Continental SportContact 7 vs Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- TR Score
- 9.7/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 134
- TR Score
- 9.0/10
- Owners say
- 74% · 96
In the 10 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental SportContact 7 finished ahead 9 times and the P Zero PZ4 once. The SportContact 7 stopped 9% shorter in the wet; the P Zero PZ4 lapped the wet handling course 2.4% faster.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Continental SportContact 7 if you want the strongest all-round max-performance summer tyre with the most dependable wet/dry braking and consistent test-winning pace. Choose the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 if you prioritise a quieter, often more comfortable ride and strong curved-aquaplaning behaviour-and you're willing to accept weaker (sometimes much weaker) wet braking and more variability depending on the specific PZ4 version/fitment.
Where the SportContact 7 is stronger
- Consistently class-leading dry and wet braking (won 8/8 shared braking comparisons in both dry and wet where measured)
- Strong, confidence-inspiring steering precision and objective pace: frequent test winner overall (9/9) and typically top dry-handling results
- Excellent wet capability beyond braking, including straight aquaplaning performance (won 6/7) and stable wet handling in most tests
Where the P Zero PZ4 is stronger
- Refinement advantage: typically lower measured noise (won 5/7 noise comparisons) and often strong subjective comfort (e.g., 7 vs 6 in 2025 Sports Cars)
- Often strong curved aquaplaning resistance (won 5/6), which can add reassurance in heavy rain and standing water
- When on form, delivers balanced, easy-to-control handling with a secure, slightly understeering limit behaviour that suits fast-road drivers
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.
SportContact 7 vs P Zero PZ4 at a glance
| Category | SportContact 7 | Gap | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won10 shared tests | 9 | 1 | |
| Dry19 measurements | 18 | The SportContact 7 stopped 4.1% shorter in the dry (9 tests) | 1 |
| Wet36 measurements | 20 | The SportContact 7 stopped 9% shorter in the wet (9 tests) | 16 |
| Comfort10 measurements | 4 | 6 | |
| Value10 measurements | 8 | The SportContact 7 had 12.2% lower rolling resistance (8 tests) | 2 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.7/10 | The SportContact 7 by 0.7 | 9.0/10 |
| Owner rating134 and 96 reviews | 84% | The SportContact 7 by 10 points | 74% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 80% | The SportContact 7 by 25 points | 55% |
| Pricein the 6 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The P Zero PZ4 was dearer in 3 of 6 | +6.5% |
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 10 tests, 2022 to 2025
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 | SportContact 7 | Field | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 AutoView Sports Tyre Test | P2 of 5 | P5 of 5 | |
| 2025 TUV and DEKRA Test of Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy vs Tesla-Spec Rivals | P4 of 4 | P2 of 4 | |
| 2025 Sports Cars Tyre Test | P1 of 8 | P3 of 8 | |
| 2025 Sport Auto UUHP Tyre Test | P1 of 4 | P4 of 4 | |
| 2024 EVO Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 7 | P6 of 7 | |
| 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test | P1 of 11 | P5 of 11 | |
| 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 10 | P3 of 10 | |
| 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 13 | P3 of 13 | |
| 2023 ACE / Gute Fahrt UHP Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 7 | P2 of 7 | |
| 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test | P1 of 10 | P3 of 10 |
Performance profile
15 measurements from the 10 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
SportContact 7
P Zero PZ4
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 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 4 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
SportContact 7
P Zero PZ4
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
SportContact 7
P Zero PZ4
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the SportContact 7 84% from 134 reviews and the P Zero PZ4 74% from 96. 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 | SportContact 7 | Gap | P Zero PZ4 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33.33 | 4.1% | 34.78 | 9-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 95.51 | 1.5% | 96.85 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 117.9 | 0.9% | 116.8 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 32.6% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 32.31 | 9% | 35.32 | 8-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50.6 | 3.4% | 48.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69.23 | 2.4% | 67.53 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 84.96 | 0.8% | 84.34 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.5% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.91 | 0.3% | 7.89 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.27 | 0.3% | 12.23 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 77.19 | 1.2% | 76.35 | 6-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.42 | 3% | 13.59 | 1-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 7.6% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 4.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69.84 | 0.3 dB | 69.51 | 2-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 19,300 | 63.2% | 31,500 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.14 | 12.2% | 9.28 | 8-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1,606 | 24.3% | 1,215 | 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 SportContact 7 scores 9.7 and the P Zero PZ4 9 out of 10.
