AutoBild Sportscars Summer Tyre Test 2026 (255/35 R19): Continental’s SportContact 7 Dominates on the BMW Z4

AutoBild Sportscars tested eight sporty summer tyres in staggered fitment — 255/35 R19 96Y (front) and 275/35 R19 100Y (rear) — on a BMW Z4 roadster at the Wachauring proving ground in Austria. This dimension is also used on the BMW M3/M4 (F80/F82), Toyota GR Supra, and Lexus RC F. The field ranged from premium leaders Continental, Bridgestone, and Pirelli to challengers Kumho and Vredestein. The verdict: seven of eight tyres achieved “good” or better — an impressive quality level. But one established name struggled badly with the staggered setup.

Top 3 comparison

Test winner: Continental SportContact 7 (★100) (Grade 1.2 — Exemplary)

The Continental SportContact 7 (★100) earns the title of “großer Wurf” (great success) — and rightfully so. It dominates on both wet and dry surfaces with the shortest braking distances across the board: 42.4 m wet and 34.2 m dry from 100 km/h. On the wet handling circuit, it averaged an astonishing 78.9 km/h — over 15 km/h faster than last-placed Goodyear. Its precise turn-in and razor-sharp feedback make it the undisputed handling king in this test. The only weakness: slightly elevated rolling resistance. At around €840 for a set, it’s priced mid-field.

Runner-up: Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo (★93) (Grade 1.4 — Exemplary)

The Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo (★93) delivers a convincing all-round performance. It recorded the second-shortest dry braking distance at just 34.4 m — only 20 cm behind the Continental. In the wet, its sporty handling and precise steering feel earned it high marks. The Bridgestone also shares first place with Continental on the wet circle track, building the highest lateral forces in the rain. Its weaknesses are minor: slightly elevated pass-by noise (74.0 dB) and rolling resistance. At €880/set, it’s excellent value for the performance delivered.

Joint third: Pirelli P Zero PZ5 and Vredestein Ultrac Pro (★76) (Grade 1.6 — Good)

The Pirelli P Zero PZ5 is the wet specialist of the group. It excels in aquaplaning resistance and delivers sporty, dynamic wet handling. However, it trails the top two in dry handling (106.0 km/h) and has slightly longer braking distances. At €800/set, it’s competitive.

The Vredestein Ultrac Pro (★76) takes the opposite approach: a dry-focused tyre with the most harmonious driving behaviour in the test. It’s also the quietest tyre at just 70.9 dB pass-by noise — over 3 dB less than Goodyear and Bridgestone. Add in the lowest rolling resistance in the field and the best price at €740/set, and it’s the clear best-value pick. Its only weakness: no standout performances in individual disciplines.

Wet braking: where seconds count

The wet braking test from 100 km/h revealed dramatic differences. While Continental stopped in 42.4 m, the Goodyear needed 51.5 m — a gap of 9.1 metres. In practical terms: the Goodyear was still travelling at nearly 40 km/h past the point where the Continental had already come to a complete stop. In an emergency, that’s the difference between stopping safely and a serious collision.

Dry handling: tight at the top

The dry handling circuit showed a much tighter field. Continental led at 108.4 km/h, closely followed by Michelin (107.9) and Vredestein (107.1). Bridgestone and Hankook were right there too. Only Goodyear fell clearly behind at 103.1 km/h, driving unharmoniously and struggling with the staggered BMW Z4 setup.

The budget picks: three solid options

Kumho ECSTA Sport S PS72 (★65) (€660/set, grade 1.9) is the cheapest tyre in the test and delivers surprisingly good dynamics with no major weaknesses. Hankook Ventus S1 Evo Z (€730, grade 2.0) offers short dry braking distances, low rolling resistance, and good value. Vredestein Ultrac Pro (€740, grade 1.6) combines the best noise and efficiency with harmonious handling — the best value-for-money overall.

The disappointment: Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport

The Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport (€870, grade 3.3 — Satisfactory) is the only tyre to miss the “good” threshold. It finished last in both wet and dry handling, with wet braking distances 9.1 m longer than the Continental. The testers attribute this not to a fundamentally poor tyre, but to a mismatch with the staggered BMW Z4 setup — the SuperSport simply doesn’t harmonise with this specific mixed-format configuration.

Aquaplaning: the physics of wide tyres

Wide sports tyres act like surfboards in standing water — the wider the rubber, the sooner it floats. The test revealed significant front-to-rear imbalances: Michelin loses front grip at 90.2 km/h but rears at just 83.4 km/h — the worst imbalance in the test. Hankook was the most balanced, aquaplaning at exactly 87.9 km/h on both axles. The lesson: in heavy rain, always back off the throttle with wide sports tyres.

Key takeaways

Continental’s SportContact 7 continues its dominance in sports tyre tests — this is yet another clear victory. The Bridgestone Potenza Sport (★87) Evo proves itself as a worthy alternative. Budget-conscious buyers can confidently choose Vredestein, Kumho, or Hankook without compromising safety. The Goodyear result is a reminder that tyre-car compatibility matters: a good tyre on the wrong car can underperform badly. Overall, modern sports tyres handle wet conditions surprisingly well despite their width — a reassuring finding for sports car enthusiasts.