Continental’s ExtremeContact Sport landed in 2017 and rapidly turned a go-to UHP tire for drivers who needed each day livability with some observe headroom. Its 2022 successor, the ExtremeContact Sport 02, pushes that temporary additional.
We re-tested the tire at BMW Efficiency Heart West in Thermal, California, throughout the Indian Wells event. A full day of sizzling laps, autocross, and wet-surface work in a number of BMWs (M240i, M2, M3, M4, Z4) confirmed a tire with sturdy grip, clear suggestions, and regular habits throughout altering situations—with out beating you up on the road.
Listed here are 5 causes we just like the ExtremeContact Sport 02.
1. Balanced grip for avenue and observe
Continental got down to construct a tire that performs on each moist and dry pavement — they usually’ve nailed it. Because of the model’s SportPlus™ Know-how and Tuned Efficiency Indicators, the Sport 02 manages to strike that delicate stability between nice grip and a snug each day tire.
On dry pavement, the Sport 02 instantly feels planted and straightforward to belief. Steering inputs translate cleanly into the entrance tires, and there’s loads of grip by quick corners with none twitchiness. Once we drove some M automobiles just lately on some mountain roads, what stunned us most was how civil it felt — clean, quiet, and composed.
2. Dry dealing with and suggestions
On the autocross course it stayed secure underneath exhausting braking and gave linear, easy-to-read suggestions by transitions. Nook exits had sufficient traction to go to energy early with out chasing rear slide. Versus the first-gen Sport we examined about 5 years in the past, the beneficial properties present up most in dry—particularly lateral—grip. Moist traction and noise are higher too, and treadwear seems to be improved. The hole to Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4S is essentially closed; the Sport 02 now looks like a peer somewhat than a half-step behind.
The place I really feel the Continentals really edge the Michelins is steering response. On an M3, preliminary turn-in was so speedy it stunned me—I needed to make a small correction simply turning into one other avenue. It’s that sharp on-center.
3. Moist confidence
The day’s second spherical of testing passed off on Continental’s moist skid pad with the BMW M3/M4 and M8 Coupe. Regardless of pushing the steering angle fairly a bit, the Sport 02 proved itself exceptionally composed within the moist, combining sturdy lateral grip with spectacular hydroplaning resistance.
The tire’s contact patch felt constant, permitting for clean weight switch even when pushing by puddles. It additionally delivered glorious braking efficiency — stopping distances had been brief and controllable, and the tires provided a predictable slip transition somewhat than a sudden lack of traction.
4. Worth and fitment
It’s provided in 77 sizes from 15 to 21 inches, overlaying most fashionable BMWs, together with M automobiles. Pricing undercuts top-tier rivals whereas delivering comparable real-world efficiency, and the improved put on means you’re not torching a set after a pair exhausting days. I additionally want the Sport 02’s fitment to the Michelin in the identical sizes—the sidewall seems to be squarer and fewer “stretched.” Grip is robust, street noise stays low, and as a bonus these Continentals are among the many lightest from the most important manufacturers—a couple of pound (or extra) lighter per nook than comparable choices.
5. Consistency over a session
Warmth administration is stable. Over repeated laps, grip and steering really feel stayed regular as a substitute of fading after just a few sizzling runs. That consistency makes the tire simpler to belief—whether or not you’re at a observe day or simply pushing on a again street. By day’s finish, the M3 drift automobiles at BMW Efficiency Heart West had been attempting to complete off a set of rears, however it took a number of exhausting periods to clean them down.
