Continental SportContact 7 vs Vredestein Ultrac Pro
- TR Score
- 9.7/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 134
- TR Score
- 9.0/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 7
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental SportContact 7 finished ahead 7 times and the Ultrac Pro not once. The SportContact 7 stopped 8.3% shorter in the wet; the Ultrac Pro had 2.8% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Buy the Continental SportContact 7 if braking and wet pace decide it, which for a max performance tire they usually should; the Vredestein Ultrac Pro is the quieter, more efficient and cheaper option, and it is a fair choice only if you accept several meters more braking distance.
Where the SportContact 7 is stronger
- Shorter dry braking in all seven tests, by 12.5 percent at EVO 2024
- Shorter wet braking in every test that measured it, by 14.7 percent in the 2025 UUHP test
- Won all seven head to head placings, taking five outright test wins
Where the Ultrac Pro is stronger
- Quieter in all five tests that measured noise, at 70.9dB the quietest in the 2026 field
- Lower rolling resistance in five of six tests, by 9.4 percent in 2026
- Cheaper per 1000km at ADAC, 2.89 against 3.06, and 3rd of 8 in the 2026 Sports Cars test
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.
SportContact 7 vs Ultrac Pro at a glance
| Category | SportContact 7 | Gap | Ultrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won7 shared tests | 7 | 0 | |
| Dry14 measurements | 13 | The SportContact 7 stopped 6.3% shorter in the dry (7 tests) | 1 |
| Wet29 measurements | 22 | The SportContact 7 stopped 8.3% shorter in the wet (7 tests) | 6 |
| Comfort10 measurements | 2 | The Ultrac Pro was 1.6 dB quieter (5 tests) | 6 |
| Value9 measurements | 4 | The Ultrac Pro had 2.8% lower rolling resistance (6 tests) | 5 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.7/10 | The SportContact 7 by 0.7 | 9.0/10 |
| Owner rating134 and 7 reviews | 84% | Too close to call | 83% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 80% | The SportContact 7 by 9 points | 71% |
| Pricein the 5 tests that listed prices | +16.3% | The SportContact 7 was dearer in 5 of 5 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 123 | 71 sizes made in both | 98 |
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 7 tests, 2024 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 | SportContact 7 | Field | Ultrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Autobild Sports Cars Summer Tire Test | P1 of 8 | P3 of 8 | |
| 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tire Test | P3 of 8 | P8 of 8 | |
| 2025 Autobild Sports Cars UUHP Tire Test | P1 of 7 | P6 of 7 | |
| 2025 Sports Cars Tire Test | P1 of 8 | P5 of 8 | |
| 2025 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P1 of 18 | P5 of 18 | |
| 2024 EVO Summer Tire Test | P1 of 7 | P5 of 7 | |
| 2024 Sports Car Tire Test | P1 of 7 | P3 of 7 |
Performance profile
13 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
SportContact 7
Ultrac Pro
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 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 6 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
SportContact 7
Ultrac Pro
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
SportContact 7
Ultrac Pro
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the SportContact 7 84% from 134 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. 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 | SportContact 7 | Gap | Ultrac Pro | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | 6.3% | 120 | 7-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 101.6 | 0.4% | 101.2 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 67 | 1.7% | 65.9 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 16% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 122 | 8.3% | 134 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 112 | 8.8% | 123 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69.25 | 0.8% | 69.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 49.8 | 5% | 47.4 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 74.6% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 11.4 | 4.3% | 11.93 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 52.7 | 0.1% | 52.8 | 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 61.8 | 2.3% | 61.2 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.2% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.1% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73.46 | 1.6 dB | 71.84 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 26,968 | 8.2% | 24,917 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.98 | 2.8% | 8.72 | 1-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.5 | 3.5% | 5.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 63.4 | 16% | 75.5 | 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 SportContact 7 scores 9.7 and the Ultrac Pro 9 out of 10.
