Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 22 + 27 road tests and 1,605 + 6,614 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: SportContact 7 and Pilot Sport 4 S are level at 83.
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Tests 84 · 22 tests Owners 81 · 1,605 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 18 in 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (wet braking)
“On my 2nd set. Got decent mileage from them. 15k miles from the first set of rears and i've 11k on the 2nd set with 4.5mm still left on them.”
Tests 82 · 27 tests Owners 86 · 6,614 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)
“A note about the pilot sport 4 S: in cold weather (below 5 degrees) even if it isn't icy, the tyre compound hardens and has dramatically reduced grip. They are excellent summer tyres though, good in the wet too. These days I run Uniroyal rainsport 5 and they're very good.”
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | SportContact 7 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 25 tests | 100 | 94 |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 92 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) · 12 shared tests · wins 8–3 | 98% | 96% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) · 11 shared tests · wins 4–6 | 100% | 100% |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 3–0 | 99% | 93% |
| Dry (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 94% |
| Subj. Elk Test (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 90% |
| Dry Subj. Steering Response (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 | 90% | 90% |
| Subj. Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 80% |
| Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 99% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 99% |
SportContact 7: 60% × 99.6 + 40% × 92 = 97
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 94.3 + 40% × 92.1 = 93
| Source | SportContact 7 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 22 / 26 tests | 96 | 86 |
| Reviews found online | 90 | 91 |
| Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 8 shared tests · wins 6–2 | 93% | 92% |
| Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 11 shared tests · wins 7–4 | 97% | 97% |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–1 | 97% | 88% |
| Wet (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 88% |
| Wet Lateral Stability (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 | 80% | 80% |
| Lateral Stability (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 96% |
| Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 97% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 99% |
| Wet Braking (% of best) · 11 shared tests · wins 9–2 | 98% | 91% |
| Wet Circle (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 5–1 | 95% | 89% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) · 10 shared tests · wins 8–2 | 100% | 97% |
SportContact 7: 60% × 96.3 + 40% × 90 = 94
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 86.4 + 40% × 90.7 = 88
| Source | SportContact 7 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 6 tests | 56 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 76 | 84 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–2 | 90% | 91% |
SportContact 7: 40% × 56.4 + 60% × 75.9 = 68
Pilot Sport 4 S: 40% × 70.4 + 60% × 84.2 = 79
| Source | SportContact 7 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 20 tests | 59 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | ≈ 67 (est.) | ≈ 67 (est.) |
| Interior Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 90% | 80% |
| Noise (% of best) · 7 shared tests · wins 1–3 | 98% | 98% |
| Exterior Noise (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–3 | 85% | 89% |
| Noise (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 100% | 98% |
| Internal Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 | 98% | 99% |
SportContact 7: 60% × 59.1 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 62
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 69
No owner ratings of noise for SportContact 7 or Pilot Sport 4 S. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
| Source | SportContact 7 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests | 72 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 61 | 74 |
SportContact 7: 60% × 72.1 + 40% × 61.3 = 68
Pilot Sport 4 S: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74.1 = 72
| Source | SportContact 7 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 89 | 90 |
| Source | SportContact 7 | Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 23 tests | 72 | 72 |
| Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 12 shared tests · wins 4–8 | 91% | 92% |
| Category | Continental SportContact 7 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 83 |
| Dry | 97 | 93 |
| Wet | 94 | 88 |
| Comfort | 68 | 79 |
| Noise | 62 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 89 | 90 |
| Efficiency | 72 | 72 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
SportContact 7
Pilot Sport 4 S
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 14 tests that ran both, Continental SportContact 7 finished ahead 12 times and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S 2 times.
| Discipline | Category | SportContact 7 | Pilot Sport 4 S | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Dry | 100% | 94% | +6.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% | 96% | +1.9 | 8–3 in 12 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test · 255/35 R19 |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% | 99% | +0.9 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Express UUHP Summer Tire Test R19 · 235/35R19 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% | 100% | +0.1 | 4–6 in 11 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test · 255/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% | 99% | +0.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Express UUHP Summer Tire Test R19 · 235/35R19 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 99% | 93% | +6.5 | 3–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Subj. Steering Response | Dry | 90% | 90% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Subj. Elk Test | Dry | 100% | 90% | +10.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Subj. Wet Circle | Dry | 100% | 80% | +20.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 93% | 92% | +1.6 | 6–2 in 8 shared tests Newest: 2025 Autobild Sportcars Summer Tire Test R20 · 295/30R20 |
| Lateral Stability | Wet | 100% | 96% | +4.2 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Express UUHP Summer Tire Test R19 · 235/35R19 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% | 97% | +0.1 | 7–4 in 11 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test · 255/35 R19 |
| Wet | Wet | 100% | 88% | +12.2 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% | 97% | +3.3 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Express UUHP Summer Tire Test R19 · 235/35R19 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 98% | 91% | +6.4 | 9–2 in 11 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test · 255/35 R19 |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 95% | 89% | +6.4 | 5–1 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test · 255/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% | 99% | +1.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Express UUHP Summer Tire Test R19 · 235/35R19 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% | 97% | +2.9 | 8–2 in 10 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test · 255/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 97% | 88% | +9.5 | 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Lateral Stability | Wet | 80% | 80% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 90% | 91% | −0.3 | 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test · 255/35 R19 |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 85% | 89% | −4.6 | 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 Autobild Sportcars Summer Tire Test R20 · 295/30R20 |
| Interior Noise | Noise | 90% | 80% | +10.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18 |
| Internal Noise | Noise | 98% | 99% | −1.4 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Express UUHP Summer Tire Test R19 · 235/35R19 |
| Noise | Noise | 98% | 98% | −0.8 | 1–3 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test · 255/35 R19 |
| Noise (tester's mark) | Noise | 100% | 98% | +2.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2024 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 91% | 92% | −1.0 | 4–8 in 12 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tyre Test · 255/35 R19 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 75% | 46% | +29.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Road Rating (tester's mark) | Other | 90% | 100% | −9.7 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 EVO Summer Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/10 | #1/10 | – | 12–2 in 14 shared tests Newest: 2026 ACE Summer Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Community members widely praise the Continental SportContact 7 for outstanding dry and wet grip, sharp steering precision, and strong value compared to key rivals like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. However, users frequently highlight faster tread wear, reduced initial tread depth, and occasional issues with road noise and comfort as main drawbacks.
