In this Continental tires review, we’ll discuss the variety of tire types this German tire maker produces. So, we’ve listed each in a summarized fashion to help you understand the difference between each one of these tire categories.
PASSENGER TIRES MADE BY CONTINENTAL
MAX PERFORMANCE SUMMER TIRES
Designed to deliver the highest combination of dry and wet traction along with reasonable ride and treadwear. However, not for winter conditions.
Not intended to be driven in snow or on ice, these technologically advanced ultra low profile, high speed tires combine computer developed designs, and unique materials with precision manufacturing techniques to provide an unsurpassed blend of dry and wet traction and handling.
ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE ALL-SEASON
Great on dry and wet road, and possess an adequate traction. At same time, they have reasonable comfort and tread longevity. These ultra-low-profile tires are designed to provide year-round traction, even in light snow. This is because of their tread design and compounds that remain more flexible in the cold weather to help blend all-season traction with very good handling and high-speed capabilities.
GRAND TOURING SUMMER TIRES
Designed to blend good dry and wet traction with a comfortable ride. Not for winter conditions.
Not intended to be driven in snow or on ice, these tires are designed to blend a performance tire’s appearance with a passenger tire’s smooth, quiet ride. These Grand Touring Continental tires we included in this review, are often used as Original Equipment and place more emphasis on handling and high-speed capabilities than Standard Touring tires.
GRAND TOURING ALL-SEASON
This category of tire delivers a satisfying balance of good year-round traction, comfortable ride and reasonable tread life. Since this is the case, one of Continental’s motto is, Stay in control through every season.
They are capable of providing year-round traction, even in light snow. These type tires are designed to blend a performance tire’s appearance with a passenger tire’s smooth, quiet ride. Continental Grand Touring All-Season tires are often used as Original Equipment and place more emphasis on handling and high-speed capabilities than Standard Touring tires.
STANDARD TOURING ALL-SEASON
Focused on providing a longer tread life, while also delivering a smooth ride and sufficient all-season traction. They are also capable of delivering year-round traction, even in light snow. This type of all-season tires produced by Continental, give a performance tires appearance with a passenger tire’s smooth, quiet ride. These tires are typically available in the lower speed ratings and higher aspect ratio sizes and place more emphasis on ride comfort and treadwear than Grand Touring tires.
STUDLESS ICE & SNOW
This first category includes the Studless Ice & Snow tires. These types of Continental winter tire meet challenging wet driving conditions. This is because they deliver studded-like snow and ice traction without employing noisy, road-damaging studs. These tires feature flexible tread compounds molded into purposeful tread designs that off-set some handling in dry and wet conditions. So, they deliver excellent snow and ice traction. Available in a wide range of sizes for coupes, sedans, minivans, and crossover vehicles.
PERFORMANCE WINTER / SNOW
The second category of tires include the Continental Performance Winter / Snow tires. These tires are good for winter driving on European highways. Because the combined performance and grip makes this type of tire suitable for higher speeds driving in Europe. Available in many of the low sidewall profile, large wheel diameter sizes used on sports coupes and luxury sedans, as well as several crossover and sport utility vehicles.
TEMPORARY/COMPACT SPARE TIRES
Light-duty, special purpose, temporary-use spare tires
These light-duty, special purpose, temporary/compact spare tires feature full-size, compact or folding designs that typically have shallow tread depths and lightweight constructions to save weight and/or trunk space for cars, vans or light trucks. We’ve listed this category of Continental tires in this review, even though they are used as a spare and/or temporary use.
LIGHT TRUCK/SUV TIRES – CONTINENTAL TIRES REVIEW CONTINUED
STREET/SPORT TRUCK SUMMER TIRES
Focused on nimble handling on dry and wet roads. Acceptable ride quality and tread life. Not for winter conditions.
These wide, low profile and large rim diameter tires enhance a vehicle’s looks and performance when used to replace most Original Equipment tires. They emphasize traction and handling in dry and wet conditions. However, like all summer tires, are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.
CROSSOVER/SUV TOURING ALL-SEASON
This is another type of all-season tire from Continental, which delivers a good all-season traction, comfortable ride and reasonable wear. These tires combine the sporty appearance of Street/Sport Truck tires. At the same time, provide a ride quality and noise comfort like the Highway All-Season tires. Yet, provide a sophisticated blend of fashion and function. While they offer all-season versatility, including traction in light snow, they also feature an extremely wide tread width. In spite of that, this may limit the traction this type of tire can provide in deep snow.
HIGHWAY RIB SUMMER TIRES
Smooth running, heavy-duty tires for your heavy-duty pickup, sport utility or motorhome on dry and wet roads.
These heavy-duty light truck/SUV tires feature rib-type tread designs developed primarily for street and highway use. They emphasize even wear, low noise and good traction on dry and wet roads. but like all summer tires, are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.
HIGHWAY ALL-SEASON
These are known for longer tread life while providing a smooth ride and sufficient all-season traction. These all-season tires by Continental typically feature independent tread blocks and multiple sipes positioned around the tire. However, this combines a good on-road traction, even on gravel and dirt roads. They are also capable of providing all-season versatility, including traction in light snow. Please make sure to read our Continental All-Season tires review, which goes into more depth about the entire all season tires produced by Continental.
ON-/OFF-ROAD ALL-TERRAIN TIRES
Capable both on- and off-road, with much more off-road toughness than highway tires. Expect to sacrifice some comfort and paved-road traction to get it.
These tires typically have as much capability off the road as they do on the road. Featuring multifaceted tread blocks to help deliver traction in any direction on gravel roads and dirt trails. Branded with the M+S symbol, which indicates their ability to provide all-season versatility, also good traction in snow.
ON-/OFF-ROAD COMMERCIAL TRACTION TIRES
Heavy-duty construction and aggressive tread designs in order to deliver dependable traction in unpaved conditions or at unimproved job sites. Reasonable on-road and winter traction.
These heavy-duty tires feature aggressive tread designs that generate off-road traction by biting into loose or muddy surfaces. They are also capable of providing traction in snow and some are even designed to accept optional studs for enhanced traction on ice.
LIGHT TRUCK/SUV STUDLESS ICE & SNOW
The Light Truck/SUV Studless Ice & Snow tires are designed for cold conditions. They are also available in a wide range of standard and heavy-duty sizes for full-size vans, crossover vehicles, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks.
LIGHT TRUCK/SUV PERFORMANCE WINTER / SNOW
The last category are the Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter / Snow tires. You can find these in Extra Load sizes used on performance-oriented crossover and sport utility vehicles, as well as several full-size cars.
Before finalizing this review on Continental tires, we came to the conclusion that this popular European brand makes very good quality tires. They are a little pricey and usually come factory on higher line vehicles. Please check the following tires listed by popularity. View all Continental tires for sale and available rebates.