| SportContact 7 | Category | P Zero PZ4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | Dry | 93 | ||
| 98 | Wet | 91 | ||
| 29 | Comfort | 49 | ||
| 39 | Value | 7 | ||
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
| SportContact 7 | Category | P Zero PZ4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.5 | Dry Grip | 8.7 | ||
| 9.1 | Wet Grip | 7.5 | ||
| 8.7 | Road Feedback | 8.2 | ||
| 9 | Handling | 8.1 | ||
| 6.7 | Wear | 5.9 | ||
| 7.7 | Comfort | 6.8 | ||
Owners rate the SportContact 7 84% from 134 reviews and the P Zero PZ4 74% from 96. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental SportContact 7
- 84%from 134 reviews
- 80%would buy again
- 1,308,502 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Continental SportContact 7 very highly overall (average 83%), with the strongest agreement around outstanding dry and wet grip, backed up by confident handling and strong steering response. Comfort and noise are often described as better than expected for a UHP summer tyre, though experiences vary by car and set-up. The main recurring drawback is wear: around a third of owners who mention tread life report rapid wear, meaning running costs can be high if you drive hard or run a heavier, high-torque car.
- Exceptional dry grip and traction
- Very strong wet grip and confidence in rain
- Sharp, secure dry handling
- Good steering feel and feedback
- Rapid tread wear and short life for many drivers
- Ride can feel harsh or uncomfortable on some set-ups
- Road noise can be intrusive on rough surfaces
Summarised by AI from 117 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 134 SportContact 7 reviewsIn comparison with non sport tyres like the Continental PremiumContact 6 the grip in dry conditions is outstanding and better like other tyres I have driven (e.g. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric). The Wet-Grip is surprisingly good and did not fade with lower tread depth (yet). No disturbing noise while driving.
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- 74%from 96 reviews
- 55%would buy again
- 952,792 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners tend to rate the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 as a strong dry-road performance tyre, with clear majorities praising dry grip and crisp steering response. Comfort and road noise are also more often seen as positives than negatives, making it a surprisingly civilised option for a UUHP fitment. The main sticking point is durability: around two in five owners mention tread life and most of them report fast wear, while a smaller but notable group (around one in eight) highlight aquaplaning concerns, especially as the tread gets lower or in standing water.
- Strong dry grip
- Sharp steering response and good feedback
- Confident, sporty dry handling
- Low road noise for the category
- Fast wear / short tread life
- Aquaplaning in standing water, especially at speed
- Poor cold-weather grip and needs heat to work properly
Summarised by AI from 85 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 96 P Zero PZ4 reviewsGood grip all arround, especially in the dry where they really shine. Used them as front tires on high power rwd car. They maintain good grip under heavy braking, and are very progressive at the limit. The only downside i found is that the got oval shaped and the car started vibrating at high speeds, wich cannot be resolved by balancing since they were not perfectly round.aybe the car being rarely used, it sits in the garage over winter, and only moved around a bit every few weeks, but maybe that was not enough, even though the rear ones, a different brand did not suffer the same problems.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | SportContact 7 | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Replaced | Continental Sport Contact 6 (2015) | Pirelli P Zero |
| Replaced by | - | Pirelli P Zero PZ5 |
| Awards | Highly Recommended: Best Tyres for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Highly Recommended: Best Tyres for Hot Hatches (Compact Sports Cars) (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Commended: Best Tyres for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Highly Recommended: Best Tyres for Hot Hatches (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Best Tyres for Large Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Supersports Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2024) Winner: Supersports Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2023) Winner: Supersports Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2022) Winner: Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2022) | Recommended: Best Tyres for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Highly Recommended: Best Tyres for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Performance Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2024) Winner: Performance Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2022) |
| Price in the shared tests | The P Zero PZ4 was the dearer tyre in 3 of the 6 tests that listed prices, by 6.5% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
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.
