Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Hankook Ventus Prime 4
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 71
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 97
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 11 times and the Ventus Prime 4 not once. The PremiumContact 7 stopped 8.2% shorter in the wet; the Ventus Prime 4 had 1.4% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Continental PremiumContact 7 if you want maximum wet and dry safety (especially emergency braking and wet handling stability) and are willing to pay more. Choose the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 if budget and rolling efficiency matter most and your driving is predominantly calm/urban-just accept that the wet-safety margin is consistently smaller than the Continental's.
Where the PremiumContact 7 is stronger
- Consistently shorter braking distances: 10/10 wins in both dry and wet braking across shared tests (e.g., ADAC 2026 wet 30.1 m vs 34.5 m; ADAC 2024 wet 28.5 m vs 32.8 m).
- Stronger wet-road control: repeatedly quicker/safer wet handling results and high limit reserves; testers describe secure, easily controlled behavior in the wet.
- Generally better aquaplaning performance overall (wins in straight aquaplaning 7 vs 2 and curved 5 vs 1), supporting higher highway-speed wet confidence.
Where the Ventus Prime 4 is stronger
- Better purchase value: typically lower price and better value indices (e.g., AutoBild 2024: 300 vs 395; ADAC 2024: 138 vs 174).
- More frequent rolling-resistance advantage (category wins 5 vs 1), occasionally translating to better fuel consumption (e.g., ADAC 2024: 5.7 vs 5.9 l/100 km).
- Can feel agreeable in everyday dry driving with decent grip; occasionally edges subjective dry handling/comfort scores (e.g., ReifenTester 2025 subjective dry handling 76 vs 73; comfort 77 vs 76).
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 Ventus Prime 4 at a glance
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | Gap | Ventus Prime 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won11 shared tests | 11 | 0 | |
| Dry18 measurements | 16 | The PremiumContact 7 stopped 3.5% shorter in the dry (11 tests) | 2 |
| Wet39 measurements | 36 | The PremiumContact 7 stopped 8.2% shorter in the wet (11 tests) | 3 |
| Comfort10 measurements | 5 | 4 | |
| Value16 measurements | 5 | The Ventus Prime 4 had 1.4% lower rolling resistance (7 tests) | 9 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The PremiumContact 7 by 0.7 | 8.8/10 |
| Owner rating71 and 97 reviews | 82% | Too close to call | 82% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 74% | Too close to call | 73% |
| Pricein the 6 tests that listed prices | +24.1% | The PremiumContact 7 was dearer in 6 of 6 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 56 | 30 sizes made in both | 66 |
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 11 tests, 2023 to 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 | Ventus Prime 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P1 of 16 | P11 of 16 | |
| 2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tire Test | P4 of 7 | P6 of 7 | |
| 2025 Al Volante Summer Tire Test | P3 of 7 | P6 of 7 | |
| 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tire Test | P2 of 14 | P6 of 14 | |
| 2024 TUV and DEKRA Test of Michelin Primacy 5 vs Rivals | P1 of 5 | P5 of 5 | |
| 2024 Motorhome Summer Tire Test | P1 of 10 | P3 of 10 | |
| 2024 AutoBild Summer Tire Test | P2 of 20 | P7 of 20 | |
| 2024 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P1 of 16 | P8 of 16 | |
| 2024 Summer Tire Market Overview | P1 of 55 | P4 of 55 | |
| 2023 Motor Summer Tire Test | P1 of 8 | P7 of 8 | |
| Tire Reviews Best Summer Touring Tires | P1 of 13 | P7 of 13 |
Performance profile
18 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
PremiumContact 7
Ventus Prime 4
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. The scale stops at 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 2 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
PremiumContact 7
Ventus Prime 4
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
Ventus Prime 4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Ventus Prime 4 82% from 97. 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 | Ventus Prime 4 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | 3.5% | 121 | 11-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 53.47 | 0.9% | 53.99 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 60.5 | 0.7% | 60.1 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 6% | scored | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 106 | 8.2% | 116 | 11-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 110 | 17.6% | 133 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 88.57 | 2.9% | 91.17 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 44.7 | 1.2% | 44.2 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 7.8% | scored | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 14.6 | 7.8% | 13.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 11.5 | 1.8% | 11.71 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 49.5 | 2.3% | 48.5 | 7-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 62.8 | 5.8% | 60.8 | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.3% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.08 | = | 71.08 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 25,158 | 11.5% | 22,548 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.05 | 1.4% | 6.95 | 1-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.65 | 1.7% | 5.55 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 74.73 | 5.1% | 69.6 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Ventus Prime 4 8.8 out of 10.
| PremiumContact 7 | Category | Ventus Prime 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94 | Dry | 82 | ||
| 97 | Wet | 71 | ||
| 36 | Comfort | 27 | ||
| 67 | Value | 80 | ||
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 | Ventus Prime 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.2 | Dry Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 9.2 | Wet Grip | 8.3 | ||
| 8.3 | Road Feedback | 8.1 | ||
| 8.4 | Handling | 8.2 | ||
| 7.3 | Wear | 7.8 | ||
| 7.5 | Comfort | 8 | ||
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Ventus Prime 4 82% from 97. 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.
