Continental SportContact 7 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5

In this article we will be looking at independent tyre test data, and real world driver reviews of the Continental SportContact 7 and the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 to find out which tyre is best for your own driving.

The good news is that both the Continental SportContact 7 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 are Max Performance Summer tyres designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars, which means comparing the two tyres is relatively simple.

Both tyres are hugely popular in the market place with drivers, and both have been featured in independent tyre tests.

In This Article
Test Results Driver Reviews Conclusion Similar Comparisons
SportContact-7 VS Pilot-Sport-5

Test Results

Independent comparison tyre tests are the best source of data to get tyre information from, and the good news is there have been two tests which compare both tyres directly!

Out of these two tests:

  • Continental SportContact 7 finished ahead of the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 in two of the tests

While it might look like the Continental SportContact 7 is better than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tyres are very complicated objects which means where one tyre is better than the other can be more important in real world use.

Let's look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.

Dry Braking

Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during two dry braking tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 stopped the vehicle in 3.42% less distance than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
32.45M
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
33.6M
Dry braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Dry Braking: Continental SportContact 7

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:33.3M Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 34.7M
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:31.6M Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 32.5M

Dry Handling [s]

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 was 1.6% faster around a lap than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
98.5s
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
100.1s
Dry handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Dry Handling [s]: Continental SportContact 7

2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:98.5s Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 100.1s

Dry Handling [Km/H]

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 was 0.52% faster around a lap than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
115.2Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
114.6Km/H
Dry Handling Average Speed, higher is better

Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Continental SportContact 7

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:115.2Km/H Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 114.6Km/H

Wet Braking

Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during two wet braking tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 stopped the vehicle in 2.66% less distance than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
38.45M
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
39.5M
Wet braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Wet Braking: Continental SportContact 7

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:38.8M Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 39.1M
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:38.1M Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 39.9M

Wet Handling [s]

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was 1.88% faster around a wet lap than the Continental SportContact 7.

Continental SportContact 7
69.2s
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
67.9s
Wet handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Wet Handling [s]: Michelin Pilot Sport 5

2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Continental SportContact 7:69.2s ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 67.9s

Wet Handling [Km/H]

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during zero wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 was 0.12% faster around a wet lap than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
84.7Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
84.8Km/H
Wet Handling Average Speed, higher is better

Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Sport 5

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Continental SportContact 7:84.7Km/H ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 84.8Km/H

Wet Circle

Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during two wet circle tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 was 0.49% faster around a wet circle than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
12.27s
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
12.33s
Wet Circle Lap Time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Wet Circle: Continental SportContact 7

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:11.09s Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 11.13s
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:13.45s Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 13.52s

Straight Aqua

Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 performed equally well in straight aqua tests.

Continental SportContact 7
77.5Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
77.5Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H, higher is better

Best In Straight Aqua: Both tyres performed equally well

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Continental SportContact 7:75.6Km/H ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 77.9Km/H
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:79.4Km/H Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 77.1Km/H

Curved Aquaplaning

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during zero curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 slipped out at a 20.61% higher speed than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
2.35m/sec2
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
2.96m/sec2
Remaining lateral acceleration, higher is better

Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Michelin Pilot Sport 5

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Continental SportContact 7:2.35m/sec2 ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 2.96m/sec2

Noise

Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during two noise tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 measured 2.71% quieter than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
68.25dB
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
70.15dB
External noise in dB, lower is better

Best In Noise: Continental SportContact 7

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:67.5dB Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 68.3dB
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:69dB Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 72dB

Price

Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during two price tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 cost 9.06% less than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
602.5
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
662.5
Price in local currency, lower is better

Best In Price: Continental SportContact 7

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:455 Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 500
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:750 Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 825

Rolling Resistance

Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during two rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 had a 2.12% lower rolling resistance than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Continental SportContact 7
8.32kg / t
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
8.5kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t, lower is better

Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental SportContact 7

2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:8.38kg / t Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 8.62kg / t
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:8.26kg / t Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 8.37kg / t

Real World Driver Reviews

Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Continental SportContact 7 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

In total the Continental SportContact 7 has been reviewed 60 times and drivers have given the tyre 86% overall.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 has been reviewed 67 times and drivers have given the tyre 85% overall.

This means in real world driving, people prefer the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.

Best Review for the Continental SportContact 7
Given 93% 305/35 R19 on a combination of roads for 2,500 spirited miles
Bought these based on the group test results and was not disappointed. The wet grip is at a new level! I've tracked them several times both in dry and wet and they didn't fail. I was especially impressed with how they held up during the day and the tread that was left afterwards. These tyres transformed the driving experience both on the road and track.
Helpful 263 - tyre reviewed on August 19, 2022
View all Continental SportContact 7 driver reviews >>
Best Review for the Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Given 89% 225/40 R18 on mostly country roads for 2,000 spirited miles
I've bought the new Michelin Pilot Sport 5 for my Golf R as I previously had the Pilot Sport 4 tyres. What a fantastic difference these new tyre are. Theres far less noise, the grip in the wet is better and the dry grip is almost the same if not better as well. I would definitely be buying these again.
Helpful 454 - tyre reviewed on January 12, 2022
View all Michelin Pilot Sport 5 driver reviews >>

Conclusion

In conclusion the Continental SportContact 7 performed better in dry braking, dry handling [s], dry handling [km/h], wet braking, wet circle, noise, price and rolling resistance, while the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 performed better in wet handling [s], wet handling [km/h] and curved aquaplaning.

Interestingly, both tyres performed equally well in straight aqua, showing that they are closely matched in these areas.

Which tyre is best for you depends a lot on your driving style and situation, plus what you want from the tyre. Comparing all the data in the tyre reviews database, on balance Continental SportContact 7 seems to be the best tyre overall.

However, it's important to note that both tyres have their strengths.

Remember, the best tyre for you might depend on which of these factors are most important for your specific driving needs and conditions.

Continental SportContact 7

Overall Winner: Continental SportContact 7

Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Continental SportContact 7 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tyre has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tyre buying choice.

Similar Comparisons

Looking for more tyre comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tyres:

Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
VS
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 VS Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Continental SportContact 7
VS
Falken Azenis FK520
Continental SportContact 7 VS Falken Azenis FK520
Continental SportContact 7
VS
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Continental SportContact 7 VS Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Continental SportContact 7
VS
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
Continental SportContact 7 VS Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
Continental SportContact 7
VS
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Continental SportContact 7 VS Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Falken Azenis FK520
VS
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Falken Azenis FK520 VS Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
VS
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 VS Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Continental PremiumContact 7
VS
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Continental PremiumContact 7 VS Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
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Continental SportContact 7
Bridgestone Potenza Sport VS Continental SportContact 7

Footnote

This page has been developed using tyre industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tyres in the same test.

Why is this important? Tyre testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tyre test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tyre tests performed on different days or at different locations.

As a result you will see other tests on Tyre Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.

Lots of other websites do this sort of tyre comparison, Tyre Reviews doesn't.