Continental SportContact 7 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5

In this article we will be looking at independent tire test data, and real world driver reviews of the Continental SportContact 7 and the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 to find out which tire 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 tires designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars, which means comparing the two tires is relatively simple.

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

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

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 two tests which compare both tires 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, 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.

Dry Braking

Looking at data from two tire 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 Tire Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:33.3M Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 34.7M
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:31.6M Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 32.5M

Dry Handling [s]

Looking at data from one tire 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 Tire Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:98.5s Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 100.1s

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.

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 Tire Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:115.2Km/H Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 114.6Km/H

Wet Braking

Looking at data from two tire 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 Tire Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:38.8M Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 39.1M
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:38.1M Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 39.9M

Wet Handling [s]

Looking at data from one tire 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 Tire Test
235/35 R19		 Continental SportContact 7:69.2s ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 67.9s

Wet Handling [Km/H]

Looking at data from one tire 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 Tire Test
225/40 R18		 Continental SportContact 7:84.7Km/H ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 84.8Km/H

Wet Circle

Looking at data from two tire 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 Tire Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:11.09s Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 11.13s
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:13.45s Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 13.52s

Straight Aqua

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:

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

Curved Aquaplaning

Looking at data from one tire 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 Tire Test
225/40 R18		 Continental SportContact 7:2.35m/sec2 ✓ Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 2.96m/sec2

Noise

Looking at data from two tire 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 Tire Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:67.5dB Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 68.3dB
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:69dB Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 72dB

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.

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

Rolling Resistance

Looking at data from two tire 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 Tire Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:8.38kg / t Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 8.62kg / t
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Continental SportContact 7:8.26kg / t Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 8.37kg / t

Real World Driver Reviews

Tire 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 tire 86% overall.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 has been reviewed 67 times and drivers have given the tire 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 tires transformed the driving experience both on the road and track.
Helpful 252 - tire 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 tires. What a fantastic difference these new tire 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 445 - tire 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 tires performed equally well in straight aqua, showing that they are closely matched in these areas.

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

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

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

Overall Winner: Continental SportContact 7

Overall Winner: Continental SportContact 7

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.