When we found out we were getting a test set of Sport Contact 7 (SC7), Continental’s flagship ultra ultra high performance (UUHP) tyres, we knew it would be apt to pair this with a powerful sportscar. And what better way than making arrangements to get our hands on a Porsche 911 for several weeks; a 997 generation Carrera 4 GTS (C4GTS) – with a 3.8 litre six cylinder packing 408 hp and 420 Nm.
The 997 C4GTS is the last-hurrah of the 997-generation, with X51 ‘Powerkit’ fitted as standard (raising factory power by 22 hp), a wider-track chassis, sports exhaust and styling details that include a more prominent front splitter, 19-inch ‘RS Spyder’ alloys with centre-locks, and sports seats with Alcantara swathed across the interior.
Our car came fitted with a 7-speed PDK and Sport Chrono package, delivering power to all four corners and completing the century sprint in just 4.2 seconds – plenty fast for a decade old car, and even by today’s standards.
For the purpose of this review, we fitted our car with the factory specification tyres: 235/35/19 fronts and 305/30/19 rears. Naturally, we quickly ran through the standard 500 km scrub-in then plied on over 2,000 kms in all-weather conditions to build a reasonable impression of the rubbers.
Continental claims their SC7 are designed for optimum grip on both dry and wet surfaces, with a perfect interplay of extra-soft BlackChilli compound and extra-stiff tread pattern for next-level driving sensations, so with the sporty all-wheel drive in the C4GTS, we knew it’s demands would be sufficient to properly measure the SC7’s performance.
Even before we completed the scrub-in for the SC7, the abundance of lateral grip was obvious from the get go. There’s no doubt it brought a lot of confidence to the driver. As we clocked past 1,000 km, we decided to spend some weekend mornings heading for the hills to get a better idea of just how good these rubbers were. And by golly were they very, very good.
Dry Performance 9/10
It has been many months since we have headed for the hills. If you’re a regular touge kaki, then you probably already know that our favourite route from Ulu Yam and towards Gohtong Jaya has been closed now for over a year. To sample the SC7, we headed for the more conventional route from Karak towards Genting Highlands.
Just from rolling on the highway portion of the drive, it was obvious just how sticky the SC7 were. It didn’t take very long before we started pushing on the uphill bits – in fact, just the first few corners were enough to convince us just how much incredible traction was available, allowing us to drive and steer by throttle. Pair this with the sharpness and responsiveness that the SC7 imbues the car and we were hooking through fast corners seamlessly.
In fact, the dry performance of the SC7 was so immense that our 997 C4GTS almost felt underpowered on the twisties bits of Genting Highlands.
Wet Performance 9/10
At this juncture, we always like to reiterate that on wet surfaces, we are never too critical of a tyre’s performance. Instead, we tend to focus on the available and usable grip. Other measures in this area will also include handling and of course braking.
The real surprise for us here, was how the SC7 continued to impress in the wet.
On a random rainy weekday night, we thought it would be apt to head for the hills, especially since it would be low traffic. As we exited Karak towards Genting, a light drizzle started to develop. With the first signs of rain, we always tread with more caution. However, it was clear we had enough traction to push more.
In slightly wet conditions, throttling a car through some corners typically result in some understeer. With the SC7, there was no hint of any deviation from the wheel’s direction. Apply moderate power and you can slingshot the car out of a corner as you prepare for the next apex. Even if some slip starts to develop, you can easily reign this in by lifting off throttle.
We would go as far to say that there was little difference in grip between dry and wet (no, not thunderstorms), with braking performance equally strong in both conditions. Truly impressive stuff.
Comfort & Wear 6.5/10
There is always balance in the world, so with the shine clearly bright in the performance department, we expected some compromises elsewhere.
With the stiff sidewalls, you do get increased grip and performance. Naturally, you also get more harshness and less comfort. That said, ride quality at city speeds was never overtly crashy. In-cabin noise levels are increased a notch, but let’s be fair, who needs ultimate comfort in a Porsche 911. Right?
Treadwear is on the high side; just 3 or 4 runs up the hills and the rubbers are already showing signs of wear. My best estimate is that they will last between 13,000 to 18,000 km in both urban and spirited driving. Not good, but certainly not appalling considering these are UUHP tyres.
Fuel economy too, has not been kind to our wallet. But then the 997 C4GTS has always been a thirsty machine, especially so when traversing cityscapes. We averaged around 320 km per tank of RON97 as a daily driver to office and back. On weekends, there is first the need to fuel up again, and you notice that fuel consumption is notably higher.
Final Thoughts
Having put nearly 5,000 km into the Continental Sport Contact 7 over the last couple of weeks, it is safe to say that these are the best performing road tyres we have ever tested.
Dry grip is immense; progressive, stable, fantastic braking. You need to bring tyre temps up to get the most out of them, and we’ve noticed that temp remains stable throughout.
Wet grip is transformational: confidence inspiring and high resistance to aquaplaning. We’ll go as far as to say these were the only set of rubbers which we’ve ever felt were enough to push further in wet conditions – and that’s really saying something.
Continental’s Sport Contact 7 is the sort of tyre that bridges the gap between driver and car. For most regular people, SC7 allows you to further explore both your limits and the car’s limits – and this alone is mega. Naturally, all this comes at a price, but with the right tarmac and smiles gained per mile… worth it in our opinion.
