Skip to Content

Pirelli P Zero PZ4 vs Continental Premium Contact 6

Pirelli P Zero PZ4 vs Continental Premium Contact 6: Both these are ultra-high performance summer tires that are mostly used in sports cars but are not much durable as they focus more on the performance aspect. PZ4 has a lower void ratio and efficient sipes ensuring good wet and dry gripping along with a comfortable ride.

Continental Premium Contact 6 with a higher void ratio is highly useful in wet conditions and its special shoulder design greatly helps while dry handling.

It better resists the treadwear due to its limited contact patch.

For further in-depth analysis, we have compiled test data of both these tires in various categories.

Tread Pattern Comparison

Pirelli P zero PZ4

Pirelli P zero PZ4

Pirelli P Zero PZ4 employs an asymmetric five-pitch tread design which is carved out by four circumferential grooves.

The two central grooves are broader while the one on the outboard side is slightly narrower, however, the fourth and last one located towards the inward side is about half the width of the central ones.

These grooves divide the tire into five segments, two of which are inboard and outboard shoulders along with three tread blocks columns situated between them.

Lateral grooves form the blocks on both shoulders.

On the outboard shoulder, these lateral grooves do not open into the circumferential grooves as they end just before it.

Thin inclined sipes however do connect them with the outboard circumferential groove.

On the inboard shoulder side, a thin horizontal groove divides the shoulder into a 25 – 75 ratio with a smaller area towards the center of the tire.

The lateral groove here simultaneously cuts both the portions of the shoulders and the narrow horizontal groove to open into the inward circumferential groove.

Inclined sipes on the smaller inward shoulder segment reaching to the end and straight sipes extending from the inward boundary reaching to the center of the larger outward shoulder segment are also present on each block.

At the center inclined thin sipes forms the tread blocks with middle and inward tread blocks columns having additional minute notches on the left side of each block as well.

On the flip side, Continental Premium Contact 6 also has an asymmetrical but four-pitch design, unlike its rival.

It has a total of three circumferential grooves with the central and inward being equally wider and the outward one being slightly narrower.

The tread of this tire is also slightly deeper than that of its counterpart.

On outward shoulders the blocks are formed by lateral grooves and each section also has a thin sipe in between, neither the sipes nor the grooves open into the outboard circumferential groove.

However, at inward shoulder resonating pattern of two alternating lateral grooves forms the blocks.

A noncontinuous horizontal grooves cuts each lateral grooves pattern on a forty percent scale from the center side.

This area acts as a tread column while being attached to the inward shoulder.

The size of the inward shoulder is about 1.5 times the outward shoulder and its lateral grooves do not open into the inward circumferential groove.

While in the center it has two ribs and no tread block column.

The inward rib has inclined sipes over it, but the outward rib has straight sipes extending from the boundaries, reaching up to the center from the opposite side such as the ones from the opposite side land in between the two on the same side.

Grip Comparison

The five-pitch design of the PZ4 allows it to secure a decent contact patch with the ground, causing a good grip to be formed with the road.

This results in a lower dry braking distance of this tire i.e., 33.34 meters.

On wet roads, the sipes also come into play along with the contact patch. The efficient sipes pattern on the tread of this tire allows it to readily stop on wet tracks.

It has a short wet braking distance of 34.29 meters.

Side Note: In terms of braking distances, nothing beats the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3.

Premium Contact 6 has a decent connection with the ground but is unable to generate a grip as good as its counterpart due to its comparatively lower contact patch.

This increases its dry braking distance up to 34.27 meters.

On wet roads this tire performs well but is less effective in comparison to its competitor, owing to its inefficient sipes pattern.

It wet braking distance was evaluated to be 35.86 meters.

Handling Comparison

In Terms of overall handling, the Michelin Pilot 4 was able to beat both of them, following are the results:

While turning the shoulders of the tire matters the most.

PZ4 has smaller shoulder blocks which give lower grip and stability while steering on a sharp turn.

