Continental UltraContact UC7 vs Bridgestone Turanza T005A

Continental UltraContact UC7 vs Bridgestone Turanza T005A: In the realm of touring tires, where the amalgamation of comfort, durability, and performance reign supreme, a riveting battle unfolds with the introduction of the Continental UltraContact UC7 against the seasoned challenger, the Bridgestone Turanza T005A. The UC7, Continental’s latest brainchild, hit the roads with a splash in late 2022, boasting significant enhancements in wet braking capabilities—a testament to Continental’s relentless innovation in tire technology. This new contender is engineered to deliver a harmonious ride, remarkable tread life, and heightened safety, especially under the capricious whims of the weather.

On the other side of the tarmac, the Bridgestone Turanza T005A, launched in 2018, stands as an old foe in this ongoing duel. The T005A has been a staple choice for drivers prioritizing comfort and reliability. It shines with its exceptional road-holding features and a tread pattern designed for splendid water evacuation, ensuring steadfast performance in wet conditions—a prowess it has demonstrated consistently over the years.

Both tires are champions in their own right, with the UC7 ushering in advanced technologies such as tailored sipe angles for better water clearance and improved polymer compounds for superior grip, challenging the Turanza T005A’s established domain of offering a quiet, plush ride coupled with impressive high-speed stability and fuel efficiency.

As the tussle for touring supremacy heats up, enthusiasts watch with bated breath. Will the Continental UltraContact UC7 redefine the standards of wet performance and usurp the throne, or will the Bridgestone Turanza T005A reaffirm its dominance with its proven and trusted formula? The stage is set for a showdown that promises to redefine the benchmarks of touring tire excellence.

Results: Continental UltraContact UC7 vs Bridgestone Turanza T005A

Results below were taken from our own 2023 Top Tire Review APAC Touring Tire Test with a total of 6 tires tested. The graph below shows the comparison between Continental UltraContact UC7 vs Bridgestone Turanza T005A based on the relevant performance category. The Continental UltraContact UC7 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.

For handling performances, the evaluation was done on the subjective evaluation and lap times. Note that for subjective evaluations, we consider 1 point to be equivalent to 10%. This means that if tire A receives a rating of 7 and tire B receives a rating of 8, tire B is deemed 10% better than tire A. For noise tests, an increase of 1 dB corresponds to a 10% change in rating. This reflects the logarithmic nature of decibel measurements. We centered our tire test on the BMW F30 equipped with brand-new 225/45 R18 tires, amidst the tropical setting of West Java, Indonesia, with temperatures ranging between 28-35°C.

Wet

When it comes to how the Continental UltraContact UC7 and the Bridgestone Turanza T005A perform in wet conditions, here’s a simple comparison:

Wet Braking:

• The Continental UC7 stops at 18.84 meters when braking from 80 to 5 km/h.
• The Bridgestone T005A does better here, stopping slightly shorter at 18.34 meters.

What this means: When you brake hard in the rain, the Bridgestone tire can stop just a little bit sooner than the Continental tire – about half a meter difference. This distance is less than the length of an average adult’s step.

Wet Handling (Subjective Score):

• The Continental UC7 gets a score of 7.5 out of 10.
• The Bridgestone T005A is a bit behind with a score of 7.3 out of 10.

What this means: People generally feel a little bit more confident with the way the Continental tire handles in the wet compared to the Bridgestone tire. But they’re pretty close – it’s like the Continental is a B+ and the Bridgestone is a B.

Wet Handling (Objective, Lap Times):

• The Continental UC7 has a lap time of 27.7 seconds.
• The Bridgestone T005A is just a tad slower with a lap time of 27.8 seconds.

What this means: If you were racing around a wet track, the Continental tire could get you around very slightly quicker. The difference is so so small though – just a tenth of a second – it’s like blinking your eyes; that’s how quick it is.

Aquaplaning:

• The Continental UC7 can handle aquaplaning at speeds up to 77.53 km/h.
• The Bridgestone T005A can manage up to 75.37 km/h.

What this means: If there’s a lot of water on the road, the Continental tire can keep going safely at a slightly higher speed before it starts to lose grip and slide on the water. The difference is a bit over 2 km/h – like the difference between a fast walk and a slow jog.

In simple terms, both tires are pretty good in the wet, but the Bridgestone might stop a tiny bit quicker, while the Continental might handle better overall and resist aquaplaning at higher speeds.

Turanza T005A :

• +3% in wet braking
• -2% in wet handling (subj)
• ~0% in wet handling (lap time)
• -3% in aquaplaning

Dry

Let’s break down how the Continental UltraContact UC7 and the Bridgestone Turanza T005A perform in dry conditions:

Dry Braking:

• The Continental UC7 can stop from 100 km/h in 36.07 meters.
• The Bridgestone T005A takes a bit longer, stopping from 100 km/h in 38.57 meters.

What this means: On a dry road, if you have to stop suddenly, the Continental tire will stop more than 2 meters shorter than the Bridgestone tire. That’s a little bit longer than a large step you might take.

Dry Handling (Subjective Score):

• The Continental UC7 is rated 7.4 out of 10.
• The Bridgestone T005A is rated a little lower at 7.2 out of 10.

What this means: Drivers feel a bit better about how the Continental tire drives on a dry road compared to the Bridgestone tire. The difference is not huge, but it’s like preferring a B over a B- in school grades.

