Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 2 road tests and 1,457 + 45 owner reviews. How we score
ExtremeContact Sport is ahead, 71–65
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.”
Tests 74 · 2 tests Owners 69 · 45 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (tested tread life (miles))
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | ExtremeContact Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests | ≈ 72 (est.) | 74 |
| Reviews found online | 77 | 80 |
Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 71.8 (est.) + 40% × 77.2 = 74
ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 74 + 40% × 79.7 = 76
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).
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | ExtremeContact Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests | ≈ 67 (est.) | 79 |
| Reviews found online | 65 | 80 |
Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 67.4 (est.) + 40% × 64.7 = 66
ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 79.3 + 40% × 80.2 = 80
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).
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | ExtremeContact Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 57 (est.) | ≈ 58 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 27 | 32 |
Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 56.8 (est.) + 40% × 27.2 = 45
ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 58.2 (est.) + 40% × 31.7 = 48
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).
No road tests of snow for ExtremeContact Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | ExtremeContact Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 68 (est.) | ≈ 70 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 64 | 74 |
Firehawk Indy 500: 40% × 67.7 (est.) + 60% × 63.6 = 65
ExtremeContact Sport: 40% × 69.8 (est.) + 60% × 73.6 = 72
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).
No road tests of comfort for ExtremeContact Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | ExtremeContact Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests | ≈ 66 (est.) | 73 |
| Reviews found online | 64 | 67 |
Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 64.2 = 65
ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 72.6 + 40% × 67.4 = 71
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.
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | ExtremeContact Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests | 70 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 61 | 68 |
| Tested Tread Life (Miles) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 | 62% | 62% |
Firehawk Indy 500: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 60.7 = 66
ExtremeContact Sport: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 67.9 = 69
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | ExtremeContact Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 71 | 74 |
| Category | Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 | Continental ExtremeContact Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 65 | 71 |
| Dry | 74 | 76 |
| Wet | 66 | 80 |
| Snow | 45 | 48 |
| Comfort | 65 | 72 |
| Noise | 65 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 66 | 69 |
| Handling (owners) | 71 | 74 |
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.
Firehawk Indy 500
ExtremeContact Sport
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 1 tests that ran both, Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 finished ahead 0 times and Continental ExtremeContact Sport 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | Firehawk Indy 500 | ExtremeContact Sport | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tested Tread Life (Miles) | Treadwear | 62% | 62% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires · 215/60R18 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #9/22 | #2/22 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires · 215/60R18 |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
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.
“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.”
“To say I'm not a fan of the stock tires is an under statement. I had these on my 2015 Si and loved them. I did some serious spirited driving on them. Extremely good grip for the price and never had an issue. I did have to go up 10 on the width on the Si as well. I think I'm going to go with 255/35/20 in them. Anyone ever try them? I know a good amount of Mustang GT guys use them and have no issues.”
“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.”
Based on 141 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 | B · Continental ExtremeContact Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 47 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 17″ |
| Tread depth | 9 - 10/32″ | 10/32″ |
| UTQG | 340 A A | 340 AA A |
| Treadwear warranty | — | 30,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 44 - 51 psi |
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
Continental ExtremeContact Sport
Winner: Continental ExtremeContact Sport — better wet, comfort and noise. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport scores 80 vs 66 on wet.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport scores 72 vs 65 on comfort.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport scores 71 vs 65 on noise.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport scores 48 vs 45 on snow.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport, 80 vs 66 on our wet score.
Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 76 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport, 48 vs 45 on our snow score.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport, 71 vs 65 on our noise score.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport, 72 vs 65 on our comfort score.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport, 69 vs 66 on our treadwear score.
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