The following causes the dry handling time of this tire to be increased up to 95.17 seconds.

However, on wet roads the presence of deep sipes allows it to maintain a sturdy grip on the road, hence resulting in a lower wet handling time of 64.84 seconds.

The Continental Contact 6 is a more attractive choice in terms of dry handling due to its enormous inward shoulder significantly increasing its grip on the road while steering.

This causes the dry handling time of this tire to reduce up to 94.83 seconds which is slightly lower than its rival.

The same is not true for wet handling as the absence of sipes of the same humongous inward shoulder makes it lack proper wet griping.

Thus, causes a higher wet handling time of 65.3 seconds which is slightly higher than that of its peer.

Comparison of Hydroplaning Resistance

Circumferential grooves are responsible for wiping the water through the tread and avoiding hydroplaning.

In PZ4 the circumferential grooves are narrow and less deep.

Its causes this tire to have a lower float speed of 72.3 Km/H while traveling straight on flooded roads.

Similar to circumferential grooves, the lateral grooves are responsible for preventing hydroplaning while moving on a curved path.

Since the lateral grooves of this tire are not that deep and wide hence it has a remaining lateral acceleration of 2 while moving on a curved damp path.

Whereas the Continental Contact 6 has deeper and wider grooves allowing the water to easily pass through them and ensuring no slippage.

It has a float speed of 78 Km/H on straight submerged roads which is higher than that of the other tire.

Just like circumferential grooves, its lateral grooves are also deep and wide which helps it maintain lateral acceleration on the curved wet path up to 2.3.

Comparing Rolling Resistance

The resistance generated by the interaction of the tire and the road is known as rolling resistance.

This resistance must be overcome in order for the tire to move.

Pirelli PZ4’s rolling resistance was experimentally determined to be 9.44 Kg/t.

However, the resistance produced by the Contact 6 is slightly lower which causes its rolling resistance to be lower as well.

Its rolling resistance was assessed to be 8.84 Kg/t which is lower than its rival.

Lower resistance leads to better fuel efficiency as a lesser amount of fuel is consumed to overcome resistance.

Which tire is more comfortable?

The comfortableness of the ride is measured by the quietness it offers while traveling at high speed on the road.

The noise level of PZ4 is measured to be 70.5 dB which is not bad when compared with the tires in the same category.

Continental Contact 6 lacks comfortableness due to the higher noise it generates while traveling fast on highways.

Its noise level was reported to be 73.5 dB which is higher than that of its peer.

In terms of noise, no other tire was able to beat the Pirelli P zero PZ4.

Durability and Treadwear Differences

Treadwear is caused by the friction which is generated by the sliding of tires on the road. This friction causes the tread of a tire to wear.

The durability of the tire is the ability to resist this treadwear and depends upon its built quality.

The contact patch dictates the amount of friction produced as a larger area will generate more friction.

Pirelli PZ4 has a decent build but a larger contact patch, hence, treadwear is observed higher in this tire.

Continental Contact 6 also with the good built quality and the smaller contact patch is more likely to last longer as the lesser contact with the road will generate lower friction, leading to lesser wear and tear of the tread.

Budget Pick Option in comparison to Premium Contact 6: Nokian Powerproof.

Quick Summary

  • Both are ultra-high-performance summer tires.
  • The PZ4 has greater dry grip and wet traction
  • The Contact 6 has a better ability to steer effectively on dry curves.
  • Contact 6’s float speed and remaining lateral acceleration are higher, demonstrating greater hydroplaning resistance.
  • Contact 6 has a reduced rolling resistance and higher fuel efficiency.
  • PZ4 is quieter hence a more comfortable choice.
  • Contact 6 has superior durability and tread wear resistance, allowing for more mileage.
  • Contact 6 is a low-cost tire.
Click to rate this post!
[Total: 1 Average: 5]

Share This Content

Leave a Comment