Buy the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 unless your car needs a size or factory-marked version that only the Pilot Sport 4S comes in. In Tire Rack's 2025 test, the newest we could find, the Continental scored higher, stopped 4.3 m (about 14 ft) shorter in the wet and costs $28 to $60 less per tire.
The 4S is still a very good tire. It comes in more sizes, goes up to 23-inch wheels and is fitted at the factory to many sports cars. But on the numbers, it no longer beats the Continental.
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How they compare
Pilot Sport 4S | ExtremeContact Sport 02 | |
|---|---|---|
Tire Rack category | ||
Treadwear warranty | 6 years / 30,000 miles | 6 years / 30,000 miles |
UTQG | 300 AA A | 340 AA A |
Wheel sizes | 17 to 23 inches | 15 to 21 inches |
245/40ZR18 at Tire Rack | ||
Tire Rack 2025 test | 7.39 / 10, 5th of 11 | 7.79 / 10, 3rd of 11 |
Prices were checked on October 14, 2026. The Continental launched in 2023 in 77 sizes from 15 to 21 inches (Tyre Reviews). It's an update of the original ExtremeContact Sport. The 4S size range is from our count of Tire Rack's list in our Pilot Sport 4S vs Pilot Sport 5 comparison.
What the 2025 Tire Rack test shows
The Continental won on almost every measure. Tire Rack tested 11 summer tires in 275/35R19 on a BMW M2, published in July 2025 (Tire Rack).
Tire | Overall score |
|---|---|
Kumho Ecsta Sport S | 7.95 / 10 |
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | 7.82 / 10 |
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 | 7.79 / 10 |
Vredestein Ultrac Pro | 7.40 / 10 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S | 7.39 / 10 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (BMW original equipment) | 7.35 / 10 |
Six of 11 shown. Tire Rack says each tire is "independently scored 1-10 on comfort and performance," but it doesn't say how the measured results feed that score. Tire Rack shows its measured results in interactive charts. The figures below are Tire Rack's data as written up by Tyre Reviews, which leaves out the BMW-marked 4S, so ranks are out of 10 tires.
Measure | Pilot Sport 4S | ExtremeContact Sport 02 | Better is |
|---|---|---|---|
Wet braking from 60 mph | 43.9 m (8th) | 39.6 m (1st) | Shorter |
Dry braking | 31.4 m (3rd) | 31.0 m (2nd) | Shorter |
Dry lap | 28.62 s (3rd) | 28.19 s (1st) | Faster |
Wet lap | 31.18 s (4th) | 30.26 s (2nd) | Faster |
Dry circle | 1.00 g (2nd) | 1.01 g (1st) | Higher |
Tester score, dry handling | 8.00 | 8.19 | Higher |
Tester score, wet handling | 7.38 | 8.13 | Higher |
Tester score, road | 7.08 | 7.42 | Higher |
The 4S beat the Continental on nothing here. Dry braking and dry grip were close. Wet braking and wet handling were not.
Wet braking is the big gap
The Continental stopped 4.3 m shorter from 60 mph in the wet. That's about 14 ft. Tire Rack says the Continental had "the strongest 60-0 wet braking in the test." It says the 4S needed "10+ feet further" than each of the top three.
Testers also flagged the Michelin's handling at the limit. They noted "front axle chattering understeer" in the wet and "chattery understeer" in the dry. Tire Rack's summary for the 4S: "An aging category icon that faces strong competition at this point." For the Continental: "it remains a category benchmark for good reason."
Ride and noise
The Continental rode better. Testers praised its "particularly nice compliance over impacts, large or small." It was a little louder on coarse surfaces. The 4S was "firm but composed," with "noticeable harshness" over larger bumps, and testers found it noisy throughout (Tire Rack).
This is one test, in one size, on one car. It's the newest head-to-head we could open. Treat it as strong evidence, not the last word.
Tread life and warranty
On paper the Continental should last a little longer. Both have a 6-year, 30,000-mile treadwear warranty. On a staggered car, with wider tires at the rear, the rear warranty is halved for both (Tire Rack 4S, Tire Rack ECS02).
The UTQG treadwear grade is 300 for the 4S and 340 for the Continental, in every size we checked. Both are AA for wet traction and A for temperature. NHTSA describes the treadwear number as a comparison against a control tire graded 100. Neither is a 200-treadwear track tire, which our guide to 200-treadwear tires covers.
We found no independent wear test with both tires in it.
Price in four common sizes
The Continental costs $28 to $60 less per tire in the sizes we checked. That's $112 to $240 on a set of four.
Size | Pilot Sport 4S | ExtremeContact Sport 02 | Set of 4 difference |
|---|---|---|---|
245/40ZR18 | $112 | ||
235/35ZR19 | $152 | ||
255/40ZR19 | $204 | ||
275/40ZR19 | $240 |
Tire Rack prices per tire, October 2026, before fitting. The Continental's 255/40ZR19 price was marked "Special."
