Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6: Introducing a comparison of two distinct tire offerings from different segments: the Continental PremiumContact 7, a touring segment tire, and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, an ultra-high-performance (UHP) tire. Launched in 2022, the Continental PremiumContact 7 builds on the success of its predecessors, offering a perfect balance between comfort, performance, and efficiency, making it ideal for drivers seeking a smooth and dependable ride. In contrast, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, released in 2021, features remarkable handling and braking capabilities, catering to drivers who prioritize exceptional performance.
Both tires incorporate innovative technologies and design elements to enhance their respective strengths. The Continental PremiumContact 7 uses a unique tread pattern and advanced rubber compound to optimize wet and dry grip while maintaining excellent fuel efficiency, consistent with the expectations of a touring segment tire. Conversely, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, with its distinctive asymmetric tread design, offers exceptional cornering stability and precise steering response, providing an exhilarating driving experience typical of a UHP tire.
Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the comparison between these two impressive tire options from different segments, equipping you with the necessary knowledge to make an informed decision for your vehicle.
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 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 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, both the Continental PremiumContact 7 and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 offer excellent braking performance. With both tires receiving an “A” rating on the EU wet label, the only way to differentiate their wet braking capabilities is through a test. Based on the test results, PremiumContact 7 recorded a braking distance of 39.5 meters from 100 km/h, while the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 had a slightly longer braking distance of 39.7 meters from the same speed. Although this resulted in a difference of only 0.2 meters, both tires ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively, out of the 50 tires tested. These results indicate that both tires perform well in wet conditions, providing excellent grip and traction.
Things were much closer when it came to wet handling, as the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 slightly outperformed the PremiumContact 7 with an average lap speed of 76.7 km/h compared to the 76.3 km/h of the PremiumContact 7. However, when it came to aquaplaning performance, the differences were more significant. The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 took the lead with a higher hydroplaning speed of 106.3 km/h compared to the 104 km/h achieved by the PremiumContact 7. The same trend was observed in lateral aquaplaning, as the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 had a +0.14 m/s2 advantage over the PremiumContact 7. Overall, both tires were closely matched in wet braking and handling, while the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 had the edge in aquaplaning performance.
Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6:
- -0.5% in wet braking
- +0.5% in wet handling (lap speed)
- +2.2% in straight aquaplaning
- +4.3% in curved aquaplaning
Dry
In dry conditions, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 performs slightly better than the PremiumContact 7 in braking performance. Based on the test results, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 recorded a braking distance of 33.2 meters from 100 km/h, while the PremiumContact 7 had a longer braking distance of 33.7 meters from the same speed. The difference of 0.5 meters is extremely close, which would typically result in a photo finish. Similar to the wet braking results, both tires are in the top 10 rankings, with the PremiumContact 7 finishing 4th, while the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 took the top spot, finishing 1st out of the 50 other tires.
The trend continues in dry handling, as the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 finishes with a higher average lap speed of 120.9 km/h compared to the 120.3 km/h of the PremiumContact 7. Both tires placed 2nd and 3rd respectively among the competition, losing the top spot to the Pirelli P Zero PZ4. Overall, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 performs slightly better than the PremiumContact 7 in dry conditions.
Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6:
- +1.5% in dry braking
- +0.5% in dry handling
Noise
The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 was 0.8 dB quieter than the PremiumContact 7 as both tires finish in the mid & lower end of the competition when it comes to exterior noise ranking.
Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6:
- +1.1% in exterior noise (-0.8 dB)
Rolling Resistance
When it comes to extreme sporty tires, rolling resistance is definitely not something the user has in mind when purchasing the tire. However with the sustainability topic being more prevalent, it is good to know where they stand. Both tires have roughly the same rolling resistance with Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 recording a rolling resistance coefficient value of 8.0 N/kN while PremiumContact 7 had a coefficient value of 8.1 N/kN.
Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6:
- +1.1% 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 Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 outperformed all competitors in the mileage test, finishing on top with a projected mileage of 63,200 km, which is 11,600 km more than the 3rd place finish of 51,600 km achieved by the PremiumContact 7. Both tires demonstrated exceptional performance in managing target conflicts by having best-in-class wet braking and mileage ratings. However, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 seems to have an advantage, as it offers almost 23% better mileage.
Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6:
- +22.5% in mileage
Price
Based on the prices we surveyed, we were surprised to find that the exceptional ultra-high-performance (UHP) Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 costs €15 less than the PremiumContact 7, which is a premium touring segment tire.
Tire size: 225/45 R18
Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6: €132
PremiumContact 7: €147
Difference: -11% more cheaper for Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6.
Summary
In conclusion, both the Continental PremiumContact 7 and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 are excellent tires with remarkable conflict management capabilities. When comparing them head-to-head, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 excels in mileage and has a slight advantage in aquaplaning, dry performance, and noise levels. Based on the overall performance, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 is undoubtedly the clear winner in this duel.