Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 71
- TR Score
- 9.4/10
- Owners say
- 85% · 135
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 7 times and the Pilot Sport 5 4 times. The PremiumContact 7 stopped 2.3% shorter in the wet; the Pilot Sport 5 lasted 10.2% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Continental PremiumContact 7 if you want the most confidence-inspiring wet braking/handling and an easy, balanced daily-driver tyre that still performs at a high level. Choose the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 if you prioritize long tread life and a more engaging, sport-leaning steering/handling feel-especially if you cover high annual mileage and want performance that lasts.
Where the PremiumContact 7 is stronger
- Stronger wet braking performance across the shared data (wins 8-2), with repeated 1.0-2.8 m class advantages in key tests (e.g., 29.8 m vs 30.8 m in Sport Auto 2024; 33.3 m vs 34.3 m in Sport Auto 2026)
- More consistently secure wet handling and stability (wins 5-2), often described as less sensitive to weight transfer and easier to drive at the limit
- Better comfort/refinement tilt in most comparisons (comfort wins 3-0; noise wins 5-2), aligning with its premium-touring brief
Where the Pilot Sport 5 is stronger
- Class-leading longevity across the shared tests (wear wins 5-0), with notable gaps in some datasets (e.g., 30,595 km vs 25,802 km in 2023 test; 55,600 km vs 51,600 km in Auto Bild 2023; 59,670 km vs 56,350 km in Auto Bild 2026)
- More rewarding/“sporty” steering and subjective dry handling (subjective dry handling wins 3-0; strong agility/precision remarks in multiple reports)
- Very competitive dry performance overall (often close on dry braking/handling; can lead outright depending on size/test, e.g., Auto Bild Performance 2025 overall 1st with strong dry metrics)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
PremiumContact 7 vs Pilot Sport 5 at a glance
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | Gap | Pilot Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won11 shared tests | 7 | 4 | |
| Dry21 measurements | 10 | 9 | |
| Wet40 measurements | 24 | The PremiumContact 7 stopped 2.3% shorter in the wet (10 tests) | 13 |
| Comfort12 measurements | 8 | The PremiumContact 7 was 0.7 dB quieter (7 tests) | 2 |
| Value15 measurements | 5 | The Pilot Sport 5 lasted 10.2% longer in the wear tests (5 tests) | 9 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The PremiumContact 7 by 0.1 | 9.4/10 |
| Owner rating71 and 135 reviews | 82% | The Pilot Sport 5 by 3 points | 85% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 74% | The Pilot Sport 5 by 9 points | 83% |
| Pricein the 6 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Pilot Sport 5 was dearer in 5 of 6 | +11% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 56 | 27 sizes made in both | 66 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 11 tests, 2023 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | PremiumContact 7 | Field | Pilot Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | P4 of 7 | P5 of 7 | |
| 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | P6 of 20 | P3 of 20 | |
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P6 of 50 | P9 of 50 | |
| 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | P4 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2025 AZ Summer Tyre Test | P2 of 10 | P4 of 10 | |
| 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout | P8 of 52 | P2 of 52 | |
| 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | P3 of 8 | P4 of 8 | |
| 2024 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 6 | P2 of 6 | |
| The BEST Performance Tyres Tested | P1 of 6 | P2 of 6 | |
| 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | P3 of 20 | P2 of 20 | |
| 2023 Summer Tyre Market Overview | P5 of 50 | P6 of 50 |
Performance profile
16 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
PremiumContact 7
Pilot Sport 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 95%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 6 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
PremiumContact 7
Pilot Sport 5
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
PremiumContact 7
Pilot Sport 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Pilot Sport 5 85% from 135. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | PremiumContact 7 | Gap | Pilot Sport 5 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34.23 | 0.3% | 34.12 | 5-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.71 | 0.4% | 72.02 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 111.6 | 0.2% | 111.8 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 21.9% | scored | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 33.93 | 2.3% | 34.71 | 8-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 27.9 | 9.1% | 30.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 42.2 | 1.2% | 41.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 81.13 | 1.8% | 82.74 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73.56 | 0.4% | 73.3 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 4.8% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.56 | 0.4% | 8.53 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.73 | 1.1% | 13.59 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 84.41 | 0.2% | 84.59 | 3-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.62 | 2.1% | 4.5 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 11.5% | scored | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.11 | 0.7 dB | 72.79 | 5-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 44,500 | 10.2% | 48,607 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.3 | 1.7% | 8.45 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 75.9 | 13.4% | 65.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1,302 | 3.8% | 1,353 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0.11 | 20.6% | 0.09 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the PremiumContact 7 scores 9.5 and the Pilot Sport 5 9.4 out of 10.
