ContiExtreme Contact Tire Review

[SilverMS3]

So my winter set up includes the stock wheels with some 225/45R18 Continental ContiExtreme Contact tires. And now that I've had some snow in my area I feel I can give an initial review.

First, I do have to mention one thing for the MS3 folks. I experienced very slight rubbing of the back tires with these installed and my other four wheels and tires loaded in the hatch. As soon as I took the extra weight out of the back, no more rubbing.

Never the less, I will be rolling the rear fenders ASAP. On to the review.

Dry conditions:

They have held very well so far in the corners. I don't trust them as much as the stock Potenzas, but they are rock solid. Only downside is a slight increase in noise on the freeway, nothing ridiculous though.

Snow conditions:

I have been very pleased and impressed so far with these tires in the snow. Starting out from a stop they grab extremely well and they plow nicely through deeper snow (6") without me having to spin the tires and power my way through. They also brake very smoothly and I did not experience any slippage really. They tires have a nice deep tread pattern and I think that allows them to perform very well as a snow tire. Overall, I feel confident driving around on these in the white stuff.

So, IMHO for a reasonably priced ($118/tire @ tire rack) High Performance All-Season these perform very well in the snow and are the perfect alternative to much higher priced and faster wearing dedicated snow tires.

[ill_eagle94]

They are also on national backorder :-(.

I was going to order them.

[SilverMS3]

Too bad, that sucks. I must have ordered mine just in time. FYI, if you do buy any 4 Continental tires you get a digital LCD picture frame free here (http://f4.contisweeps.com/tires.php) Just have to purchase by 1/17/08.

[dsterp]

We had our first light snow today in Maryland and now I realize that the Speed 3 comes with Summer tires!!!

What's the deal with that? Now I am looking to get some all season tires I guess stick with the same size 215/45/18 ???

[RelliMS3]

was that rubbing you experienced on the inside or the outside of the back tires

[happy and angry]

We had our first light snow today in Maryland and now I realize that the Speed 3 comes with Summer tires!!!

What's the deal with that? Now I am looking to get some all season tires I guess stick with the same size 215/45/18 ???First, get winter tires. Second, don't go with 18's. Get some 16's or 17's because they'll be cheaper, for one, and more sidewall for flex in the winter is actually a good thing. The 16 inch steelies from Tire Rack apparently fit, but if you buy local you may have to go 17. I know the 16 steelies I have don't fit.

GET WINTER TIRES. The rubber compound will give you better grip bellow temperatures around 7 degrees C or 44 degrees F, plus the tread design is FAR better for dealing with snow and ice. All season tires are really NO season tires, and with the power the Speed3 puts down at the front, you will REALLY want a proper winter tire. Blizzak WS60s are performing great for me this winter, and I highly recommend them.

Proper winters won't be as aggressive as a summer tire, but they'll give you grip in the cold, the ice, and the snow, which will keep your car off the curbs and out of ditches so it's still in pristine shape for the spring.

[SilverMS3]

Now I am looking to get some all season tires I guess stick with the same size 215/45/18 ???

To be absolutely safe about rubbing I would. Some people have gotten 225/45R18 and not experienced rubbing, but I did. It can depend on the shape of the specific brand/model of tire you get but nothing is guaranteed.

If you want to get all-seasons and are worried about snow/ice be sure to research each specific tire. Tirerack.com is a great place for this. Check out the snow/ice ratings for the ContiExtreme Contacts I got.


was that rubbing you experienced on the inside or the outside of the back tires

Pretty sure it was the outside. I haven't gotten a chance to inspect the tires yet really. But like I said above, it was very slight when I hit bumps in the road and had the weight of my summer wheels/tires loaded in the hatch.


GET WINTER TIRES. The rubber compound will give you better grip bellow temperatures around 7 degrees C or 44 degrees F, plus the tread design is FAR better for dealing with snow and ice. All season tires are really NO season tires, and with the power the Speed3 puts down at the front, you will REALLY want a proper winter tire. Blizzak WS60s are performing great for me this winter, and I highly recommend them.

Proper winters won't be as aggressive as a summer tire, but they'll give you grip in the cold, the ice, and the snow, which will keep your car off the curbs and out of ditches so it's still in pristine shape for the spring.

I here your opinion, but you missed the point of this thread. People are looking for information on all-season tires and these specific all-season tires - Continental ContiExtreme Contacts.

