1st of 16
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Wear · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 16
Dry Braking6th of 16
Straight Aqua1st of 16
Wear7th of 16
Fuel Consumption2nd of 16
Abrasion4th of 16
Wet Braking - Concrete2nd of 16

2026 Auto Express Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

2nd of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 8
Wet Handling4th of 8
Wet Circle2nd of 8
Dry Braking2nd of 8
Dry Handling3rd of 8
Rolling Resistance6th of 8
Straight Aqua6th of 8
Curved Aquaplaning6th of 8
Noise2nd of 8

2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer tire Test · 235/45 R18

1st of 10
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Total Cost of Ownership · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 10
Wet Handling1st of 10
Wet Circle1st of 10
Dry Braking1st of 10
Dry Handling2nd of 10
Rolling Resistance8th of 10
Straight Aqua1st of 10
Subj. Comfort3rd of 10
Noise7th of 10
Value9th of 10
Wear4th of 10
Abrasion3rd of 10
Total Cost of Ownership10th of 10

2026 Netzwelt Mid Range Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 6
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 6
Dry Braking1st of 6

2026 Summer Braking Super tire Test - How do 52 tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? · 245/45 R19

6th of 50
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking6th of 50
Dry Braking6th of 50

2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring tire Test · 205/55 R17

4th of 7
Best: Wet Braking · 2nd Weakest: Subj. Comfort · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 7
Dry Braking2nd of 7
Straight Aqua5th of 7
Subj. Dry Handling6th of 7
Subj. Comfort7th of 7
Subj. Wet Handling4th of 7
Subj. Noise2nd of 7

2025 Teknikens Varld Summer tire Test · 235/55 R19

4th of 8
Best: Wet Handling · 2nd Weakest: Wet Braking · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking6th of 8
Wet Handling2nd of 8
Dry Braking3rd of 8
Subj. Comfort5th of 8

2025 Al Volante Summer tire Test · 225/55 R18

3rd of 7
Best: Wet Handling · 3rd Weakest: Straight Aqua · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling3rd of 7
Rolling Resistance5th of 7
Straight Aqua6th of 7
Curved Aquaplaning4th of 7
Noise4th of 7

2025 Summer and All Season Combined tire Test · 225/45 R17

2nd of 14
Best: Subj. Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 14th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling2nd of 14
Rolling Resistance14th of 14
Straight Aqua4th of 14
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 14
Subj. Wet Handling1st of 14
Subj. Noise13th of 14

2025 EV tire Test · 215/55 R18

2nd of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 8
Wet Handling2nd of 8
Wet Circle2nd of 8
Dry Braking2nd of 8
Dry Handling2nd of 8
Rolling Resistance8th of 8
Straight Aqua5th of 8
Curved Aquaplaning6th of 8
Subj. Comfort3rd of 8
Noise8th of 8
Value5th of 8
Wear4th of 8
Total Cost of Ownership6th of 8
Range8th of 8

2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV tire Test · 235/55 R19

5th of 6
Best: Range · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 6
Wet Handling3rd of 6
Wet Circle3rd of 6
Dry Braking4th of 6
Straight Aqua6th of 6
Subj. Dry Handling2nd of 6
Subj. Comfort6th of 6
Subj. Noise6th of 6
Range1st of 6

2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance tire Test · 225/40 R18

4th of 20
Best: Total Cost of Ownership · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 12th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking7th of 20
Wet Handling7th of 20
Wet Circle11th of 20
Dry Braking12th of 20
Dry Handling6th of 20
Rolling Resistance3rd of 20
Straight Aqua3rd of 20
Curved Aquaplaning2nd of 20
Subj. Comfort8th of 20
Noise8th of 20
Value4th of 20
Wear3rd of 20
Total Cost of Ownership1st of 20

The Best Touring tires for 2025 Tested · 225/50 R17

2nd of 7
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Noise · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling4th of 7
Dry Handling3rd of 7
Rolling Resistance4th of 7
Straight Aqua1st of 7
Curved Aquaplaning3rd of 7
Subj. Comfort3rd of 7
Noise7th of 7

2025 AZ Summer tire Test · 225/45 R18

2nd of 10
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 10
Wet Handling4th of 10
Wet Circle7th of 10
Dry Braking4th of 10
Dry Handling4th of 10
Rolling Resistance2nd of 10
Straight Aqua8th of 10
Subj. Comfort1st of 10
Noise8th of 10
Value5th of 10
Wear3rd of 10
Abrasion5th of 10
Total Cost of Ownership3rd of 10

