Tests – · none yet Owners 68 · 7 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat vs Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 — 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 0 + 1 road tests and 7 + 1,457 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat and Firehawk Indy 500 are level at 69.
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Tests – · 1 test Owners 62 · 1,457 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (tested tread life (miles))
“I just put Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's on my NC2 and I like them and would recommend them. I paid about $635 with installation at Costco but you might even be able to find them for less elsewhere.”
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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70
Dry
Firehawk Indy 500 +474Why this score
Source SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat Firehawk Indy 500 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 69 (est.) ≈ 72 (est.) Reviews found online 71 77 SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat: 60% × 69 (est.) + 40% × 70.5 = 70
Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 71.8 (est.) + 40% × 77.2 = 74
No road tests of dry for SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
No road tests of dry for Firehawk Indy 500. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
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73
Wet
SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat +766Why this score
Source SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat Firehawk Indy 500 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 72 (est.) ≈ 67 (est.) Reviews found online 74 65 SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat: 60% × 72.3 (est.) + 40% × 73.6 = 73
Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 67.4 (est.) + 40% × 64.6 = 66
No road tests of wet for SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
No road tests of wet for Firehawk Indy 500. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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–
Snow
No comparison45Why this score
Source SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat Firehawk Indy 500 Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 57 (est.) Reviews found online – 27 Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 56.7 (est.) + 40% × 27.3 = 45
No road tests of snow for Firehawk Indy 500. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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63
Comfort
Firehawk Indy 500 +265Why this score
Source SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat Firehawk Indy 500 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 61 64 SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat: 40% × 67 (est.) + 60% × 60.5 = 63
Firehawk Indy 500: 40% × 67.6 (est.) + 60% × 63.5 = 65
No road tests of comfort for SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Firehawk Indy 500. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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–
Noise
No comparison65Why this score
Source SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat Firehawk Indy 500 Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online – 64 Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 64.2 = 65
No road tests of noise for Firehawk Indy 500. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
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63
Treadwear
Firehawk Indy 500 +366Why this score
Source SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat Firehawk Indy 500 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 65 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 61 61 SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat: 60% × 64.6 (est.) + 40% × 61 = 63
Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 60.7 = 66
No road tests of treadwear for SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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71
Handling (owners)
Level71Why this score
Source SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat Firehawk Indy 500 Reviews found online 71 71
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat | Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 69 |
| Dry | 70 | 74 |
| Wet | 73 | 66 |
| Snow | – | 45 |
| Comfort | 63 | 65 |
| Noise | – | 65 |
| Treadwear | 63 | 66 |
| Handling (owners) | 71 | 71 |
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
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat
69
/ 100
Firehawk Indy 500
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat
Pros
- Strong wet and dry traction performance
- Improved ride comfort compared to competing run-flat brands
- Respectable tread longevity for some users
Cons
- Tendency for uneven tread wear
- Increased road noise as the tire ages
- Harsh ride quality on low-profile, staggered setups
Tire B Firehawk Indy 500
Pros
- Exceptional value and affordability compared to premium tier brands like Michelin
- Outstanding dry grip and confident, responsive cornering capabilities
- Surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride quality on the highway
Cons
- Accelerated tread wear and shorter overall lifespan
- Poor performance and loss of traction in cold temperatures (below 40°F)
- Vulnerability to hydroplaning or reduced traction in heavy standing water
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is overwhelmingly praised as an exceptional value and 'bang for your buck' summer performance tire. Drivers consistently highlight strong dry grip, commendable wet traction, comfortable ride quality, and progressive handling breakaway. Minor criticisms center on reduced performance in cold temperatures, softer steering feedback, and grease on hard track sessions.
grassrootsmotorsports.com
“I need a 224/45/15 I run these on my S2000 wheelset for driving around town and they are great. I also have used them for plenty of track days. They get a little greasy towards the end of sessions but have never let me down.”
r/Mustang
·7 upvotes ·2025-02-13
“Will I regret buying Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s? I have a stock '21 GT Premium convertible with the black appearance package. It came with the upgraded Pirelli P Zero 255/40-19 tires, but with 35,000 miles, they are really worn, and I need new tires. I live in North Florida. We don't have a lot of cold weather (I missed the snow last month), but I do get a lot of rain. I don't track the car, and mostly drive on country roads and the interstate. The Pirelli's have treated me well as far as traction, dry and wet. I like the aggressive look of the Firehawks, but I am concerned about wet weather traction. Will the Firehawks be at least comparable to the Pirelli's for wet weather and general handling? If not, it sounds like the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 is the way to go. Also, the car is all black, with black rims, and the tires look wimpy. I'm not up for new rims this go-round, and I won't lower it because I like the clearance for potholes, etc., that I see a lot of in my area. I'm hoping the tires will help the look a little bit. Read more”
r/tires
·5 upvotes ·2025-11-27
“Need recommendations for an All Season tire that's comparable to Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 in a 205 45 17 Live in Southern California. Car only gets about 3,000-4,000 Miles a year. Tire size is 205 45 17 Currently have Firehawk Indy 500 but I got them used for $150 a couple years ago and they're done now. Cheaper options would be nice for new.”
Top themes
#value for money#dry grip performance#wet road traction#ride comfort#cold temperature limitations#track and autocross use#sidewall and steering response
Based on 141 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat | B · Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 47 |
| Rim diameters | — | 16″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | — | 9 - 10/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 340 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat
69
/ 100
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
Too close to call: Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat and Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 are within 2 points overall. Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat is stronger on wet. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is stronger on dry and treadwear. Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 7 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat scores 73 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 scores 74 vs 70 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 scores 66 vs 63 on treadwear.
Tire A · Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat
Tire B · Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
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SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat or Firehawk Indy 500?
Which is better in the wet, SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat or Firehawk Indy 500?
Continental SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat, 73 vs 66 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat or Firehawk Indy 500?
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500, 74 vs 70 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat or Firehawk Indy 500?
Neither, by our numbers: 63 vs 65 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, SportContact 2 SSR Run Flat or Firehawk Indy 500?
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500, 66 vs 63 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