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Continental SportContact 7 vs Vredestein Ultrac Pro

Summer Passenger Car 7 shared tests
Continental SportContact 7
TR Score
9.7/10
Owners say
84% · 134
Head to head 7-0 wins in 7 shared tests 2024-2026 · 4 publications
Vredestein Ultrac Pro
TR Score
9.0/10
Owners say
83% · 7

In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental SportContact 7 finished ahead 7 times and the Ultrac Pro not once. The SportContact 7 stopped 8.3% shorter in the wet; the Ultrac Pro had 2.8% lower rolling resistance.

Data updated

Which should you buy?

Buy the Continental SportContact 7 if braking and wet pace decide it, which for a max performance tyre they usually should; the Vredestein Ultrac Pro is the quieter, more efficient and cheaper option, and it is a fair choice only if you accept several metres more braking distance.

Where the SportContact 7 is stronger

  • Shorter dry braking in all seven tests, by 12.5 percent at EVO 2024
  • Shorter wet braking in every test that measured it, by 14.7 percent in the 2025 UUHP test
  • Won all seven head to head placings, taking five outright test wins
Everything on the SportContact 7

Where the Ultrac Pro is stronger

  • Quieter in all five tests that measured noise, at 70.9dB the quietest in the 2026 field
  • Lower rolling resistance in five of six tests, by 9.4 percent in 2026
  • Cheaper per 1000km at ADAC, 2.89 against 3.06, and 3rd of 8 in the 2026 Sports Cars test
Everything on the Ultrac Pro

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 Ultrac Pro at a glance

Category SportContact 7 Gap Ultrac Pro
Shared tests won7 shared tests 7 0
Dry14 measurements 13 The SportContact 7 stopped 6.3% shorter in the dry (7 tests) 1
Wet29 measurements 22 The SportContact 7 stopped 8.3% shorter in the wet (7 tests) 6
Comfort10 measurements 2 The Ultrac Pro was 1.6 dB quieter (5 tests) 6
Value9 measurements 4 The Ultrac Pro had 2.8% lower rolling resistance (6 tests) 5
Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold 9.7/10 The SportContact 7 by 0.7 9.0/10
Owner rating134 and 7 reviews 84% Too close to call 83%
Would buy againshare of owners 80% The SportContact 7 by 9 points 71%
Pricein the 5 tests that listed prices +16.3% The SportContact 7 was dearer in 5 of 5 Cheaper
Sizes madeEU label registrations 123 71 sizes made in both 98

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 7 tests, 2024 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 SportContact 7 Field Ultrac Pro
2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test Auto Bild Sportscars · 2026 · 255/35 R19 · BMW Z4 P1 of 8 P3 of 8
2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test Die Reifentester · 2025 · 225/40 R18 · VW Golf GTI P3 of 8 P8 of 8
2025 Autobild Sports Cars UUHP Tyre Test Auto Bild Sportscars · 2025 · 295/30 R20 P1 of 7 P6 of 7
2025 Sports Cars Tyre Test Auto Bild Sportscars · 2025 · 245/35 R19 P1 of 8 P5 of 8
2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test ADAC · 2025 · 225/40 R18 P1 of 18 P5 of 18
2024 EVO Summer Tyre Test EVO · 2024 · 235/35 R19 P1 of 7 P5 of 7
2024 Sports Car Tyre Test Auto Bild Sportscars · 2024 · 295/30 R20 P1 of 7 P3 of 7

Performance profile

13 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.

Dry BrakingDry Handling (km/h)Subj. Dry HandlingWet BrakingWet Handling (km/h)Subj. Wet HandlingWet CircleStraight AquaCurved AquaplaningSubj. ComfortSubj. NoiseNoiseRolling Resistance

Where each is furthest ahead

SportContact 7

Ultrac Pro

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 90%: 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.