| PremiumContact 7 | Category | Pilot Sport 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94 | Dry | 93 | ||
| 97 | Wet | 96 | ||
| 36 | Comfort | 22 | ||
| 67 | Value | 59 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| PremiumContact 7 | Category | Pilot Sport 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.2 | Dry Grip | 9 | ||
| 9.2 | Wet Grip | 9 | ||
| 8.3 | Road Feedback | 8.1 | ||
| 8.4 | Handling | 8.3 | ||
| 7.3 | Wear | 8 | ||
| 7.5 | Comfort | 8.2 | ||
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Pilot Sport 5 85% from 135. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental PremiumContact 7
- 82%from 71 reviews
- 74%would buy again
- 704,882 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners are largely impressed with the Continental PremiumContact 7, rating it 82.9% on average with no outright negative reviews, and the standout theme is strong, confidence-inspiring grip in both dry and wet conditions. Nearly half of owners mention excellent dry and wet grip, often backed up by praise for secure handling and stability. The main drawback is refinement: around a quarter to a third of owners report notable road noise, and a similar share are disappointed by tread life, with wear sometimes described as quicker than expected. Comfort is generally viewed positively overall, though opinions vary, and steering feel is more mixed than the outright grip levels suggest.
- Strong dry grip and traction
- Very confident wet grip
- Secure, planted handling in the dry
- Comfortable ride over bumps and on longer runs
- Noticeable road noise, especially on coarse surfaces
- Tread life can be disappointing for a premium tyre
- Steering feel/precision can be inconsistent (some find it vague)
Summarised by AI from 58 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 71 PremiumContact 7 reviewsThe PremiumContact 7 offers a great balance of touring longevity, comfort, and sufficiently precise handling to keep you safe at higher speeds and in unexpected situations. These tires provide near-perfect grip across various conditions, performing exceptionally well on both dry and wet roads. On the other hand, they can get a bit noisy on rough surfaces.
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- 85%from 135 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 1,150,326 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 very highly overall, with most highlighting standout grip in both the dry and wet and plenty of confidence for fast road driving. Comfort and refinement are also frequently praised for a UHP tyre, with many finding it quiet and easy-going day to day. Wear is more divisive: many report strong mileage, but around one in ten complain of quicker wear than expected (and a smaller group mention uneven wear). Around one in eight owners also wish for sharper, more precise steering feel compared with sportier rivals.
- Outstanding wet grip and confidence in the rain
- Very strong dry grip with big reserves
- Comfortable, compliant ride for a performance tyre
- Refined, relatively quiet motorway manners (especially when new)
- Steering feel can be a bit vague or slower to respond than rivals
- Can wear quicker than expected for some drivers
- Not happy when pushed hard on track; can overheat and lose grip
Summarised by AI from 121 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 135 Pilot Sport 5 reviewsI have driven on PS5 for the first season in my 150HP car (Cupra Leon ST).
The grip both in dry and in the wet is excellent - I tried to push them to the limit many times and have never been able to lose the grip so far.
Although I have to mention that they feel very soft close at the limit - even though the grip always delivers in the end, the tyre often „floats” when turning that you may start wondering if the tyre will make it out of the corner.
Due to their softness, I find them comfortable as for the summer tyre on small bumps.
Summing up - the grip is excellent, very safe and stable, breaking is sharp and… the tyre itself looks amazing.
Something worth mentioning is that the rim protector doesn’t exist in this tyre - if that’s something you care about, the PS5 is not for you.
Although I can’t find any cons in terms of safety in PS5, as a tyre geek, I think about replacing them for the next season for something with more sharp/sporty steering (I would appreciate any recommendations).
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 56 sizes of the PremiumContact 7 and 66 of the Pilot Sport 5, 27 of them made in both.
