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Continental UltraContact NXT Test Results

Tested 2025 to 2026 4 publications

Tested 4 times by independent publications, the Continental UltraContact NXT has taken 2 test wins with an average finish of 2nd.

  • 4Independent tests
  • 2Test wins
  • 4Podium finishes
  • 2ndAverage finish
  • 90%Field beaten on average
  • 4Publications
Continental UltraContact NXT

4 tests, 2025 to 2026

0%50%100%20252026Average 90%2025 AMS Sustainability Tyre Test (2025): P1 of 6, Beat 100% of the field2025 Motor Low Rolling Resistance (AA) Tyre Test (2025): P1 of 7, Beat 100% of the field2025 DEKRA Wear Test of Michelin Primacy 5 Energy vs Rivals (2025): P3 of 8, Beat 71% of the field2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test (2026): P2 of 10, Beat 89% of the field
Share of the field beaten in each test, oldest to newest. Hover or tap a point for the test.
  • Test win
  • Second
  • Third
  • Average 90%
The latest test

2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test P2 of 10

Continental UltraContact NXT finished second overall as the lightest tyre tested (9.47 kg) and was highlighted as an ecologically focused "ultra-marathoner" designed to endure high mileage despite a slightly shallower 7 mm tread. It excelled in the efficiency and comfort categories and actually led the entire pack in wet braking performance. Overall, it ranked fourth on wet surfaces and third on dry surfaces, while dominating in economy.

Strong: Dry Braking, Wet Braking, Subj. Comfort, Rolling Resistance, Energy Consumption Winner: Hankook iON Evo

Record by discipline

Where the Continental UltraContact NXT finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tyres. Field beaten is the share of the other tyres it outranked in that measurement.

Discipline Tests Avg finish Field beaten Firsts
Dry
Dry Braking 3 P2.3 of 7.7 79% -
Dry Handling 2 P1.5 of 6.5 90% 1
Subj. Dry Handling 2 P3 of 8.5 78% 1
Wet
Wet Braking 3 P1 of 7.7 100% 3
Wet Handling 3 P3 of 7.7 69% 1
Wet Circle 3 P2.3 of 7.7 82% 1
Straight Aqua 3 P4 of 7.7 55% -
Curved Aquaplaning 3 P4.3 of 7.7 51% -
Comfort
Subj. Comfort 2 P1.5 of 8.5 94% 1
Noise 3 P3 of 7.7 73% -
Value
Wear 1 P3 of 8 71% -
Rolling Resistance 3 P3.3 of 7.7 62% -
Energy Consumption 1 P2 of 10 89% -
Abrasion 1 P4 of 8 57% -

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tyres that have most often shared a test with the Continental UltraContact NXT. Only tyres tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 3 tests. Updated April 15, 2026.

Across three summer tests, the Continental UltraContact NXT shows consistently elite overall performance (average overall position 1.3), driven primarily by outstanding wet safety and strong, confidence-inspiring handling. It won both 2025 tests (1/7 Motor low rolling resistance test; 1/6 AMS sustainability test) and placed 2/10 in the 2026 Auto Žurnál eco test, repeatedly delivering class-leading wet braking and near-top wet/dry dynamic results.

The main limitation is efficiency/rolling resistance consistency: while it was strong in two tests (2/10 in 2026; 2/6 in 2025 AMS), it performed poorly in the Motor “AA/low rolling resistance” field (6/7, +20.1% from best), suggesting variability by spec/test set or a trade-off versus its wet/dry grip focus. Aquaplaning resistance is generally mid-pack rather than class-leading, with recurring 3rd-6th placements despite otherwise strong wet metrics.

Performance Strengths

  • Wet Weather Braking & Safety Strong
    Details
    • 1st place wet braking in 2026 Auto Žurnál test: 47.2 m (1/10)
    • 1st place wet braking in 2025 Motor test: 50.2 m (1/7)
    • 1st place wet braking in 2025 AMS test: 31.5 m (1/6)
  • Dry Handling / Dynamic Performance Strong
    Details
    • 1st place dry handling in 2025 Motor test: 52.5 s (1/7) and subjective dry handling 7.1 pts (1/7)
    • 2nd place dry handling in 2025 AMS test: 107.1 km/h (2/6, +0.3% from best)
    • 2nd place dry braking in 2026 Auto Žurnál test: 37 m (2/10, +6.3% from best)
  • Overall Test Results / All-round Balance Strong
    Details
    • Overall winner in 2025 Motor test (1/7)
    • Overall winner in 2025 AMS sustainability test (1/6)
    • 2nd overall in 2026 Auto Žurnál eco summer test (2/10)
  • Comfort & Noise Refinement Moderate
    Details
    • 1st place subjective comfort in 2025 Motor test: 7 pts (1/7)
    • 2nd place subjective comfort in 2026 Auto Žurnál test: 6.5 pts (2/10)
    • Noise consistently near-top: 2nd in 2025 Motor (63.8 dB, +0.6% from best) and 2nd in 2025 AMS (71 dB, +0.7% from best)
  • Wet braking Strong in 3 of 3 tests
    Details
  • Wet handling Strong in 2 of 3 tests
    Details
  • Rolling resistance Strong in 2 of 3 tests
    Details
  • Wet grip Strong in 2 of 3 tests
    Details

