Head-to-head Updated

Continental ExtremeContact Sport vs Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) — 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 2 + 33 road tests and 45 + 2,625 owner reviews. How we score

ExtremeContact Sport is ahead, 74–66

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Continental ExtremeContact Sport
± 6

Tests 74 · 2 tests Owners 69 · 45 reviews

Best test result: #6 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (tested tread life (miles))

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)
Tire BPirelli

P Zero (PZ4)

Summer

± 5

Tests 68 · 33 tests Owners 62 · 2,625 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test (wet handling)

“Pirelli P Zero Tyres But if a rant. Brought my i4 edrive 40 about 14 months ago from a main dealer here in the UK. The front tyres (Hankook) had decent tread, obviously the rears did not, so the dealer swapped them for brand new Pirelli PZero (PZ4) tyres at the rear. Honest to god I have never driven tyres so dam trash in my life. Anything other than a perfect warm dry day, there is little to no grip and car struggles to put its power down. I assume the Zero in P Zero refers to the grip levels. Just wondered if anyone else had any experience with Pirelli’s? Read more”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 76

    Dry

    P Zero (PZ4) +7
    83
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact SportP Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 30 tests7489
    Reviews found online8073
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%98%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–198%98%

    ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 74 + 40% × 79.7 = 76

    P Zero (PZ4): 60% × 89.3 + 40% × 73 = 83

  2. 80

    Wet

    Level
    80
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact SportP Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 31 tests7987
    Reviews found online8070
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%87%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%96%

    ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 79.3 + 40% × 80.1 = 80

    P Zero (PZ4): 60% × 86.8 + 40% × 69.6 = 80

  3. 48

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact SportP Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 58 (est.)–
    Reviews found online32–

    ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 58.2 (est.) + 40% × 31.8 = 48

    No road tests of snow for ExtremeContact Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 72

    Comfort

    ExtremeContact Sport +9
    63
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact SportP Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 9 tests≈ 70 (est.)68
    Reviews found online7459

    ExtremeContact Sport: 40% × 69.6 (est.) + 60% × 73.5 = 72

    P Zero (PZ4): 40% × 68.5 + 60% × 59.4 = 63

    No road tests of comfort for ExtremeContact Sport. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 71

    Noise

    ExtremeContact Sport +2
    69
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact SportP Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 19 tests7372
    Reviews found online68≈ 66 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–099%99%

    ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 72.6 + 40% × 67.5 = 71

    P Zero (PZ4): 60% × 71.5 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 69

    No owner ratings of noise for P Zero (PZ4). 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.

  6. 69

    Treadwear

    ExtremeContact Sport +36
    33
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact SportP Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7028
    Reviews found online6842
    Tested Tread Life (Miles) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–062%46%

    ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 67.9 = 69

    P Zero (PZ4): 60% × 27.7 + 40% × 41.7 = 33

  7. 74

    Handling (owners)

    ExtremeContact Sport +4
    70
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact SportP Zero (PZ4)
    Reviews found online7470
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    28
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact SportP Zero (PZ4)
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 21 tests–28
Scores at a glance
Continental ExtremeContact Sport vs Pirelli P Zero (PZ4): scores by category (0–100)
CategoryContinental ExtremeContact SportPirelli P Zero (PZ4)
Relative Score 74 66
Dry 76 83
Wet 80 80
Snow 48 –
Comfort 72 63
Noise 71 69
Treadwear 69 33
Handling (owners) 74 70
Efficiency – 28

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. 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
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

ExtremeContact Sport

± 5

P Zero (PZ4)

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 2 tests that ran both, Continental ExtremeContact Sport finished ahead 2 times and Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) 0 times.

DisciplineCategoryExtremeContact SportP Zero (PZ4)ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 100% 98% +1.6 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test · 245/40 R18
Dry Handling Dry 98% 98% −0.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test · 245/40 R18
Wet Braking Wet 100% 87% +12.7 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test · 245/40 R18
Wet Handling Wet 100% 96% +4.2 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test · 245/40 R18
Noise Noise 99% 99% 0.0 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test · 245/40 R18
Tested Tread Life (Miles) Treadwear 62% 46% +15.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires · 215/60R18
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #2/22 #4/22 – 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires · 215/60R18

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A ExtremeContact Sport

Pros

  • Exceptional dry and wet traction with high confidence in the rain
  • High value for money compared to primary competitors like Michelin
  • Quiet and comfortable ride quality for an ultra-high-performance tire

Cons

  • Softer sidewalls leading to a slight delay or lack of immediate steering feedback and precision
  • Requires a brief warm-up period in colder temperatures, sometimes causing temporary vibrations
  • Stiff ride over sharp road imperfections noted by some users
All owner themes in the ExtremeContact Sport review

Tire B P Zero (PZ4)

Pros

  • Outstanding dry grip and handling performance
  • Precise steering feedback and agile cornering stability
  • Low road noise and high comfort on smooth tarmac

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear, especially on performance or rear-wheel-drive vehicles
  • Subpar performance and susceptibility to aquaplaning in cold or heavy wet weather
  • Stiff ride quality that can transmit harsh impacts on rough roads
All owner themes in the P Zero (PZ4) review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Continental ExtremeContact Sport

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)

Negative

Community sentiment regarding the Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) is largely critical, with users reporting extremely rapid tread wear and severe grip issues outside of warm, dry conditions. While some drivers consider them for OEM run-flat availability, multiple posts highlight concerns over poor longevity and lackluster wet and cold weather performance compared to competitors like Michelin.

Top themes
#rapid tread wear#cold and wet grip#run flat availability#comparison to Michelin#OEM tire lifespan#luxury versus sport variants

Based on 7 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental ExtremeContact Sport B · Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available1193
Rim diameters17″17″ – 24″
Tread depth10/32″—
UTQG340 AA A—
Treadwear warranty30,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure44 - 51 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental ExtremeContact Sport

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)

Winner: Continental ExtremeContact Sport — better treadwear and comfort. Pick the Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) if dry matters most to you.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Continental ExtremeContact Sport scores 69 vs 33 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental ExtremeContact Sport scores 72 vs 63 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) scores 83 vs 76 on dry.

Tire A · Continental ExtremeContact Sport
Tire B · Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)

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ExtremeContact Sport or P Zero (PZ4)?

Which is better in the wet, ExtremeContact Sport or P Zero (PZ4)?

Neither, by our numbers: 80 vs 80 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, ExtremeContact Sport or P Zero (PZ4)?

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4), 83 vs 76 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, ExtremeContact Sport or P Zero (PZ4)?

Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 69 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, ExtremeContact Sport or P Zero (PZ4)?

Continental ExtremeContact Sport, 72 vs 63 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, ExtremeContact Sport or P Zero (PZ4)?

Continental ExtremeContact Sport, 69 vs 33 on our treadwear score.

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