Continental SportContact 7 vs Vredestein Ultrac Pro: In the fiercely competitive UUHP segment, the Continental SportContact 7, launched in 2022, faces a fresh challenge from the Vredestein Ultrac Pro, which debuted in 2024. As the SportContact 7 has already established itself as with an impressive streak of press test wins, the arrival of the Ultrac Pro sets the stage for an exciting battle between these two ultra-high performance titans!
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Results: Continental SportContact 7 vs Vredestein Ultrac Pro
Results below were taken from 2024 Autobild Sports Car UUHP Tire Test with a total of 7 tires tested, The graph below shows the comparison between Continental SportContact 7 vs Vredestein Ultrac Pro based on the relevant performance category. Continental SportContact 7 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
Note that for both wet & dry handling evaluation, the average lap speed was used instead of the standard lap time & subjective rating. The tire size of interest is a 265/35R19 at the front and 295/30R20 at the rear which is a common tire size configuration for Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG . You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT .
Dry
Dry braking is essential when it comes to UUHP performances. The Continental SportContact 7 demonstrated its prowess with a dry braking distance of 38.5 meters, slightly outperforming the Vredestein Ultrac Pro, which stopped in 39.1 meters, showing a 0.6-meter difference. In dry handling, the SportContact 7 maintained an average speed of 109.2 km/h, edging out the Ultrac Pro’s 108.5 km/h by a margin of 0.7 km/h. The margins were close, and we were surprised by how well the Vredestein Ultrac Pro performed against the best UUHP tire.
Ultrac Pro :
- -2% in dry braking
- -1% in dry handling (average speed)
Wet
In wet conditions, the Continental SportContact 7 outshines the Vredestein Ultrac Pro with a wet braking distance of 49.2 meters, a significant 3.9 meters shorter than the Ultrac Pro’s 53.1 meters. During wet handling, the SportContact 7 maintained an average speed of 78.9 km/h, outperforming the Ultrac Pro’s 77 km/h by 1.9 km/h. However, in straight-line aquaplaning, the Ultrac Pro surpassed the SportContact 7, achieving a speed of 100.3 km/h compared to the SportContact 7’s 97.6 km/h.
In wet conditions, the SportContact 7 truly shows its superior performance, though it does have a weakness in aquaplaning.
Ultrac Pro :
- -7% in wet braking
- -2% in wet handling (average speed)
- +3% in straight aquaplaning
Exterior Noise
When it comes to exterior noise, there’s a noticeable difference between the two tires. The Continental SportContact 7 registers at 73.4 dB, making it 2.9 decibels louder than the Vredestein Ultrac Pro, which measures 70.5 dB. This difference is significant and definitely within the range that standard drivers would experience, making the Ultrac Pro the quieter option on the road.
Ultrac Pro :
- +4% in exterior noise (-2.9 dB)
Rolling Resistance
In terms of rolling resistance, the performances of the Continental SportContact 7 and the Vredestein Ultrac Pro are nearly identical. The SportContact 7 registers a rolling resistance of 8.36 N/kN, while the Ultrac Pro is just a fraction lower at 8.35 N/kN. The difference is so minimal that, for practical purposes, they can be considered the same.
Ultrac Pro :
- ~0% in rolling resistance
Price
When comparing prices, the Vredestein Ultrac Pro, positioned in the quality segment, is more affordable at €220, making it 12% cheaper than the Continental SportContact 7, which is priced at €246 and falls within the premium segment.
Tire size: 265/35 R19
- SportContact 7: € 246
- Ultrac Pro : € 220
Difference: -12% more cheaper for Ultrac Pro.
Summary
From a tire expert’s perspective, the Vredestein Ultrac Pro performed impressively in dry conditions, nearly matching the Continental SportContact 7. However, the differences in wet performance were clear, with the SportContact 7 taking the lead. Another significant factor is the noise levels, where the Ultrac Pro stands out with a substantial 2.9 dB advantage, making it the quieter option by a noticeable margin.
Dr Edwin Pang