Continental Sport Contact 3 SSR Run flat Reviews - Page 2

Given 44% while driving a MINI Factory JCW 2009 (59 Plate) (205/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 31 average miles
Not bad tyre but it's not perfect for bumpy roads like we have in Portugal. Nice on high ways and main roads. Not so good on wet because they are really rush and hard. Thinking change to Pirellis Pzero run flat. Who advice me to do this ? Is it the best run flat tire for my mini jcw ?
Helpful 57 - tyre reviewed on March 16, 2014
Given 73% while driving a BMW Z4 (225/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 8,000 average miles
Coming from Bridgestone Potenza RE050, the conti tyres have been a major improvement. Good traction on dry road, good feedback and progressive at the car's limit, with as it seems after 10000Km, no significant wear.

The performance on the wet appears not to be great. By saying that, the tyres are being used in Greece were road traction can be a joke-minimal. However, it has happened to lose briefly the front of the car after passing through a wet strip on the road. In wet tarmac with 4th gear the cars rear slides if generous with the throttle. I would have expected better, but as I said the roads play a key role as well.

Also the car feels quite stiff/harsh when driving through uneven roads.

Overall it is a decent tyre in my opinion, but I would like to try something else as well.

Helpful 34 - tyre reviewed on December 28, 2013
Given 71% while driving a Audi (245/45 R18) on mostly town for 15,000 easy going miles
I feel that these are good tyres, although the road noise is higher then I would expect and the comfort is terrible (very hard ride). I understand that run-flats won't have the best ride but honestly; for 250 euro a tyre - some type of comfort is expected!

The ride is so harsh that your are delighted to stop the car and on the plus side, I now enjoy traffic jams.

I wont buy these again. I expect better for the money!
Helpful 37 - tyre reviewed on April 9, 2013
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Given 100% while driving a BMW 120d M sport (225/45 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 1,000 average miles
Fitted to the rear and after 1k of driving these tyres are simply excellent even though they are run flat and supposed to be crap according to some BMW owners. I have no issues with the RFT tyres, The ride is a little harsh but that is simply the way the tyres are designed, if they can run up to 100 miles on a puncture what do you expect the tyres to be soft???

Wet grip excellent dry grip is what the continentals conti 3 are all about very smooth very grippy and progressive.
Helpful 19 - tyre reviewed on April 1, 2013
Given 70% while driving a BMW 520d (245/45 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
Better wear characteristics than Dunlop SP Sportmaxx GT but noisier and less grip. Still preferable to Bridgestone which on a previous 320d coupe were not progressive at the limit. Generally there's not that much choice in run flats.
Helpful 17 - tyre reviewed on February 8, 2013
Given 61% while driving a MINI Cooper S (225/45 R17 V) on mostly motorways for 13,000 average miles
On good roads perfect, on less good roads noisy and uncomfortable, on bad roads a disaster. Cobble stones city centre makes you drive at about 10m/h at most. In combination with the Mini Cooper's anti-roll bar makes steering difficult and very uncomfortable.
Keep the tires well inflated (2,8 bar). On good roadsurfaces, steering is super sharp and response perfect. Excellent roadholding.
Helpful 17 - tyre reviewed on November 20, 2012
Given 50% while driving a MINI Cooper S (205/45 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 15,000 average miles
The confort is very bad, have to avoid potholes and bumps. cant relax when driving. Not comfortable at all, prefer pirelli eufori@, better overall. I had pirelli on my previous MINI, after 18000km still like new, didnt want to replace them but dealer gave me a package so switched to continental which is very loud and uncomfortable.
Helpful 16 - tyre reviewed on July 18, 2011
Given 92% while driving a BMW 5 Series M Sport ( E60 ) (245/40 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 0 average miles
I have always had Goodyear NCT5 Runflats on my 5 Series, just because they were the tyres that came with it when I brought the car, and was generally pleased with them overall for the cost, but recently they have been on back order and I have been unable to get any. After researching on the net I decided to go with either the Pirelli P Series Run Flat tyre, or the Continental Sport Contact Run Flat. I went with the Continental as they got better praise, and I'm glad I did. I have only had them a short while but I noticed a difference immediately the moment I drove away from the tyre shop. The road noise is virtually non existent, the bumps in the road don’t seem so harsh when you ride over them, unlike the Goodyear if you hit the smallest pot hole it was like you were crashing through a wall. The Continental give a much smoother ride, and grip better than the Goodyear in the wet and dry.
I have not had the tyres on long enough to comment on their longevity, but based on the short time I have been using them I would definitely buy them again, only downside of course is the cost, they are a more expensive tyre than the Pirelli and what the Goodyear were, but then again, regardless of who makes them, Run Flat Tyres aren’t cheap.
Helpful 17 - tyre reviewed on January 22, 2011
Given 80% while driving a MINI Cooper S (205/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 1,000 spirited miles
Although it is early days these tyres are so much better than the previous worn Pirelli Eufori run flats. The Pirelli's tramlined so much that I got the tracking adjusted. This didn't help so I thought there was something wrong with the supsension. The Conti's get great reviews and it is like driving a new car again!!
Helpful 18 - tyre reviewed on October 30, 2010
Given 83% while driving a BMW Z4 (225/45 R17 W) on mostly motorways for 12,000 spirited miles
This review is for Continental Sport Contact 3 225\45\17 W (Run flat) Fitted to a 2003 Z4 2.5i SE

I decided to fit these tyres to replace the rear tyres on my Z4 which were OE Bridgestone RE-05 run flats. The Bridgestone's had worn out very quickly over a short period down to the indicators, and not very evenly. I would describe myself as an enthusiastic driver so anything above 12,000 miles from a pair of rear tyres on a car of this type with close to 200bhp is acceptable.

Dry Grip : Very good so far, good confident traction out of the bends and roundabouts

Wet Grip : Not tested much but initial impressions are favourable
Road Feedback : Initially a little squirmy during fast cornering but have now bedded in nicely. Noticeably Quieter than the RE-05's

Progressiveness : So far so good, not reached the limit yet.

Wear : Too early to say

Comfort : A BIG improvement on the Bridgestone RE-05's

Buy again : The choice of Run flat tyres for the Z4 appears to be a bit limited, but based upon impressions so far and the choice available I would say yes.


Summary:

Throughout their life on the car I found the OE Bridgestone RE-05 offered good grip and cornering stability in the dry but was much less impressive in the wet especially in tight corners, and the constant tram lining behaviour was a chore, especially on badly paved tarmac or when changing lanes over cat eyes in the road. The Bridgestone's in my opinion were\are so bad in this respect, I thought my rear suspension had become badly worn, but fitment of the Conti's has pretty much cured this characteristic. The other good news is that the Conti's have improved the spine jarring ride that the Bridgestone's provided on the Z4, the sidewalls look to be of a different shape and more generous on the Conti's so maybe this has something to do with it. Of course the Z4 is a sports car so is not intended to be a comfy cruiser but the RE-05's pushed this tolerance to the limit and on anything but a perfect road surface almost totally spoiled my enjoyment of driving the car. I was surprised to read the negative comments here regarding these tyres as in my experience on my rear drive Z4 the Conti's have restored the enjoyment to my car and the smile is back, so from me at least the CSC3's are recommended.
Helpful 19 - tyre reviewed on April 27, 2010