Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Bridgestone Turanza 6: Introducing the ultimate showdown in the tire industry: the Continental PremiumContact 7 vs. the Bridgestone Turanza 6. Launched in early 2022, these high-performance tires have taken the market by storm with their advanced technology and exceptional wear results. The Continental PremiumContact 7 boasts cutting-edge German engineering, offering a perfect balance between comfort, safety, and fuel efficiency. The innovative RedChili Compound and adaptive tread design maximize wet and dry handling while reducing braking distances, making it a top choice for drivers who value precision and control.
On the other hand, the Bridgestone Turanza 6 enters the ring with its unique Japanese design, optimized for a smooth and quiet ride without compromising performance. With best-in-class wet performance, superior mileage, and improved fuel/energy efficiency, the Bridgestone Turanza 6 is undoubtedly a strong competitor in the premium touring segment market.
So, buckle up and get ready for the fiercest battle of tire supremacy. With their latest technological advancements and impressive features, the Continental PremiumContact 7 and Bridgestone Turanza 6 are set to redefine the tire industry. Which one will emerge victorious? Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
New Feature Highlights:
Continental PremiumContact 7: RedChili
Continental’s PremiumContact 7 tire features a new RedChili compound that allows for optimal performance across a wide temperature range. This innovative compound enables the tire to achieve high grip even at low temperatures, without requiring a warm-up phase, making it ideal for use in transitional seasons like spring and fall. The compound is a mix of natural rubber and synthetic components, each of which requires a specific temperature to achieve optimum performance. By selecting and composing the materials in a targeted manner, Continental has been able to develop a tire that performs optimally across a broad temperature range.
Continental PremiumContact 7: Adaptive tread design
The PremiumContact 7 tire’s adaptive tread design enhances stability and ride comfort on both wet and dry roads. Wide lateral openings in the outer areas of the tread pattern allow for optimal drainage when driving straight ahead, while the ground contact surface shifts outward and the lateral openings close again during cornering, providing more rubber and better grip on the road. This design resolves the tradeoff between optimal water removal and perfect dry handling, resulting in excellent driving stability during braking, cornering, and accelerating on wet surfaces.
Results
Results below were taken from the 2023 AutoBild Summer Test while includes an amazing 50 tires from its preliminary braking rounds. Only 20 tires made it through to the final round and a full detail evaluation was completed with these 20 tires. The wet & dry handling performances are evaluated objectively using the average lap speed rather than the preferred subjective ratings.
The graph above shows the comparison between Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Bridgestone Turanza 6 based on the relevant performance category. The PremiumContact 7 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark. The tire size of interest is 225/45 R18 which is a common tire size for Mercedes-Benz C 200 and Kia Stinger . You can check out our latest tire size table for more information.
Wet
Safety has always been the main focus when it comes to wet performance. In wet conditions, the Continental PremiumContact 7 offers excellent braking performance with an “A” rating on the EU wet label, while the Turanza 6 only has a “B” wet label rating. Based on test results, the ranking aligned as the PremiumContact 7 recorded a braking distance of 39.5 meters from 100 km/h, while the Turanza 6 had a much longer braking distance of 43.1 meters from the same speed. This resulted in a significant difference of 3.6 meters, with the PremiumContact 7 taking the 3rd best spot, while Turanza 6 was 5th from last place out of the 20 tires that competed in the final round. These results indicate a clear difference in wet braking performance between the Turanza 6 and PremiumContact 7.
With such a clear advantage in wet braking, the PremiumContact 7 maintains its dominance by having a much higher average lap speed of 76.3 km/h compared to the 73.9 km/h of the Turanza 6. The trend continued in aquaplaning performance, as the PremiumContact 7 took the lead with a higher hydroplaning speed of 104 km/h compared to the 102.3 km/h achieved by the Turanza 6. The same trend was observed in lateral aquaplaning, with the PremiumContact 7 having a +0.14 m/s2 advantage over the Turanza 6. Overall, the PremiumContact 7 showed clear dominance in wet performance as it outperformed the Turanza 6 in every single wet performance test.
Turanza 6 :
- -8.3% in wet braking
- -3.1% in wet handling (lap speed)
- -1.6% in straight aquaplaning
- -3.7% in curved aquaplaning
Dry
In dry conditions, the PremiumContact 7 dominated the Turanza 6 in terms of performance. Based on the test results, the PremiumContact 7 recorded a braking distance of 33.7 meters from 100 km/h, while the Turanza 6 had a longer braking distance of 35.7 meters from the same speed. The difference of 2 meters is something that cannot be ignored in real-life situations. The PremiumContact 7 finished 4th in the standings, while the Turanza 6 took the 16th spot.
The trend continues in dry handling, as the PremiumContact 7 finishes with a higher average lap speed of 120.9 km/h compared to the 118.2 km/h of the Turanza 6. Overall, similar to the wet performance storyline, the PremiumContact 7 showed clear dominance in dry performance as it outperformed the Turanza 6 in every single dry performance test.
Turanza 6 :
- -5.6% in dry braking
- -1.8% in dry handling
Noise
Finally, after losing in both wet and dry performance categories, the Turanza 6 gained an edge over the PremiumContact 7 in terms of noise levels. It was 1.6 dB quieter than the PremiumContact 7, with the Turanza 6 placing 6th while the PremiumContact 7 finished in the second-to-last spot at 19th.
Turanza 6 :
- +2.2% in exterior noise (-1.6 dB)
Rolling Resistance
When it comes to extreme sporty tires, rolling resistance is not typically a primary concern for buyers. However, with sustainability becoming more prevalent, it’s good to know where these tires stand in that regard. The Turanza 6 clearly outshines the rest of the field, as it recorded the best rolling resistance value of 7.1 N/kN, claiming the top spot. Meanwhile, the PremiumContact 7 finished with a much higher coefficient value of 8.1 N/kN.
Turanza 6 :
- +13.6% in rolling resistance
Wear
As mentioned earlier, mileage tests are quite rare, and we are pleased that Auto Bild decided to conduct them for all 20 tires that advanced to the second round. The PremiumContact 7 outperformed numerous competitors in the mileage test, finishing in 3rd place with a projected mileage of 51,600 km, which is 11,200 km more than the 7th place finish of 40,400 km achieved by the Turanza 6. The PremiumContact 7 demonstrated exceptional performance in managing target conflicts by having best-in-class wet braking and mileage ratings. However, it seems that the Turanza 6 may have sacrificed wear in favor of rolling resistance.
Turanza 6 :
- -21.7% in mileage
Price
Bridgestone typically prices their products slightly lower than Michelin and Continental, opting to play the volume game in the long run. Based on the prices we surveyed, we were surprised to find that the Bridgestone Turanza 6 costs €2 more than the PremiumContact 7, which definitely did not follow the general trend.
Tire size: 225/45 R18
Turanza 6 : €149
PremiumContact 7: €147
Difference: +1% more expensive for Turanza 6.
Summary
In conclusion, the Continental PremiumContact 7 was clearly a beast when it comes to wet, dry, and mileage performances, while the Turanza 6 excels in noise and rolling resistance. Based on overall performance, the Continental PremiumContact 7 is undoubtedly the clear winner in this duel.