We name our No. 1 tyre

After our range of assessments, we have a winner

LAUNCHED late in 2016, the Premiumcontact 6 not only replaced the Con ti premium contact 5, but also fellow test winner the Cont is port contact 5 in some sizes.

And Continental has done a good job of retaining the latter’s sporty feel without compromising the ride of the Con ti premium contact 5. This was easily the best driver’s tyre in the wet and dry.

There is a liveliness to its handling that no rival could match. Steering response is swift and in the dry it had grip to spare, encouraging you to push harder. It required less lock while setting test-winning times, too. It shared the win with Michelin in the dry, but the Pilot Sport 4 didn’t feel quite as sharp.

In the wet the Premiumcontact 6 was in a league of its own, finishing half a second ahead of runner-up Pirelli. That sharpness was still there, too, with a strong front end pulling you through turns where rivals just pushed wide. The tyre also allowed higher entry speeds and more throttle to be applied earlier.

The handling result was repeated in the closely linked wet circle test, plus it took a close second in braking. It had to give best in the deep water tests, but was closer to the winner in the straight aquaplaning than on the curve.

Fuel economy is not a main priority for the firm, but our champ matched most rivals, plus was close to the best for cabin noise. It all adds up to another Conti win.