Continental Tires Overview
According to Statista, Continental is the world’s fourth largest tire manufacturer, accounting for 11.1 percent of global tire sales in 2020. Continental was founded in 1871 in Hanover, Germany, and in 1904 became the first company to manufacture grooved vehicle tires.
The production of a high-quality, durable, and versatile range of original and replacement tires using award-winning technologies and designs has ensured the company’s longevity in the industry. Their tires are designed to deliver the performance and comfort that consumers expect from a tire. Continental is an original equipment manufacturer for a number of luxury automakers, including BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz.
Continental tires, in addition to performing well, are backed by a Total Confidence Plan warranty, which provides an extra measure of confidence that every driver requires all year, whether driving an all-season, winter, or summer Conti tire.
The company also owns and operates the General Tires, Uniroyal Europe, Sime Tires, Viking, and Barum brands in addition to Continental. Continental has received numerous awards for its innovative and forward-thinking approaches. It received the PacePilot in 2020 for its Virtual A-Pillar Technology, which aids in the elimination of forward-blind sports.
Continental Tire the Americas.
Continental expanded its market in Northern America by acquiring General Tires from GenCorp in 1987. The North and South American tire divisions’ headquarters are in Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA. Auburn Hills, Michigan is the location of the North American headquarters.
CTA has manufacturing plants in several states across the United States, including Ohio, Michigan, Texas, and Kentucky. It also operates a Silicon Valley R&D Center in San Jose, California. The facility is dedicated to mobility innovation and technology research and development.
Continental Tires Warranty: The Total Confidence Plan
3-year flat tire road assistance: In the event of a flat tire, Continental provides free service by a professional to assist you in changing the tire at any time of day for three years. Roadside assistance also includes free towing within a 150-mile radius.
Road hazard coverage: Continental will replace your damaged tires (cuts, punctures, snags, or bruises caused by road hazards) at no additional cost for the first 12 months from the date of purchase or 2/32nd of tread wear, whichever comes first.
Mileage warranty: Most continental tires include a tread wear warranty. The mileage varies depending on the tire type and size, and can extend 80,000 miles.
60-day customer satisfaction guarantee: If you are dissatisfied with your Conti tires, you can return them to the original dealer for a replacement or refund within 60 days of purchase. This only applies to Continental tires purchased as replacement tires with a D.O.T serial number.
Limited warranty: All passenger cars and light trucks are covered for a maximum of 72 months from the date of purchase under this limited warranty. The policy covers tire replacement for the first 12 months after purchase or the first 2/32nd of wear.
Pros and Cons of Continental Tires
| Pros ✔Excellent all-season options- has more than 62 variants. ✔Innovative and high technology leading to quality tires made from the best materials and processes. ✔A reputable brand trusted by vehicle manufacturers ✔They make tires focusing on the safety of drivers and other users. ✔Offer great warranties for their tires. | Cons 🗶Tire prices can be a bit higher compared to other brands. 🗶Limited all-terrain selection. |
What Sets Continental Tires Apart?
- There are a plethora of options from which to choose.
Continental provides a complete package and does not run out of tires to meet the demands and needs of its customers. Conti will always have a tire that fits your vehicle, whether it’s an SUV, truck, minivan, or tractor. It goes above and beyond by designing dedicated tires for any season, whether it’s heavy rains, frosty winters, or hot asphalt. To top it all off, their tires are not exorbitantly priced.
- A trusted brand
Continental is popular not only with end users, but also with vehicle manufacturers. Continental is trusted by the world’s leading automakers to supply tires for original equipment. The brand has earned such a reputation that one out of every three cars that leave the factory is equipped with a set of Conti tires.
- Affordable premium quality tires
Continental tires have been around for more than 150 years. Years of innovation, continuous improvements, and advancements have gone into ensuring that every tire they produce is of high enough quality to meet market demands. Before they can be launched, their tires are subjected to rigorous testing, ranging from on-road to trucks and simulations, to ensure their safety. The company is able to produce some of the best tires on the market at significantly lower prices than its competitors. Quality is ensured at an affordable price!
- Advanced tire technology for superior performance
Continental does not only pride itself in providing safe products but also boasts of their precise and efficient engineering. The brand’s most recent innovation is the new ContiFlex Stud, which reduces road wear and improves tire traction on ice for a completely new winter experience. It also helps to reduce interior stud noise and significantly improves winter tire tread wear.
- Durability and great warranty
Continental’s desire to constantly innovate and craft new technologies has resulted in the development of special tread compounds that extend tire life. Conti tires’ durability is enhanced by strong sidewall designs that resist premature wear and tear, as well as bruising caused by scattered debris.
Furthermore, tires made with Conti’s patented Green Chilli 2.0 tread compound have increased tread mileage and require fewer replacements. Continental tires have a tread life of up to 80,000 miles and are backed by the Total Confidence Plan.
- High stress on sustainability
Continental prioritizes producing tires in the most environmentally friendly manner possible, reducing their carbon footprint to minimize environmental impact. Their tires are made with a special silica gel compound that is added to the tread to reduce rolling resistance, which in turn reduces fuel consumption. In addition, the brand has a research laboratory in Germany that is solely dedicated to discovering an eco-friendly alternative raw material source for rubber.
