Head-to-head Updated

Continental SportContact 6 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — 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 + 23 road tests and 675 + 6,510 owner reviews. How we score

Pilot Sport 5 is ahead, 86–72

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Continental SportContact 6
± 5

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.”

Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Tire BMichelin

Pilot Sport 5

Summer

± 4

Tests 86 · 23 tests Owners 87 · 6,510 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test (dry handling (tester's mark))

“Put some 235/45 R17 ps5’s on my 9-5 They fill up the arches quite nice!”

Category by category

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

  1. 83

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 5 +9
    92
    Why this score
    SourceSportContact 6Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 23 tests9093
    Reviews found online7290

    SportContact 6: 60% × 89.6 + 40% × 72.4 = 83

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.2 + 40% × 90.2 = 92

  2. 80

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 5 +14
    94
    Why this score
    SourceSportContact 6Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 23 tests8894
    Reviews found online6993

    SportContact 6: 60% × 87.9 + 40% × 68.7 = 80

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.7 + 40% × 93.3 = 94

  3. 37

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceSportContact 6Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 52 (est.)–
    Reviews found online14–

    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).

  4. 65

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 5 +13
    78
    Why this score
    SourceSportContact 6Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 9 tests7271
    Reviews found online6083

    SportContact 6: 40% × 72.2 + 60% × 59.9 = 65

    Pilot Sport 5: 40% × 70.9 + 60% × 83.4 = 78

  5. 72

    Noise

    SportContact 6 +25
    47
    Why this score
    SourceSportContact 6Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 15 tests7433
    Reviews found online70≈ 66 (est.)

    SportContact 6: 60% × 73.6 + 40% × 70 = 72

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 33.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 47

    No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport 5. 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. 43

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport 5 +43
    86
    Why this score
    SourceSportContact 6Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 6 tests≈ 53 (est.)92
    Reviews found online2878

    SportContact 6: 60% × 52.7 (est.) + 40% × 28.3 = 43

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 92 + 40% × 77.9 = 86

    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).

  7. 66

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Sport 5 +23
    89
    Why this score
    SourceSportContact 6Pilot Sport 5
    Reviews found online6689
  8. 69

    Efficiency

    SportContact 6 +6
    63
    Why this score
    SourceSportContact 6Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 17 tests6963
Scores at a glance
Continental SportContact 6 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryContinental SportContact 6Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Relative Score 72 86
Dry 83 92
Wet 80 94
Snow 37 –
Comfort 65 78
Noise 72 47
Treadwear 43 86
Handling (owners) 66 89
Efficiency 69 63

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
± 5

SportContact 6

± 4

Pilot Sport 5

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.

DisciplineCategorySportContact 6Pilot Sport 5ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 99% #3/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test 95% #10/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 97% #5/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test 99% #4/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 90% #3/8 · 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test 100% #1/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 84% #12/15 · 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test 87% #6/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 97% #6/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test 94% #6/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 100% #2/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test 91% #9/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 98% #5/8 · 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test 97% #5/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 96% #4/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test 98% #3/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 89% #4/8 · 2021 Sport Auto UHP Summer Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 80% #3/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test 90% #4/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #8/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 89% #2/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test 92% #3/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 51% #6/9 · 2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test 56% #13/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/6 2021 Sportauto Summer Tire Test for Sportcars R19 #9/50 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? – Different tests

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
All owner themes in the SportContact 6 review

Tire B Pilot Sport 5

Pros

  • Outstanding wet and dry traction with high resistance to aquaplaning
  • Superior tread life and longevity compared to competitors and previous generations
  • Noticeable improvements in ride comfort and a quieter cabin over rough road surfaces

Cons

  • Softer sidewalls can lead to initial steering vagueness or understeer during hard cornering
  • Higher price point compared to some tier-one competitors
  • Performance and grip degrade significantly under intense track heat or heavy circuit use
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport 5 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Continental SportContact 6

Mixed

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

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Positive

Community sentiment towards the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is largely positive, with drivers frequently praising its outstanding wet grip, daily driving comfort, and impressive tread life. While widely recommended as a dependable, premium all-round performance tire, some enthusiasts criticize it for having a slightly numb steering feel, softer sidewalls, and poor heat resistance during track use compared to more aggressive alternatives.

r/i20n ·17 upvotes ·2025-07-21

“Tyres: Ps5’s initial impression Tyres seem to be a common question across a few forums so I thought ide share. So after 12 months (27,000kms) with my i20n, I was (over) due to replace my tyres. While I loved the p-zeros, I wasn’t keen on the short life, so went with the pilot sport 5. My impressions as follows: Initial impression: a lot less road noise than the p-zero City drive: no noticeable difference (apart from the reduced noise) Highway drive: handling is not noticeably changed, but the reduced noise is really appreciated here! Twisty’s: the difference here is notable, ps5’s don’t provide quite the same aggressive limitless grip feel as the p-zeros. Still holds the line perfectly but noted a bit of slip on the inside front wheel under heavy throttle. I do approx 100km on back roads commuting to and from work every day, so I’ll update this thread if I find anything worth reporting Read more”

r/ft86 ·2 upvotes ·2026-07-21

“PS5 is a very good allround, comfortable but grippy tire. PS4S has a stiffer sidewall and is way sportier but harsher. There is to date no successor for the PS4S. I switched from PS4S to PS5 on my mustang and its a way better fit for a daily tire. I would remommend to get PS5 for the rear aswell.”

r/Miata ·2 upvotes ·2026-05-13

“Anyone else greatly disappointed with their Michelin Pilot sport 5? My 10th anniversary recently got a set of 16 inch ND wheels (due to better tires being available on 16s) and a set of brand new PS5s. It’s on the original bilstein suspension with H&R sway bars and poly bushings all around. After having driven the PS5s for around 4k km i have to say i really don’t like them most of the time. Pros: They’re numb, which is amazing for highway driving. You really can’t feel anything from the tires and they’re super quiet. Cons: They’re numb. I literally can’t feel what they’re doing, they just don’t give any useable feedback from the road and the main thing i do is spirited driving. They also overheat extremely fast? I take five to six quicker turns and on the next turn in the entire car is just sliding around doing whatever the fuck it wants all while there still being no feedback whatsoever.. I’m frustrated af because i thought i’d treat myself to a good nice quality set of tires for once and thats the result.. I have driven on Kumho PS71s for i think a thousand km’s last year and they were waaay grippier and gave very good feedback. The car just isn’t as fun to drive now and it sucks hard. Rant over, thanks for listening. Tldr: Tyre bad :(”

Top themes
#wet grip performance#tread life longevity#daily driving comfort#track heat delamination#premium pricing comparisons#road noise levels#steering feel feedback

Based on 173 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental SportContact 6 B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available9766
Rim diameters18″ – 24″16″ – 22″
Tread depth8/32″—
UTQG240 A A320 - 340 A - B A
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure50 psi—
Sizes in common2222

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental SportContact 6

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better treadwear, handling and wet. Pick the Continental SportContact 6 if noise and efficiency matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 86 vs 43 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Continental SportContact 6 scores 72 vs 47 on noise.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 89 vs 66 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 94 vs 80 on wet.

Tire A · Continental SportContact 6
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5

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SportContact 6 or Pilot Sport 5?

Which is better in the wet, SportContact 6 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 94 vs 80 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, SportContact 6 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 92 vs 83 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, SportContact 6 or Pilot Sport 5?

Continental SportContact 6, 72 vs 47 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, SportContact 6 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 78 vs 65 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, SportContact 6 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 86 vs 43 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, SportContact 6 or Pilot Sport 5?

Continental SportContact 6, 69 vs 63 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