Hankook Ventus Prime 4
- 82%from 97 reviews
- 73%would buy again
- 1,056,322 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 highly overall (average 80.7%), most often praising its strong dry grip and confident, predictable dry handling, backed up by a comfortable, generally quiet ride. Wet grip is also widely seen as secure for a touring tire, with many calling it reassuring in heavy rain, though a minority report some instability or weaker aquaplaning resistance. The main recurring drawback is longevity: wear and performance consistency split opinion, with around one in four owners mentioning tread life and around one in ten saying grip drops off noticeably as the tire wears, sometimes accompanied by increased noise.
- Strong dry grip with plenty of traction
- Excellent dry handling and confidence in corners
- Comfortable, compliant ride quality
- Generally low road noise for a touring tire
- Tread life can be disappointing for some drivers
- Grip drops off as the tire wears
- Road noise can be noticeable on some surfaces
Summarised by AI from 87 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 97 Ventus Prime 4 reviewsNo complaints on Wet or Dry grip for everyday driving. It was a 2025 tire with 12k miles had to deal with a full blowout while driving. From a tropical climate with 99% indoor parking.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 56 sizes of the PremiumContact 7 and 66 of the Ventus Prime 4, 30 of them made in both.
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | Ventus Prime 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 56 sizes, 16 to 21 inch | 66 sizes, 15 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 30 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 18 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A100% | A88%B12% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C74%B26% | B47%C39%A14% |
| EU label noise | 71-73 dB B100% | 68-71 dB A52%B48% |
| On the market since | 2022 | - |
| Replaced | Continental Premium Contact 6 | Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 |
| Awards | Recommended: Best Tires for Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Summer Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2024) | Winner: Summer Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2023) |
| Price in the shared tests | The PremiumContact 7 was the dearer tire in 6 of the 6 tests that listed prices, by 24.1% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
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 Hankook's Ventus Prime 4 sit in the same “premium-touring summer” space, so on paper they should deliver broadly similar everyday refinement with strong wet safety. The 10 shared tests here (spanning 205/55 R16 through 225/55 R18 and including multiple ADAC and AutoBild datasets) make this a particularly reliable head-to-head, because we can see whether any advantages repeat across sizes and test styles rather than appearing once.
Across this dataset the story is consistent: the Continental behaves like a true top-tier reference tire for braking and wet control, while the Hankook plays more of a value/efficiency angle and tends to give away meaningful safety margin in the wet. There are a few areas where the Hankook fights back-price, rolling resistance, and occasional aquaplaning metrics-but the biggest performance differences appear exactly where many drivers care most: emergency stops and wet-road stability.
Conclusion
If you prioritize safety-critical performance, the Continental PremiumContact 7 is the clear winner. It won every recorded dry- and wet-braking comparison (10/10 in both), and the gaps are often not “within noise”-for example in ADAC 2026 wet braking it stopped in 30.1 m vs 34.5 m for the Hankook, and on wet concrete in ADAC 2024 it was 32.0 m vs 39.1 m. That kind of difference is the practical separation between a near-miss and a hit. It also repeatedly posts stronger wet handling and higher aquaplaning margins overall (7 wins in straight aquaplaning and 5 in curved), which aligns with testers describing it as balanced, precise, and controllable at the limit.
The Hankook Ventus Prime 4's case is mainly about value and running costs rather than outright grip. It is consistently cheaper (e.g., ADAC 2024: 138 vs 174; AutoBild 2024: 300 vs 395) and more frequently scores better rolling resistance (category wins 5 vs 1), sometimes with slightly better fuel consumption. It can also feel pleasant in normal dry driving and even scored higher in a couple of subjective comfort/handling ratings, but multiple professional summaries flag its wet limitations: fair/satisfactory wet braking/handling, earlier under/oversteer, and less secure behavior in evasive situations.
Takeaway: PremiumContact 7 is the “buy it for the hardest day of the year” touring tire-its braking and wet composure repeatedly separate it from the pack. Ventus Prime 4 is the “good enough for calm commuting on a budget” option, but the data shows you're trading away a meaningful wet-safety buffer to save money and gain a bit of efficiency.
PremiumContact 7 vs Ventus Prime 4: your questions
Is the Continental PremiumContact 7 or the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 the better tire?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 11 times and the Ventus Prime 4 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the PremiumContact 7 scores 9.5 and the Ventus Prime 4 8.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the PremiumContact 7 or the Ventus Prime 4?
The PremiumContact 7 led 36 of the 39 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.2% shorter in the wet across 11 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The PremiumContact 7 led 16 of the 18 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.5% shorter in the dry across 11 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The PremiumContact 7 lasted 11.5% longer in the wear tests (4 tests); the Ventus Prime 4 had 1.4% lower rolling resistance (7 tests), used 1.7% less fuel (2 tests) and shed 5.1% less rubber in the abrasion test (3 tests). Owners rate wear 7.3/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 7.8/10 for the Ventus Prime 4.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 8/10 for the Ventus Prime 4.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Ventus Prime 4 82% from 97. 74% of PremiumContact 7 owners would buy it again, against 73% for the Ventus Prime 4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 6 tests that listed prices, the PremiumContact 7 was the dearer tire in 6 of them, by 24.1% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The PremiumContact 7 is made in 56 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the Ventus Prime 4 in 66 (15 to 20 inch). 30 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 Ventus Prime 4 A and B.
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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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