Will dedicated snow tires perform better than all-seasons? Absolutely. However, through 13 years of experience driving in Minnesota and through a lot of research on all-season tires before I made my purchase, I am presenting people with a review of a High Performance All-Season tire that rates very highly in snow/ice and in general (see tirerack.com info. on this tire).

And now that I've seen them in person and driven on them in the snow a few times I can present people with a educated review of how these all-season tires perform very well in snow/ice. So, we can't just say all-season tires are no-season tires because it's simply not true.

[happy and angry]

My reply was mostly to dsterp because he said "It's snowed, better get some all seasons."

Beyond that, a set of performance winter tires will handle better in the cold and the snow than a set of performance all-seasons, and a set of performance summer tires will handle better in the dry and in the rain during the warmer months than a set of performance all-seasons. I can't wrap my head around buying a second set of tires for winter and getting an all-season tire compound.

[bacarl]

Have you got lowering springs of any type, SilverMS3?

Just surprised (and disappointed) that 225's have the potential to rub on stock suspension, if that's the case.

[SilverMS3]

I can't wrap my head around buying a second set of tires for winter and getting an all-season tire compound.

I respect your opinion. For me, the issue was how much snow/winter tires cost and how quickly they wear, especially with warmer temps and lack of snow.

Winters have been so all over the place here lately that it can be 20 degrees with snow one week in december and then be 70 degrees and dry the next week. And those are temps that aren't to good for wear on a snow tire. Which is why I went with a highly rated in the snow all-season with a deep tread that was less expensive and will last me a lot longer.


Have you got lowering springs of any type, SilverMS3?

Just surprised (and disappointed) that 225's have the potential to rub on stock suspension, if that's the case.

No springs or lowering. Completely stock. I was suprised too, since most of what I read about 225's said there were no issues. Maybe it's this specific tire, I don't know.

[Falconx84]

I've got the same tires... they are on a national back order but www.tires-easy.com has them, thats where I got mine

[SilverMS3]

I've got the same tires... they are on a national back order but www.tires-easy.com has them, thats where I got mine

Falcon, did you have rubbing issues as well?

Mine's fine except when I have weight in the back. I'm wondering if I'll have to roll the fenders.

[Falconx84]

not that I've noticed... sorry it took so long, my internets been down

I had a fairly good load in my car going home for christmas, no rubbing at all. I'm also not running stock rims with these tires, either

[All4BeSpinnin]

Maybe a 225/40 would not rub and still be close to stock diameter on the factory wheel.

[Young Roids]

I take it that you are going to run these tires in the summer as well?

[Dream]

I just picked up some snow's for my MS3, im in MN as well. I just cant get myself to spend money on all season tires. I like the fact that I have dedicated wheel/tire combo's for summer and for winter. Snow's are a must in MN IMO.

[Young Roids]

I love snow tires. So I agree with Happy and Dream about not going with all season. Snow tires just hook up so much better than all seasons it's no comparison.

[SilverMS3]

Maybe a 225/40 would not rub and still be close to stock diameter on the factory wheel.

In hindsight, I probably should've gone 225/40 but I read some posts on a few different sites where people didn't have issues with 225/45 so I went for it. Oh well.


I take it that you are going to run these tires in the summer as well?
Yesterday 10:03 PM

Nope, I have summer rims with the stock tires.


I just picked up some snow's for my MS3, im in MN as well. I just cant get myself to spend money on all season tires. I like the fact that I have dedicated wheel/tire combo's for summer and for winter. Snow's are a must in MN IMO.

I love snow tires. So I agree with Happy and Dream about not going with all season. Snow tires just hook up so much better than all seasons it's no comparison.

I hear people's opinions on that, but honestly these tires are the exception to the "rule." You have to see them in person and drive on them to believe it. With the deep tread and pattern they perform amazingly well. I drove last Sunday during that nastiness and was on my way home from Madison Christmas Night when that batch of snow dropped. Performed admirably.

And these tires will last me about 8 winters where snow tires would maybe last 4 years. And they cost me about $260 less.

[Young Roids]

Nope, I have summer rims with the stock tires.





Why go 225 then? Narrow is better in the snow. I am going with a 205 width for my snows(if they ever get here(bang)).

[SilverMS3]

Why go 225 then?

They aren't available in 215/45R18.

The options were 225/45 and 225/40.

[Young Roids]

Ahhh, makes sense.