Dry Handling (Objective, Lap Times):

• The Continental UC7 can do a lap in 26.9 seconds.
• The Bridgestone T005A is slower with a lap time of 28.4 seconds.

What this means: If you’re driving around a dry race track, the Continental tire would get you around noticeably quicker. The Bridgestone tire would take about 1.5 seconds longer, which is quite a bit of time in racing – like the time it takes to say “one Mississippi, two Mississippi”.

In simple words, in dry conditions, the Continental tire can stop sooner and feels a bit better to drive. It also gets you around a track quicker than the Bridgestone tire.

Turanza T005A :

• -6% in dry braking
• -1% in dry handling (subj)
• -5% in dry handling (lap time)

NVH (Noise Vibration & Harshness)

Let’s compare how quiet and comfortable the Continental UltraContact UC7 and the Bridgestone Turanza T005A tires are using simple terms:

Pass By Noise:

• The Continental UC7 makes a sound measured at 70.7 decibels (dB) from the outside.
• The Bridgestone T005A is a bit quieter on the outside, with a sound level of 69.8 dB.

What this means: When these tires are rolling down the street, the Bridgestone is a tiny bit quieter from the outside. It’s like the Continental tire is talking in a normal voice, and the Bridgestone is speaking just a little softer.

Interior Noise:

• Inside the car, the Continental UC7 has a noise level of 71.7 dB at the front.
• The Bridgestone T005A has a slightly higher noise level of 72.3 dB at the front.

What this means: From the driver’s seat, the Continental is a bit quieter. The difference is small though – it’s like the difference between a quiet room and one with a softly running computer fan.

Subjective Comfort:

• People rate the comfort of the Continental UC7 at 7.05 out of 10.
• They rate the Bridgestone T005A higher for comfort, at 7.3 out of 10.

What this means: The Bridgestone tire feels a bit more comfortable to most people. If you think of it like sitting on cushions, the Bridgestone is like sitting on a slightly fluffier pillow than the Continental.

Subjective Noise:

• For noise, the Continental UC7 gets a rating of 7.25 out of 10.
• The Bridgestone T005A is rated just a bit lower, at 7.05 out of 10.

What this means: This aligns to the interior noise results whereby Continental UC7 was objectively and subjectively more quieter than Turanza T005A

In simple words, the Bridgestone tire is a smidge quieter from the outside and feels a bit more comfortable to ride on, while the Continental tire is rated as being quieter from the inside and has a slightly better overall noise rating from the results.

Turanza T005A :

• +9% in pass by noise (-0.9 dB)
• -5% in interior noise (+0.5 dB)
• +3% in subjective comfort
• -2% in subjective noise

Rolling Resistance

Alright, let’s look at how the Continental UltraContact UC7 and the Bridgestone Turanza T005A tires compare in terms of rolling resistance, which is about how much energy the tires need to keep rolling forward:

Rolling Resistance Coefficient:

• The Continental UC7 has a rolling resistance coefficient of 8.3 N/kN.
• The Bridgestone T005A is higher, at 9.2 N/kN.

What this means: A lower number for rolling resistance means the tire rolls more easily and the car doesn’t have to use as much energy to keep moving. The Continental tire, with a coefficient of 8.3, means it’s more efficient and will use less energy compared to the Bridgestone tire, which has a coefficient of 9.2. It’s like pushing a shopping cart: The Continental is like a cart that rolls more easily, so you don’t have to push as hard. Also, it’s important to note that the Bridgestone tire was tested with a standard load (non-XL) specification, which could be one of the factors contributing to its higher rolling resistance.

Turanza T005A :

• -10% in rolling resistance

Price

The prices of the tires are pretty much neck and neck:

Tire size: 225/45 R18

• UltraContact UC7:  RM 580

• Turanza T005A : RM 578

Difference: ~more or less the same price.

The difference in price is really small, just RM 2. In terms of tire shopping, they’re about the same price. It’s like if you’re choosing between two ice creams that are almost the same price—either way, you’re spending about the same amount of money.

Summary

As a tire expert, having closely observed and compared the Continental UltraContact UC7 and the Bridgestone Turanza T005A, I can affirm that each of these tires has its unique strengths that cater to different driver preferences and requirements.

The Continental UltraContact UC7 distinguishes itself with superior dry braking performance, allowing for shorter stopping distances on dry roads which could be crucial in unexpected situations. It also provides a quieter ride inside the vehicle, which is a significant factor for those who spend a lot of time on the road and prefer a peaceful cabin environment. If your priority is to have a tire that lets you stop confidently on dry pavement and enjoy a serene driving experience in terms of interior noise, the UC7 is a compelling choice.

On the other hand, the Bridgestone Turanza T005A excels in wet braking, offering a slight edge that might make a difference on slick surfaces. Additionally, it tends to be a bit quieter when it comes to pass-by noise, which could be important for urban drivers concerned with exterior noise pollution. For drivers who encounter a lot of wet conditions and prioritize external quietness, the Turanza T005A stands out.

Ultimately, the decision boils down to your specific driving conditions and what aspects of tire performance you value the most. Both tires are priced almost identically, making them both accessible within the same budget range. As such, whether you lean towards the lower interior noise and good dry braking of the UC7, or the wet braking advantage and lower exterior noise of the Bridgestone, you can be confident in getting a tire that meets high standards of quality and performance.

Dr Edwin Pang