Tests 76 · 1 test Owners 48 · 39 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV vs Pirelli Scorpion Verde — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 4 road tests and 39 + 1,304 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: ContiSportContact 5 SUV 63, Scorpion Verde 62.
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Tests 68 · 4 tests Owners 57 · 1,304 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test (wet braking)
“My mom's mercedes GLC300 came with pirelli scorpion Verde tires and they have 1/32" measured left on the wear bars after less than 30k miles. My mother drives like a grandma too. They're fine for turns and pep on Florida roads but absurdly short wear time.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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69
Dry
ContiSportContact 5 SUV +564Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Scorpion Verde Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests 79 69 Reviews found online 55 56 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 94% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 98% ContiSportContact 5 SUV: 60% × 78.5 + 40% × 55 = 69
Scorpion Verde: 60% × 68.7 + 40% × 55.8 = 64
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70
Wet
ContiSportContact 5 SUV +466Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Scorpion Verde Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests 76 70 Reviews found online 60 61 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 96% 96% Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 99% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 94% ContiSportContact 5 SUV: 60% × 75.6 + 40% × 60.4 = 70
Scorpion Verde: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 60.8 = 66
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–
Snow
No comparison64Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Scorpion Verde Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 67 (est.) Reviews found online – 60 Scorpion Verde: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 60.1 = 64
No road tests of snow for Scorpion Verde. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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53
Comfort
Scorpion Verde +356Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Scorpion Verde Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 64 (est.) 52 Reviews found online 45 58 ContiSportContact 5 SUV: 40% × 64 (est.) + 60% × 45.2 = 53
Scorpion Verde: 40% × 52.1 + 60% × 58 = 56
No road tests of comfort for ContiSportContact 5 SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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69
Noise
ContiSportContact 5 SUV +366Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Scorpion Verde Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests 71 75 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) 54 Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 98% 100% ContiSportContact 5 SUV: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 69
Scorpion Verde: 60% × 74.7 + 40% × 53.8 = 66
No owner ratings of noise for ContiSportContact 5 SUV. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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43
Treadwear
Scorpion Verde +1457Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Scorpion Verde Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 53 (est.) ≈ 61 (est.) Reviews found online 28 51 ContiSportContact 5 SUV: 60% × 52.6 (est.) + 40% × 27.6 = 43
Scorpion Verde: 60% × 61.1 (est.) + 40% × 51.3 = 57
No road tests of treadwear for ContiSportContact 5 SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Scorpion Verde. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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58
Handling (owners)
Level58Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Scorpion Verde Reviews found online 58 58 -
73
Efficiency
Level73Why this score
Source ContiSportContact 5 SUV Scorpion Verde Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests 73 73 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 98%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV | Pirelli Scorpion Verde |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 63 | 62 |
| Dry | 69 | 64 |
| Wet | 70 | 66 |
| Snow | – | 64 |
| Comfort | 53 | 56 |
| Noise | 69 | 66 |
| Treadwear | 43 | 57 |
| Handling (owners) | 58 | 58 |
| Efficiency | 73 | 73 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
63
/ 100
ContiSportContact 5 SUV
62
/ 100
Scorpion Verde
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
In the overall rankings of 4 tests that ran both, Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV finished ahead 4 times and Pirelli Scorpion Verde 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | ContiSportContact 5 SUV | Scorpion Verde | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% | 94% | +5.7 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% | 98% | +2.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 96% | 96% | −0.3 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% | 100% | −0.8 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% | 94% | +5.9 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Noise | Noise | 98% | 100% | −1.8 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% | 98% | +0.6 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 51% | 59% | −7.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Grass Traction | Off-road | 89% | 87% | +2.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Gravel Handling | Off-road | 100% | 100% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Gravel Traction | Off-road | 96% | 98% | −1.6 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Mud Traction | Off-road | 82% | 88% | −5.7 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/8 | #4/8 | – | 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test · 265/60 R18 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A ContiSportContact 5 SUV
Pros
- Impressive wet and dry grip with responsive handling
- Exceptional braking performance in various conditions
- Quiet operation and smooth, comfortable ride quality
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear, with many users needing replacements under 15,000 miles
- High price point relative to the mileage longevity received
- Some complaints regarding road noise as the tires age
Tire B Scorpion Verde
Pros
- Low road noise and enhanced ride comfort
- Good fuel economy and low rolling resistance
- Reliable handling and stability in dry and wet conditions
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear reported by several drivers
- Poor aquaplaning resistance and reduced traction in heavy rain or standing water
- Prone to developing noticeable road roar or vibration as they age
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Pirelli Scorpion Verde
Community opinion is split: many owners praise the Scorpion Verde for quiet ride, good wet/dry traction, hydroplaning resistance and low price, with some reporting long life. Others, especially OEM users on Jeep, Mercedes and Volvo vehicles, report fast tread wear (about 20–30k miles), poor snow and cold-weather grip that worsens as the tread wears, and uneven wear or sidewall cracking. Many recommend dedicated winter tires or all-weather alternatives like the Michelin CrossClimate 2 for snowy climates.