[Falconx84]

young - i'm not planning to run mine in the summer either, but honestly I didn't lose much performance-wise from stock. I'm very impressed with this tire

[detsilverms3]

i went with generals the something or other UHP's i had them siped and they work way better than the bridgestones. even just on dry pavement. 'm thinking about trading them in on something else come summer next year when i get new rims.

[Young Roids]

young - i'm not planning to run mine in the summer either, but honestly I didn't lose much performance-wise from stock. I'm very impressed with this tire

I am jelous of you guys because you are driving your cars I am still waiting on my winter setup that keeps getting pushed back by tirerack. I ordered my setup over a week ago and they said the 27th(today) is when they would be getting them in now they are saying they will be in on the 5th.(headshake

[Falconx84]

you snooze, you lose ;)

[turbolife]

I still don't understand why you are buying All-seasons as a "second set" to use in the winter. If you are going through the effort of buying another set, get snow tires. It will be cheaper in the long run too.

[SilverMS3]

still don't understand why you are buying All-seasons as a "second set" to use in the winter. If you are going through the effort of buying another set, get snow tires. It will be cheaper in the long run too.

If you read all my posts you will understand. These all-seasons aren't like all the other all-seasons. (see tirerack.com ratings for this tire in winter). And these tires are significantly cheaper than snows.

[turbolife]

If you read all my posts you will understand. These all-seasons aren't like all the other all-seasons. (see tirerack.com ratings for this tire in winter). And these tires are significantly cheaper than snows.

I did look at the ratings. Remember this, the average person cannot drive and is an idiot. Always keep that in mind reading peoples reviews. Also, many of those reviews came from Quattro drivers...

You shouldn't be buying a 225/45/18 snow tire anways, won't 16's or 17's fit? They would be cheaper, provide better traction and make your summer tires last longer. Its cheaper in the end.

I am sure they are great tires, but no all-season will out-perform UHP Summer and good snowies...

[SilverMS3]

I did look at the ratings. Remember this, the average person cannot drive and is an idiot. Always keep that in mind reading peoples reviews. Also, many of those reviews came from Quattro drivers...

You shouldn't be buying a 225/45/18 snow tire anways, won't 16's or 17's fit? They would be cheaper, provide better traction and make your summer tires last longer. Its cheaper in the end.

I am sure they are great tires, but no all-season will out-perform UHP Summer and good snowies...

You're right people can't drive. And I did take into account how most people can't write a review. What I looked more closely at was the overall comparison results and the tire rack test results.

For me, I didn't want to spend money on another set of rims only to use them in winter. I used the stock tires on a set of nice aftermarket 18 inch summer rims. That's why 17s were out.

So I wasn't worried about summer performance from the Continentals. I wanted good dry performance and great snow performance tires to put on the stock 18inch rims.

Winter tires wear so fast that you have to take them off when the weather gets above about 60 degrees. And in MN it could hit 60 for two weeks in March and then be 25 and snowy for the next three weeks. So I don't want to fear switching to my summer setup to soon and wear the winter tires away to nothing when they cost $200/tire.

Enter the ContiExtremeContacts for $118/tire. Perfect compromise. And now I can speak from personal experience that this specific all-season tire performs very well in snowy conditions.

Which brings me to my original reason for posting, to give people my review of another option to dedicated snow tires. Take it as they want.

[Falconx84]

i went with the continental tire because at the moment I'm living in NC, and I was going home for christmas in wv. And around christmas in WV, either we'll get 6-8 inches or nothing. I didn't want to burn up winter tires driving 1000+ miles on dry warm pavement. I've also driven in 8+ inches of snow on regular 3-season "all-season tires" in a performance car (jetta vr6) with no real issue. Thats why I went for the tire I did

[Kurt07]

I am looking at getting the ContiExtreme Contacts in a 235-40/18 and new wheels. The one thing that concerns me is dry performance. My opinion is they can't be any worse then the stock Bridgestones.

[fourthmeal]

The stock Bridgestones are some of the highest dry-grip tires out there. While I'm certainly not a fan of them over other tires...you can't knock them for traction compared with alternatives. Hell, a lot of Porsches and other super-sports cars use them as O.E.

However, going to a wider tire (as long as the wheel can handle it which the stockers can't) should be of great benefit to this car. A lot of 235/40-18 owners say that the overall traction is much better, but the steering feels more disconnected or slow.

[Kurt07]

I plan on upgrading the wheels too. I am just trying to make up my mind on what wheels I want.