The ExtremeContact Sport from Continental came onto the market in 2017 and quickly developed into a UHP tire of the choice for drivers who wanted everyday suitability with a little headroom on the track. His successor in 2022, the ExtremeContact Sport 02, drives this claim even further.
We tested the tire again during the tournament in Indian Wells in the BMW Performance Center West in Thermal, California. A whole day with hot rounds, autocross and work on wet roads in several BMWs (M240i, M2, M3, M4, Z4) showed a tire with strong grip, clear feedback and stable behavior under changing conditions – without surpassing them on the street.
Here are five reasons why we like the ExtremeContact Sport 02.
1. Balanced grip for street and racetrack
Continental had set itself the goal of developing a tire that works on both wet and dry roads – and they succeeded. Thanks to the Sportplus ™ technology and the coordinated performance indicators of the brand, Sport 02 succeeds in finding the sensitive balance between excellent grip and a comfortable everyday tire.
Sport 02 immediately feels safe and trustworthy on a dry road. Steering inputs are transferred cleanly to the front tires, and there is a lot of grip in fast curves without jerking. When we recently drove some M-cars on some mountain roads, we were most surprised at how civilian it felt-gentle, calm and relaxed.
2. Dry handling and feedback
On the autocross route it remained stable with strong brakes and gave a linear, easy-to-read feedback on transitions. At the outcome of the corner he had enough traction to get on tours early without slipping after. Compared to the first generation sport, which we tested about five years ago, the advantages are most evident in the dry, especially on the side grip. The traction and noise development with moisture are also better and the treading clothing looks better. The gap to Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4S is largely closed; Sport 02 now feels like a like -minded man and not half a step back.
Where I have the feeling that the Continentals are actually superior to Michelins, this is steering behavior. On an M3, the first turn was so immediately that I was surprised – I had to make a small correction when I placed on another street. It’s so sharp in the middle.
3. Nass self -confidence
The second test round of the day took place on the wet skid pad from Continental with the BMW M3/M4 and the M8 Coupé. Although the steering angle was moved quite a bit, the sport 02 turned out to be exceptionally calm and combined strong side handle with impressive aquaplaning resistance.
The contact surface of the tire felt evenly and enabled a smooth weight transmission, even when driving through puddles. It also provided excellent braking performance – the braking routes were short and controllable, and the tires ensured a predictable slip transfer and not a sudden loss of traction.
4. Value and equipment
It is offered in 77 sizes from 15 to 21 inches and covers most modern BMWs, including M vehicles. The price is below that of the top competitor and at the same time offers a similar performance in practice. And the improved wear means that after a few strenuous days you no longer have to use a set. I also prefer the equipment of Sport 02 to Michelin in the same sizes – the side wall looks more square and less “stretched”. The grip is strong, street noise remains low and as a bonus, these Continentals are among the lightest of the large brands – about one pound (or more) per curve less than comparable models.
5. Consistency over a session
The heat management is solid. The grip and the steering feeling remained stable over several laps instead of letting after a few hot journeys. This consistency makes it easier to trust the tire – regardless of whether you are on the race track in one day or just accelerate on a side street. At the end of the day, the M3 drift cars at the BMW Performance Center West tried to remove a few rear wheels, but it needed several hard sessions to remove them.