Michelin was running a rebate on a set of four, which cuts the gap. On the 245/40ZR18 page it was an $80 Visa card, valid to November 30, 2026. That takes a set of 4S tires from $1,015.96 to $935.96, against $903.96 for the Continental. So in that size the real gap was $32 a set.
A staggered Mustang GT Performance Pack set, two 255/40ZR19 and two 275/40ZR19, works out like this. The 4S is 2 × $377.99 + 2 × $410.99 = $1,577.96. The Continental is 2 × $326.99 + 2 × $350.99 = $1,355.96. That's $222 apart before rebates. Our best summer tires for the Mustang GT guide prices more options in those sizes.
Three details to check on the order. The 235/35ZR19 4S also comes as a Mercedes "MO1" version at $334.99. The 275/40ZR19 4S has a Mercedes "MO1A" version at $384.99, which is less than the retail 4S in that size. And in 275/40ZR19, the retail 4S is 105Y XL but the Continental is 101Y with a standard load rating, a lower load index. Your new tire's load index should be at least the one on your door label. Our guide on how to read a tire size explains the codes, and where to buy tires covers fitting costs.
When the Pilot Sport 4S still makes sense
The 4S wins when the Continental isn't an option, or when a factory-marked tire matters to you.
- Big wheels. The 4S goes to 23 inches. The Continental stops at 21.
- Your exact size. In October 2026 Tire Rack listed the Continental in 275/35ZR18 and 275/35ZR20 but not 275/35ZR19, the test size. Check yours.
- Factory-marked versions. Many cars come on a 4S built for that model, such as BMW's star or Mercedes' MO1. Tire Rack lists Mercedes-marked 4S versions in 235/35ZR19 and 275/40ZR19. None of the Continental sizes we checked showed a factory marking.
- Matching a pair. If you're replacing two tires, match the two still on the car.
The BMW-marked 4S in the test braked about a foot shorter than the retail one and lapped a touch faster, 28.55 s against 28.62 s (Tire Rack). It still scored below the Continental.
Can you buy them in the UK?
The Pilot Sport 4S, yes. The ExtremeContact Sport 02, we couldn't confirm. Every retailer listing we found was a US one, and the Tyre Reviews page for it shows US dollar prices only.
UK prices for the 4S started at £261.99 in 275/35R19 on the Tyre Reviews test page in October 2026. If you want a Continental, the SportContact 7 is a max performance summer tire with UK prices from £155.93 in 235/35R19 (Tyre Reviews). It's a different tire, and it wasn't in this test.
How to check this on your own car
The site hasn't tested these tires. Here's what to look at before you order:
- Photograph the sidewall of each current tire. Note the full size, load index, speed rating and any marking like ★, MO1 or N0 next to the size.
- Read the DOT date code. Our guide to DOT date codes shows where it is.
- Measure tread depth with a gauge at the inner, centre and outer grooves. Write it down with the mileage, so you can compare wear on the new set.
- Check the door label for the front and rear sizes. Different sizes mean you're staggered, and the rear warranty is halved.
Which one for your car
Choose the ExtremeContact Sport 02 if | Choose the Pilot Sport 4S if |
|---|---|
Your car runs 15- to 21-inch wheels | Your car runs 22- or 23-inch wheels |
You drive in the rain a lot | Your car came on a marked 4S and you want to keep it |
You want the lower price | Your exact size is 4S only |
You want the better ride | You're replacing two and matching the pair |
What to do today
- Read your exact size, load index and speed rating off the door label and the tire.
- Check whether the Continental is sold in that size and load index.
- If it is, price both at two retailers, including any Michelin rebate.
- If your car came on a marked 4S, decide whether the mark matters to you before you compare prices.
- Check the DOT date code when the tires arrive, and plan for winter if you live where it freezes. If you'd rather run one set all year, see our Pilot Sport 4S vs Pilot Sport All Season 4 comparison.
Common questions
Is the ExtremeContact Sport 02 better than the Pilot Sport 4S?
In Tire Rack's 2025 test, yes. It scored 7.79 against 7.39, stopped 4.3 m shorter in the wet and set the fastest dry lap of all 11 tires. That's one test in one size, but it's the newest one.
Which lasts longer?
Probably the Continental, but only by a little. Its UTQG treadwear grade is 340 against 300, and both carry a 30,000-mile warranty. No test we found measured wear on both.
Should I match OE-marked tires?
If your car came on a marked tire, such as a BMW star or Porsche N0, the marked version was developed for that car. It's the safe choice. A retail tire in the right size and load index fits too. Just keep the same tire and version on each axle.
Sources are linked in the text. Main references: Tire Rack test, Tyre Reviews test data, Tire Rack Pilot Sport 4S and Tire Rack ExtremeContact Sport 02.
Featured image: Dodge Viper Wheel Michelin Pilot Sport Cup by Ryan Gsell, CC BY 2.0. Source
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