Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Vredestein Ultrac+
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 71
- TR Score
- 8.4/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 8
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 3 times and the Ultrac+ not once. The PremiumContact 7 stopped 9.2% shorter in the wet; the Ultrac+ had 8.4% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Continental PremiumContact 7 for the best all-round summer touring tire-especially if you care about wet braking, secure handling and long life. Consider the Vredestein Ultrac+ mainly if your top priorities are lower rolling resistance and slightly lower noise, you drive moderately, and you can accept weaker wet-braking and dynamic performance.
Where the PremiumContact 7 is stronger
- Class-leading wet performance: faster wet handling (e.g., 67.7 s vs 71.86 s) and shorter wet braking by ~8-11% across tests
- Stronger dry safety margins: ~3.3 m shorter dry braking in 225/45 R17 (36.03 m vs 39.33 m) and quicker dry laps
- Robust aquaplaning and lateral grip: wins curved aquaplaning in all shared results and leads wet circle/lateral grip metrics
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
PremiumContact 7 vs Ultrac+ at a glance
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | Gap | Ultrac+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 3 | 0 | |
| Dry7 measurements | 7 | The PremiumContact 7 stopped 5.9% shorter in the dry (3 tests) | 0 |
| Wet15 measurements | 13 | The PremiumContact 7 stopped 9.2% shorter in the wet (3 tests) | 2 |
| Comfort4 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Value5 measurements | 3 | 2 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The PremiumContact 7 by 1.1 | 8.4/10 |
| Owner rating71 and 8 reviews | 82% | Too close to call | 83% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 74% | The PremiumContact 7 by 3 points | 71% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 56 | 22 sizes made in both | 57 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 3 tests in 2026
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 | PremiumContact 7 | Field | Ultrac+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Motor Summer Tire Test | P1 of 9 | P9 of 9 | |
| The BEST Summer Tires for 2026 Tested and Rated | P1 of 12 | P10 of 12 | |
| 2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P1 of 16 | P12 of 16 |
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
PremiumContact 7
Ultrac+
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. 7 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
PremiumContact 7
Ultrac+
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
PremiumContact 7
Ultrac+
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Ultrac+ 83% from 8. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | PremiumContact 7 | Gap | Ultrac+ | Wins | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | 5.9% | 125 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 73.35 | 2.2% | 74.96 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 15.3% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 111 | 9.2% | 122 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 115 | 11.6% | 130 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 68.55 | 5.9% | 72.83 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 10.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 1.8 | 12.7% | 1.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 11.84 | 6.9% | 12.72 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 47.5 | 0.3% | 47.7 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 12.5 | 3.5% | 12.1 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 7.8% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 69.6 | 0.7 dB | 68.9 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 27,775 | 46.1% | 19,014 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 4.63 | 8.4% | 4.25 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 5.4 | 3.6% | 5.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 69 | 28.9% | 97 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the PremiumContact 7 scores 9.5 and the Ultrac+ 8.4 out of 10.
| PremiumContact 7 | Category | Ultrac+ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94 | Dry | 60 | ||
| 97 | Wet | 74 | ||
| 36 | Comfort | 92 | ||
| 67 | Value | 53 | ||
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.
What owners say
| PremiumContact 7 | Category | Ultrac+ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.2 | Dry Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 9.2 | Wet Grip | 9.1 | ||
| 8.3 | Road Feedback | 7.9 | ||
| 8.4 | Handling | 7.9 | ||
| 7.3 | Wear | 7.7 | ||
| 7.5 | Comfort | 8.5 | ||
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Ultrac+ 83% from 8. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental PremiumContact 7
- 82%from 71 reviews
- 74%would buy again
- 704,882 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners are largely impressed with the Continental PremiumContact 7, rating it 82.9% on average with no outright negative reviews, and the standout theme is strong, confidence-inspiring grip in both dry and wet conditions. Nearly half of owners mention excellent dry and wet grip, often backed up by praise for secure handling and stability. The main drawback is refinement: around a quarter to a third of owners report notable road noise, and a similar share are disappointed by tread life, with wear sometimes described as quicker than expected. Comfort is generally viewed positively overall, though opinions vary, and steering feel is more mixed than the outright grip levels suggest.
- Strong dry grip and traction
- Very confident wet grip
- Secure, planted handling in the dry
- Comfortable ride over bumps and on longer runs
- Noticeable road noise, especially on coarse surfaces
- Tread life can be disappointing for a premium tire
- Steering feel/precision can be inconsistent (some find it vague)
Summarised by AI from 58 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 71 PremiumContact 7 reviewsThe PremiumContact 7 offers a great balance of touring longevity, comfort, and sufficiently precise handling to keep you safe at higher speeds and in unexpected situations. These tires provide near-perfect grip across various conditions, performing exceptionally well on both dry and wet roads. On the other hand, they can get a bit noisy on rough surfaces.
