Continental is a trusted tire manufacturer. Although Continental tires didn’t place in our top tires review top five, it was in the top 10.
This review will examine Continental tires in detail, including their industry ratings, most popular models, and costs. If Continental is not the right fit, we’ll discuss two other brands of tires to consider. TireRack.com allows you to compare tire prices for various brands, including Continental.
Continental Tires Overview
Continental was founded in 1915 and is headquartered at Hanover, Germany. According to Statista, the brand is fourth in tire manufacturing worldwide and accounted for 12.9 percent global sales in 2018. It is held in the same industry regard as Michelin or Goodyear, which are two of the top-tier producers.
Continental is a German manufacturer but it also has a North American headquarters in Fort Mill (South Carolina). It has strong relationships with both luxury and daily-driver vehicle manufacturers making it a popular choice in original equipment (OE). Continental also makes replacement tires, safety systems and parts for powertrains.
Continental tires are used by luxury brands such as Porsche, Tesla, and Audi. They are highly regarded for their performance, touring and standard all-season models. It has also invested years of research and innovation in its tires’ stopping capabilities and sustainability.
Continental Industry Ratings
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has created an evaluation system for Continental tires. It is similar to other passenger tire manufacturers. Uniform Tire Quality Grading is a system that rates tires based on their treadwear and traction. It does not include specialized tires.
Here is a description of the UTQG grading process:
Treadwear This grade determines the life expectancy of your tires. Tires are compared to a 100-rated control tire in order to calculate treadwear. A tire with a 500 treadwear rating means that it lasts five times as long as the control. According to SaferCar.gov data, most passenger tires have a 300-500 treadwear rating.
Traction: This rating measures how well your tires “grip” a wet surface. On a scale from AA to A, B, C or D, traction grades are assigned. Good day-today passenger tires usually receive an A rating.
TemperatureThis rating evaluates a tire’s heat resistance using a scale from A, B, and C. Tires must withstand different temperatures depending on their specialization. For example, performance tires can move at higher speeds than all-season tires and have higher temperature ratings.
Important to remember that the NHTSA doesn’t oversee UTQG testing. Tire testing and reporting are the responsibility of manufacturers and other companies that have been hired by brands.
Below are a few top-rated Continental tire models, along with their treadwear, grip, and temperature scores, using SaferCar.gov data.
You can find out more information about the Continental tires you own by checking the sidewall.
Continental’s Most Popular Tires
Since its inception in 1871, Continental tires has been at the forefront for safety, quality, and innovation. While many of the company’s tire models are well-known, there are a few Continental tires that stand out from the rest.
These are the most popular Continental tires, as determined by customer satisfaction ratings and Continental tire reviews on Tire Rack.
- Continental TrueContact : An all-season tire that is well-respected and can withstand wet, dry, or snowy conditions.
- Continental WinterContact Snow & Ice – Snow & Ice (SI). – An affordable studless winter tire made using PolarPlus TM technology.
- Continental ExtremeContact DW 06 : An ultra-high-performance tire designed for sporty driving that can still handle well in snow or slush
- Continental PureContact: Grand touring tire with Continental’s ComfortRide/EcoPlus technology. It is more comfortable, lasts longer, and is better suited to wet and dry roads.
These Continental tires were each awarded a rating of 4.0 stars or higher on Tire Rack. They also have similar high ratings on other sites.
Continental tires warranties are comparable to those offered by competitors. Standard is a six-year limited warranty on defective materials. The longest tread life warranty is up to 80,000 miles. This is a high standard in the industry. Continental offers a 60-day replacement guarantee for tires that are not satisfactory.
Cost of Continental Tires
Our research shows that Continental tires range in price from $70 to $420 per tyre, with more popular models tending to be higher. A replacement Continental TrueContact Touring tire would cost less than $100 for a popular commuter vehicle like the 2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Although Continental tires are more expensive than Michelin tires, they are still affordable. You get what you pay. Many drivers consider a higher price tag worth it when they consider the company’s strict testing standards, quality materials and tread life warranty.
Continental Customer Reviews
When buying a tire, you should consider cost, reputation, industry ratings, and customer reviews. However, these are all important considerations. Customer reviews will give you a better idea of the performance of Continental tires on the road.
We have included both positive and negative reviews from Continental customers to give you an overall view of the brand’s quality. The majority of Continental tire reviews are positive with high satisfaction ratings for most models.
Positive Continental Tire Reviews
“[The Continental PureContact LS has] excellent wet weather performance, is quiet and has good handling when dry. It’s a class-leading tire that is very safe and predictable in all conditions. One tire survived a pothole hit, which was strong enough to bend the steel rim without blowing em>
– via Tire Rack
“[The Continental WinterContact SI] is an excellent winter tire. It has great grip in both wet and winter conditions. The tire noise is slightly less than the OE model but not as loud as studded tires… Probably have two winters left .”
– via Tire Rack
Negative Continental Tire Reviews
“[I have only driven this tire] 6,800m and it still has 25% (3/32nd). I have three tires by [ContiSportContact 2] on my vehicle. I also have a set Continental winter tires, which I love, but I won’t be buying another set.
– via Tire Rack
“[The Continental ContiTrac] was an OE on my 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty. Even when they were brand new, they were still marginal. They had terrible wet weather performance. I live in southern Alabama, which gets an average of 70 inches of rainfall per year, so this is a major disadvantage .”
– via Tire Rack
Our Final Thoughts on Continental Tires
We ranked Continental tires 7th in our 2021 best tire review and gave them a 4.0-star rating. Continental tires are excellent for all-season drivers. They are also very safe in both wet and dry conditions. A few of the brand’s winter tires are also available, which could be an option for those who want more affordable tires. Continental is not the only option for certain types of tires.