| SportContact 7 | Category | Ultrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | Dry | 86 | ||
| 98 | Wet | 82 | ||
| 29 | Comfort | 80 | ||
| 39 | Value | 27 | ||
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
| SportContact 7 | Category | Ultrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.5 | Dry Grip | 9.1 | ||
| 9.1 | Wet Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 8.7 | Road Feedback | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 6.7 | Wear | 6 | ||
| 7.7 | Comfort | 8.1 | ||
Owners rate the SportContact 7 84% from 134 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental SportContact 7
- 84%from 134 reviews
- 80%would buy again
- 1,308,502 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Continental SportContact 7 very highly overall (average 83%), with the strongest agreement around outstanding dry and wet grip, backed up by confident handling and strong steering response. Comfort and noise are often described as better than expected for a UHP summer tire, though experiences vary by car and set-up. The main recurring drawback is wear: around a third of owners who mention tread life report rapid wear, meaning running costs can be high if you drive hard or run a heavier, high-torque car.
- Exceptional dry grip and traction
- Very strong wet grip and confidence in rain
- Sharp, secure dry handling
- Good steering feel and feedback
- Rapid tread wear and short life for many drivers
- Ride can feel harsh or uncomfortable on some set-ups
- Road noise can be intrusive on rough surfaces
Summarised by AI from 117 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 134 SportContact 7 reviewsIn comparison with non sport tires like the Continental PremiumContact 6 the grip in dry conditions is outstanding and better like other tires I have driven (e.g. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric). The Wet-Grip is surprisingly good and did not fade with lower tread depth (yet). No disturbing noise while driving.
Vredestein Ultrac Pro
- 83%from 7 reviews
- 71%would buy again
- 34,100 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers largely praise the Vredestein Ultrac Pro for strong dry and wet grip, confident handling, and notably good ride comfort, with several noting premium feel and value. High-scoring reviews highlight short braking distances, stability, and decent wear for aggressive or heavy vehicles. A minority report concerns include poor performance in very cold (sub-5°C) conditions and one case of premature wear/delamination. Overall, the Ultrac Pro delivers balanced performance with comfort-focused tuning and attractive design.
- dry grip
- wet grip
- handling/steering feel
- ride comfort
- reduced grip in very cold temperatures
Summarised by AI from 6 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 7 Ultrac Pro reviewsI've had them for two summers and about 10k kms on a Ford Focus ST250. When I was buying them I was looking for good tires at a fair price and these were the newest model available at the time.
Dry: In the dry they have good traction, predictable handlings and good comfort for a UHP tire. Breakaway is communicated well and they don't surprise you out of nowhere. Lift of oversteer is easily achieved and controlled. They do wheelspin a bit in first gear if you are a bit more enthusiastic with the throttle but that's expected on a more powerful fwd car.
Wet: They have good and predictable grip in the wet, good aquaplaning resistance and stop quite well.
Others: Rim guard is somewhere in the middle, not as big as Bridgestone but better than Hankook. Sidewall design is good, comfort and noise are good for a uhp tire. Wear has also been good for me, I expect to change them due to age and not wear but then again I don't do that many miles a year.
It's a tire I like and would recommend. Price to performance is good. Would consider buying. I got their Wintrac Pro Plus to try this winter so I've been satisfied with Vredesteins as a whole.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 123 sizes of the SportContact 7 and 98 of the Ultrac Pro, 71 of them made in both.
| Category | SportContact 7 | Ultrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 123 sizes, 18 to 24 inch | 98 sizes, 18 to 24 inch |
| Made in both | 71 sizes 215/40 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18235/40 R18245/40 R18245/45 R18255/35 R18225/35 R19225/40 R19235/35 R19235/40 R19235/45 R19and 59 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A85%B15% | A97%B3% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C61%D16%A14%B9% | C73%D18%B6%A3% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B98%A2% | 69-73 dB B97%A3% |
| On the market since | - | 2024 |
| Replaced | Continental Sport Contact 6 (2015) | Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+ (2020) |
| Awards | Highly Recommended: Best Tires for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Highly Recommended: Best Tires for Hot Hatches (Compact Sports Cars) (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Commended: Best Tires for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Highly Recommended: Best Tires for Hot Hatches (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Best Tires for Large Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Supersports Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2024) Winner: Supersports Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2023) Winner: Supersports Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2022) Winner: Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2022) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The SportContact 7 was the dearer tire in 5 of the 5 tests that listed prices, by 16.3% 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.
