Tests 85 · 12 tests Owners 53 · 675 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test (noise)
“70k on SC6 ? Mine lasted 17k and now since I have the SC7 they overpassed the 6 without problems. They are better.”
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental SportContact 6 vs Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 — 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 12 + 32 road tests and 675 + 3,519 owner reviews. How we score
Sport Maxx RT2 leads, 74–72 Narrow edge
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Tests 76 · 32 tests Owners 71 · 3,519 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test (comfort (tester's mark))
“Everybody is right. The tyre is available in both a RF and a non-RF versions - so it will simply depend on what you buy. e.g. the rears for my F31 are not RF”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
Key facts
- In 4 tests that measured dry braking for both, SportContact 6 won 4 and Sport Maxx RT2 won 0 (average 100% vs 96% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured dry handling for both, SportContact 6 won 4 and Sport Maxx RT2 won 0 (average 99% vs 98% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, SportContact 6 won 2 and Sport Maxx RT2 won 2 (average 95% vs 93% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured wet handling for both, SportContact 6 won 2 and Sport Maxx RT2 won 2 (average 97% vs 98% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, SportContact 6 won 0 and Sport Maxx RT2 won 3 (average 96% vs 100% of the best).
-
83
Dry
SportContact 6 +776Why this score
Source SportContact 6 Sport Maxx RT2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 30 tests 90 79 Reviews found online 72 71 Dry Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–0 100% 96% Dry Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–0 99% 98% Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 99% 84% SportContact 6: 60% × 89.6 + 40% × 72.4 = 83
Sport Maxx RT2: 60% × 79.2 + 40% × 70.6 = 76
-
80
Wet
SportContact 6 +179Why this score
Source SportContact 6 Sport Maxx RT2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 31 tests 88 84 Reviews found online 69 73 Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 84% 100% Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–3 96% 100% Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 79% 95% Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–2 95% 93% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 98% 99% Wet Handling (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–2 97% 98% SportContact 6: 60% × 87.9 + 40% × 68.7 = 80
Sport Maxx RT2: 60% × 83.7 + 40% × 72.7 = 79
-
37
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source SportContact 6 Sport Maxx RT2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 52 (est.) – Reviews found online 14 – SportContact 6: 60% × 52.5 (est.) + 40% × 13.8 = 37
No road tests of snow for SportContact 6. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
-
65
Comfort
Sport Maxx RT2 +570Why this score
Source SportContact 6 Sport Maxx RT2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 6 tests 72 70 Reviews found online 60 70 Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 90% SportContact 6: 40% × 72.2 + 60% × 59.9 = 65
Sport Maxx RT2: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 70.2 = 70
-
72
Noise
SportContact 6 +567Why this score
Source SportContact 6 Sport Maxx RT2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 13 tests 74 64 Reviews found online 70 73 Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 100% SportContact 6: 60% × 73.6 + 40% × 70 = 72
Sport Maxx RT2: 60% × 63.5 + 40% × 73.3 = 67
-
43
Treadwear
Sport Maxx RT2 +2669Why this score
Source SportContact 6 Sport Maxx RT2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 10 tests ≈ 53 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 28 68 SportContact 6: 60% × 52.7 (est.) + 40% × 28.3 = 43
Sport Maxx RT2: 60% × 70.1 + 40% × 68.3 = 69
No road tests of treadwear for SportContact 6. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
-
66
Handling (owners)
Sport Maxx RT2 +470Why this score
Source SportContact 6 Sport Maxx RT2 Reviews found online 66 70 -
69
Efficiency
SportContact 6 +564Why this score
Source SportContact 6 Sport Maxx RT2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 17 tests 69 64 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–1 95% 97%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental SportContact 6 | Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 74 |
| Dry | 83 | 76 |
| Wet | 80 | 79 |
| Snow | 37 | – |
| Comfort | 65 | 70 |
| Noise | 72 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 43 | 69 |
| Handling (owners) | 66 | 70 |
| Efficiency | 69 | 64 |
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
72
/ 100
SportContact 6
74
/ 100
Sport Maxx RT2
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 5 tests that ran both, Continental SportContact 6 finished ahead 4 times and Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | SportContact 6 | Sport Maxx RT2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% | 96% | +3.8 | 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 98% | +1.6 | 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 99% | 84% | +14.4 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 84% | 100% | −16.5 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 96% | 100% | −4.1 | 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% | 93% | +2.0 | 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 98% | 99% | −0.5 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% | 98% | −1.0 | 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 79% | 95% | −15.8 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 98% | 90% | +8.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Noise | Noise | 100% | 100% | +0.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 95% | 97% | −1.4 | 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 69% | 70% | −0.9 | 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #3/15 | #7/15 | – | 4–1 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A SportContact 6
Pros
- Staggering grip in both dry and wet conditions
- Precise steering feedback and sharp cornering response
- Low road noise and enhanced ride comfort compared to some rivals
Cons
- Rapid tread wear leading to a short lifespan (often requiring replacement under 10,000-15,000 miles)
- Reduced performance and potential snap oversteer in cold or freezing weather conditions
- High cost per mile due to fast wear rates
Tire B Sport Maxx RT2
Pros
- Excellent grip and stability in both wet and dry conditions
- Significantly lower road noise and high ride comfort compared to competitors
- Competitive pricing offering great value for a premium-tier brand
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can cause a spongy feel and lack of precision during fast cornering
- Some reports of premature cracking in the tread valleys or sidewalls
- Performance and noise levels can degrade noticeably as the tread wears down
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Mixed
Continental SportContact 6
Community members generally praise the Continental Sport Contact 6 for its strong grip, smooth handling, and impressive wet performance. However, high tread wear is a frequent and significant complaint, with many drivers reporting poor longevity compared to successors like the SportContact 7 and competitors like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S. Additional mixed feedback notes issues such as road noise, ride stiffness, and occasional sidewall flex during aggressive cornering.
