Continental ExtremeContact Sport vs Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02: After a 6 year wait, Continental finally launched the successor to ExtremeContact Sport which is the “ExtremeContact Sport 02”. We have covered ExtremeContact Sport quite extensively in our site as this max performance summer segment tire was especially strong in wet & dry braking. With bold claims such as “Superior dry and wet handling” & “Track-proven performance” let’s have a head to head showdown between the predecessor & successor product to see whether there is any significant improvement .
Table of Contents
Results
Results below were taken from the tire rack’s “Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 Preview Report“. A head to head test between ExtremeContact Sport & ExtremeContact Sport 02 were tested this time around in Tire Rack’s own proving ground. The graph below shows the comparison between Continental ExtremeContact Sport vs Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 based on the relevant performance category. The ExtremeContact Sport was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
Tire rack did not disclose which size they are testing, however based on past reports we guess it was 225/45R17. This is a common tire size for Audi A3 and Hyundai Elantra. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a powerful 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited.
Dry
When it comes down to max performance summer tires, you are inclined to think that you will be able to handle the daily A to B routine drive while having the luxury to bring your car to the race track once in a while. The designer of the tires has to optimize your tire’s wet braking for daily usage while finding ways to improve dry handling performance without sacrificing all the other performances.
To our surprise, the new ExtremeContact Sport 02 is actually worse in dry braking as it brakes 1.2 feet (0.37m) more compared to ExtremeContact Sport. This distance is relatively big from a race track usage as every braking point in the lap accumulates over a race, not to mention it will also enable better overtaking opportunities.
While in the dry handling area, the tires were tested on a race track setting and also the standard tire rack handling track. In the 2.1 mile race track circuit in South Haven, Michigan, ExtremeContact Sport 02 managed to clock a faster lap time with an advantage of 0.71 seconds. While on tire rack’s test track, the new ExtremeContact Sport 02 once again showed its worth by being 0.27 seconds faster.
What about the subjective rating? Unless you are racing, the time does not really matter too much as the subjective feeling plays a dominant role for a race track amateur. Below are some of the feedback from the test driver.
ExtremeContact Sport 02: @ race track.
Our drivers also felt the new tire had a modest but meaningful increase in traction in every braking zone. Through the “S” of turns 7, 8, and 9, it also allowed more speed before it began to drift and push wide. Where the original tire required neutral throttle to maintain trajectory, the new tire could lightly accelerate through the tightest section, improving the top-end speed before the next braking zone. The result of the enhanced traction was a .73-second improvement in lap time.
Test driver feedback on ExtremeContact Sport 02
ExtremeContact Sport 02: @ tire rack test rack.
Subjectively, the ExtremeContact Sport 02’s steering was the primary topic of conversation, as it was as noticeable during track use as it was on the road. Overall, the existing tire felt more delicate and light-footed, like it wanted to glide around the track. The new tire exhibited a more traditional, “brake-turn-go” personality.
Test driver feedback on ExtremeContact Sport 02
Overall the new ExtremeContact Sport 02 had better dry handling performances but lack in the dry braking capabilities of its predecessor.
ExtremeContact Sport 02 :
- +0.7% in dry handling @ race track (lap time)
- +0.9% in dry handling (lap time)
- -1.5% in dry braking
Wet
The friction of coefficient of the tire/road dramatically decreases in wet roads compared to dry roads. Hence it is more likely to get into a road accident during wet conditions rather than on a sunny day. It was so important that the EU label has wet braking as one of its three criteria. With regards to our comparison, ExtremeContact Sport 02 was once again worse in wet braking against its predecessor as it stopped 1.6 feet (0.49m) earlier.
While in wet handling, there is a slight improvement in lap times for ExtremeContact Sport 02 as it managed 0.08 seconds faster. Overall in the wet category, ExtremeContact Sport 02 clearly did not improve in wet against its predecessor.
ExtremeContact Sport 02 :
- -1.5% in wet braking
- +0.2% in wet handling (lap time)
UTQG rating
We have previously shown that UTQG tread wear rating can be a good indication of your expected mileage. Below are the UTQG values of both of the tirelines.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental | ExtremeContact Sport | All | 340 | AA | A |
| Continental | ExtremeContact Sport 02 | All | 340 | AA | A |
In terms of UTQG rating, ExtremeContact Sport 02 did not boast any improvements compared to its predecessor. Both tires have the 340 UTQG tread wear rating which is much higher compared to the track day usage tires which normally have 200 UTQG tread wear. Unlike the track day segment tires, the max performance tire segment does provide a 30,000 miles warranty coverage to ease your mind.
For more in depth information about UTQG, please check out this article here. We even have a free download on the latest UTQG values from the leading tire manufacturers.
Price
Based on the prices from tire rack, ExtremeContact Sport 02 is actually 17 dollars cheaper than its predecessor. One might wonder why the old tire actually cost more than the new ones. This is definitely odd 🙂
Tire size: 225/45R17
ExtremeContact Sport 02 : $189
ExtremeContact Sport: $206
Difference: -9% more cheaper for ExtremeContact Sport 02.
Summary
Looking into the overall results, ExtremeContact Sport 02 had improvements in dry handling especially on a race track setting but it clearly lacks in the dry & wet braking metrics against its predecessor. Stay tuned for further testing comparison of ExtremeContact Sport 02 against its competitors.