Head-to-head Updated

Continental Sport Contact 5 vs Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — 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 3 + 19 road tests and 3,151 + 3,376 owner reviews. How we score

Ventus S1 evo3 leads, 70–67 Narrow edge

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Continental Sport Contact 5
± 7

Tests 73 · 3 tests Owners 59 · 3,151 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)

“In the end I went with Bridgestone Potenza RE 050's Very happy. Grips as well as the Conti Sport5's without disintegrating after a few hard mountain passes. On a light car sport contact5's, For a heavier car RE 050's are fantastic completely sold. Pilot Sports are far too soft these cars.”

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Tire BHankook

Ventus S1 evo3

Summer

± 5

Tests 77 · 19 tests Owners 57 · 3,376 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 45 in 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout (wet braking)

“Tire preferences? My MK8 has a little over 18,000 miles now and the stock tires look like they’ve already gone to sh*t? Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 aren’t as good as they advertise? What do you recommend for tires?”

Category by category

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

  1. 74

    Dry

    Ventus S1 evo3 +1
    75
    Why this score
    SourceSport Contact 5Ventus S1 evo3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 18 tests7686
    Reviews found online7060

    Sport Contact 5: 60% × 76.2 + 40% × 69.6 = 74

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 85.6 + 40% × 59.8 = 75

  2. 74

    Wet

    Ventus S1 evo3 +7
    81
    Why this score
    SourceSport Contact 5Ventus S1 evo3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 18 tests7590
    Reviews found online7268

    Sport Contact 5: 60% × 74.6 + 40% × 72 = 74

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 89.6 + 40% × 68 = 81

  3. 61

    Comfort

    Sport Contact 5 +2
    59
    Why this score
    SourceSport Contact 5Ventus S1 evo3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests6164
    Reviews found online6056

    Sport Contact 5: 40% × 61.3 + 60% × 60.4 = 61

    Ventus S1 evo3: 40% × 64.4 + 60% × 55.8 = 59

  4. 66

    Noise

    Ventus S1 evo3 +7
    73
    Why this score
    SourceSport Contact 5Ventus S1 evo3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 14 tests6677
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Sport Contact 5: 60% × 66.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 66

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 76.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 73

    No owner ratings of noise for Sport Contact 5 or Ventus S1 evo3. 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.

  5. 47

    Treadwear

    Ventus S1 evo3 +6
    53
    Why this score
    SourceSport Contact 5Ventus S1 evo3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 55 (est.)61
    Reviews found online3442

    Sport Contact 5: 60% × 54.9 (est.) + 40% × 34.4 = 47

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 60.8 + 40% × 41.5 = 53

    No road tests of treadwear for Sport Contact 5. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  6. 66

    Handling (owners)

    Sport Contact 5 +7
    59
    Why this score
    SourceSport Contact 5Ventus S1 evo3
    Reviews found online6659
  7. 74

    Efficiency

    Sport Contact 5 +6
    68
    Why this score
    SourceSport Contact 5Ventus S1 evo3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 15 tests7468
Scores at a glance
Continental Sport Contact 5 vs Hankook Ventus S1 evo3: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryContinental Sport Contact 5Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Relative Score 67 70
Dry 74 75
Wet 74 81
Comfort 61 59
Noise 66 73
Treadwear 47 53
Handling (owners) 66 59
Efficiency 74 68

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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Sport Contact 5

± 5

Ventus S1 evo3

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.

DisciplineCategorySport Contact 5Ventus S1 evo3ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 100% #1/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test 96% #7/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #4/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test 98% #7/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 100% #1/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test 60% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% #3/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test 98% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 99% #3/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test 94% #6/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 97% #3/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test 98% #5/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #4/10 · 2017 Sport Auto UHP and Track Day Test 100% #2/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 100% #1/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test 80% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 67% #4/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #5/9 · 2017 Auto Bild UHP Tyre Test 100% #1/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise (tester's mark) Noise 67% #5/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 96% #3/8 · 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test 97% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #2/8 2020 Gute Fahrt SUV Summer Tyre Test #6/8 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Sport Contact 5

Pros

  • Outstanding dry and wet grip with excellent aquaplaning resistance
  • Precise steering response and sharp handling
  • Short braking distances in various weather conditions

Cons

  • Rapid and uneven tread wear, resulting in a short overall lifespan
  • High price point combined with poor mileage value
  • Increased road noise as the tires wear down past halfway
All owner themes in the Sport Contact 5 review

