Continental VikingContact 7 vs Pirelli Ice Zero FR
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental VikingContact 7 finished ahead 3 times and the Ice Zero FR not once. The VikingContact 7 was stronger in dry, wet, snow, ice, comfort and value.
Performance profile
16 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
VikingContact 7
Ice Zero FR
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
VikingContact 7
Ice Zero FR
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
VikingContact 7
Ice Zero FR
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the VikingContact 7 74% from 25 reviews and the Ice Zero FR 93% from 4. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.
| Measurement | VikingContact 7 | Gap | Ice Zero FR | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 116 | 1% | 117 | 2-1 |
| Dry Handling s | 72.6 | 0.4% | 72.88 | 1-0 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 7.7% | scored | 1-1 |
| Wet VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 122 | 1% | 124 | 2-1 |
| Wet Handling s | 53.5 | 0.2% | 53.86 | 2-1 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 8.8% | scored | 2-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 43.3 | 0.2% | 43.2 | 1-1 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 190.6 | 1% | 192.6 | 0-1 |
| Snow VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 85 | 1.3% | 86 | 3-0 |
| Snow Traction s | 5.76 | 0.9% | 5.82 | 2-0 |
| Snow Handling s | 69.54 | 1.1% | 70.16 | 2-1 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | 3.6% | scored | 1-1 |
| Snow Circle s | 29.49 | 0.9% | 29.21 | 0-1 |
| Ice VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 62 | 5.3% | 64 | 3-0 |
| Ice Traction s | 5.8 | 4% | 6.06 | 2-0 |
| Ice Handling s | 54 | 1.5% | 54.77 | 2-1 |
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | scored | 9.9% | scored | 2-0 |
| Comfort VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Subj. Noise pts | scored | 12.5% | scored | 1-0 |
| Noise dB | 61.9 | 0.8 dB | 62.7 | 1-0 |
| Value VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 6.81 | 5.4% | 7.25 | 2-0 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared.
Head to head in 3 tests, 2020 to 2022
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | VikingContact 7 | Field | Ice Zero FR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 Tire Reviews Studless Winter Tire Test | P1 of 7 | P4 of 7 | |
| 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test | P1 of 8 | P4 of 8 | |
| 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test | P2 of 12 | P4 of 12 |
VikingContact 7 vs Ice Zero FR: your questions
Is the Continental VikingContact 7 or the Pirelli Ice Zero FR the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental VikingContact 7 finished ahead 3 times and the Ice Zero FR not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the VikingContact 7 scores 8.6 and the Ice Zero FR 7.7 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the VikingContact 7 or the Ice Zero FR?
The VikingContact 7 led 7 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The VikingContact 7 led 4 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The VikingContact 7 led 8 of the 11 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.3% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The VikingContact 7 had 5.4% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 6.1/10 for the VikingContact 7 and 8/10 for the Ice Zero FR.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.5/10 for the VikingContact 7 and 8.8/10 for the Ice Zero FR.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the VikingContact 7 74% from 25 reviews and the Ice Zero FR 93% from 4.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The VikingContact 7 is made in 134 sizes (14 to 22 inch) and the Ice Zero FR in 54 (14 to 20 inch). 51 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the VikingContact 7 is graded D for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ice Zero FR D and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The VikingContact 7 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2018, the Ice Zero FR in 2015. The VikingContact 7 replaced the Continental VikingContact 6.
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.