SportContact 7 winner of ‘mini’ Auto Express UUHP tyre test

With a grand total of three contenders, the latest comparative evaluation from Auto Express may be able to claim kudos for being the smallest tyre test ever. The motoring publication examined the new SportContact 7 in size 235/35ZR19 91 Y at Continental’s Ulvade providing ground in the USA, fitting the tyres to a VW Golf GTI and pitting them against two rivals from the ultra-ultra-high-performance segment, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S and the Pirelli P Zero PZ4.

Although testing just a trio of tyres, Auto Express used the same tests as in its regular summer tyre comparison. Performance in wet conditions, including stopping from 50mph, accounted for 50 per cent of the total result, whist testing in the dry, including braking from 62mph, contributed up a further 40 per cent of the score, Factors such as how the tyres fared when measuring rolling resistance, cabin noise and the like made up the remainder.

Test winner: SportContact 7

Cutting a long story short, Auto Express declared the Continental SportContact 7 its winner. “The SportContact 7 has a sharpness that rivals cannot match, plus it’s able to turn that lively feel into quick lap times and short stopping distances,” wrote tester Kim Adams, who called the Continental tyre “remarkable.”

With the exception of curved aquaplaning (in which it finished second), the SportContact 7 finished every driving test discipline in first place. Adams notes that these first-place results “weren’t narrow wins” either – the Continental tyre was “clearly ahead” of its rivals, particularly in wet conditions.

“Cars are connected to the road by tyres and only tyres and as such are so very important,” adds Steve Fowler, editor in chief at Auto Express “Continental have raised the bar for this sector. The tyres delivered a remarkable sharpness that helped the testers achieve quick lap times and short stopping distances.”

Hard fought battle for 2nd place

While Auto Express considers the SportContact 7 a “clear winner” it notes that there was “little to choose” between the Pilot Sport 4 S and P Zero PZ4. Adams reports that neither tyre gave him any cause for concern in wet or dry conditions, but the Michelin tyre was a better choice for high-mileage drivers interested in economy. He adds that if wet grip is key, Pirelli is the tyre to choose.