Vredestein Ultrac+
- 83%from 8 reviews
- 71%would buy again
- 35,000 milesdriven by reviewers
Across seven reviews, the Vredestein Ultrac+ is described as a strong all-rounder with standout wet-weather security, including very high confidence in heavy rain and good resistance to aquaplaning. Drivers also commonly praise its comfortable ride, generally low cabin noise, and precise, planted handling/steering. Value for money is repeatedly highlighted as a major strength. A smaller subset of users report slightly worse fuel economy/rolling resistance versus some alternatives, and isolated feedback notes higher noise at high motorway speeds on coarse surfaces.
- Excellent wet grip and high-speed rain stability/aquaplaning resistance
- Comfortable ride and good bump absorption
- Generally quiet/low noise (often described as a low hum)
- Precise steering and stable handling
- Slight fuel economy/rolling resistance penalty versus some competitors
Summarised by AI from 7 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 8 Ultrac+ reviewsI xannot recommend these vrederstein tires higly enough. On safety ,fuel economy and dry and wet weather handling and safety . If they have any weakness it would be on tred wear. But at 90 pounds a tire i wil never drive on anything else.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 56 sizes of the PremiumContact 7 and 57 of the Ultrac+, 22 of them made in both.
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | Ultrac+ |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 56 sizes, 16 to 21 inch | 57 sizes, 15 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 22 sizes 205/55 R16205/60 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16225/55 R16205/45 R17205/55 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17215/60 R17215/65 R17and 10 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A100% | A100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C74%B26% | B50%C45%A3%D1% |
| EU label noise | 71-73 dB B100% | 69-70 dB B100% |
| On the market since | 2022 | 2024 |
| Replaced | Continental Premium Contact 6 | - |
| Awards | Recommended: Best Tires for Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Summer Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2024) | - |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Continental's PremiumContact 7 and Vredestein's Ultrac+ sit in the same “premium touring” summer bracket, so on paper they promise the same thing: safe, comfortable everyday performance with a bit of dynamic ability when the road gets interesting. The shared test data, however, shows they land in very different places once you measure wet stopping, cornering grip and consistency.
Across three major 2026 comparisons (Motor, a 2026 “best summer tires” group test, and ADAC), the PremiumContact 7 repeatedly finishes at the very top (1st in all three), while the Ultrac+ places in the bottom half to last (9/9, 10/13, 12/16). The consistent theme is that the Continental builds its advantage in the wet-where touring tires earn their keep-while Vredestein counters mainly with efficiency metrics like rolling resistance, plus slightly lower noise and good straight-line aquaplaning.
Conclusion
If your priority is maximum safety and all-round ability, the Continental PremiumContact 7 is the clear pick. It wins every shared test overall and dominates the critical safety metrics: wet braking advantages range from about 8% (27.73 m vs 30.2 m) to 11% (30.1 m vs 33.9 m), and it's also consistently quicker and more secure in wet handling (e.g., 69.4 s vs 73.8 s in Motor; 67.7 s vs 71.86 s in the other 225/45 R17 test). On dry roads it maintains shorter stopping distances (around 36.0 m vs 39.3 m in both 225/45 R17 tests) and stronger, more stable subjective handling, making it the more confidence-inspiring tire for everyday driving and emergency maneuvers.
The Vredestein Ultrac+ is harder to justify if you drive in frequent rain, push on B-roads, or care about consistent grip under load. Its better points are efficiency and refinement: it repeatedly posts lower rolling resistance (about 8-9% better in the 225/45 R17 tests) and slightly lower measured noise, and it edges straight-line aquaplaning by a tiny margin in two tests (~0.6-0.7%). But the trade-off is meaningful: weaker wet braking and lateral wet grip, and test notes calling out understeer and quick overheating when driven hard. The practical takeaway: PremiumContact 7 is the safer, higher-performing “buy and forget” touring choice; Ultrac+ only makes sense when you're prioritising low resistance and acceptable, not class-leading, grip.
PremiumContact 7 vs Ultrac+: your questions
Is the Continental PremiumContact 7 or the Vredestein Ultrac+ the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 3 times and the Ultrac+ not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the PremiumContact 7 scores 9.5 and the Ultrac+ 8.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the PremiumContact 7 or the Ultrac+?
The PremiumContact 7 led 13 of the 15 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 9.2% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The PremiumContact 7 led 7 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.9% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Ultrac+ had 8.4% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.3/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 7.7/10 for the Ultrac+.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Ultrac+ was 0.7 dB quieter (2 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 8.5/10 for the Ultrac+.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Ultrac+ 83% from 8. 74% of PremiumContact 7 owners would buy it again, against 71% for the Ultrac+.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The PremiumContact 7 is made in 56 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the Ultrac+ in 57 (15 to 20 inch). 22 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the PremiumContact 7 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ultrac+ A and B.
Which is the newer tire?
The Ultrac+ is the newer design: it reached the market in 2024, the PremiumContact 7 in 2022. The PremiumContact 7 replaced the Continental Premium Contact 6.
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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.
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