2025 Summer tire Test Shootout · 225/40 R18

8th of 52
Best: Wet Braking · 6th Weakest: Dry Braking · 12th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking6th of 52
Dry Braking12th of 52

2024 Auto Express Summer tire Test · 225/45 R17

3rd of 8
DisciplinePlacementField position

2024 EV tire Test · 235/55 R19

2nd of 9
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 9
Wet Handling4th of 9
Dry Braking2nd of 9
Dry Handling1st of 9
Straight Aqua7th of 9
Curved Aquaplaning6th of 9
Noise5th of 9
Value4th of 9
Wear1st of 9
Energy Consumption2nd of 9
Abrasion1st of 9
Total Cost of Ownership4th of 9

2024 Motorhome Summer tire Test · 225/55 R17

2nd of 10
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 10
Wet Handling2nd of 10
Dry Braking1st of 10
Dry Handling1st of 10
Rolling Resistance3rd of 10
Straight Aqua1st of 10
Curved Aquaplaning9th of 10
Noise9th of 10

2024 AMS Summer SUV tire Test · 235/55 R18

1st of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 8
Wet Handling1st of 8
Wet Circle1st of 8
Dry Braking1st of 8
Dry Handling1st of 8
Rolling Resistance7th of 8
Straight Aqua7th of 8
Curved Aquaplaning6th of 8
Noise8th of 8

2024 AZ Summer tire Test · 225/45 R17

1st of 9
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 9
Wet Handling1st of 9
Wet Circle1st of 9
Dry Braking1st of 9
Dry Handling1st of 9
Rolling Resistance6th of 9
Straight Aqua3rd of 9
Noise7th of 9

2024 Sport Auto Summer tire Test · 215/40 R18

1st of 6
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 6
Wet Handling1st of 6
Wet Circle1st of 6
Dry Braking2nd of 6
Dry Handling1st of 6
Rolling Resistance4th of 6
Straight Aqua4th of 6
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 6
Noise5th of 6

2024 AutoBild Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

2nd of 20
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 17th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 20
Wet Handling4th of 20
Dry Braking1st of 20
Dry Handling7th of 20
Rolling Resistance11th of 20
Straight Aqua9th of 20
Curved Aquaplaning12th of 20
Noise17th of 20
Value17th of 20
Wear5th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership15th of 20

2024 ADAC Summer tire Test · 215/55 R17

1st of 16
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 15th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 16
Dry Braking1st of 16
Straight Aqua15th of 16
Curved Aquaplaning15th of 16
Noise5th of 16
Value9th of 16
Price15th of 16
Wear4th of 16
Fuel Consumption15th of 16
Abrasion5th of 16
Wet Braking - Concrete1st of 16

2023 Motor Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 8
Wet Handling1st of 8
Dry Braking1st of 8
Dry Handling1st of 8
Rolling Resistance7th of 8
Straight Aqua6th of 8
Noise4th of 8
Price7th of 8

The BEST Performance tires Tested · 225/40 R18

1st of 6
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Dry Handling · 4th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 6
Wet Handling3rd of 6
Dry Handling4th of 6
Rolling Resistance1st of 6
Straight Aqua1st of 6
Noise1st of 6
Value2nd of 6
Price2nd of 6
Wear3rd of 6
Abrasion4th of 6
Total Cost of Ownership1st of 6
Wet Braking - Worn4th of 6
Wet Braking - Cool1st of 6

2023 AutoBild UHP Summer tire Test · 225/45 R18

3rd of 20
Best: Wet Braking · 3rd Weakest: Noise · 19th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 20
Wet Handling3rd of 20
Dry Braking4th of 20
Dry Handling3rd of 20
Rolling Resistance8th of 20
Straight Aqua12th of 20
Noise19th of 20
Value7th of 20
Price17th of 20
Wear3rd of 20
Total Cost of Ownership4th of 20

Tyre Reviews Best Summer Touring tires · 205/55 R16

1st of 13
Best: Wet Handling · 2nd Weakest: Price · 13th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling2nd of 13
Dry Handling2nd of 13
Rolling Resistance8th of 13
Straight Aqua8th of 13
Noise11th of 13
Price13th of 13

2023 Summer tire Market Overview · 225/45 R18

5th of 48
Best: Wet Braking · 3rd Weakest: Dry Braking · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 48
Dry Braking5th of 48

Are Budget tires Finally Good Enough? 8 Cheap tires VS 1 Premium tire · 205/55 R16

1st of 9
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Price · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling1st of 9
Dry Handling1st of 9
Rolling Resistance3rd of 9
Straight Aqua1st of 9
Noise4th of 9
Price9th of 9