Popular Continental Tire Models
1. Continental ExtremeContact Sport: Ultra-High Performance
This tire is intended for all types of sports cars, coupes, and sedans in order to provide maximum traction and cornering grip while maintaining refined ride comfort. The advanced summer tread compound, which features patented +silane technology and a 6-rib asymmetric tread pattern, provides excellent traction and handling in both dry and wet conditions.
To outperform competitors, the tire features larger outside tread blocks and a continuous center rib, as well as Continental’s exclusive Sport Technology, which provides the tire with a quicker steering response and feel. This also contributes to excellent cornering grip and stability at high speeds.
Large circumferential grooves aid in hydroplaning resistance and, when combined with the +Silane compound, provide increased traction on wet pavements. Continental has added a Quickview Performance Indicator to the ExtremeContact Sport, allowing you to see your tire’s wear and suitability for dry and wet road conditions.
This tire comes with a 30,000-mile tread life warranty. It comes in sizes ranging from 15 to 20 inches, with speed ratings of W and Y, and a starting price of $91.
2. Continental CrossContact LX20 Eco Plus: All-season
The CrossContact is designed for all-season highway performance in light trucks, crossovers, and SUVs. The tire employs an eco-friendly tread compound composed of Tg-F polymers and +Silane additive to improve traction and braking performance even on roads with light snow, as well as to increase fuel economy.
It has a symmetric tread design with notched broad shoulders and continuous center ribs to aid in on-road steering and straight line stability while also reducing noise and improving ride comfort. Continental’s Traction Grooves promote three-dimensional snow on snow traction, while the four circumferential grooves improve wet traction.
Continental offers a 70,000-mile tread warranty on this tire. It comes in sizes ranging from 16 to 18 inches and includes a rim protector to protect the wheels from accidental curb damage.
3. Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06: Ultra-High Performance All-Season
The ExtremeContact DWS O6 is meant for drivers of sports coupes, performance sedans, and sports trucks looking for a combination of wet and dry performance as well as slush and snow traction in the winter. It features the new SportPlus Technology and tread compound, which improves handling, wet traction, and precision handling while providing a longer tread life.
When compared to its predecessor, the DWS 06 has X-sipes and Traction Grooves that increase grip in rain and water and improve braking and cornering performance. Furthermore, outboard shoulder macro blocks and independent inboard shoulder blocks improve responsiveness and cornering stability while also reducing hydroplaning.
Continental has added a distinct sport sidewall to this tire to aid in steering response in all road conditions. The tire’s strength and cornering stability are further enhanced by a two-ply sidewall that Continental claims is 35% stiffer than the previous DWS tire.
It comes in sizes ranging from 16 to 22 inches and has W and Y speed ratings. All sizes come with a 50,000-mile tread warranty.
4. Continental TerrainContact A/T: All-Terrain
The Terrain Contact A/T is an all-terrain tire designed for drivers of pickup trucks, jeeps, SUVs, and crossover vehicles that offers civilized on-road manners as well as off-road capabilities. It has a quiet highway ride and a long tread life, as well as all-terrain performance in wet and dry conditions and light snow.
It has a tread compound with +Silane technology for increased traction, tread life, and wet grip. The full-depth sipes and edge-of-the-block traction grooves also help to improve on- and off-road performance.
The TerrainContact A/T is M+S rated but does not meet the severe snow requirements for a 3PMSF rating, and traction may be lacking in deep snow or hard-packed ice areas. This is one of the quietest all-terrain tires on the market, with excellent steering response. Continental offers it in sizes ranging from 16 to 20 inches in both LT and non-LT versions. It has a tread life of 60,000 miles and a starting price of $160.
Cost of Continental Tires
Continental produces tires of comparable quality to Michelin, but they dominate the market by offering lower prices. Their tires are priced competitively: not as low as Cooper’s, but also not as high as Michelin’s. This reflects Conti’s stringent testing standards, high-quality materials, and tread life warranty. Their tires range in price from $70 to $420 per tire. With a Continental tire, you can be confident that you are getting good value for your money.
Conti Tires FAQs
How long do continental tires last?
Continental tires are expected to last between 15,000 and 70,000 miles, depending on usage and road conditions. According to some tire reviews, Conti tires can last up to ten years.
Are continental tires of good quality?
Continental tires are generally of high quality. Their all-season lineup performs admirably in all three seasons and provides adequate traction for winter driving.
Which brands are comparable to Conti?
Continental can be compared to Michelin and Pirelli.
Final Thought on Conti Tires
Continental offers such a diverse and comprehensive range of tires that it is impossible not to find a tire model that fits your vehicle among the brand’s offerings. Their tires perform admirably in almost every environment for which they are designed, and they are an excellent value for money.
These tires are ideal for anyone who wants a high-quality tire but does not want to spend a lot of money. The all-season tires perform admirably in both wet and dry conditions, and their winter lineup isn’t far behind, ranking among the best winter tires reviews.