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | Pilot Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 56 sizes, 16 to 21 inch | 66 sizes, 16 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 27 sizes 205/45 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17235/45 R17205/40 R18215/40 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18and 15 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A100% | A89%B11% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C74%B26% | C82%B10%A9% |
| EU label noise | 71-73 dB B100% | 70-75 dB B100% |
| On the market since | 2022 | 2022 |
| Replaced | Continental Premium Contact 6 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (2015) |
| Awards | Recommended: Best Tyres for Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Summer Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2024) | Winner: Best Tyres for Hot Hatches (Compact Sports Cars) (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Best Tyres for Hot Hatches (DriverReviews, 2024/25) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Pilot Sport 5 was the dearer tyre in 5 of the 6 tests that listed prices, by 11% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This is an unusually interesting head-to-head because these tyres sit in slightly different “intent lanes”: the Continental PremiumContact 7 (premium-touring summer) aims to blend comfort, efficiency and safety, while the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 (max-performance summer) leans more toward sharper on-road dynamics and long-life UHP credibility. In practice, though, the shared test data shows a lot of overlap-both are consistently near the top of big-group summer tests, and the differences come down to where each tyre prioritizes its performance envelope.
Across 11 shared professional tests, the pattern is clear: PremiumContact 7 more often wins the wet-safety metrics (especially wet braking and wet handling stability), while Pilot Sport 5 more often wins on subjective “sportiness” and consistently dominates wear/longevity. That means the better choice depends less on absolute grip (both are strong) and more on whether your priority is wet confidence and everyday refinement versus long-mileage performance and a more engaging steering feel.
Conclusion
Taken as a whole, the Continental PremiumContact 7 is the more “safety-first” and rounded performer in mixed real-world use. It leads the comparison heavily in wet braking (8 wins vs 2) and also tends to edge wet handling (5 wins vs 2), with meaningful examples like Sport Auto 2026 wet braking (33.3 m vs 34.3 m) and Sport Auto 2024 (29.8 m vs 30.8 m). Multiple reports also describe the Continental as less sensitive to load/weight-transfer in the wet, which is exactly the trait that makes a tyre feel predictable when roads are greasy, temperatures drop, or you're driving a normal car quickly on public roads.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 5, however, makes its strongest case in two areas that matter to owners: it repeatedly delivers higher subjective dry-handling satisfaction (3 wins vs 0) and it is consistently the durability champion (wear: 5 wins vs 0). In the 2023 “Best Performance Tyres Tested”, for instance, Michelin's tread life advantage is large (30,595 km vs 25,802 km), and in multiple Auto Bild results it maintains a clear mileage edge as well (e.g., 59,670 km vs 56,350 km in Auto Bild 2026). If you drive a lot of motorway miles, keep tyres for longer, or value a tyre that stays consistent over its life, the PS5's ownership proposition is hard to ignore.
Practical takeaway: if your priority is maximum wet reassurance and a “no bad habits” daily-driving balance (including comfort/low effort at the limit), the PremiumContact 7 is the smarter pick-even though it's nominally the less sporty category. If your priority is long service life with a more performance-oriented steering/handling character (and you can accept that wet behavior can be a touch less forgiving at the limit depending on the test), the Pilot Sport 5 is the better long-term performance buy.
PremiumContact 7 vs Pilot Sport 5: your questions
Is the Continental PremiumContact 7 or the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 the better tyre?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 7 times and the Pilot Sport 5 4 times. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the PremiumContact 7 scores 9.5 and the Pilot Sport 5 9.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the PremiumContact 7 or the Pilot Sport 5?
The PremiumContact 7 led 24 of the 40 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.3% shorter in the wet across 10 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The PremiumContact 7 led 10 of the 21 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The PremiumContact 7 had 1.7% lower rolling resistance (7 tests); the Pilot Sport 5 lasted 10.2% longer in the wear tests (5 tests). Owners rate wear 7.3/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 8/10 for the Pilot Sport 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The PremiumContact 7 was 0.7 dB quieter (7 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 8.2/10 for the Pilot Sport 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Pilot Sport 5 85% from 135. 74% of PremiumContact 7 owners would buy it again, against 83% for the Pilot Sport 5.
Which is more expensive?
In the 6 tests that listed prices, the Pilot Sport 5 was the dearer tyre in 5 of them, by 11% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The PremiumContact 7 is made in 56 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the Pilot Sport 5 in 66 (16 to 22 inch). 27 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the PremiumContact 7 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Pilot Sport 5 A and C.
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Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.
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