Bridgestone Potenza Sport vs Continental SportContact 7

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

The good news is that both the Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Continental SportContact 7 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
Introduction Test Results Driver Reviews Conclusion
Potenza-Sport VS SportContact-7

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 nine tests which compare both tyres directly!

Out of these nine tests:

  • Continental SportContact 7 finished ahead of the Bridgestone Potenza Sport in seven of the tests
  • The Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Continental SportContact 7 drew in two of the tests

While it might look like the Continental SportContact 7 is better than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport 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.

Lets look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.

Dry Braking

Looking at data from eight tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during seven dry braking tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 stopped the vehicle in 3.03% less distance than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
34.99M
Continental SportContact 7
33.93M
Dry braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Dry Braking: Continental SportContact 7

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test
255/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 35.4M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 33.17M
2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 35.7M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 33.5M
2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 35.6M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 33.6M
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 33.5M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 33.3M
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 32.6M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 31.6M
2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 35.2M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 33.7M
2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 34.9M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 34.1M
2024 Sports Car Tyre Test
295/30 R20		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 37M Continental SportContact 7: 38.5M

Dry Handling [s]

Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 was 0.08% faster around a lap than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
75.39s
Continental SportContact 7
75.33s
Dry handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Dry Handling [s]: Continental SportContact 7

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test
255/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 52.37s ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 52.16s
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 98.4s Continental SportContact 7: 98.5s

Dry Handling [Km/H]

Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during five dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 was 0.64% faster around a lap than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
111.08Km/H
Continental SportContact 7
111.8Km/H
Dry Handling Average Speed, higher is better

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

2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 133.1Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 133.3Km/H
2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 118.2Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 119.4Km/H
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 115.5Km/H Continental SportContact 7: 115.2Km/H
2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 101.1Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 101.8Km/H
2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 90.9Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 91.9Km/H
2024 Sports Car Tyre Test
295/30 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 107.7Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 109.2Km/H

Wet Braking

Looking at data from eight tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during seven wet braking tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 stopped the vehicle in 5.13% less distance than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
40.18M
Continental SportContact 7
38.12M
Wet braking in meters, lower is better

Best In Wet Braking: Continental SportContact 7

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test
255/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 53.41M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 50.13M
2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 30.5M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 27.5M
2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 56.2M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 52.8M
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 41.2M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 38.8M
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 38.1M Continental SportContact 7: 38.1M
2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 25.4M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 24.1M
2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 26M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 24.3M
2024 Sports Car Tyre Test
295/30 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 50.6M ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 49.2M

Wet Handling [s]

Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 was 1.7% faster around a wet lap than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
77.54s
Continental SportContact 7
76.22s
Wet handling time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Wet Handling [s]: Continental SportContact 7

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test
255/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 88.57s ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 83.24s
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 66.5s Continental SportContact 7: 69.2s

Wet Handling [Km/H]

Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport was better during five wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Bridgestone Potenza Sport was 1.32% faster around a wet lap than the Continental SportContact 7.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
78.05Km/H
Continental SportContact 7
77.02Km/H
Wet Handling Average Speed, higher is better

Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Bridgestone Potenza Sport

2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 90Km/H Continental SportContact 7: 87.7Km/H
2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 73.3Km/H Continental SportContact 7: 72.9Km/H
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 86.9Km/H Continental SportContact 7: 84.7Km/H
2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 88.7Km/H Continental SportContact 7: 87.5Km/H
2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 51.6Km/H Continental SportContact 7: 50.4Km/H
2024 Sports Car Tyre Test
295/30 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 77.8Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 78.9Km/H

Wet Circle

Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during two wet circle tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 was 0.68% faster around a wet circle than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
11.75s
Continental SportContact 7
11.67s
Wet Circle Lap Time in seconds, lower is better

Best In Wet Circle: Continental SportContact 7

2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 11.35s Continental SportContact 7: 11.36s
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 11.04s Continental SportContact 7: 11.09s
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 13.72s ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 13.45s
2024 Sports Car Tyre Test
295/30 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 10.89s ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 10.78s

Straight Aqua

Looking at data from eight tyre tests, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport was better during three straight aqua tests. On average the Bridgestone Potenza Sport floated at a 0.01% higher speed than the Continental SportContact 7.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
83.11Km/H
Continental SportContact 7
83.1Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H, higher is better

Best In Straight Aqua: Bridgestone Potenza Sport

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test
255/35 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 86.87Km/H Continental SportContact 7: 86.61Km/H
2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 69Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 69.2Km/H
2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 92.6Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 93Km/H
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 77.8Km/H Continental SportContact 7: 75.6Km/H
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 80.3Km/H Continental SportContact 7: 79.4Km/H
2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 79.3Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 80.1Km/H
2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 82.2Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 83.3Km/H
2024 Sports Car Tyre Test
295/30 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 96.8Km/H ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 97.6Km/H

