Continental SportContact 7 vs Falken Azenis RS820 — The undisputed benchmark meets the bold new challenger. Continental’s SportContact 7 has ruled the ultra-ultra-high performance (UUHP) segment with relentless grip and razor-sharp precision. But now, Falken enters the ring with its newly launched Azenis RS820 — a tire built to go head-to-head with the best. Can this newcomer shake up the hierarchy and dethrone the reigning king? Let the battle begin!
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Results: Continental SportContact 7 vs Falken Azenis RS820
The results featured here are from the 2025 Autobild Sports Car UUHP Tire Test, with 7 of the top premium UUHP tires tested. The accompanying graph presents a side-by-side comparison of the Continental SportContact 7 vs Falken Azenis RS820 across various performance categories, with the Continental SportContact 7 serving as the benchmark at the 100% mark.
The tire size of interest is the 245/35 R20 front and 295/30 R20 rear tire size. The tests were conducted using a sporty Lotus Emira as the test vehicle.
Wet
In wet braking, the Continental SportContact 7 stopped in 43.7 meters, while the Falken Azenis RS820 needed 48.1 meters — a 4.4-meter gap, giving the Continental a 9% advantage. In wet handling, the SportContact 7 maintained an average speed of 78.1 km/h compared to the RS820’s 75.4 km/h, resulting in a 2.7 km/h lead or roughly a 3% edge for Continental. In straight-line aquaplaning, the Continental held grip up to 104.8 km/h, whereas the Falken lost grip at 100.5 km/h — a difference of 4.3 km/h or about 4%.
Overall, the Continental SportContact 7 clearly outperforms the Falken Azenis RS820 in all wet conditions, offering shorter braking, higher cornering speed, and better aquaplaning resistance.
Azenis RS820 :
- -9% in wet braking
- -3% in wet handling
- -4% in straight aquaplaning
Dry
In dry braking, the Continental SportContact 7 stopped in 31.2 meters, while the Falken Azenis RS820 needed 33.1 meters — a 1.9-meter difference, giving the Continental a 6% advantage. For dry handling, the SportContact 7 maintained an average speed of 104 km/h compared to 101.6 km/h for the RS820, a 2.4 km/h gap or roughly a 2% lead.
Once again, the Continental SportContact 7 proves its dominance with noticeably better performance in both dry braking and handling, making it the sharper and more confidence-inspiring tire on dry roads.
Azenis RS820 :
- -6% in dry braking
- -2% in dry handling
Noise
In exterior noise testing, the Falken Azenis RS820 registered 73.7 dB, while the Continental SportContact 7 came in slightly louder at 74.6 dB — a 0.9 dB difference, making the Falken about 1% quieter.
Azenis RS820 :
- +1% in exterior noise (-0.9 dB)
Rolling Resistance
In rolling resistance, both the Continental SportContact 7 and Falken Azenis RS820 scored equally at 8.5 N/kN, showing no difference between the two.
Azenis RS820 :
- 0% in rolling resistance
Price
For the 245/35R20 size, the Falken Azenis RS820 is priced at £204, while the Continental SportContact 7 costs £225. That’s a £21 difference, making the Falken 10% cheaper.
Tire size: 245/35R20
- SportContact 7 : £ 225
- Azenis RS820 : £ 204
Difference: -10% more cheaper for Azenis RS820
Summary
As a tire expert, it’s clear to me that the Continental SportContact 7 is the outright winner in this comparison. It consistently outperforms the Falken Azenis RS820 in both wet and dry conditions — stopping shorter, cornering faster, and offering better aquaplaning resistance. While the Falken is slightly quieter and more affordable, the SportContact 7 delivers the kind of precision, grip, and safety that define a top-tier ultra-high performance tire.
Dr Edwin Pang