Pros
- Great dry traction
- Quick steering response
- Overall comfortable ride
Cons
- Less than ideal tread life
- Poor winter performance
Features
The Continental 4×4 Contact is a Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season light truck tire made to reflect a touring tire and deliver the same handling as high-end crossover and sport utility vehicles. The 4×4 Contact is used as original equipment for high-end crossover and sedan brands such as BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and more. Drivers can expect a solid all-season tire that provides great traction and durability and an overall comfortable ride.
The Continental 4×4 Contact tire is a tire worth getting excited about. The unique ContiTouringContact CH95 style tread design of the Continental 4×4 is what makes this model such a great all-season tire. Designed to provide drivers with several perks such as a comfortable ride, enhanced wet and dry traction, and decreased road-noise, the 4×4 hardly disappoints. The silica-based all-season tread compound and non-directional tread pattern can take credit for the impressive dry and wet traction, and the computer-optimized tread design increases noise resistance and overall ride quality.
Continental 4x4 Contact Performance Review
Treadwear and Durability
Many drivers have complained about the tread life of this tire. While the tire is designed to reduce treadwear with the silica-enhanced all-season tread compound and twin steel belts joined by a spirally wound jointless nylon reinforcement for increased durability, the 4×4 Contact doesn’t last as long as we’d like.
Dry Performance
The 4×4 Contact tire will perform well on dry pavement, providing good traction and stability. Steering response is also something to get excited about whether driving through the city streets on cruising on the highway. Overall, this is a favorable tire for dry conditions.
Wet Performance
The 4×4 contact tires aren’t the best tires on the market when it comes to wet performance but they’re definitely not bad. The 4×4 has proved to perform well in wet conditions, even in the rain. The tire has wide circumferential grooves for added grip and lateral grooves that expel water from under the tires on wet surfaces. These features protect drivers from hydroplaning and increases overall safety when driving in these conditions.
Snow Traction and Braking Performance
When it comes to snow traction and braking performance, Continental 4x4s don’t compare to winter tires. With that being said, they do provide perform decently in such conditions. 4×4 Contact tires are designed with several sipes surrounding the tread in order to better grip uneven terrain and snowy roads.
Comparable to Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season light truck tires, you can expect to use these all-season tires in light snow. This is made possible with the ContiTouringContact CH95 style tread design, as mentioned above. These tires come in a range of sizes with wide tread widths which enable some snow performance – with the exception of heavy snow and ice. You will start to notice a lack of traction in such conditions.
If you’re looking to drive your vehicle through the winter and snow is expected, you are best to go with winter tires. Plus, with the 4x4s having a short treadlife to begin with, the winter conditions shorten this time even more.
Comfort & Noise
The Continental 4×4 Contact is known to provide an exceptionally comfortable ride, however, the road noise is louder than most would like. This is a common opinion across many drivers.
Tire Warranty
Owners of Continental 4×4 contact tires receive a limited warranty with their purchase. This includes one year coverage for tire uniformity or the first 2/32 inch of wear. Parts and labour are covered for 6-years and customers will receive replacement during the first year or first 2/32 inch of wear, free of cost. A prorated amount is also provided for the remaining time period down to the final 2/32 inch of tread depth.
There is also a one-year or first 2/32 inch of wear road hazard warranty, as well as Continental’s exclusive 30-day customer satisfaction trial.
Continental 4x4 Contact Tire Sizes & Specifications
Tire sizes available
16″
215/75R16XL 107H
225/70R16 102H
17″
225/60R17 98H
235/55R17 99V
235/60R17 102V
235/65R17 104V
235/65R17XL 108V
235/65R17 104H
235/65R17 104V
235/65R17XL 108V
235/70R17 111H
255/60R17 106H
18″
235/50R18XL 101H
235/60R18 103H
255/55R18 105H
255/55R18XL 109V
255/55R18 105V
255/55R18XL 109H
265/60R18 110V
265/60R18 110H
19″
235/50R19 99H
235/55R19XL 105H
255/50R19XL 107H
255/50R19XL 107V
255/55R19XL 111V
265/50R19XL 110H
265/50R19 110H
275/45R19XL 108V
275/55R19 111H
275/55R19 111V
20″
265/45R20XL 108H
275/45R20XL 110H
How much do they cost?
The starting cost of the Continental 4×4 contact starts at $132 per tire. You can save on these tires with occasional rebates, discounts, coupons and seasonal promotions.
What vehicles will this tire fit?
- Acura RDX, ZDX
- BMW X5, X6
- Cadillac SRX
- Dodge Nitro
- Ford Edge, Flex SE, F-150
- Honda Odyssey, Pilot
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Jeep Liberty, Grand Cherokee
- Kia Sorento
- Land Rover Range Rover, LR3
- Mazda CX-7
- Mercedes-Benz ML350, ML550, R350
- Porsche Cayenne
- Toyota RAV4
- Volkswagen Touareg
- Volvo XC90
- And more!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Continental 4×4 Contact tire is an all-season luxury tire comparable to a light truck/SUV touring tire. If you’re looking for favourable dry traction and handling in both wet and dry conditions and a comfortable ride, the 4×4 Contact is for you. If you’re looking for a long-lasting tire that will also perform well throughout the winter, you’re better off to keep looking.