Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Bridgestone Turanza T005: I present to you a comparison of two notably sophisticated and high-performing tires in the market – the Bridgestone Turanza T005 and the Continental PremiumContact 7. These esteemed tires, launched in 2018 and 2022 respectively, have been fastidiously crafted to cater to drivers seeking exceptional control, refinement, and security.
Behold the grand introduction of Continental’s newest offering in the touring segment, the PremiumContact 7, revealed in late 2022. The Turanza T005, in contrast, has been well-regarded since 2018, garnering a laudable standing in various media examinations. Without further ado, let us examine these two tires in order to ascertain which one prevails as the preeminent competitor!
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 Tyre Reviews Best Summer Tyres Test which includes 13 top tires in the market. The graph below shows the comparison between Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Bridgestone Turanza T005 based on the relevant performance category. The Continental PremiumContact 7 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
The tire size of interest is 205/55R16 which is a common tire size for Volkswagen Golf (2018) and the Toyota Corolla Altis (2018). You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a standard VW Golf.
Wet
Safety has unfailingly remained the preeminent consideration concerning wet performance demands. Given that wet conditions epitomize the essential criterion for the touring segment, Tyre Review has undertaken meticulous assessments, encompassing six discrete wet tests! The PremiumContact 7 outshone the Turanza T005 in wet braking, halting an impressive 3.4 meters shorter. The PremiumContact 7 emerged as the finest wet braking tire amongst its competitors, while the Turanza T005 secured a middle-of-the-pack position. Fortified by its superior wet braking, the PremiumContact 7 achieved a 1.4 second swifter lap time. Beyond lap time superiority, the PremiumContact 7 also garnered a more favorable subjective wet handling score, with a +10 point advantage over the Turanza T005. A congruent edge was discerned in the wet circle, as the PremiumContact 7 recorded heightened lateral acceleration.
Pertaining to aquaplaning, the Turanza T005 exhibited a slightly superior performance, boasting a 0.7 km/h greater slip speed compared to the PremiumContact 7. This tendency persisted in lateral aquaplaning, with the Turanza T005 being 0.03 m/s2 nimbler in terms of lateral acceleration. In summation, the PremiumContact 7 unequivocally surpassed the Turanza T005 in wet braking and handling, while the residual benchmarks were remarkably close, lacking a clear-cut champion.
Turanza T005 :
- -9.6% in wet braking
- -1.6% in wet handling (lap time)
- -5% in wet handling (subj)
- -0.9% in wet circle
- +0.8% in straight aquaplaning
- +0.9% in curved aquaplaning
Dry
In dry conditions, safety generally poses fewer challenges, as braking distances are substantially extended compared to damp circumstances. Nonetheless, this represents the customary daily usage, and tires must invariably excel. Both tires demonstrated equivalent strengths, with the PremiumContact 7 marginally surpassing the Turanza T005 by a mere 0.02 meters. Both tires ranked as the top two contenders in dry braking, showcasing their premier performance status.
Concerning dry handling efficacy, the disparities are considerably more pronounced, with the PremiumContact 7 outpacing the Turanza T005 by 0.63 seconds, yielding a subjective benefit of +15 points in its favor. In summary, on parched surfaces, the PremiumContact 7 retains the upper hand in the dry realm, particularly in the domain of dry handling performance.
Turanza T005 :
- -0.1% in dry braking
- -1.2% in dry handling (lap time)
- -7.5% in dry handling (subj)
Noise & Comfort
Though noise and comfort might not rank as primary concerns within the touring segment, Tyre Review has duly appraised these aspects. Both tires were strikingly similar in exterior noise tests, with the PremiumContact 7 displaying a minuscule advantage of 0.2 dB. Regarding subjective comfort, the Turanza T005 secured a 3-point lead over the PremiumContact 7. In summation, the Turanza T005 emerges as a marginally quieter and more comfortable tire in comparison to the PremiumContact 7.
Turanza T005 :
- -0.3% in exterior noise (-0.2 dB)
- +1.5% in subjective comfort
Rolling Resistance
While wet braking holds paramount importance in the touring segment, rolling resistance may not consistently demand the utmost attention, as engineers often wrestle with more pressing design dilemmas. Nevertheless, with the growing significance of sustainability, rolling resistance has risen as a competitive marketing tool, readily observable in label values.
In this respect, the Turanza T005 truly outshines the PremiumContact 7, boasting a lower rolling resistance coefficient value of 6.8 N/kN, as opposed to the considerably elevated values of the PremiumContact 7’s 8.4 N/kN coefficient. If rolling resistance ranks as your foremost consideration, the Turanza T005 surpasses its competitors by demonstrating the most favorable rolling resistance among its counterparts, and is undoubtedly a factor worth contemplating.
Turanza T005 :
- +24% in rolling resistance
Price
Considering that both Bridgestone and Continental reside within the premium echelon, one might expect commensurate pricing for these upscale touring tires. However, it transpired that the PremiumContact 7 bore a £12 heftier price than the Turanza T005, a discovery that genuinely astonished us.
Tire size: 205/55 R16
Turanza T005 : £81
PremiumContact 7: £93
Difference: -15% more cheaper for Turanza T005.
Summary
In summary, the PremiumContact 7 excels in wet and dry performance, while the Turanza T005 prevails in rolling resistance and comfort. Owing to the supreme importance of wet performance in the touring segment, the PremiumContact 7 ultimately emerges as the champion in this tightly contested rivalry!