Performance Weaknesses

  • Rolling Resistance / Energy Efficiency Consistency Moderate
    Details
    • 6th place rolling resistance in 2025 Motor test: 6.58 kg/t (6/7, +20.1% from best)
    • Despite strong results elsewhere, only mid-to-near-top in other tests: 2nd in 2026 Auto Žurnál (0.587 kg/t, 2/10, +9.5%) and 2nd in 2025 AMS (6.1 kg/t, 2/6, +7%)
  • Aquaplaning Resistance (Straight & Curved) Moderate
    Details
    • 2026 Auto Žurnál: straight aquaplaning 5/10 (74.5 km/h, +8.6%) and curved aquaplaning 6/10 (2.9 m/s², +15.9%)
    • 2025 Motor: straight aquaplaning 4/7 (74.1 km/h, +3.4%) and curved aquaplaning 4/7 (2.75 m/s², +7.7%)
    • 2025 AMS: straight aquaplaning 3/6 (73.8 km/h, +5.6%) and curved aquaplaning 3/6 (2.78 m/s², +5.4%)
  • Wet Handling (ultimate pace vs leaders) Minor
    Details
    • 2026 Auto Žurnál wet handling: 4/10 (87 s, +4.1% from best)
    • 2025 AMS wet handling: 4/6 (78.4 km/h, +0.6% from best)

Every test, newest first 4

Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.

2026 1 test
P2 of 10 Beat 89% of the field

2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test

Autozurnal 215/55 R18 dobrý (Good)

Continental UltraContact NXT finished second overall as the lightest tyre tested (9.47 kg) and was highlighted as an ecologically focused "ultra-marathoner" designed to endure high mileage despite a slightly shallower 7 mm tread. It excelled in the efficiency and comfort categories and actually led the entire pack in wet braking performance. Overall, it ranked fourth on wet surfaces and third on dry surfaces, while dominating in economy.

StrongDry BrakingWet BrakingSubj. ComfortRolling ResistanceEnergy Consumption WinnerHankook iON Evo

2025 3 tests
P3 of 8 Beat 71% of the field

2025 DEKRA Wear Test of Michelin Primacy 5 Energy vs Rivals

DEKRA 215/55 R18

The UltraContact NXT was one of the two best rival brands in this wear test, just behind the iON GT SUV on rubber lost but ahead of it on projected life, and clearly behind the two Michelins.

WinnerMichelin Primacy 5 Energy

P1 of 7 Beat 100% of the field

2025 Motor Low Rolling Resistance (AA) Tyre Test

Motor 205/55 R16

The Continental UltraContact NXT emerges as the overall winner, demonstrating exceptional balance across nearly all testing criteria. It dominates wet performance categories with best-in-class wet braking, handling, and circle grip while maintaining strong dry performance credentials. The Continental excels in subjective handling assessments, earning top marks from test drivers for both precision and comfort. Its only notable weakness appears in rolling resistance, where it ranks sixth, suggesting Continental prioritized grip and handling characteristics over maximum efficiency. Despite this trade-off and its premium price point (€479), the UltraContact NXT justifies its position as the test winner through consistently high performance across safety-critical categories.

StrongDry HandlingSubj. Dry HandlingWet BrakingWet HandlingWet CircleSubj. ComfortNoise WeakRolling Resistance

P1 of 6 Beat 100% of the field

2025 AMS Sustainability Tyre Test

Auto Motor Und Sport 215/55 R17

The Continental emerged as a joint test winner, featuring an exceptionally balanced overall performance. It achieves sustainability through innovative production methods, using natural rubber, bio-based silica from rice husk ash, recycled PET bottles, and reclaimed steel. It delivers the shortest wet braking distances and offers safe, balanced handling in wet conditions. On dry surfaces, it provides secure, predictably understeering behavior with high cornering stability. The tyre features low rolling resistance, though it shows slight weaknesses in dry braking. Continental achieves its sustainability profile through material innovation rather than just optimizing rolling resistance, making it the top choice when safety, dynamics, and sustainability are all important.

StrongDry BrakingDry HandlingWet BrakingWet CircleNoiseRolling Resistance

Third-party awards

Editorial picks by other publications, based on published data rather than measurements held on this site.

  • Recommended Best Tyres for Small & Mid-Size SUVs DriverReviews · 2026/27
  • Winner Eco Tyre of the Year WhatTyre · 2025, 2026/27

Back to the Continental UltraContact NXT overview

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