Continental ContiSportAttack 4 Review & Rider Experiences

Conti SportAttack 4 Score

7.0 Stable and Planted

The Continental ContiSportAttack 4 is the "Goldilocks" of the hypersport world - a tire that masterfully balances aggressive performance with real-world usability. It introduced the legendary BlackChili Sport-Compound to Continental’s motorcycle range, providing a level of grip and warm-up speed that sets the benchmark for road-focused sport tires.

The Good

1. Stable
2. Planted feeling
3. Short warm up
4. Good wet grip

The Bad

1. Less agile
2. Possible overheating on 200hp Superbikes

• Grip Dry 9
• Grip Wet 8
• Warm-Up 9
• Handling 6
• Mileage 5
• Value for Money 5
• User Ratings (1 Votes) 7.5

The ContiSportAttack 4 is one of Continental’s latest hypersport motorcycle tire. According to the manufacturer, many aspects have been improved: more performance, better wet grip, and stronger all‑round capability. Whether the ContiSportAttack 4 truly delivers – and whether it deserves a recommendation – is what we reveal in our full ContiSportAttack 4 review on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX‑10R.

Technologies of the ContiSportAttack 4

The ContiSportAttack 4 uses several of Continental’s well‑known technologies.

Continental ContiSportAttack 4 Review

The successor to the ContiSportAttack 3 – now called the ContiSportAttack 4 – was eagerly awaited by Continental fans. Although the SportAttack 3 wasn’t a bad tire, it never fully convinced the community, which is likely why it was discontinued. Continental now offers only two hypersport options:

• SportAttack 2 (budget)
• SportAttack 4 (current flagship)

How the SportAttack 4 compares to the SportAttack 2 – and how it performs overall – is what we evaluate in our full test on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX‑10R.

Grip on Dry Roads

The ContiSportAttack 4 offers strong front‑end grip, especially at lower temperatures. The rear behaves similarly: once warmed up, it delivers plenty of traction even on high‑powered bikes. Warm‑up time is short. Even in cool weather, only a few corners are needed before the tire reaches full performance. Heat retention is excellent – the tire stays warm for a long time. Under extreme heat and continuous full‑load riding, the rear can start to smear slightly. On 200‑hp superbikes, this may become noticeable.

Grip on Wet Roads

Wet grip is respectable. The SportAttack 4 allows for sporty riding in the rain, which enhances its all‑round character. However, in our experience, the Metzeler Sportec M9 RR performs slightly better in wet conditions.

Braking Performance

Braking performance is strong. Front‑end feedback is confidence‑inspiring, and trail braking into corners is a pleasure. You always feel in control of what the tire is doing. Grip levels are very good at both front and rear.

Riding Comfort

Comfort is also solid. The tire offers enough damping to ride comfortably even on rough country roads. This makes the SportAttack 4 suitable not only for hypersport riding but also for sporty touring.

Tire Wear

The SportAttack 4 degrades quickly in hot conditions. The tire begins to break up and can start smearing. Overall, we were not impressed with the wear pattern. In midsummer, noticeable rear‑tire wear can appear after just a few corners.

Mileage

Mileage has improved compared to the predecessor, but still isn’t great.

• On low‑torque bikes, up to ~3,000 km is possible.
• Very sporty riders with high torque at the rear may need a replacement after 1,800–2,500 km.

Mileage on Ninja ZX‑10R (Test Result):

• Front: 5,041 km
• Rear: 5,041 km

Front and rear wear at roughly a 1:1 ratio. We achieved 5,041 km on the Ninja ZX‑10R in mostly road use – right down to the legal 1.6 mm limit. This is actually a solid result for a hypersport tire on a superbike. However, we must admit that much of the riding was done in cooler weather and at a more relaxed pace.

Riding Stability / Cornering Stability

Cornering stability is one of the SportAttack 4’s strengths. It does not fall into corners and can be guided precisely and confidently. Even when trail braking and releasing the brake, the tire remains stable. Long, fast sweepers are handled with excellent precision and line‑holding. Corrections are always possible and are absorbed calmly.

Agility / Steering Behavior

The SportAttack 4 provides good front‑end feedback – but that’s where the praise ends. Compared to Pirelli, Metzeler, or even the older SportAttack 2, the steering behavior feels noticeably less agile. The tire leans more toward stability than agility.

For high‑speed highway riding, this is ideal. On twisty country roads, however, the SportAttack 4 requires more rider input. It is never nervous and forgives small mistakes with calm, stable behavior.

Uprighting Moment

The SportAttack 4 behaves completely neutrally. In our ZX‑10R test, we detected no uprighting tendency when braking at lean.

Tire Pressure

We ran the SportAttack 4 at the recommended pressures:

• Front: 2.5 bar
• Rear: 2.9 bar

We generally recommend sticking to the higher manufacturer pressures, as the SportAttack 4 already tends to overheat and smear. With factory pressures, heavier bikes ride very well, and we saw no need to adjust pressures for road use.

ContiSportAttack 4 Experiences

The ContiSportAttack 4 is a stable, planted hypersport tire. Unfortunately, in our view, it lacks the classic “Conti agility” that many riders loved. Attacking twisty home roads is noticeably less fun with the SportAttack 4 than with the SportAttack 2. However, riders who value stability, neutral handling, and strong feedback will appreciate the SportAttack 4. We see it as a great match for high‑speed highway riding on superbikes and sport‑tourers like the Suzuki Hayabusa. For tight mountain passes and hairpins, we would personally prefer other tires – though this is ultimately a matter of taste.

We also don’t necessarily see the SportAttack 4 as a strong trackday option. There are significantly better choices from competitors or even from Continental itself (e.g., RaceAttack 2). Overall, the SportAttack 4 performed very well on our Kawasaki Ninja ZX‑10R, especially on long straights, wide roads with fast sweepers, and on the highway.

Comparison: SportAttack 4 vs. Predecessor

Compared to its predecessors, the ContiSportAttack 4 is said to be significantly improved. According to Continental’s performance chart, dry grip and handling have improved noticeably over the SportAttack 3. From a sporty perspective, however, we still don’t find it ideal – the sharp, agile “home‑road weapon” feeling is missing. In this regard, we personally prefer the ContiSportAttack 2, which remains our favorite Continental tire for spirited riding in good weather on twisty mountain roads.

For longer highway tours or sporty traveling on large, heavy motorcycles, we would choose the SportAttack 4 instead. The riding feel is extremely planted and stable, and the tire inspires a lot of confidence.

Alternatives to the ContiSportAttack 4

• ContiSportAttack 2 (more agile and cheaper)
• ContiSportAttack 5
• Bridgestone Battlax S22
• Bridgestone Battlax S23
• Metzeler Sportec M9 RR
• Metzeler Sportec 01
• Michelin Power 5
• Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
• Dunlop Sportsmart MK3