High-performance driving: How Continental tyres keep you in control

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  • Continental has more than 150 years of tyre expertise
  • Cutting-edge innovation and extensive testing ensure Continental tyres provide the highest level of safety and performance
  • Continental SportContact 7 is the German tyre manufacturer’s flagship performance tyre, ranked as the segment leader in multiple independent tests, and fitted as original equipment by vehicle manufacturers and high-end tuners

Continental has an exceptionally long and proud legacy of tyre innovation and expertise spanning more than 150 years, so it’s no surprise that it is a leading contender when it comes to producing ultra high-performance (UHP) tyres such as the range-topping SportContact 7.

In designing the SportContact 7, Continental developers focused on achieving the highest standards in all performance criteria to combine the most enjoyable driving experience possible with the very highest levels of safety and sustainability. Building on its already successful and award-winning SportContact 6 predecessor, Continental’s seventh-generation UHP tyre delivers reduced braking distances in wet and dry conditions, and enhanced wet and dry handling on the road and at the track.

Accordingly, the SportContact 7 has been crowned the winner in multiple independent tyre tests around the world by highly respected car and trade publications such as Auto Bild sportscars, Gute Fahrt, Auto Zeitung and Tyre Reviews in the UK.



Manufacturers of high-performance cars have adopted the SportContact 7 as original equipment fitment on their top-end models too, including the likes of Audi, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, relying on the tyre’s exceptional grip and handling in all driving conditions to deliver the best driving experience.

High-end tuners such as AC Schnitzer, Abt, Brabus, Klasen, Lorinser, Techart and 9ff also trust Continental’s proven track record in UHP tyres. Brabus is renowned for its ultra-exclusive and extremely powerful cars, and its latest offering is the mighty ʺ1 of 25ʺ Brabus ROCKET 1000, which is fitted as standard with Continental’s SportContact 7 tyre.

Based on the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, the ROCKET 1000 produces impressive outputs of 1 000 hp (746 kW) and up to 1 820 Nm. It is capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds, with a restricted top speed of 316 km/h, benefitting from the sure-footed grip and handling provided by Continental’s SportContact 7.

Cutting-edge technologies

For the pioneering SportContact 7, Continental introduced several revolutionary new technologies that work together to give this multiple award-winning tyre its exceptional performance capabilities while rewarding the driver with exceptional poise, precise control and outstanding feedback – whether fitted to a high-performance hot hatchback, a powerful super-saloon or a top-end supercar.

The SportContact 7 uses a Macro Block tread design with a connected block structure on the outside shoulder of the tyre, which provides ultimate lateral force transmission when cornering. This is complemented by an Adaptive Pattern that provides consistent and safe driving characteristics on wet and dry surfaces, even at higher speeds.

Furthermore, the SportContact 7 was the first tyre Continental developed in tailored sizes to suit different vehicle classes and weights. Its Force Clustering technology accounts for differing requirements in sidewall stability, grip generated under load, high-speed driving and handling-optimised tread.

The SportContact 7 also features Continental‘s advanced Harmonised BlackChili compound that is designed to achieve the optimal balance between the tread pattern and compound. Using the latest generation of resins with the well-known BlackChili compound, this creates an ultra-sticky tyre compound that provides exceptional grip in all driving conditions. Combining this with a low-void tread pattern design that places more rubber on the road surface ensured that the SportContact 7 achieved an outstanding leap in tyre performance when it was launched in 2022.

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2023, Continental generated sales of €41.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 56 countries and markets.