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Last updated 6/13/2024 - Originally published 6/13/2024
Written by SimpleTire
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When it comes to premium tires, Continental and Bridgestone are manufacturers that are just about at the top of the game. Both companies have spent decades in the tire business, investing heavily in R&D and advanced manufacturing and supply chain systems. Both companies have a reputation for value and performance and extensive pedigrees in the motorsports world that they can draw on for design and engineering.
That brings us to the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 and Bridgestone Potenza Sport. Both are ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires designed for the weight, power, torque, handling, braking performance, and overall driving dynamics of modern sports sedans, coupes, and crossovers. Both tires are designed for warmer months, with a softer, stickier tread formulation that will stiffen up and lose traction on colder days (manufacturers recommend that summer tires not be used when temperatures are below 40-45 degrees F). Both offer great cornering performance, crisp and direct steering response, and short braking distances. Both tires are great for vehicles like the BMW M3, Chevrolet Corvette, Audi A6, and Porsche Panamera. Both tires deliver great performance on wet or dry pavement and are designed with low noise/vibration/harshness as a priority. Both come at roughly the same price point, and both tires offer exemplary performance for sporty drivers. These tires are similar and closely-matched in many respects, so this should be an interesting head-to-head comparison that should deliver useful insights when it’s time to make a choice.
As part of this comparison review, you’ll see us refer to the SimpleScore ratings of each tire. If you’re unfamiliar with the SimpleScore system, it’s the framework that the SimpleTire team devised to assign a numerical value for the categories of traction, handling, and longevity for any given tire, as well as an overall average SimpleScore number. We look at review information and individual data points, then distill that info down to a 1-10 number. For these two tires, SimpleScores break down as follows:
The ExtremeContact Sport 02 from Continental is an aptly named tire. It inspires confidence in drivers who love to push the envelope and test the limits of their vehicles’ abilities, and it’s designed to not disappoint.
For faster acceleration, sharper steering response, and surefooted cornering ability, Continental designed the ExtremeContact Sport 02 around their comprehensive SPORTPlus+ technology package. That includes an asymmetric tread design with wide circumferential grooves to evacuate water from the tire’s contact patch and resist hydroplaning in wet weather. Continental’s +Silane tread formulation is custom blended for great sticky adhesion to the pavement and surefooted handling on wet or dry roads.
Wide tread blocks toward the shoulder are reinforced for rigidity and resistance to deformation, and tread squirm during hard maneuvers or cornering. A continuous center rib in the tread helps to enhance straight-line stability, road manners, and steering response. The ExtremeContact Sport 02's internal construction includes a 2-ply polyester casing reinforced by two steel belts and a polyamide reinforcement ply for ride quality and high-speed stability. Continental covers the ExtremeContact Sport 02 with a 30,000-mile manufacturer’s treadwear warranty.
Whether at the track or carving up a mountain road or freeway onramp, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport is a tire designed to empower drivers and offer an exhilarating driving experience. The next-generation tread compound of the Potenza Sport is designed for even wear properties, stability at high speeds, and superb traction on wet or dry roads. Its tread pattern includes wide blocks at the shoulder for increased cornering traction and lateral stability and large, uninterrupted circumferential ribs for enhanced longitudinal grip.
Specially engineered pattern geometry helps with load management and weight distribution for even wear, contact pressure, and hydroplaning resistance. Tuned tread block sequencing and lateral notches cancel out certain frequencies and harmonics to keep road noise minimal. Internal construction details of the Potenza Sport include a single polyester casing reinforced by twin steel belts and an aramid-nylon cap ply. Unlike the Continental, a treadwear mileage warranty doesn’t cover the Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
Let’s start here by saying that with SimpleScores of 9.8 for the Continental and 9.9 for the Bridgestone, these tires will be extremely closely matched with each other, making it a tough call for the traction category. Both tires resist hydroplaning on wet pavement and short braking distances on wet or dry roads. Neither tire, of course, is an all-season tire, so winter traction won’t even be a factor here. However, the Bridgestone showed a slight edge when braking distances on wet pavement. So, in light of that, our tip of the hat goes to:
ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Again, we come to another difficult call, with the Continental showing a SimpleScore of 9.7 for handling vs 9.9 for the Bridgestone. The solid shoulder macroblocks and chamfered groove edges of the Continental are designed for cornering ability that’s predictable and accurate to the limit. However, the ultra-high-silica tread compound of the Bridgestone and the 3D sipe pattern add up to a steering response that’s a little more direct and cornering ability that’s a bit more confident, so it comes down to:
ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Potenza Sport
This one is a little more clear-cut. While neither tire is designed for year-round service, the Continental does come from the factory with a 30,000 mile manufacturer’s treadwear warranty. The Bridgestone is covered by warranty protection from the factory, but no mileage warranty (which isn’t so uncommon for summer and UHP tires). We also took note of the Continental’s Tuned Performance Indicators, molded into the tread to give a driver an early heads-up to when a tire has worn down to a point where performance will be compromised. With a longevity SimpleScore of 8.5 for the Continental vs 7.4 for the Bridgestone, the trophy goes to:
ADVANTAGE: Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
We should probably start off this section by saying when not to use each tire. Tires like the ExtremeContact Sport 02 and the Potenza Sport are not only not designed for colder weather, but they can be downright dangerous on colder days. Continental goes a step further and warns that cracks in the rubber can present themselves when the ExtremeContact Sport 02 is used in colder weather.
That said, these are tires designed for high-performance vehicles and drivers who like to push the envelope a bit and find out what their cars can do. They’re not a great pick for daily drivers or putting a set of them on your minivan or crossover for taking the kids to school or running to the store and back. But…if you’re the kind of driver who likes sharp steering response that’s never overly touchy or jumpy and who appreciates short braking distances and a vehicle that can handle corners like it’s on rails, either the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 or the Bridgestone Potenza Sport can check those boxes for you.
Our job here at the SimpleTire team can get pretty tough regarding two tires that are as closely matched as these. As we said from the outset, they’re both very capable and very well-designed for what they do, and they’d both be great choices for a performance vehicle.
However, the 30,000 mile manufacturer’s Continental treadwear warranty gives it a better value than the Bridgestone. That’s some pretty generous treadwear coverage in a category of tires where mileage warranties often aren’t offered at all. In light of that, we recommend going to Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02.
Still unsure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help. Our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
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