RS246.com Forum :: The World's #1 Audi R, S and RS Enthusiast Community

Following on from a win in the AutoBild tyre test, Continental wins again with the new Sport Contact 6. The new Continental tops both the wet and dry braking tests, places strongly in wet and dry handling tests both timed and subjectively, and even manages a good result on the road route giving it an excellent all round performance.....

The Michelin Pilot Super Sport dominates in the dry both objectively and subjectively, but can only manage sixth position overall due to a weak showing in the wet, and a poor performance on the road route. This performance focused tyre clearly shows the trade in high performance driving pleasure for wet grip and comfort as the Michelin struggled with the standing water levels at the circuit.

The new Continental Sport Contact 6 was tested against the reigning performance tyre king, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, and the result was surprising.

The previous Continental has always had the edge on the Michelin in the wet, but new the new Continental tyre also has the better dry grip and steering feel, at least according to this test.

The one area they didn't test was wear, which is where Michelin usually claws back some marks, but for now the new Sport Contact 6 looks to be every bit the tyre Continental have promised us!

This is an incredibly difficult conclusion, these are the two of the most focused performance road tyres on the market. From our testing, if you ignore wear, the Continental is objectively the better overall tyre, it is stronger under traction and braking, offers similar cornering grip and is more comfortable than the Michelin. The margin is incredibly slim, but real.

The interesting part of the conclusion is when we choose a tyre to leave on this car now the test is over... and the answer is the Michelin. It might not have quite the overall grip of the Continental, but on this car, in these sizes, for the driving requirements and style, the Michelin is better subjectively due to having the nicer steering feel and balance.

With the margins in outright objective performance so close between all the best maximum performance tyres on the market, it's often the subjective aspect of tyres which will make a bigger difference to your day to day driving.

Had the vehicle been an Audi RS6 with the priority more comfort and safety bias, the Continental would have likely won. But for this M3, the Michelin just about takes it.

Special K C5 wrote:I had them on the type R sure mate when we went that drive in the summer. They are a superb tyre but wear out far too fast, grip on mine was superb. I have gone MPSS funnily enough now and have ran them through the worst of the winter up here and I am more than happy with them...I would rate them over the sportcontact 6 just and if the wear rate wasn't so bad they would be on par. Hope this helps even though not on an Audi.

What wheels you getting this time round? Hopefully see them in the flesh this year if we can get another Scotland run sorted