Continental’s ExtremeContact Sport landed in 2017 and shortly turned a go-to UHP tire for drivers who needed each day livability with some monitor headroom. Its 2022 successor, the ExtremeContact Sport 02, pushes that transient additional.
We re-tested the tire at BMW Efficiency Middle West in Thermal, California, in the course of the Indian Wells match. A full day of scorching 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 circumstances—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 monitor
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™ Expertise and Tuned Efficiency Indicators, the Sport 02 manages to strike that delicate stability 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 via quick corners with none twitchiness. After we drove some M vehicles not too long ago 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 steady below laborious braking and gave linear, easy-to-read suggestions via 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 positive factors 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 basically closed; the Sport 02 now looks like a peer relatively 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 rapid 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 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 sturdy lateral grip with spectacular hydroplaning resistance.
The tire’s contact patch felt constant, permitting for easy weight switch even when pushing via puddles. It additionally delivered wonderful braking efficiency — stopping distances had been brief and controllable, and the tires supplied a predictable slip transition relatively than a sudden lack of traction.
4. Worth and fitment
It’s supplied in 77 sizes from 15 to 21 inches, protecting most fashionable BMWs, together with M vehicles. Pricing undercuts top-tier rivals whereas delivering related real-world efficiency, and the improved put on means you’re not torching a set after a pair laborious days. I additionally choose the Sport 02’s fitment to the Michelin in the identical sizes—the sidewall seems to be squarer and fewer “stretched.” Grip is robust, highway noise stays low, and as a bonus these Continentals are among the many lightest from the foremost manufacturers—a few pound (or extra) lighter per nook than comparable choices.
5. Consistency over a session
Warmth administration is strong. Over repeated laps, grip and steering really feel stayed regular as a substitute of fading after a couple of scorching runs. That consistency makes the tire simpler to belief—whether or not you’re at a monitor day or simply pushing on a again highway. By day’s finish, the M3 drift vehicles at BMW Efficiency Middle West had been attempting to complete off a set of rears, however it took a number of laborious classes to wash them down.