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 Ultrac Pro Wins
34.2 6.3% 36.47 7-0
101.6 0.4% 101.2 0-1
107.9 1.7% 106.1 4-0
scored 16% scored 2-0
37.23 8.3% 40.77 6-0
34.2 8.8% 37.5 1-0
69.25 0.8% 69.8 1-0
80.1 5% 76.3 4-0
scored 74.6% scored 1-1
11.4 4.3% 11.93 3-0
84.86 0.1% 85.05 4-3
18.82 2.3% 18.66 2-2
scored 8.2% scored 1-1
scored 2.1% scored 1-0
73.46 1.6 dB 71.84 0-5
43,400 8.2% 40,100 1-0
8.98 2.8% 8.72 1-5
5.5 3.5% 5.7 1-0
63.4 16% 75.5 1-0

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 Ultrac Pro 9 out of 10.

Tyre Reviews Score by category
SportContact 7 Category Ultrac Pro
99Dry 86
98Wet 82
29Comfort 80
39Value 27

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

What owners rate
SportContact 7 Category Ultrac Pro
9.5Dry Grip 9.1
9.1Wet Grip 8.9
8.7Road Feedback 8.3
9Handling 9
6.7Wear 6
7.7Comfort 8.1

Owners rate the SportContact 7 84% from 134 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. 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.

In 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.

91% Ford Focus ST 235/35 R19 10,563 miles October 27, 2026
All 134 SportContact 7 reviews

Vredestein Ultrac Pro

  • 83%from 7 reviews
  • 71%would buy again
  • 34,100 milesdriven by reviewers

Drivers largely praise the Vredestein Ultrac Pro for strong dry and wet grip, confident handling, and notably good ride comfort, with several noting premium feel and value. High-scoring reviews highlight short braking distances, stability, and decent wear for aggressive or heavy vehicles. A minority report concerns include poor performance in very cold (sub-5°C) conditions and one case of premature wear/delamination. Overall, the Ultrac Pro delivers balanced performance with comfort-focused tuning and attractive design.

  • dry grip
  • wet grip
  • handling/steering feel
  • ride comfort
  • reduced grip in very cold temperatures

Summarised by AI from 6 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.

I've had them for two summers and about 10k kms on a Ford Focus ST250. When I was buying them I was looking for good tires at a fair price and these were the newest model available at the time.

Dry: In the dry they have good traction, predictable handlings and good comfort for a UHP tire. Breakaway is communicated well and they don't surprise you out of nowhere. Lift of oversteer is easily achieved and controlled. They do wheelspin a bit in first gear if you are a bit more enthusiastic with the throttle but that's expected on a more powerful fwd car.

Wet: They have good and predictable grip in the wet, good aquaplaning resistance and stop quite well.

Others: Rim guard is somewhere in the middle, not as big as Bridgestone but better than Hankook. Sidewall design is good, comfort and noise are good for a uhp tire. Wear has also been good for me, I expect to change them due to age and not wear but then again I don't do that many miles a year.

It's a tire I like and would recommend. Price to performance is good. Would consider buying. I got their Wintrac Pro Plus to try this winter so I've been satisfied with Vredesteins as a whole.

81% Ford Focus ST250 235/40 R18 6,000 miles October 23, 2026
All 7 Ultrac Pro reviews

Sizes, EU label and lineage

From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 123 sizes of the SportContact 7 and 98 of the Ultrac Pro, 71 of them made in both.

Category SportContact 7 Ultrac Pro
Season Summer Summer
Sizes made 123 sizes, 18 to 24 inch 98 sizes, 18 to 24 inch
Made in both 71 sizes 215/40 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18235/40 R18245/40 R18245/45 R18255/35 R18225/35 R19225/40 R19235/35 R19235/40 R19235/45 R19and 59 more
EU label wet grip A85%B15% A97%B3%
EU label rolling resistance C61%D16%A14%B9% C73%D18%B6%A3%
EU label noise 70-75 dB B98%A2% 69-73 dB B97%A3%
On the market since - 2024
Replaced Continental Sport Contact 6 (2015) Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+ (2020)
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) -
Price in the shared tests The SportContact 7 was the dearer tyre in 5 of the 5 tests that listed prices, by 16.3% 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.

