Are Continental Tires Good?

July 1, 2024

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Last Updated on August 24, 2024

Are Continental tires worth the high price tag?

German technology. German quality. German engineering.

“German engineering is our DNA, but today, Continental can boast of engineering expertise that spans around the globe: more than 236,000 passionately committed individuals in 58 countries and 561 sites realize the dream of mobility for customers every day.” – Continental-Tires.com

As pointed out by Continental, “German engineering is not only legendary, it is state of the art.” And for more than a century, they have repeatedly proven how innovative and driven they are in their relentless pursuit of excellence.

But the question remains:

“Are they worth the high price tag?”

Read this review to find out. We will tackle a bit of Continental’s history, technology, design, pros and cons, and about their warranty policies. Then, at the end, we’ll showcase a few Continental tire models.

After reading this article, you should be able to decide when shopping for tires and whether Continental tires are right for you.

The Continental Brand History

Continental Tire Corporation was founded in 1871 in Hanover, Germany. It now operates in over 30 nations and has approximately 50,000 employees worldwide.

The company makes premium passenger car, truck, motorcycle, bike, and industrial vehicle tire brands, including Continental, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, Bridgestone, Yokohama, Dunlop, Nitto, etc.

Besides making new replacement tires, Continental makes original equipment tires for automotive OEM customers.

Over the next 150 years, Continental continued to innovate impressively, developing the world’s firsts:

The first pneumatic tire (1904)
The first aircraft tire (1910)
The first tire for trucks (1924)
The first pneumatic agricultural tire in Europe (1928)
The first winter tire (1934)
The first winter tire with spikes (early 1950s)
The first environmental tire (1980s)
The first run-flat tire system (1987/1989)
The first punctured tire (1988/1989)

Continental.com continues: “After the turn of the millennium, Continental launched an “intelligent tire” with an integrated sensor for the first time, and in 2015, its product line included the fastest tire approved for road traffic.”

Tire Technology, Design, and Features

Continental Tire’s tires are designed to perform well no matter the surface, conditions, or terrain that you encounter, so they equip their tires with a few great technologies and feature innovations.

Wet Grip Performance: Continental tires are made of a special rubber compound designed primarily for damp weather.
High-speed Stability: Its unique design and engineering reduce rolling friction and improve steering response. Fuel consumption savings are estimated to be around 8%.
SportsPlus Technology™: Some Continental tire models, such as the ExtremeContact Sport, are fitted with an advanced technology called SportsPlus™, which improves tread wear and traction on wet and slick roads.
Green Chili 2.0 Technology™: Continental has developed Green Chili Technology for its tires. It’s a proprietary tread composition designed to improve the total mileage of the tires.
Continental ContiSeal Technology™: This helps seal a tire once punctured (filling approximately 80% of the affected area).
Continental ContiSilent Technology™: Road noise and vibrations are addressed with its exclusive ContiSilent technology. The result? A quiet, smooth, and enjoyable ride throughout your trip

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
You get good value for money. Continental offers high-quality tires that meet your performance needs and provide reliable protection against wear. You’ll enjoy an excellent warranty and guarantee. You’ll have tires coming from one of the best-known brands.	Continental tires are relatively expensive.

Continental offers a wide selection of tires for almost any vehicle. Whatever you need, Continental has got you covered. Its section includes passenger car tires, SUV tires, commercial truck tires, motorcycle tires, ATV tires, snowmobile tires, and even racing tires. Continental also provides excellent customer service.

To put this in context, though, Matt Domfeld, Continental’s Spokesperson, said: “We believe that our pricing reflects the value we provide to our customers.

Our goal is to help people better understand the true cost of driving and to encourage them to consider the full value of a complete set of wheels, including fuel savings.”

If Continental Tires are expensive, why buy them?

Continental tires are an investment in quality, performance, and safety due to the immense amount of research, technology, and engineering that goes into their production.

Every aspect of the tire is carefully crafted for optimal results, beginning with the rubber compound selection process. The ideal blend is determined through rigorous testing to ensure it’s strong enough to handle various weather conditions and road types.

Once the right rubber compound is established, each tire must pass a series of tests to evaluate its overall performance. This includes analyzing tread patterns for traction and braking ability under various conditions and durability and speed ratings during simulation tests conducted in state-of-the-art research centers.

Further testing occurs on vehicles to confirm these key metrics before being released to the public. Every Continental tire manufactured has undergone this extensive process to maintain its reputation as one of the best tires on the market today.

Why Choose Continental Tires

Continental Tire competes with other brands such as Firestone, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Michelin, and Pirelli. Their price points are more or less the same. So you may ask: “Why choose Continental over the other brands?” – here are a few good reasons:

High-Quality Tires: When it comes to quality, Continental walks the talk. Its 150 years of industry experience gives it an edge when designing and manufacturing tires.
Outstanding Traction and Handling: Much effort has been put into the tire design, material selection, and manufacturing technology to ensure superior grip and steering response.
Thorough Testing: Manufacturing the tires using advanced technology is one thing, and Quality Assurance is another. Continental subjects its tires through a wide array of tests and quality checks.
Fuel-Efficient Tires: With reduced rolling resistance (through its EcoPlus technology, which uses an innovative rubber compound), the tires are fuel-efficient and environment-friendly—estimated fuel savings: approximately 8%.
Quiet Tires: Combining high quality and low noise in tires is no small feat. Only through advanced engineering can this be achieved, and Continental made this happen.