r/VolvoXC90
·4 upvotes ·2025-02-20
“We had the stock Pirelli Scorpion Verdes on our XC40 and I can corroborate that they were pretty terrible in the snow. No complaints about them in the dry or wet though, so they would probably be fine for warmer climates. The dealer put Michelin CC2s on our XC60 before we picked it up and I concur with everyone saying they are excellent in the snow. They’re good enough that when our XC90 makes it stateside we’re going to have the dealer take off the brand new Pirelli’s and put on CC2s so I don’t have to worry about swapping snow tires on every year.”
r/Tiguan
·5 upvotes ·2026-11-09
“How are the stock Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires? Worth switching to all weather tires for the winter in Pittsburgh? I bought a Tiguan SE a few months ago and it came stock with the 19 in Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires. I live in Pittsburgh, PA and our winters vary with some years of snow and many years without much at all. However, Pittsburgh gets very cold. How are the stock tires? Is it worth switching to an all weather tires like the Michelin CrossClimate 2s since we switch from dry and wet winters? I do have room to store the CrossClimates for the summer so I can at least use up my stock tires.”
audiworld.com
“Quote: Originally Posted by arthurmnev Agreed. On top of that, I'd challenge any dealer on .2 inch variance screwing up electronics with a variance of air expanding and contracting due to heat.. A quick update on this. 275/40 r20 on 2013 a8l are too close to the steering arms. The gap with 265/40 20 is 10mm , a wider tire will shrink this clearance to 6mm. I ended up RMAing these in favor of 35 aspect ratio. These fit perfectly”
Top themes
#Poor snow performance#Rapid OEM tread wear#Quiet comfortable ride#Good wet/dry traction#Hydroplaning concerns#Age cracking and sidewall#Winter tire recommendations#Value and pricing
Based on 65 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV | B · Pirelli Scorpion Verde |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | — | 66 |
| Rim diameters | — | 16″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 600 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
63
/ 100
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
62
/ 100
Pirelli Scorpion Verde
Too close to call: Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV and Pirelli Scorpion Verde are within 2 points overall. Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV is stronger on dry, wet and noise. Pirelli Scorpion Verde is stronger on treadwear and comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Pirelli Scorpion Verde scores 57 vs 43 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 69 vs 64 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 70 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV scores 69 vs 66 on noise.
Tire A · Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
Tire B · Pirelli Scorpion Verde
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ContiSportContact 5 SUV or Scorpion Verde?
Which is better in the wet, ContiSportContact 5 SUV or Scorpion Verde?
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV, 70 vs 66 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, ContiSportContact 5 SUV or Scorpion Verde?
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV, 69 vs 64 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, ContiSportContact 5 SUV or Scorpion Verde?
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV, 69 vs 66 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, ContiSportContact 5 SUV or Scorpion Verde?
Pirelli Scorpion Verde, 56 vs 53 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, ContiSportContact 5 SUV or Scorpion Verde?
Pirelli Scorpion Verde, 57 vs 43 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, ContiSportContact 5 SUV or Scorpion Verde?
Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 73 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology