Improved performance and increased mileage. With the Continental SportContact 7, the Hanoverian company has brought to the road a new generation of tires dedicated to high-performance cars that take performance to a higher level, especially for those who make sports driving their mantra. To get to know all the features of the new SportContact 7 at its best, we took to the track at Portimaoon the Algarve circuit (the same one on which the Formula 1 single-seaters raced and on which the MotoGP riders compete) to get behind the wheel of several high-performance cars and discover how this sports tire has improved.
First of all, let’s start with some peculiar characteristics of the Continental SportContact 7: the BlackChilli compound was used for its construction, a soft compound that allowed to optimize the tread design and above all to match the structure of the tire which would otherwise be very rigid. Even if it is a soft compound, however, we must not fear too high consumption because the technicians from Hanover managed to find a good balance, increasing mileage and at the same time maintaining optimal grip. Also for this reason the SportContact 7 have obtained a C in the European labeling, classification that certifies its reduced rolling resistance.
The different exercises in which we tested the SportContact 7 allowed us, for example, to test the improvement in performance, with all versions boasting an Extra Load index. On the track, performance has increased by 10%, with specific work on braking distances which have improved in both dry and wet conditions, with values of 6% and 8% respectively. Precisely on this last aspect, a Wet Braking session carried out on board the Volkswagen Golf GTI allowed us to compare the previous generation with the 7, particularly appreciating the grip in conditions of low adhesion.
The new adaptive tread then guarantees better grip both in acceleration and braking, making the area that reaches the maximum expulsion of water work and thus also avoiding the micro-aquaplaning phenomena that can be generated on the road. When facing the curves instead, it is the shoulder that comes into play, with the blocks that become uniform and at the same time various locking elements intervene. This ensures precision and stability, with a good distribution of transverse forces. From this point of view, it is worth noting the new “macro-block” structure, an evolution of an element that has been distinguishing SportContact for some time. The work done on this generation has allowed improve the distribution of lateral forces, with the peculiar “S” shape that also recurs inside the sculpting. The adaptive tread pattern is evident in the different driving conditions but also in relation to the style of those who get behind the wheel: in the test on board the Porsche 911 and Hyundai i30 N, the braking at high speeds in the ups and downs of the circuit de Algarve allowed us to perceive how the softness of these tires is a central element, allowing the car to follow the movement out of the curves in a homogeneous way and always showing a higher grip than in the past. Especially as regards the Zuffenhausen models, the tailoring of these tires combined with the precision of the German supercar have allowed us to always be in total confidence with the Portuguese track, which is particularly technical and fast in some points.
Versatility is therefore the most appropriate adjective to describe the Continental SportContact 7, also highlighted by their compatibility with a large variety of vehicles thanks to a construction that adapts to the size of the tire, always guaranteeing optimal handling and maximum safety. Available since last fall, Continental’s new high-performance tires are distributed in 42 versions, with diameters ranging 19 to 23 inches and the almost total compatibility with the high-performance cars on sale in Europe, from the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio to the BMW M range, up to Mercedes AMG, passing through Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche. However, the range is preparing to welcome other solutions as well, with the Hanoverian company already announcing new diameters and versions arriving over the next few months. Driving pleasure therefore reaches new standards, with tires that guarantee fun and above all confidence for the driver, in the dry, in the wet but also on the track.
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