What is the mileage for Continental tires?

It depends on the model and how the tires are used; some Continental tires come with a 70,000 warranty, while others have lower mileage warranties.

ContinentalTire.com mentions the following factors that affect how long Continental tires last:

Driver’s habits
Tire design
Climate (extreme temperatures)
Road conditions (e.g., potholes, speed bumps, curbs, etc.)
Service of the tire

Important Reminders:

Proper maintenance must be followed to prolong the life of the tires: checking the tire pressure regularly, rotating tires appropriately, maintaining good alignment, and inspecting tires for visible damages.
It would be best to change your tires when you observe tread wear to minimum depth, punctures/cuts/bulges, underinflation, or overinflation.

Warranties and Guarantees

Continental Tire has what they call its Total Confidence Plan, which is a series of warranties and guarantees.

This includes a 60-day customer satisfaction guarantee, a limited manufacturer warranty within the first 12 months, a mileage warranty for up to 80,000 miles, and road hazard coverage—”valid on Continental passenger and light truck tires purchased as replacement bearing the Continental name and D.O.T. serial numbers.”

See the Total Confidence Plan brochure for the complete details and coverage requirements.

These warranties and guarantees prove Continental’s focus on providing quality tires and ensuring customer satisfaction.

So Is Continental Tire Worth It?

Yes, because Continental Tire provides excellent value for money—offering high-quality tires that are reliable, safe, and function well. You are assured that your tires have been scientifically designed, expertly engineered, and strictly tested to ensure compliance with its high standards. Its warranty provides industry-leading coverage.

The Boston Globe article, “Buying the best tires for your vehicle pays off,” mentions that “When it comes to Consumer Reports latest tests of all-season and winter replacement tires, Michelin and Continental lead the way. However, tests revealed that other worthy tires were not difficult to find, and many provided good overall performance.”

The article shows that the Continental brand is one of the top tire leaders with a good reputation in the industry. It’s a brand that people trust and that competitors respect.

When considering Continental Tire, evaluate performance, reliability, safety, and innovation. So, if you love what you’re discovering here, check out our tire inventory from Continental Tire.

Check out a few Continental Tire models.

When it comes to tires that combine innovation, performance, and reliability, Continental is a name that stands out in the automotive world. With a legacy spanning over a century, Continental has consistently delivered top-tier tire solutions to meet the diverse needs of drivers worldwide. In exploring Continental Tire models, we’ll closely examine one of the exceptional offerings.

Continental VikingContact 7 (Snow/Winter)

VikingContact 7 is an ideal winter tire for icy, snowy roads. Its soft tread compound provides excellent traction in cold weather, and its unique v-shaped tread pattern helps quickly evacuate snow and slush from the contact patch.

Continental ContiProContact SSR (Runflat)

With its advanced polymer technology, the new Continental ContiProContact SST2 Touring All Season Radial tire delivers reliable performance across various terrains. Its unique tread pattern features alternating concaves and convexes that improve traction during all seasons. It also provides low rolling resistance and excellent stability, so road conditions won’t limit you. A unique reinforcement system within the sidewall ensures maximum safety when punctures occur.

Continental TerrainContact A/T Tires

With its aggressive open tread pattern, the Continental TerrainContact A / T provides good on-road traction. It also features the EcoPlus technology that saves on gas and reduces noise while delivering superior handling and riding characteristics for extended mileage. The result is nothing less than an exceptional value.

Continental CrossContact UHP Tires

Continental’s Conti Cross Contact UHP is a high-performance tire for 4×4 trucks and SUVs. It has an asymmetric tread pattern that gives excellent traction and responsiveness during challenging driving conditions. The asymmetry also reduces excess wear and noise by keeping the rubber edge away from the road surface.

Continental VancoWinter 2 Tires

This tire bears a 3PMSF symbol and meets all industry severe snow service requirements. The tread block pattern offers optimal braking performance in snow and icy conditions. The sipe design makes the tires perform better on wet and dry road surfaces. Three circumferential grooves help to remove water and slush from your vehicle’s wheels.

Conclusion: Winter Tire Excellence

Continental’s offerings are a testament to their dedication to safety and performance in winter tires. With a focus on innovation and quality, Continental ensures that drivers can navigate winter roads with confidence and control. Whether you choose the specific model we’ve discussed or another from Continental’s lineup, you’re making a choice that prioritizes your safety and peace of mind during the challenging winter months. Trust in Continental to provide the tire solutions that elevate your winter driving experience to the next level.