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Summer tire Summer Max Performance tires Updated September 2026

Continental SportContact 7 review

The Continental SportContact 7 is widely regarded as a class-leading Ultra-High Performance tire, praised for its exceptional grip in both wet and dry conditions. While it consistently outperforms many competitors in handling and feedback, users frequently note a trade-off in tread longevity and, for some, a firmer, noisier ride compared to more comfort-oriented alternatives.

Relative score
82/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
84/100
99 reviews
Road tests
97/100
23 published tests

Owners rate it 13.4 points lower than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

Continental SportContact 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

84%
Would buy again 79%
Dry
Overall dry
95%
Corner stability
98%
Dry traction
98%
Steering response
96%
Wet
Overall wet
91%
Wet traction
98%
Comfort
Overall comfort
76%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
67%
Handling
Overall handling
90%

By road tests

97.4%
Dry
92.9%
Wet
85.4%
Comfort
81.1%
Noise
80.9%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 99 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Continental SportContact 7 is widely regarded as a class-leading Ultra-High Performance tire, praised for its exceptional grip in both wet and dry conditions. While it consistently outperforms many competitors in handling and feedback, users frequently note a trade-off in tread longevity and, for some, a firmer, noisier ride compared to more comfort-oriented alternatives.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry traction
  • High levels of steering feedback and precision
  • Strong performance in cold/damp conditions
  • Excellent handling stability at high speeds

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
  • Noticeable road noise on certain surfaces
  • Firm sidewalls can lead to a harsh ride quality
  • Lower initial tread depth compared to some competitors

Worth knowing

  • High-torque and heavy performance vehicles (e.g., RS3, M4, Taycan) report significant improvements in traction but experience accelerated wear.
  • Users on larger rim diameters (20-22 inch) generally report acceptable comfort, while those on smaller setups or stiffer suspension configurations occasionally find the ride quality too harsh.
  • Some BMW owners noted specific handling instability when using non-star-rated versions of the tire, suggesting sensitivity to vehicle-specific OE tuning.
Test results

23 published test appearances

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

The BEST Performance Summer tires for 2026 Tested! · 235/35 R19

3rd of 8
Best: Rolling Resistance · 1st Weakest: Noise · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling4th of 8
Dry Handling4th of 8
Rolling Resistance1st of 8
Straight Aqua2nd of 8
Subj. Dry Handling5th of 8
Subj. Comfort2nd of 8
Subj. Wet Handling5th of 8
Noise6th of 8

2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer tire Test · 255/35 R19

1st of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 8
Wet Handling1st of 8
Wet Circle2nd of 8
Dry Braking1st of 8
Dry Handling1st of 8
Rolling Resistance5th of 8
Straight Aqua7th of 8
Subj. Comfort1st of 8
Noise3rd of 8

Top Tire Review 2026 UUHP tire Test · 255/35 R19

1st of 3
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Straight Aqua · 3rd
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 3
Wet Handling1st of 3
Wet Circle1st of 3
Dry Braking1st of 3
Dry Handling2nd of 3
Rolling Resistance2nd of 3
Straight Aqua3rd of 3
Curved Aquaplaning3rd of 3
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 3
Subj. Comfort2nd of 3
Subj. Wet Handling1st of 3
Noise3rd of 3

2026 ACE Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

2nd of 10
DisciplinePlacementField position

Best Performance tires For 2025 · 225/40 R18

2nd of 7
Best: Subj. Comfort · 2nd Weakest: Straight Aqua · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling3rd of 7
Dry Handling3rd of 7
Rolling Resistance4th of 7
Straight Aqua6th of 7
Curved Aquaplaning6th of 7
Subj. Comfort2nd of 7
Noise4th of 7

2025 AutoView Sports tire Test · 275/35R19

2nd of 5
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 4th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 5
Dry Braking2nd of 5
Dry Handling2nd of 5
Subj. Dry Handling2nd of 5
Subj. Comfort3rd of 5
Noise4th of 5

2025 EVO Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

3rd of 9
Best: Dry Braking · 1st Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling5th of 9
Dry Braking1st of 9
Dry Handling3rd of 9
Rolling Resistance4th of 9
Straight Aqua5th of 9
Curved Aquaplaning7th of 9
Subj. Dry Handling3rd of 9
Subj. Wet Handling2nd of 9
Subj. Road Score6th of 9

2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

3rd of 8
Best: Subj. Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Wet Braking · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 8
Dry Braking3rd of 8
Rolling Resistance2nd of 8
Straight Aqua2nd of 8
Subj. Dry Handling3rd of 8
Subj. Comfort4th of 8
Subj. Wet Handling1st of 8
Subj. Noise4th of 8

2025 Auto Express Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

8th of 9
Best: Dry Braking · 3rd Weakest: Wet Handling · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking7th of 9
Wet Handling8th of 9
Wet Circle6th of 9
Dry Braking3rd of 9
Dry Handling3rd of 9
Rolling Resistance4th of 9
Straight Aqua5th of 9
Curved Aquaplaning8th of 9
Subj. Noise7th of 9