Seven shared tests, seven wins for the Continental SportContact 7. That is the shortest way to describe this one, and five of those seven were outright test victories, including Auto Bild Sports Cars in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and top marks from ADAC in 2025.
The Vredestein Ultrac Pro is not being embarrassed, though, and the numbers show where it earns its keep. It was the quieter tire in all five tests that measured noise, twice being named the quietest in the field, and it rolled with less resistance in five of six, by 9.4 percent in the 2026 Auto Bild Sports Cars test.
What separates them is what happens when you brake. The Continental stopped shorter in the dry in all seven tests and in the wet in all six that measured it, and the wet gaps are not subtle: 43.7m against 51.2m in the 2025 UUHP test, 40.1m against 44.8m in the 2025 Sports Cars test.
Conclusion
If you want the faster, safer tire, this is not a close call. The Continental SportContact 7 won every dry braking comparison between them, by as much as 12.5 percent in EVO's 2024 test where it stopped in 30.7m against 35.1m, and it won every wet braking comparison bar a dead heat, including 14.7 percent in Auto Bild's 2025 UUHP test. It also took wet handling in all five tests that measured it, by 7.6 percent in 2026. Testers called it the benchmark for braking on both dry and wet surfaces, and ADAC gave it the highest overall rating in its 2025 field of 18.
The Vredestein Ultrac Pro's argument is refinement and running cost, and it is a real one. It was quieter in every test that measured noise, at 70.9dB the quietest tire in the 2026 Auto Bild Sports Cars field, and 72dB against the Continental's 74.6dB in the 2025 UUHP test. It rolled easier in five of six tests, and at ADAC it came out cheaper per 1000km, 2.89 against 3.06. Auto Bild described it as harmoniously balanced with pleasant rolling comfort, and it still finished 3rd of 8 and 3rd of 7 in two of the Sports Cars tests.
There is one dissenting voice worth reading. Die Reifentester put the Ultrac Pro last of eight in 2025 and wrote that it would need a major update to compete at the front again, which is a harsher verdict than the Auto Bild results suggest. Taken together: buy the Continental if braking distance and wet pace decide it, which for a max performance tire they usually should. Buy the Vredestein if you want a quieter, more efficient, cheaper tire and can accept giving away several meters in an emergency stop.
SportContact 7 vs Ultrac Pro: your questions
Is the Continental SportContact 7 or the Vredestein Ultrac Pro the better tire?
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental SportContact 7 finished ahead 7 times and the Ultrac Pro not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the SportContact 7 scores 9.7 and the Ultrac Pro 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the SportContact 7 or the Ultrac Pro?
The SportContact 7 led 22 of the 29 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.3% shorter in the wet across 7 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The SportContact 7 led 13 of the 14 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.3% shorter in the dry across 7 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Ultrac Pro had 2.8% lower rolling resistance (6 tests). Owners rate wear 6.7/10 for the SportContact 7 and 6/10 for the Ultrac Pro.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Ultrac Pro was 1.6 dB quieter (5 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the SportContact 7 and 8.1/10 for the Ultrac Pro.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the SportContact 7 84% from 134 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. 80% of SportContact 7 owners would buy it again, against 71% for the Ultrac Pro.
Which is more expensive?
In the 5 tests that listed prices, the SportContact 7 was the dearer tire in 5 of them, by 16.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The SportContact 7 is made in 123 sizes (18 to 24 inch) and the Ultrac Pro in 98 (18 to 24 inch). 71 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the SportContact 7 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ultrac Pro A and C.
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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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