mbworld.org
“Quote: Originally Posted by ///Bruce Do not buy the 6's. I had a set on my '18 Macan Turbo. Bald in 9,000 miles. The Macan is heavier than the C63S. But still... The other thing I noticed was going into a tight corner, the tires gave the impression they were rolling off the tread and folding under the tire. Weird sensation. Thanks for the feedback...I have read a few reviews on the Contact 6 and what your describing sounds like what everyone says in the review about the Contact 5P (tire before the Contact 6). And one review they specifically talked about the issue you described in the Contact 5P and said it no longer exist in the Contact 6...interesting. Look I am not trying to be cheap but based on Discount Tire prices after install and taxes I can save close to $300 for a set of Contact 6 vs PS4S. Heck that is almost the cost of the two front tires alone even if I don't get as many miles out of them. IDK? I may give them a shot...I figure the worse that can happen is I blow through them (like you said) in 9K miles and if so then next time I go with PS4S???”
r/TyreReviews
·4 upvotes ·2026-05-12
“Back when it was released, John reported something along the lines of: “Continental says the wear issues of the SportContact 6 are resolved in the new SportContact 7, and that they should match the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S in terms of wear.” I’ve had both generations, including on the same car, and can confirm the SC6 wears much quicker than the SC7, which I’m running at the moment, BTW. I didn’t even manage to get to 20k km on either of my two AMGs with the factory-fitted SC6, so your high mileage is quite the feat IMO haha. I reckon you’ll be just fine with the SC7 with your setup (car + driving style).”
f30.bimmerpost.com
“CSC6 is excellent tire indeed and the wear is top notch, too. The only sight negatives I am aware of is poor rim protection, quite high noise and harsh ride.”
Top themes
#rapid tread wear#strong wet performance#dry grip and handling#comparison to Michelin PS4S#longevity versus SportContact 7#road noise and comfort#cornering and sidewall stiffness
Based on 27 community posts
Tire B
Positive
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2
Community opinion portrays the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 as a solid, quiet, and good-value performance tire that performs well in all weather conditions. While some drivers note it is an older design compared to newer flagship releases and point out its 'B' wet rating in certain sizes, it is generally considered capable and competitively priced. There is also frequent discussion clarifying the availability of both run-flat and non-run-flat variants across different dimensions.
forums.m3cutters.co.uk
·2 upvotes ·2021-01-21
“Everybody is right. The tyre is available in both a RF and a non-RF versions - so it will simply depend on what you buy. e.g. the rears for my F31 are not RF”
zroadster.org
·1 upvote ·2018-11-27
“I have Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2's on my Audi A3 2.0TDI (buckets of torques) and they work incredibly well in all weather conditions. Granted a different proposition with FWD Audi, but for the price it was a no brainer to stick with them when I needed the fronts replacing.”
z4-forum.com
·2022-09-27
“For what it's worth, I put a full new set of 18inch Sport Maxx RT2's on my E85 a couple of years ago and found them more than adequate/good when your a looking for a value/capability compromise. Like B21 mentions, if you want a really upto date tyre, you pick a newer release from the manufacturer provided that pushing on a couple of hundred quid extra can be justified. (When you don't need to tell the wife) I just put a set of 19inch Continental Conti Sport 7's on my E89 but wouldn't have had an issue fitting 19inch Sport Maxx RT2's.”
Top themes
#Run-flat availability confusion#Low road noise#Value for money#All-weather grip#Older tire generation#Wet performance rating
Based on 19 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental SportContact 6 | B · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 97 | 56 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 24″ | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 8/32″ | 10/32″ |
| UTQG | 240 A A | 300 A A |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 50 psi |
| Sizes in common | 23 | 23 |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Continental SportContact 6
74
/ 100
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2
Narrow edge: Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 — better treadwear and comfort. Pick the Continental SportContact 6 if dry, noise and efficiency matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 scores 69 vs 43 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental SportContact 6 scores 83 vs 76 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental SportContact 6 scores 72 vs 67 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Continental SportContact 6 scores 69 vs 64 on efficiency.
Tire A · Continental SportContact 6
Tire B · Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2
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SportContact 6 or Sport Maxx RT2?
Which is better in the wet, SportContact 6 or Sport Maxx RT2?
Neither, by our numbers: 80 vs 79 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, SportContact 6 or Sport Maxx RT2?
Continental SportContact 6, 83 vs 76 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, SportContact 6 or Sport Maxx RT2?
Continental SportContact 6, 72 vs 67 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, SportContact 6 or Sport Maxx RT2?
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2, 70 vs 65 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, SportContact 6 or Sport Maxx RT2?
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2, 69 vs 43 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, SportContact 6 or Sport Maxx RT2?
Continental SportContact 6, 69 vs 64 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