Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
The pattern is consistent: the Continental's advantage is built on braking and overall wet-road control (where margins can become genuinely safety-relevant), plus strong projected longevity in multiple tests. The Firestone's best arguments are rolling resistance (and therefore fuel/energy use), frequent strong aquaplaning results, and often attractive price-performance-making it appealing if your priorities are running costs and motorway stability in standing water rather than maximum wet braking performance.
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!
| Tyre | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Continental PremiumContact 7 | eight | |
| Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN | one |
While it might look like the Continental PremiumContact 7 is better than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN 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.
Let's look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.
Key Strengths
- Class-leading wet braking across all shared tests (8/8 wins), often by large margins (e.g., 53.2 m vs 60.9 m in Auto Zeitung 2026; 30.1 m vs 34.9 m in ADAC 2026)
- More precise, confidence-inspiring handling balance on wet and dry in most reports; consistently strong objective handling metrics (e.g., faster wet handling in Auto Zeitung 2026: 69.8 s vs 70.9 s)
- Stronger longevity and environmental metrics in multiple tests (e.g., ADAC 2026 wear 44,700 km vs 36,700 km; EV test 40,890 km vs 28,510 km) with lower abrasion where measured
- Well-rounded touring refinement: generally good comfort/noise results and few “weak links” in comprehensive test programmes (noting some tests cite slightly above-average noise or a firmer ride)
- Lower rolling resistance and better efficiency trend (wins rolling resistance in 5 comparisons; often translates into slightly better EV range, e.g., 352.6 km vs 344.4 km in the EV test)
- Frequently strong aquaplaning performance, especially straight-line (4 category wins overall; standout EV test results: 80.1 km/h straight aquaplaning, 3.02 m/s² curved)
- Competitive value proposition in some testing (e.g., Auto Zeitung 2026 value metric advantage: 14.13 vs 16.84 price/1000)
- Predictable, benign on-limit behaviour noted by multiple testers-an easy tyre to drive day-to-day even if ultimate grip is lower
Dry Braking
Looking at data from nine tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during eight dry braking tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 stopped the vehicle in 3.04% less distance than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Dry Braking: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during three dry handling [s] tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 was 0.84% faster around a lap than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during two dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 was 1.95% faster around a lap than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during three subj. dry handling tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 scored 1.67% more points than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from nine tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during nine wet braking tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 stopped the vehicle in 8.98% less distance than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Wet Braking: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 stopped the vehicle in 12.97% less distance than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during four wet handling [s] tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 was 1.14% faster around a wet lap than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during two wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 was 2.46% faster around a wet lap than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during two subj. wet handling tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 scored 3.82% more points than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 had 0.83% higher lateral wet grip than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Wet Circle: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from eight tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during four straight aqua tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN floated at a 1.21% higher speed than the Continental PremiumContact 7.
Best In Straight Aqua: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during three curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 slipped out at a 1.51% higher speed than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during three subj. comfort tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 scored 4.57% more points than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Subj. Noise
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during one subj. noise tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 scored 2.5% more points than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Subj. Noise: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during three noise tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 measured 0.44% quieter than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Noise: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 and Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN performed equally well in noise tests.
Best In Noise: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during three wear tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 is predicted to cover 18.97% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Wear: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one value tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN proved to have a 7.18% better value based on price/1000km than the Continental PremiumContact 7.
Best In Value: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during six rolling resistance tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN had a 8.86% lower rolling resistance than the Continental PremiumContact 7.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 used 5.26% less fuel than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Range
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one range tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN gives the vehicle a range of 2.33% kilometers than the Continental PremiumContact 7.
Best In Range: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Range winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was better during one abrasion tests. On average the Continental PremiumContact 7 emitted 27.37% less particle wear matter than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Abrasion: Continental PremiumContact 7
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Continental PremiumContact 7 Driver Reviews
Across 44 driver reviews, the Continental PremiumContact 7 is most often described as a very high-grip, high-confidence tyre with excellent wet and dry braking/handling, making the car feel planted and secure in all conditions. Many owners also praise its predictable, progressive behaviour and overall safety-focused performance. The main recurring downsides are higher-than-expected road noise (especially on coarse surfaces or at speed) and, for a noticeable minority, quicker wear/shorter life than expected for a premium tyre; some also note the soft sidewalls can reduce steering sharpness/feedback.
Based on 49 reviews with an average rating of 83%
Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN Driver Reviews
Drivers overwhelmingly praise the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN for its confident wet and dry grip, high-speed stability, and standout comfort and low noise for a touring tyre. Many note premium-like refinement, strong safety in heavy rain and emergency braking, and promising wear/longevity, with excellent rim protection. A minority mention average-to-surface-dependent noise and reduced sportiness/road feedback versus performance tyres. Overall, it's regarded as a safe, quiet, and comfortable touring choice with good value.
Based on 10 reviews with an average rating of 88%
Conclusion
The Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN makes the most sense when efficiency and cost-per-kilometre matter more than outright wet braking. It wins rolling resistance in 5 of the shared datasets (e.g., 7.2 vs 8.0 kg/t in Auto Zeitung 2026; 7.8 vs 8.6 kg/t in AZ 2024), and it frequently performs well in aquaplaning metrics (it takes 4/7 straight-aquaplaning wins overall, and was best in both straight and curved aquaplaning in the 2025 EV test). However, multiple test reports also flag weaker wet braking and less precise dry steering/feedback, meaning it's “safe and predictable” but not the strongest choice if you routinely drive briskly on wet roads or want the biggest safety margins in emergency stops.
Practical takeaway: if you're buying primarily for maximum everyday safety and rounded performance in mixed summer conditions, the PremiumContact 7 is the more complete tyre. If you're focused on efficiency/range and value, and you can accept longer wet stopping distances, the Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN is a rational (though more conditional) pick.
Key Differences
- Wet emergency stopping: Continental is consistently and materially shorter (8/8 wet-braking wins); gaps reach ~4.8 m (ADAC 2026) to ~7.7 m (Auto Zeitung 2026), which can be the difference between stopping short and impact
- Efficiency focus: Firestone repeatedly posts lower rolling resistance (e.g., 7.8 vs 8.6 kg/t in AZ 2024), helping fuel economy/EV range, while Continental prioritizes grip and braking performance
- Aquaplaning split: Firestone more often wins straight aquaplaning (4 wins vs 3), but Continental more often wins curved aquaplaning and tends to pair aquaplaning competence with stronger wet braking/handling balance
- Steering precision and subjective control: professional feedback frequently describes Continental as more precise and stable at the limit; Firestone is often described as less direct/imprecise on dry roads despite acceptable lap times
- Longevity and wear: Continental shows a clear advantage in predicted mileage and abrasion in the tests that measure it (e.g., +21.8% wear in ADAC 2026; +43% wear in the EV test)
- Overall competitive outcome: Continental dominates overall rankings (7 test wins vs 1), while Firestone's best results cluster around running-cost metrics (rolling resistance/value) rather than outright safety performance
Overall Winner: Continental PremiumContact 7
Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Continental PremiumContact 7 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tyre has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tyre buying choice.Similar Comparisons
Looking for more tyre comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tyres:
Continental PremiumContact 7 Top Comparisons
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Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN Top Comparisons
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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 %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 tyre comparison, Tyre Reviews doesn't.