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Last updated 7/05/2024 - Originally published 7/05/2024
Written by SimpleTire
When it comes to the choice of durable all-season tires for passenger cars, the German brand Continental stands out with its excellent tires, while the Italian tire manufacturer, Pirelli, continues to be a trusted global supplier. Both tires are engineered to excel in various conditions, including dry, wet, and light snow while offering comfortable rides and a long tread life. Their all-season tires, PureContact LS and the P7 All Season Plus 3, are among the best in the industry.
The Continental PureContact LS and the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 claim to offer excellent traction, handling, and longevity with consistent and comfortable rides around the year in different driving conditions. Designed for passenger cars, the two tires are backed by 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranties. However, you can put only one set of tires on your car, right? How do you decide which brand of tire to go for? Let’s compare Continental PureContact LS vs Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 based on our proprietary SimpleScore to find the winner.
Continental PureContact LS tires
Introduced in 2018, the Continental PureContact LS enhances the driving experience with shorter braking distances, better fuel efficiency, and optimal performance. Designed for passenger cars, it boasts a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for long-lasting durability. The PureContact LS features Continental's Total Confidence Plan, which includes road hazard protection, limited warranty, customer satisfaction trial, and flat tire roadside assistance. Thanks to its innovative QuickView Indicators, drivers are alerted when the tires compromise their optimal performance, which ensures safety and peace of mind. Its EcoPlus Technology shortens the stopping distance on wet roads to ensure confident performance and enhance safety.
With an outstanding SimpleScore of 9.6, the Continental PureContact LS excels in longevity, handling, and traction, making it a top choice for drivers looking for a premium all-season performance.
Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 tires
Launched in 2021, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 has been designed for sedan and coupe drivers, delivering exceptional performance and traction year-round. While its 3D sipes within the tread ensure superior handling in wet and dry conditions, the optimized tread design reduces vibrations and noises significantly for a quiet and comfortable ride. The P7 All Season Plus 3 is backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and promises decent longevity. Thanks to the special rubber compound, this all-season tire is protected from irregular tread wear and offers a longer service life.
At 9.3, the overall SimpleScore of the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 looks excellent as it stands out in different parameters, including longevity, handling, and traction, and continues to be a preferred all-season tire.
Continental PureContact LS vs Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 tires on traction
Traction is a crucial parameter to consider when choosing an all-season tire. It ensures the tires retain surface contact with the road all the time for safe and well-controlled rides.
Equipped with EcoPlus Technology, the Continental PureContact LS boasts an outstanding traction score of 9.7, which helps drivers stop faster on wet roads. With its advanced tread compound and innovative tread design, the PureContact LS offers better grip and stability in dry, wet, and light winter conditions.
The Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3, on the other hand, scores 9.5 in traction. Its 3D sipes and full-depth sipes within the tread offer drivers excellent handling and grip in dry and wet conditions. Thanks to the special rubber compound, it enjoys better traction and braking performance in various weather conditions.
Although both tires perform exceptionally well in terms of traction, the Continental PureContact LS gains a slight edge over the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3, as evident from their respective SimpleScores.
ADVANTAGE: Continental PureContact LS
Continental PureContact LS vs Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 tires on handling
Handling is a key factor for ensuring a responsive and controlled driving experience. It determines the steering response of the vehicle, particularly while cornering. Both the all-season tires offer outstanding handling.
With a handling score of 9.4, the Continental PureContact LS delivers strong handling in dry and wet conditions. With its ComfortRide Technology, drivers and passengers enjoy more comfortable rides. The advanced design and construction of the PureContact LS boosts its steering response, ensuring stable rides on wet and dry roads.
Scoring an excellent 9.3 in handling, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 is slightly behind its Continental counterpart. Its 3D sipes within the shoulder and full-depth siping within the tread ensure excellent handling and braking performance in various weather conditions. The optimized tread design also reduces road vibrations and noises. Drivers enjoy comfortable and well-controlled rides with these tires.
While both tires offer excellent handling, the Continental PureContact LS enjoys a slight advantage due to its ComfortRide Technology.
ADVANTAGE: Continental PureContact LS
Continental PureContact LS vs Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 tires on longevity
Longevity is a crucial aspect to consider while purchasing tires as it determines the overall service life in terms of mileage or service years. Drivers looking for value and consistent performance around the year prioritize longevity. Both tires are known for delivering outstanding durability and service life.
With an excellent score of 9.7 in longevity, the Continental PureContact LS features an advanced rubber compound and design that reduce uneven wear for a longer tread life. The 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty further demonstrates its long-lasting performance.
On the other hand, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 scores 9.5 in longevity. Its special rubber compound and optimized tread design reduce uneven wear, prolonging its tread life. The tire also comes with a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which indicates its long durability.
While both tires offer impressive longevity and are backed by similar warranties, the Continental PureContact LS takes the lead with its superior rubber compound and advanced design.
ADVANTAGE: Continental PureContact LS
When to use each
All-season tires offer a perfect blend of traction, handling, grip, comfort, and performance. Engineered to provide consistent performance on dry, wet, and light snow, these are a preferred choice for a wide range of passenger vehicles, including sedans, coupes, and crossovers, considering their balanced performance in different driving conditions. While the Continental tire offers a premium driving experience with a better SimpleScore in all three departments, the Pirelli continues to be an excellent choice for passenger tires, offering drivers a higher tread depth for better control and high-speed stability.
If you frequently travel somewhere with unpredictable weather conditions of moderate to severe snow, you should go for a set of all-weather tires to handle dry, wet, and moderate snow with confidence. In case your region experiences frigid conditions year-round with temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, equip your car with dedicated winter tires.
Which one should you choose?
To sum up, the Continental PureContact LS is the clear winner over the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3, delivering superb performance in traction, handling, and longevity departments. While both tires offer outstanding performance, if you are to pick one winner, it should be the Continental.
Comparing the prices of the 205/50R17 93V XL tire size, the Continental PureContact LS costs around $180 per tire, and four such tires cost $720, while the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 costs around $182 per tire, and four such tires cost $728 (a difference of $8).
Based on the SimpleScore, you can choose the Continental PureContact LS if you:
- Drive vehicles like the Honda Accord, BMW 3 Series, or Audi A4
- Prioritize traction (9.7 vs. 9.5)
- Want better handling (9.4 vs. 9.3) and longer tread life (9.7 vs. 9.5)
You can go for the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 if you:
- Drive vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Volvo S40, or Acura ILX
- Value quieter and more comfortable rides
- Prefer the product with the latest technology (launched in 2021 vs 2018)
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, and our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.