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 transient additional.
We re-tested the tire at BMW Efficiency Heart West in Thermal, California, in the course of 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 robust grip, clear suggestions, and regular habits throughout altering circumstances—with out beating you up on the road.
Listed below are 5 causes we just like the ExtremeContact Sport 02.
1. Balanced grip for road and observe
Continental got down to construct a tire that performs on each moist and dry pavement — and so they’ve nailed it. Because of the model’s SportPlus™ Expertise and Tuned Efficiency Indicators, the Sport 02 manages to strike that delicate steadiness between nice grip and a cushty each day tire.
On dry pavement, the Sport 02 instantly feels planted and simple to belief. Steering inputs translate cleanly into the entrance tires, and there’s loads of grip by way of quick corners with none twitchiness. Once we drove some M vehicles lately on some mountain roads, what stunned us most was how civil it felt — easy, quiet, and composed.
2. Dry dealing with and suggestions
On the autocross course it stayed secure below onerous braking and gave linear, easy-to-read suggestions by way of 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 improved. The hole to Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4S is essentially closed; the Sport 02 now seems like a peer quite 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 instant it stunned me—I needed to make a small correction simply turning into one other road. It’s that sharp on-center.
3. Moist confidence
The day’s second spherical of testing occurred 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 robust lateral grip with spectacular hydroplaning resistance.
The tire’s contact patch felt constant, permitting for easy weight switch even when pushing by way of puddles. It additionally delivered glorious braking efficiency — stopping distances had been brief and controllable, and the tires supplied a predictable slip transition quite than a sudden lack of traction.
4. Worth and fitment
It’s supplied in 77 sizes from 15 to 21 inches, masking most trendy BMWs, together with M vehicles. 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 onerous days. I additionally favor the Sport 02’s fitment to the Michelin in the identical sizes—the sidewall seems 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 few 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 an alternative of fading after a number of 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 vehicles at BMW Efficiency Heart West had been making an attempt to complete off a set of rears, nevertheless it took a number of onerous classes to wash them down.