Curved Aquaplaning

Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport was better during five curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Bridgestone Potenza Sport slipped out at a 4.47% higher speed than the Continental SportContact 7.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
3.8m/sec2
Continental SportContact 7
3.63m/sec2
Remaining lateral acceleration, higher is better

Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Bridgestone Potenza Sport

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test
255/35 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 2.51m/sec2 Continental SportContact 7: 2.43m/sec2
2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 2.29m/sec2 Continental SportContact 7: 2.1m/sec2
2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 2.73m/sec2 ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 2.74m/sec2
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 2.72m/sec2 Continental SportContact 7: 2.35m/sec2
2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 3.38m/sec2 Continental SportContact 7: 3.37m/sec2
2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 9.14m/sec2 Continental SportContact 7: 8.8m/sec2

Subj. Comfort

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 scored 11.11% more points than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
8 Points
Continental SportContact 7
9 Points
Subjective Comfort Score, higher is better

Best In Subj. Comfort: Continental SportContact 7

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test
255/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 8 Points ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 9 Points

Noise

Looking at data from eight tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during seven noise tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 measured 1.34% quieter than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
72.16dB
Continental SportContact 7
71.19dB
External noise in dB, lower is better

Best In Noise: Continental SportContact 7

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test
255/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 74.4dB ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 73.5dB
2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 70.4dB ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 68.2dB
2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 73.6dB ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 71.6dB
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 69dB ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 67.5dB
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 71dB ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 69dB
2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 71.6dB Continental SportContact 7: 73.3dB
2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 73.5dB ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 73dB
2024 Sports Car Tyre Test
295/30 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 73.8dB ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 73.4dB

Price

Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during five price tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 cost 1.45% less than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
424.67
Continental SportContact 7
418.5
Price in local currency, lower is better

Best In Price: Continental SportContact 7

2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 200 ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 184
2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 ✓ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 710 Continental SportContact 7: 725
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 460 ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 455
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 760 ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 750
2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 114 ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 112
2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 304 ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 285

Rolling Resistance

Looking at data from eight tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during eight rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 had a 12.46% lower rolling resistance than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
9.55kg / t
Continental SportContact 7
8.36kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t, lower is better

Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental SportContact 7

2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test
255/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 10.29kg / t ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 9.565kg / t
2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 9.9kg / t ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 8.4kg / t
2022 AutoBild 19 Inch Summer UHP Tyre Test
245/40 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 9.04kg / t ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 8.48kg / t
2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 9.9kg / t ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 8.38kg / t
2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test
235/35 R19		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 9.47kg / t ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 8.26kg / t
2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test
225/40 R18		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 10.2kg / t ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 8.2kg / t
2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 9.1kg / t ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 7.2kg / t
2024 Sports Car Tyre Test
295/30 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 8.53kg / t ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 8.36kg / t

Energy Consumption

Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental SportContact 7 was better during one energy consumption tests. On average the Continental SportContact 7 used 6.83% less energy than the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
16.1kWh/100km
Continental SportContact 7
15kWh/100km
Energy consumption in kW hours per 100 km, lower is better

Best In Energy Consumption: Continental SportContact 7

2023 The Best Electric Vehicle Tyres VS UHP Tyres
255/45 R20		 Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 16.1kWh/100km ✓ Continental SportContact 7: 15kWh/100km

Real World Driver Reviews

Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Continental SportContact 7.

In total the Bridgestone Potenza Sport has been reviewed 89 times and drivers have given the tyre 83% overall.

The Continental SportContact 7 has been reviewed 49 times and drivers have given the tyre 86% overall.

This means drivers in real world driving, people prefer the Continental SportContact 7.

Best Review for the Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Given 81% 225/45 R17 on a combination of roads for 2,000 spirited miles
I have had these on the rear of my XFR for a few months now, it has the optional "R-S" size of 295/30/20. They get a hard life on a heavy >500bhp RWD car with quite relaxed electronics, and these are by far the best tyres I have used on the rear of an XFR - various models of which have been my daily driver for 6.5 years now (about 90k miles covered in that time). Traction is superb in wet and dry conditions, and resistance to aquaplaning has been good as well. It is slightly concerning they come with
Helpful 1005 - tyre reviewed on November 22, 2021
View all Bridgestone Potenza Sport driver reviews >>
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 215 - tyre reviewed on August 19, 2022
View all Continental SportContact 7 driver reviews >>

Conclusion

In conclusion the Bridgestone Potenza Sport was better in wet handling [km/h], straight aqua and curved aquaplaning tests, whereas the Continental SportContact 7 was better in dry braking, dry handling [s], dry handling [km/h], wet braking, wet handling [s], wet circle, subj. comfort, noise, price, rolling resistance and energy consumption tests.

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

Overall Winner: Continental SportContact 7

Overall Winner: 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 Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Continental SportContact 7, 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.