Continental's SportContact 7 and Pirelli's P Zero PZ4 sit in the same “max-performance summer” bracket, but the shared test history shows they reach that brief in very different ways. Across nine head-to-head group tests (multiple sizes from 18-20"), the SportContact 7 repeatedly lands at or near the top overall, while the PZ4's results range from genuinely competitive to surprisingly off the pace-sometimes depending on version/fitment and test focus.
The data paints a clear theme: the Continental is the more consistently grippy, faster and safer tyre in objective performance metrics (especially braking, and particularly in the wet), whereas the Pirelli more often counters with refinement advantages (noise/comfort) and, in several tests, stronger aquaplaning resilience and wet-handling “flow”. If you're choosing for a fast road car, the key decision is whether you prioritise outright stopping power and lap-time capability (Continental's core strength) or a slightly more comfort/refinement-leaning character with pockets of wet dynamic strength and often keener pricing (Pirelli's typical angle).
Conclusion
Taken as a whole, the Continental SportContact 7 is the decisive performance benchmark in this pairing. It wins all 9 shared tests overall and dominates the safety-critical braking categories: in the 2025 AutoView test it stopped in 33.5 m vs 37.35 m in the dry and 21.91 m vs 26.28 m in the wet; in the 2025 Sport Auto UUHP test it delivered a huge wet-braking advantage (29.1 m vs 37.0 m). Those are not marginal gaps-they're the kind of differences you feel immediately on the road and that meaningfully increase safety margins and confidence when temperatures drop or surfaces are inconsistent.
The Pirelli P Zero PZ4's best case is a capable, balanced tyre with good subjective comfort and competitive wet/dry handling (e.g., 3rd/8 in the 2025 Sports Cars test, and wet-handling wins in multiple 2022-2024 reports). It also tends to be quieter (wins 5/7 noise comparisons) and often shows stronger curved-aquaplaning performance (wins 5/6 in that metric). However, the repeated pattern of weaker braking-especially wet braking-plus occasional test-to-test variability (including a last-place showing in the 2025 AutoView test where it trailed every grip metric) makes it harder to recommend as the “do-it-all” choice in this class.
Practical takeaway: if you want the most reliable high-grip summer tyre for fast road driving-where emergency stops, wet traction, and repeatable performance matter-the SportContact 7 is the clear pick even if it can be a touch noisier and not the most comfort-optimised. The PZ4 only becomes the rational choice when refinement, aquaplaning lean, and/or purchase price matter more than ultimate braking and consistent podium-level performance.
SportContact 7 vs P Zero PZ4: your questions
Is the Continental SportContact 7 or the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 the better tyre?
In the 10 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental SportContact 7 finished ahead 9 times and the P Zero PZ4 once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the SportContact 7 scores 9.7 and the P Zero PZ4 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the SportContact 7 or the P Zero PZ4?
The SportContact 7 led 20 of the 36 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 9% shorter in the wet across 9 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The SportContact 7 led 18 of the 19 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.1% shorter in the dry across 9 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The SportContact 7 had 12.2% lower rolling resistance (8 tests). Owners rate wear 6.7/10 for the SportContact 7 and 5.9/10 for the P Zero PZ4.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the SportContact 7 and 6.8/10 for the P Zero PZ4.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the SportContact 7 84% from 134 reviews and the P Zero PZ4 74% from 96. 80% of SportContact 7 owners would buy it again, against 55% for the P Zero PZ4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 6 tests that listed prices, the P Zero PZ4 was the dearer tyre in 3 of them, by 6.5% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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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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