“Had the same dilemma, went for PremiumContact 7 in the end for my Cupra ST300 4drive. Both have great traction when wet and dry, SC7 is more for an overall aggresive driving, while PC7 are bit more comfy, for a mix of sport and city daily cruising. Both are very quiet on the highway.”
“Michelin PS4S vs Continental SC7 Aloha! This is for all of you who are struggling to choose a tire and need some impression (not a recommendation since you need to make your own decision). I've been here often enough with the question for the best summer tires, gave some opinions here and there and told my side of things. Last time I was biased toward Contis but I'll come to that later. What you see here is a direct comparison: 1st pic on the left and 2nd and 3rd one are the Michelins, 2 years old, so two full seasons of pretty harsh driving tbh. 1st pic right and 4th and 5th one are the Contis, which I bought and mounted in mid April this year. I noticed that contis are fantastic in the first 1-2 months and then start to wear off really fast. Grip is getting worse by the week. Michelins feel a bit less grippy then contis at start but keep their level for longer and thread holds up longer. Do with this what you want but I will return to PS4S again when its time (in winter Michelin anyway) because I cant see myself paying 1/3 less for Contis to then have then last only half as long as Michelin. Oh yeah, both are 225/35/19 obviously and were brand new. Read more”
“On my 2nd set. Got decent mileage from them. 15k miles from the first set of rears and i've 11k on the 2nd set with 4.5mm still left on them.”
Based on 114 community posts
The community widely regards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S as a benchmark max-performance summer tire, praising its outstanding dry and wet grip, stability, and daily driving refinement. Common criticisms focus on its premium price, rapid tread wear on high-powered heavy vehicles or hot track sessions, and significantly reduced grip in cold weather. Many enthusiasts consider it an ideal street tire, though some note softer sidewalls compared to predecessors or recommend dedicated track tires for hard circuit driving.
“My 2023 20th AE Golf R came with Hankook tires , and I've been very pleased with them. I'm a fairly aggressive driver and frequent the twisty roads in the Santa Monica Mountains. I also have a mildly modded Mk VI Golf R shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires on factory 18" rims, and the Hankooks seem to perform almost as well in the dry, but outshine the PS4s in the wet. I will most likely need new tires next year, but I am undecided between the Hankooks and the Michelin PS4AS tires . As for Continental tires ... I use Continental tubular tires on my road bicycle, but have experienced many problems, including massive chunking with them on my 1974 BMW 2002Tii and my 1979 Scirocco Gti , so I am not going to use them on my cars again.”
“I had a similar experience with Discount Tire and brand new Michelin PS4S's. I clipped a large lane marker (not a dot, a turtle) with both driver's side tires and pinch-flatted them both. I had driven them less than 10 miles so Discount Tire replaced them for only $50 without me even asking for a discount. I had purchased them for about $450 each and didn't buy a road hazard warranty, so I was very pleased with Discount Tire.”
“My 2020 Kia Forte GT came with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires. Those were not going to work in the PNW as a daily driver tire. I went right to Costco and bought some Michelin Pilot All season tires, the ones that compete with the Continental DWS at the time. I listed the take offs on Craigslist for $400 and sold them that day.”
Based on 208 community posts
| Attribute | A · Continental SportContact 7 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 123 | 110 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 24″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 8 - 9/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 240 AA A | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 83 | 83 |
Continental SportContact 7
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Too close to call: Continental SportContact 7 and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S are within 2 points overall. Continental SportContact 7 is stronger on wet and dry. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is stronger on comfort, noise and treadwear.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 79 vs 68 on comfort.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S scores 69 vs 62 on noise.
Continental SportContact 7 scores 94 vs 88 on wet.
Continental SportContact 7 scores 97 vs 93 on dry.
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Continental SportContact 7, 94 vs 88 on our wet score.
Continental SportContact 7, 97 vs 93 on our dry score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 69 vs 62 on our noise score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 79 vs 68 on our comfort score.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, 72 vs 68 on our treadwear score.
Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 72 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.
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
