Mercedes C63 AMG pushed to the limit in epic Continental showcase 

We invited Blackcircles.com’s fitters to experience the incredible performance potential of SportContact 7 in Mercedes’ most hair-raising saloon: the 503-bhp C63.

From skidpan drifting to hot-laps on the ragged edge, our partners discovered why Continental tyres are fitted to all AMGs at Mercedes-Benz World.

To provide our award-winning Click & Fit tyre service, we rely on the skill and expertise of our 2,249 strong fitting network across the UK. With over 36 million tyres fitted to date, we believe it’s crucial that our partners have firsthand experience of the product to provide optimal customer support.  

That’s why we recently visited the incredible facility at Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge, with our partners at Continental tyres, to explore how the decorated SportContact 7 enhances one of the fastest four-doors on the market. Here’s what we found: 

Dry Handling Track 

To properly put both the C63 and SportContact 7 through their paces (in a way which you couldn’t on the public road), we hit the dynamic handling area at Mercedes-Benz World. It’s a combination of extremely tight and technical slow speed corners, teamed with faster sweepers, and a back straight where a well-driven C63 will be nudging 100 mph.  

Before being let loose with the full fury of that 4.0-litre AMG V8, one of MBW’s professional instructors showed us the ropes.  

As you can see from the hot-lap footage, the explosive low-down torque and power of the C63 demands a tyre with supreme grip and a predictable handling balance — a lesser tyre could be turned into clouds of smoke under such liberal throttle applications. 

Clearly SportContact 7 excels in both of these areas, allowing our driver to carry truly astonishing numbers through the bends. Our Pro Driver also offers his expert guidance and analysis of the Continental tyre: "it simply finds grip around here that we didn't think would be possible from a road tyre." 

After a quick moment to regather our stomachs and allow the colour to return to our faces, we jump behind the wheel for ourselves. The first thing that strikes us is just how user-friendly the SportContact 7 is; you don’t need to be a pro to look like one with this rubber.  

Or enter tyre size

Among the many positive revelations from our dealers hammering around the track, the most common is “are these special track tyres then?” However, Continental’s team confirms that they are the same versatile performance rubber that you can purchase on Blackcircles.com. 

Skid Pan

So it’s clear that the SportContact 7 and C63 are a formidable pairing in the dry, but how do they cope when grip is taken out the equation? Well, with access to the country’s largest skid pan, it didn’t take long to find out.  

Designed to simulate compacted snow, you’d expect such a powerful rear-wheel-drive car to be unruly at best, and undrivable at worst on such a surface. But, to everyone’s amazement, the progressive way with which the SportContact 7 breaks traction, teamed with the suite of safety systems on-board the C63, make the big Merc almost impossible to spin completely. 

Even with the car’s advanced stability and traction control fully deactivated, the C63 is still manageable and controllable with the correct driver technique. By learning to tactfully modulate the throttle and apply appropriate counter steering we were able to string some lengthy Top Gear-esque drifts together — the goal being four laps, which equals a full Km of sideways driving.   

Watch as tyre professional, Craig Smith, tests the limits of adhesion and learns how effective stability control and ABS are at preventing accidents in the real world. 

Conclusion 

Aside from the fun behind the wheel, our day at Mercedes-Benz World served as an invaluable lesson on the importance of fitting the right rubber for your high-performance machine. Moreover, we were schooled — in the most visceral way possible —  on why Mercedes has chosen Continental’s profoundly capable SportContact 7 as an OE fitment for the venerable C63.  

Engineered specifically for this application, the SportContact 7 passed over 100 tests before it received Mercedes’ seal of approval — and it shows. So why compromise on performance? Fitting original equipment tyres is the best way to ensure your car performs as the manufacturer intended. 

Hero image credit: Mercedes-Benz World