2025 Autobild Sports Cars UUHP tire Test · 245/35 R20

1st of 7
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 7
Wet Handling1st of 7
Wet Circle1st of 7
Dry Braking1st of 7
Dry Handling2nd of 7
Rolling Resistance4th of 7
Straight Aqua2nd of 7
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 7
Noise7th of 7

2025 Sports Cars tire Test · 245/35 R19

1st of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Subj. Comfort · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 8
Wet Handling1st of 8
Dry Braking1st of 8
Dry Handling1st of 8
Rolling Resistance6th of 8
Straight Aqua5th of 8
Curved Aquaplaning3rd of 8
Subj. Comfort8th of 8
Noise8th of 8

2025 Sport Auto UUHP tire Test · 275/35 R19

1st of 4
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Dry Handling · 2nd
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 4
Wet Handling1st of 4
Dry Braking1st of 4
Dry Handling2nd of 4
Rolling Resistance1st of 4
Curved Aquaplaning2nd of 4
Noise1st of 4

2025 ADAC Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

1st of 18
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Value · 15th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 18
Dry Braking4th of 18
Straight Aqua5th of 18
Curved Aquaplaning12th of 18
Noise8th of 18
Value15th of 18
Wear9th of 18
Fuel Consumption6th of 18
Abrasion4th of 18
Wet Braking - Concrete1st of 18

2024 EVO Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

1st of 7
Best: Dry Braking · 1st Weakest: Dry Handling · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 7
Wet Handling4th of 7
Dry Braking1st of 7
Dry Handling6th of 7
Rolling Resistance4th of 7
Straight Aqua3rd of 7
Curved Aquaplaning4th of 7
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 7
Subj. Wet Handling6th of 7
Subj. Noise1st of 7

2024 Sports Car tire Test · 265/35 R19

1st of 7
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 7
Wet Handling1st of 7
Wet Circle1st of 7
Dry Braking3rd of 7
Dry Handling2nd of 7
Rolling Resistance4th of 7
Straight Aqua3rd of 7
Noise5th of 7

2023 The Best Electric Vehicle tires VS UHP tires · 255/45 R20

1st of 10
Best: Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Noise · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 10
Wet Handling4th of 10
Dry Braking2nd of 10
Dry Handling1st of 10
Rolling Resistance4th of 10
Straight Aqua3rd of 10
Noise8th of 10
Price6th of 10
Energy Consumption7th of 10

2023 Sport Auto UHP tire Test · 225/40 R18

1st of 11
Best: Dry Braking · 1st Weakest: Noise · 11th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 11
Wet Handling2nd of 11
Dry Braking1st of 11
Dry Handling1st of 11
Rolling Resistance2nd of 11
Straight Aqua4th of 11
Noise11th of 11
Price8th of 11

2023 AZ UHP Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

1st of 10
Best: Dry Braking · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 10
Wet Handling8th of 10
Dry Braking1st of 10
Dry Handling2nd of 10
Rolling Resistance3rd of 10
Straight Aqua5th of 10
Noise4th of 10
Price7th of 10

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18

1st of 13
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Price · 11th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 13
Wet Handling6th of 13
Wet Circle6th of 13
Dry Braking1st of 13
Dry Handling2nd of 13
Rolling Resistance2nd of 13
Straight Aqua9th of 13
Noise7th of 13
Price11th of 13

2023 ACE / Gute Fahrt UHP Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19

1st of 7
DisciplinePlacementField position

2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP tire Test · 245/40 R19

2nd of 10
Best: Dry Braking · 1st Weakest: Price · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 10
Wet Handling5th of 10
Dry Braking1st of 10
Dry Handling1st of 10
Rolling Resistance3rd of 10
Straight Aqua4th of 10
Curved Aquaplaning5th of 10
Noise4th of 10
Price8th of 10

2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick tire Test · 235/35 R19

1st of 10
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 10
Wet Handling5th of 10
Wet Circle2nd of 10
Dry Braking1st of 10
Dry Handling4th of 10
Rolling Resistance1st of 10
Straight Aqua3rd of 10
Curved Aquaplaning8th of 10
Noise5th of 10
Price3rd of 10

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer tire Test · 255/35 R19

1st of 10
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 10
Wet Handling1st of 10
Dry Braking1st of 10
Dry Handling1st of 10
Rolling Resistance7th of 10
Straight Aqua8th of 10
Curved Aquaplaning9th of 10
Subj. Comfort7th of 10
Noise4th of 10
Our review

About the Continental SportContact 7

Tire description

The Continental SportContact 7 is a high performance summer tire introduced in September 2021. It is designed for use on sports cars, coupes, and sedans and features an asymmetrical tread pattern with a directional design that helps to improve traction and handling on wet and dry roads. The tire is made of a special compound that is designed to provide excellent grip and handling at high speeds.