Seven shared tests, seven wins for the Continental SportContact 7. That is the shortest way to describe this one, and five of those seven were outright test victories, including Auto Bild Sports Cars in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and top marks from ADAC in 2025.

The Vredestein Ultrac Pro is not being embarrassed, though, and the numbers show where it earns its keep. It was the quieter tyre in all five tests that measured noise, twice being named the quietest in the field, and it rolled with less resistance in five of six, by 9.4 percent in the 2026 Auto Bild Sports Cars test.

What separates them is what happens when you brake. The Continental stopped shorter in the dry in all seven tests and in the wet in all six that measured it, and the wet gaps are not subtle: 43.7m against 51.2m in the 2025 UUHP test, 40.1m against 44.8m in the 2025 Sports Cars test.

Conclusion

If you want the faster, safer tyre, this is not a close call. The Continental SportContact 7 won every dry braking comparison between them, by as much as 12.5 percent in EVO's 2024 test where it stopped in 30.7m against 35.1m, and it won every wet braking comparison bar a dead heat, including 14.7 percent in Auto Bild's 2025 UUHP test. It also took wet handling in all five tests that measured it, by 7.6 percent in 2026. Testers called it the benchmark for braking on both dry and wet surfaces, and ADAC gave it the highest overall rating in its 2025 field of 18.

The Vredestein Ultrac Pro's argument is refinement and running cost, and it is a real one. It was quieter in every test that measured noise, at 70.9dB the quietest tyre in the 2026 Auto Bild Sports Cars field, and 72dB against the Continental's 74.6dB in the 2025 UUHP test. It rolled easier in five of six tests, and at ADAC it came out cheaper per 1000km, 2.89 against 3.06. Auto Bild described it as harmoniously balanced with pleasant rolling comfort, and it still finished 3rd of 8 and 3rd of 7 in two of the Sports Cars tests.

There is one dissenting voice worth reading. Die Reifentester put the Ultrac Pro last of eight in 2025 and wrote that it would need a major update to compete at the front again, which is a harsher verdict than the Auto Bild results suggest. Taken together: buy the Continental if braking distance and wet pace decide it, which for a max performance tyre they usually should. Buy the Vredestein if you want a quieter, more efficient, cheaper tyre and can accept giving away several metres in an emergency stop.

SportContact 7 vs Ultrac Pro: your questions

Is the Continental SportContact 7 or the Vredestein Ultrac Pro the better tyre?

In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental SportContact 7 finished ahead 7 times and the Ultrac Pro not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the SportContact 7 scores 9.7 and the Ultrac Pro 9 out of 10.

Which is better in the wet, the SportContact 7 or the Ultrac Pro?

The SportContact 7 led 22 of the 29 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.3% shorter in the wet across 7 tests.

Which is better in the dry?

The SportContact 7 led 13 of the 14 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.3% shorter in the dry across 7 tests.

Which lasts longer and costs less to run?

The Ultrac Pro had 2.8% lower rolling resistance (6 tests). Owners rate wear 6.7/10 for the SportContact 7 and 6/10 for the Ultrac Pro.

Which is quieter and more comfortable?

The Ultrac Pro was 1.6 dB quieter (5 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the SportContact 7 and 8.1/10 for the Ultrac Pro.

What do owners say?

Owners rate the SportContact 7 84% from 134 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. 80% of SportContact 7 owners would buy it again, against 71% for the Ultrac Pro.

Which is more expensive?

In the 5 tests that listed prices, the SportContact 7 was the dearer tyre in 5 of them, by 16.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.

Are they available in the same sizes?

The SportContact 7 is made in 123 sizes (18 to 24 inch) and the Ultrac Pro in 98 (18 to 24 inch). 71 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the SportContact 7 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ultrac Pro 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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