Tire B Ventus S1 evo3

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and confidence in wet and dry conditions
  • Low road noise and high ride comfort
  • Competitive pricing compared to premium tier-one brands

Cons

  • Faster-than-expected tread wear, particularly on rear axles or heavy vehicles
  • Soft sidewalls leading to reduced steering feedback and precision
  • Vulnerability to sidewall damage or bubbling from potholes
All owner themes in the Ventus S1 evo3 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Continental Sport Contact 5

Mixed

Community feedback on the Continental Sport Contact 5 highlights strong grip and effective braking in both wet and dry conditions, along with good cornering feel. However, opinions are mixed regarding treadwear and durability, with multiple users raising concerns over rapid tire wear and degradation under heavy loads or spirited driving. While some drivers prefer them over competing models, others view them as inferior to subsequent Continental generations or rival brands.

torquecars.com ·2013-04-15

“I've just had a set of these Continental Sport Contact 5 fitted to my car and I'm quite impressed with them. They seem to be really good in the wet, stopping distances were notable shorter, more so than I'd expect with the extra tread depth. They are also really good in the dry and give a nice "feel" on tight corners. They have replaced the Eagle F1's in my mind as the best day to day tyre. Anyone else had them fitted?”

vwt4forum.co.uk ·2016-07-04

“I run Accelera PHI2's on my 20's and have done for the last 3-4 years with absolutely no problems. I'm a biker and like to press on in all my vehicles. Never had a scary moment in the van in any weather and drive just as fast in that as I do the car (conti sport contact 5's on that). Only cover about 6K in the van per year so don't want anything that lasts too long as it would deteriorate before it was anywhere near worn out. Mike likes banging on about Michelins but they can have problems as well as anything else. Michelin Agilis 51's had problems with bulges and tyre failures in the past. Other michelin tyre problems (I know how much Mike likes Yankee sites!) And Michelin have tyre factories all over the world including India and Asia. Not all cheaper tyres are bad tyres. Pirelli P6000 were notoriously bad for example, and Pirelli are not classed as a budget tyre. Mike will still bang on like a broken record though about VW and 16 and 17 inch tyres though. Its probably an old age thing”

mbworld.org

“Quote: Originally Posted by bret In the end I went with Bridgestone Potenza RE 050's Very happy. Grips as well as the Conti Sport5's without disintegrating after a few hard mountain passes. On a light car sport contact5's, For a heavier car RE 050's are fantastic completely sold. Pilot Sports are far too soft these cars. Back in the day I had numerous sets of Potenza's on a Saab 900 Turbo...that's been a good tire for a long long time. Check out the Cooper Zeon when you get a chance, heckuva tire at any price.”

Top themes
#wet and dry grip#rapid treadwear concerns#braking distance performance#cornering feel and handling#comparison with 5P and SC6#heavy vehicle suitability

Based on 14 community posts

Tire B

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

Mixed

Community sentiment toward the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 is mixed, with users frequently praising its strong dry and wet grip, comfort, and competitive pricing. However, notable drawbacks include relatively fast tread wear, reports of increasing road noise over time, and mixed experiences with OEM specs versus premium competitors like Michelin.

Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Value for money#Road noise levels#Tread wear and longevity#OEM fitments and EV variants#Run-flat identification confusion#Ride comfort

Based on 33 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental Sport Contact 5 B · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available84110
Rim diameters17″ – 22″17″ – 22″
UTQG280 - 420 A - AA A200 - 420 A - AA A
Sizes in common3333

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental Sport Contact 5

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

Narrow edge: Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — better wet, noise and treadwear. Pick the Continental Sport Contact 5 if handling and efficiency matter most to you.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental Sport Contact 5 scores 66 vs 59 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 81 vs 74 on wet.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 73 vs 66 on noise.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental Sport Contact 5 scores 74 vs 68 on efficiency.

Tire A · Continental Sport Contact 5
Tire B · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

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Sport Contact 5 or Ventus S1 evo3?

Which is better in the wet, Sport Contact 5 or Ventus S1 evo3?

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3, 81 vs 74 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Sport Contact 5 or Ventus S1 evo3?

Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 75 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Sport Contact 5 or Ventus S1 evo3?

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3, 73 vs 66 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Sport Contact 5 or Ventus S1 evo3?

Neither, by our numbers: 61 vs 59 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Sport Contact 5 or Ventus S1 evo3?

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3, 53 vs 47 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Sport Contact 5 or Ventus S1 evo3?

Continental Sport Contact 5, 74 vs 68 on our efficiency 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