Tire tread pattern design overview and tire compund overview

The tread pattern of the Continental SportContact 7 is designed to provide top-notch performance and significantly increase tire mileage. It features a perfectly balanced interaction of a stiff, low-void pattern and the soft BlackChili compound developed by Continental. The BlackChili compound is a proprietary blend of synthetic and natural rubbers, as well as performance-enhancing additives, that is known for its excellent grip and durability. It is used in many of Continental's high-performance tire lines and has been shown to provide 30% lower rolling resistance and 20% more grip than traditional tire compounds, resulting in improved fuel efficiency and handling for vehicles. The tread pattern, combined with the BlackChili compound, helps to maximize contact with the road surface and provide excellent wet and dry grip.

Сomparison with predecessor

The Continental SportContact 7 is the successor to the popular SportContact 6. In internal company tests conducted for the tire size 245/30 R20, the SportContact 7 showed significant improvements over its predecessor. Its braking efficiency on wet roads was increased by 8%, braking distance on dry asphalt was reduced by 6%, and overall wear was improved by 17%. These results demonstrate that the SportContact 7 offers improved wet and dry grip and handling, as well as a longer tread life, compared to the SportContact 6.

Check comparison on our website

Test results

In several independent tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 has consistently performed well.

In the 2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test, it placed first out of 10 tires, with the best wet braking and handling by a considerable margin, and the fastest speed in the dry with the shortest dry braking distance. However, it was noted that the tire had poor aquaplaning resistance and increased rolling resistance.

In the 2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test, the SportContact 7 placed second out of 10 tires, with the best handling properties in the dry, good aquaplaning reserves, short braking distances, and safe driving behavior in the wet. It was noted that the tire had average ride comfort.

In the 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP, and Semi Slick Tyre Test, the SportContact 7 placed first out of 10 tires, with outstanding braking in wet and dry conditions at everyday road and tire temperatures. It was noted that the tire had small deficits in longitudinal aquaplaning and ride comfort, but overall had outstanding safety reserves in everyday life.

Interesting facts

During the "Papenburg 3000" high speed event in Hanover in October 2021, the Continental SportContact 7 tire was used on a Klasen Lamborghini Huracán Performance vehicle that achieved an end speed of 384.12 km/h during a 3,000-metre sprint. The 1180 hp sports car was fitted with 245/30 R20 tires on the front axle and 305/30 R20 tires on the rear axle, all from the SportContact 7 model. This event demonstrated the tire's ability to perform at high speeds and under extreme conditions.

Real drivers experience

We researched many drivers reviews and found key points of Continental SportContact 7:

Drivers have reported that the Continental SportContact 7 has excellent wet grip, long tread life, and maintains its performance throughout the day. They have found that the tire improves the overall driving experience on the road and track.

Some drivers have switched to the SportContact 7 from the Michelin Pilot Super Sport and Pirelli PZero and have reported that the SportContact 7 is superior in every way. They have found that the SportContact 7 has exceptional dry grip and traction, especially when cold, and significantly improved wet grip compared to the Pilot Super Sport. The SportContact 7 is also quieter, handles well, and has improved steering feel compared to the Pilot Super Sport. It is more affordable and has a similar tread life.

Many drivers have noted that the SportContact 7 provides a high level of control and safety in both wet and dry conditions, making it a solid choice for a sport tire. They recommend it to others.

Some drivers have experienced harsh ride comfort with the SportContact 7 due to the tire's stiff sidewalls. It is also noisy and uncomfortable on the motorway.

Other drivers have had a positive experience with the SportContact 7 in the wet and dry, with good performance in cold temperatures. It may aquaplane in certain conditions, but recovery is quick.

Availability


The Continental SportContact 7 is available in 57 sizes, ranging from 18" to 23". This provides a wide range of options for drivers to choose from, ensuring that there is a size available for a variety of vehicles.

Conclusion. Pros and Cons


In conclusion, the Continental SportContact 7 is a high performance summer tire that has received positive reviews from drivers. It has excellent wet grip and dry grip, with good traction in cold temperatures. It has a long tread life and maintains its performance throughout the day. Some drivers have reported issues with the tire's ride comfort due to its stiff sidewalls, and it can be noisy and uncomfortable on the motorway. Overall, the SportContact 7 has received praise for its excellent wet and dry grip and is a reliable choice for sports cars, coupes, and sedans.

Pros:

  • Excellent wet and dry grip
  • Good traction in cold temperatures
  • Long tread life
  • Maintains performance throughout the day

Cons:

  • Can be noisy and uncomfortable on the motorway
Where to buy

Continental SportContact 7 specs & sizes

Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.

Specifications
Tread depth8 - 9/32″
UTQG240 AA A
SidewallBlack Side Wall
Max pressure50 - 51 psi
SizeRetailer
225/45 R18 Amazon

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Head-to-head

Continental SportContact 7 compared

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References