As recent owner of PS4S tires, I keep myself up to date on tires for my ND2 Miata. That said I decided to switch to the Conti ECSO2 this spring (2023). I'm glad I did for a variety of reasons and the the 2 main takeaways being price and warranty. As much as I loved the Michelins they are always the most expensive and at the peak drop off faster than I'd want for serious touge driving let alone track duty. In contrast I personally felt the ECS hold up better at the limit and the drop off was more than manageable and with a proper street+ alignment could eat up the road for hours of fun. It almost feels like the new updated conti is trying to find it's endurance mode similar to it's bigger brother the endurance 200tw tire ECF. Looking at Conti competitors this tire does the work you'd hope a summer tire would do, but has the longevity to keep you going past what you'd expect. It's wet grip felt on par with the Michelin in almost every way, even in hydroplaning conditions. I've put a good bit of miles on these tires and I'm happy to say I'd easily purchase them again.....not necessarily because it's just as good in dry or wet to the PS4S but because it's a better price, warranty and still provides the driver confidence you'd want out of a proper summer tire. An easy win in my book!

I considered all models of summer tires before choosing Continental ECS02. I had certain criteria, some of which were needs while others were wants. I needed Y speed rating to pass tech inspection on my car for Nevada’s Silver State Classic in fall. I also wanted a mileage warranty and a top flight manufacturer with a storied pedigree in Motorsport… one who knows how to make a quality product beyond round black rubber rings. I also rejected all run flats and tires that have mediocre reviews after years on the market.

I also have a second set of 200tw tires/wheels for auto-x and HPDE days, so I

After all that, there remained the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (mega bucks but 30k warranty), Potenza Sport (no mileage warranty and atrocious treadlife reports, $$$), Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 (great tire but $$$$, no mileage warranty, and a 220 utqg, limited availability), Falken Azenis FK510 (no warranty, no-hum looks, inconsistent reports of performance versus touring tire, but $$$ pricing was a plus), and the Continental ECS02 ($$$ with the rebate, 30k warranty, roadside assistance and troop interruption coverage all included, schwing!)

At time of writing, prices were: Michelin $1,261; Continental $1,017; Bridgestone $981; Falken $815. $220 Conti rebate bright the ECS to $797. This became a no-brainer on price point alone. A are top-shelf tires at mid-tier pricing!

In summary, these tires have been SUPERLATIVE! They perform in lock step with Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4S, the cream of the current UUHP summer crop. They have equal performance with a slightly differentiated character while offering stunningly good comfort and road manners.

I have one good spirited drive on these ECS02 over twisty roads and they exhibit great steering feedback with a solid, weighty feel off center (which I was worried about based on the opposite issue with DWS06+ tires recently). Effort builds very linearly as you put it through its paces.

I do find there is a bit of vagueness on center for freeway cruising and I over-adjust some as a result but, I also have a relatively high camber setup for blended street and HPDE uses which may contribute some.

Comparing these to Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ using a decibel meter mounted in the vehicle over the same road way at similar speeds and conditions, these tires average 1.5-2dB lower using an A sound weighting. This is flat-out impressive.

They are handsome tires but could be made a bit wider as they look (and are) narrower than equivalent sizes from competitors. This is only an issue for the OCD tire folks (like me), most wouldn’t even notice.

Anyway, I’ll try to update after a few thousand miles.

Had one dry track day and one wet (heavy rain) track day on the ECS02. Overall, the grip level is phenomenal, especially in the wet. The tire hydroplaning little, it is so confident in the rain. I was still able to pull .8G in the wet. In the dry the grip level is comparable with pilot 4s. However, I wasn't satisfied by the handling characteristic. It has a soft side wall which causes the tire to roll a bit when cornering. It loses the direct feeling compared to my car's oe tire. When I turn the wheel, there is always a delay in response. Also, the breakaway characteristic is a bit more abrupt than I expected.

Noise level is pretty good, with slight groove noise when the pavement is really bad. Ride comfort is excellent due to the soft side wall. It feels even more compliance than my winter tire.

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Just recently swapped from 4s's to the Conti 02's and have not been disappointed with my decision. Running 245/35-19 on my golf R and like any space I can get in the wheel wells. 02 seems a bit quieter on paved roads. Mid turn I can understand the vague feel comment but once hooked to finish the turn, I feel the Conti has a bit more positive bite which helps my car feel neutral in the turns with a bit less push. Braking seams as strong with the Conti's as the 4s's and have yet to get too much aggressive driving in the rain- Thinking the slightly wider grooves on the Conti's may inspire a little more confidence against hydroplaning but we shall see. Love your test's and I completely agree that if for nothing more than the cost alone, they are well worth the gamble!

I really like the ECS02. Feels very similar to the Pilot Sport 4S so perhaps not the sportiest of sports tires but has endless grip and good comfort. Plenty cheaper than the Michelin too and has the same warranty.