Continental SportContact 7 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Results vary by test, but a pattern emerges. The SportContact 7 consistently delivers shorter dry stops and sharper handling feel, and often leads wet braking-though select 2025 UK-test conditions exposed a rare wet weakness. The Pilot Sport 5 counters with excellent aquaplaning performance, competitive wet manners, the best wear rates, and low rolling resistance, delivering a more touring-oriented, refined drive.
Test Results
Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been five tests which compare both tires directly!
| Tire | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Continental SportContact 7 | four | |
| Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | one |
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, tires are very complicated objects which means where one tire is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tires compare across multiple tire test categories.
Key Strengths
- Class-leading dry braking and consistently strong wet braking
- Sharp steering, high precision, and engaging handling
- Low noise and often lower price versus PS5 in tests
- Competitive efficiency for a grip-focused tire (solid rolling resistance, fuel use)
- Excellent straight and curved aquaplaning resistance
- Very low rolling resistance and outstanding wear/longevity
- Stable, composed wet behavior with short wet stops in several tests
- Refined, touring-like road manners and strong overall value
Dry Braking
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during five dry braking tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 stopped the vehicle in 3.07% less distance than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Dry Braking: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during two dry handling [s] tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 was 1.2% faster around a lap than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from one tire 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.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 scored 20% more points than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during two wet braking tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 stopped the vehicle in 0.39% less distance than the Continental SportContact 7.
Best In Wet Braking: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 stopped the vehicle in 3.12% less distance than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during two wet handling [s] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was 1.24% faster around a wet lap than the Continental SportContact 7.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during one wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was 0.12% faster around a wet lap than the Continental SportContact 7.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 scored 40% more points than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was 0.17% faster around a wet circle than the Continental SportContact 7.
Best In Wet Circle: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during four straight aqua tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 floated at a 0.9% higher speed than the Continental SportContact 7.
Best In Straight Aqua: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during three curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 slipped out at a 12.78% higher speed than the Continental SportContact 7.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 performed equally well in subj. comfort tests.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Both tires performed equally well
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Subj. Noise
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 performed equally well in subj. noise tests.
Best In Subj. Noise: Both tires performed equally well
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during three noise tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 measured 2.15% quieter than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Noise: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during one wear tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is predicted to cover 23.05% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Continental SportContact 7.
Best In Wear: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during one value tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 proved to have a 15.58% better value based on price/1000km than the Continental SportContact 7.
Best In Value: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from two tire 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.
Best In Price: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during two rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 had a 0.48% lower rolling resistance than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 used 1.79% less fuel than the Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Continental SportContact 7
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was better during one abrasion tests. On average the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 emitted 11.51% less particle wear matter than the Continental SportContact 7.
Best In Abrasion: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Continental SportContact 7 Driver Reviews
Drivers rate the Continental SportContact 7 very highly overall, most often praising outstanding wet grip (often described as nearly dry-like), very strong dry traction, and excellent braking/handling that boosts confidence on both road and occasional track use. Many also feel it offers strong value versus Michelin/Pirelli rivals, with good feedback and stability once up to temperature. The most consistent downside is rapid wear/short lifespan-especially on heavy, high-torque cars or with spirited/track driving-with a secondary theme of higher noise and a firmer ride or slightly less sharp steering feel than some competitors.
Based on 93 reviews with an average rating of 84%
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Driver Reviews
Across 89 reviews, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is widely described as an excellent all-round UHP summer tire with standout wet performance, strong dry grip, and high driver confidence at speed. Many drivers also praise its comfort/refinement and generally low road noise versus rival sporty tires, with a large portion reporting very good tread life for the category. The most repeated drawback is a less engaging steering feel (softer sidewalls, mild understeer, and reduced feedback) compared with sharper alternatives like Pilot Sport 4S/Continental SportContact 7, while price is a smaller but recurring complaint.
Based on 97 reviews with an average rating of 85%
Conclusion
The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is the smarter long-haul choice: it frequently tops straight and curved aquaplaning, posts excellent rolling resistance, and massively outlasts the Continental in wear (+30% in ADAC), improving total cost of ownership. It feels composed and stable, though not as razor-sharp. For daily performance with strong wet safety margins in deep water and better value over time, the PS5 is compelling.
Key Differences
- Dry braking: SC7 wins all shared comparisons (e.g., −2.6 m vs PS5 in Auto Express).
- Dry handling: SC7 faster and more precise across tests.
- Wet braking: SC7 leads overall (3 wins to 2), but PS5 beat it notably in Auto Express (−3.4 m).
- Aquaplaning: PS5 clearly superior in straight and curved tests (4 and 3 wins respectively).
- Comfort/noise: Both good; SC7 slightly quieter in multiple tests, PS5 sometimes noisier in-cabin.
- Efficiency and wear: PS5 lower rolling resistance (ties/wins) and far better tread life (+~30% ADAC), improving value.
Overall Winner: Continental SportContact 7
Based on the tire 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 tire has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tire buying choice.Similar Comparisons
Looking for more tire comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tires:
Footnote
This page has been developed using tire industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tires in the same test.
Why is this important? Tire 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 tire test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tire tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tire 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 tire comparison, Tire Reviews doesn't.