When it comes to supreme comfort and performance, both the Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 and the Continental PremiumContact 7 standout. But digging into their unique features and overall performance values (on both wet and dry conditions), you see where they are different.
In the realm of high-performance tires, both boys offer distinct advantages. The Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 stands out for its superior resistance to aquaplaning and noise reduction, presenting a cost-effective solution that doesn’t compromise on quality, additionally boasting better rolling resistance which aids in fuel economy. Conversely, the PremiumContact 7 impresses with excellent grip and control on both wet and dry surfaces, guaranteeing impeccable handling and braking in various road conditions.
Table of Contents
Tread Life
When evaluating the lifespan of a tire, one should consider a few attributes such as the rolling resistance, the make and composition of the tread, and the depth of the rubber.
These dimensions collectively contribute to the overall durability and lifespan of the tire, to a great deal.
What I mean is, tires equipped with a more substantial tread depth, for example, would need more time to wear down to replacement levels. And in a similar way, if their compound is tough enough, so they would resist wear too.
Now in a side-by-side comparison, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 stands out as a more optimal choice, given its better construction (for treadwear).
This tire is made from relatively firmer rubber, which makes it burn out slower, and its deeper tread depth shows why it takes a longer time to wear down to the minimum legal limit of 2/32 inches.
Tread Structure
Let’s start with the Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2.
So this tire features an asymmetric design with 5 total ribs.
The middle 3 ribs are very longitudinal and have a mixture of siping of various lengths.
They together form 4 circumferential grooves (where towards one side, one of the grooves is pretty narrower).
The shoulder ribs on each side are very similar though.
They are equipped with thick siping slits and in-groove notches as mostly seen on many other high performance tires out there.
On the other side, the Continental PremiumContact 7 also has a similar skeleton like its counterpart. I mean it features an asymmetric tread pattern, combined with a similar 5 rib design.
The shoulder ribs are continuous running and have more aggressive cuts in them.
(Note how they are also joined up by longitudinally aligned sipes).
These “cuts” provide very strong cornering bite, and handling performance in both wet and dry roads.
Moving to the center, you’ll find 3 middle ribs, each exhibiting a unique outline.
Two of these ribs have lateral siping pattern in them, while one of them offer a combination of both lateral and longitudinal (just as seen on shoulder blocks).
And just like its counterpart, the tire makes 4 separate longitudinal water channels, (of varying widths), offering reliable resistance to aquaplaning.
Road Noise
Road noise mainly comes from air particles hitting the tire tread, especially through the gaps on the edges of the tire, creating loud noises.
Let me explain.
So the air particles infiltrating through the shoulder grooves (as they do mostly), collide energetically with the tread walls, and the impact of that is what generates noise. Furthermore, that noise than echos, adding to the overall tread noise levels.
Here, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 does a better job because of its streamlined design and smaller gaps at the edges, which reduces the space for air particles to hit, lessening noise.
This tire integrates a sophisticated structure with closed tread voids at the shoulders, effectively limiting the infiltration of air particles in the first place.
Furthermore, it leverages a what they call, pitch sequencing technology, utilizing varying angles (of the tread blocks), that operate together to reduce the noise levels.
Basically noise hitting those blocks create varying pitches, which try to cancel out each other.
And yes, worth reminding, also due to the tire’s relative stiffer rubber composition, less in-groove resonance is created (which is a fancy name for noise echoing).
Vibrations Dampening
How smooth a car ride feels largely depends on 2 things:
- How well the tire can handle irregularities on the road.
- And how stable the overall ride is (this ones actually related to steering response).
In this regard, the Continental PremiumContact 7 distinctly outperforms, chiefly attributing its superior performance to the well placed in-groove notches throughout the tire’s tread.
This gives this tire the needed flexibility, thereby enhancing its ability to absorb bumps with notable efficacy.
And yes, the tire also has a softer compound (relatively) in the first place, so that makes things easier.
Moreover, with continuous running shoulder ribs on both sides, the tire also keeps over and understeering to a minimum, allowing for greater stability and connectivity with the road, indirectly improving comfort.
Performance on Wet Surfaces
Achieving superior performance on wet roads is a complex task, where the tire is required to maintain a strong grip, while also avoiding slipping/floating on water, a phenomenon known as hydroplaning.
This primarily relies on the tire’s ability to quickly remove water from its surface to maintain grip.
And upon close examination, both tires demonstrate commendable performance in this respect, though, a deeper analysis reveals a slight edge for the Continental PremiumContact 7 in terms of wet directional grip and maneuverability.
But why?
Well, because the tire has more efficient siping, which facilitates better absorption of water particles into the slits.
This is due to the fact that the tire’s rubber has more silica in it, allowing the tread to be more elastic, so the sipes are able to breath water in and out with much more ease.
On the other hand, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 only showcases impressive skills in hydroplaning tests, as was seen on both curved and straight aqua tests.
On both the tire shows almost 2 mph greater float speeds, on average.
Handling Performance
Handling of a tire highly depends on shoulders.
This is because these parts of the tire work harder when the car is changing direction, due to forces of inertia. In other words, as the tire corners, the weight on it shifts towards the edges.
So it makes sense here why the Continental PremiumContact 7 performs better.
It’s tread features bulky shoulder blocks with more aggressive cuts/notches that bite on to the surface of the road with greater friction.
Moreover with continuous running shoulder ribs, and shallower tread depth (on average), there is minimal lug flexing too. So less under and over steering is observed on this tire.
This improves steering response, allowing the tire to have better handling abilities.
Longitudinal Traction
Longitudinal traction, is actually the straight running grip of a tire, and it depends on the central area of the tread, as that gets the most pressure (while rolling straight).
And since its a directional metric, it gets measured with braking distances and acceleration times.
And in both these dimensions, the PremiumContact 7 takes the lead.
This is because the tire comes with less frequent tread features (which basically eat away the rubber to be in contact with the road).
In other words, the tire offers greater rubber to road connectivity.
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 on the other side, lacks with so many siping through the middle ribs. And yes, unlike the Continental’s tire, they don’t form a continuous running pattern as well.
Fuel Consumption
Discussing fuel usage necessitates delving into the concept of “rolling resistance”, a factor, influenced significantly by the weight of the tire and the softness of its tread.
So generally, an increase in rolling resistance, which can be a result of a heavier tire and a softer tread, directly leads to a rise in fuel consumption.
In this scenario, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 takes a slight lead, displaying a more aerodynamic design with a harder rubber in comparison, and a lighter overall structure.
So it’s tread is faced with less weight pressure as it rolls, and less friction is generated as a result.
Furthermore, with a harder rubber, the overall lug flexing is also less. It’s significant, because molding of the lugs wastes energy that could be consumed in to the rolling of the tire.
To Sum Up
As we’ve navigated through the distinct attributes of both tires, it becomes evident that both these tires excel in different departments.
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 distinguishes itself with a robust construction that promises longevity and durability. And its firmer rubber composition and streamlined design play a vital role in reducing road noise, creating a quieter driving environment.
Moreover, its stiffer tread is also more fuel efficient, showcasing a lower rolling resistance, where its lighter weight is also pretty helping.
On the other hand, the Continental PremiumContact 7 stands out with superior vibration dampening capabilities, offering a smoother and more comfortable ride.
Its well-designed in-groove notches and softer compound enhance its flexibility, adeptly absorbing road irregularities and maintaining a stable connection with the road surface.
Moreover, this very feature also helps it do better in overall wet traction.
