Continental IceContact tires: dimensions, specifications, tests and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

German-made car tires are considered among the best in the world. Another confirmation of this is the tires Continental IceContact. The manufacturer made sure that the driver felt confident on winter roads and provided this tire model with high performance.

Manufacturer information

Continental started producing rubber products before the advent of automobiles. Since 1871, the plant has been developing tires for bicycles and carriages. In 1882, the manufacturer introduced the world to a revolutionary product - a pneumatic tire, and five years later tires under the Continental brand could be seen on the first German-made cars.

Currently, production facilities are located in many countries: in Belgium, Ireland, France, Austria, Mexico, Chile, Slovakia and others. In 2013, the Continental plant was opened in Russia, in the Kaluga region. Continental car tires are the best in Germany and are one of the top tire brands in the world rankings.

Lineup

The brand offers a wide range of tires for SUVs, cars and trucks, crossovers, sports cars, minivans. The lineup consists of winter, summer and all-season tires.

Continental IceContact, VikingContact, WinterContact TS 800, WinterContact TS 860, ExtremeWinterContact, 4x4WinterContact are the brightest representatives of the winter lineup. They provide enhanced security and comfort. The manufacturer has tried to adapt tires as much as possible for operation in harsh winter conditions.

Summer tires from the Continental brand received excellent grip. On it, the driver can safely move both on asph alt and on rough terrain. Popular models include Continental SportContact, PremiumContact, EcoContact CP.

All-season tires "Continental" are characterized by high cross-country ability and impeccable quality. For operation in regions with mild winter and cool summer climates, Continental AllSeasonContact, ContiProContact Eco Plus, ContiCrossContact AT tires are suitable.

During the production of car tires, the company introduces many innovative technologies and constantly monitors product quality. Each tire is individually tested before entering the warehouse.

ContinentalContiIceContact

Developers of the German tire brand are constantly trying to improve their products. So, several outdated tire models (Continental 4x4 IceContact and Conti WinterViking) were replaced by ContiIceContact Continental tires. They received an asymmetric tread pattern and spikes. From their predecessors, they inherited ideal traction and a high level of safety.

Two modifications of the "Vikings" and "contacts" beloved by many off-road owners won prizes many times according to the results of tests conducted by European and domestic experts. However, other tire manufacturers did not sit still, trying to create a quality product. In response to this, Continental specialists presented their version of an improved studded rubber - Continental IceContact. Reviews and characteristics of the wheels will be discussed below.

Protector

The design solutions of the developers have made it possible to create rubber that is suitable for use in the most severe climatic conditions. The central tread zone consists of acute-angled blocks that have replaced the usual straight longitudinal ribs. This introduction has significantly increased the number of edges that cling to icy or snowy road surfaces. Small serifs on the surface of the blocks provided tires with a rough finish.

Continental IceContact tires have three-dimensional stepped sipes on the inside. In combination with sinusoidal lamellas located onthe outer side of the tires, this allowed to improve the handling of the vehicle on any type of road surface.

The grooves between the blocks intersect at different angles and effectively prevent hydroplaning. To create tires, the manufacturer used an original proprietary blend containing a synthetic softener, which allows you to keep the softness of rubber even in severe frosts.

Studding technology

Continental IceContact have 130 spikes on the surface of a new shape called "Brilliance Plus". The manufacturer of "steel teeth" is the Finnish company "Tikka". The developers had to work hard to create a new generation of studs that will have a minimal negative impact on the road surface and at the same time maintain the grip of the tires. The studs have received a lighter weight, an updated shape and a new way of fixing.

A feature of the spikes is the presence of hard-alloy inserts in the form of a four-beam star. Each spike received one such unusual insert, which “bites” into the ice and provides excellent grip on an icy road. Tests have shown that Continental IceContact tires have shorter stopping distances than rubber with simple "steel teeth".

The unique technology of gluing spikes makes you forget about the problem of losing them. It takes 500 N to pull out a stud, while conventional studs can only withstand 70 N.

On both sides of the spike there are grooves thatabsorbing ice chips, improve traction.

Reviews and price

Continental IceContact - is a unique tire that was specially created for regions with severe winters and therefore fell in love with many domestic car owners. It is recommended to operate on an icy road. Tires performed well on lightly snowy surfaces. However, you should not climb into the snowdrifts on it - there is a big risk of "burrowing".

The cost of German studded tires depends on the size. So, for a set of Continental IceContact 205/55 R16 tires, you will have to pay from 25,200 to 46,000 rubles. The price is also affected by additional parameters - load and speed index. For example, the number 91 on a tire indicates that the allowable weight per wheel is 615 kg. The letter "T" (speed index) indicates a maximum operating speed of up to 190 km / h.

Reinforced Continental IceContact XL tires are typically found on premium vehicles and offer increased side impact resistance. Such products will cost drivers more than conventional rubber.

Second generation ContiIceContact

In 2015, motorists were presented with an improved rubber model produced at the Russian Continental plant. The Continental IceContact 2 has received even higher performance from the developers than its predecessor.

Engineers managed to improve handling on dry pavement and snowy roads. Severalincreased traction and braking power on ice.

Tire features

In many European countries it is forbidden to ride a "spike" in order to avoid damage to the roadway. On the territory of Scandinavia, the use of a similar type of rubber is allowed, but with a limited number of "steel teeth". Concern "Continental", having conducted numerous studies in this area, concluded that studs with a smaller mass and size wear out the road surface much less, unlike heavy studs. This allowed the Continental IceContact 2 tires to receive three times more "steel teeth" than the legislation of the Scandinavian countries allows.

The spikes are attached in a special way with glue and are arranged on the surface in 18 rows. The "friendliness" of studded tires to the road surface was proven after a car on IceContact 2 tires drove 400 times on a granite slab at a speed of about 100 km/h.

Rubber Review

Tests of Continental IceContact 2 have shown that the updated version of studded tires is ideal for use on icy road surfaces. "Steel teeth" are located with an offset, which made it possible to obtain constant contact, and hence traction, with untouched ice. Closed cavities around the spike - pockets - accumulate crushed ice and remove it under the influence of centrifugal force.

The advantages of this tire model include:

• adaptation to very low air temperatures;
• excellenthandling on any road surface;
• low noise;
• stud wear resistance;
• unique multidirectional tread pattern;
• "spike" especially "loves" icy asph alt;
• increased number of spikes;
• wide range of sizes;
• rubber durability.

What's new?

To create rubber, the developers used new generation CristallDubb studs (“crystal studs”). They are also installed with a special adhesive, but they are extra-light. Unlike the "spikes" used to make the first generation of tires, the updated studs have a larger facet area and 25% less weight.

The tread pattern has also received some changes. The outside of the tires now features larger blocks with multidirectional sipes.

Tests of Continental IceContact 2 have already been carried out many times and the rubber showed itself on the positive side. Coupling properties, handling and safety - at the highest level. The use of a special compound consisting of 15 components helped to achieve such results. Experiments have shown that second-generation Ice Contact tires remain soft and supple even at -60°C due to the use of a large amount of rapeseed oil.

For owners of SUVs and crossovers, the manufacturer offers a studded Continental IceContact 2 SUV. The model received a reinforced frame of the sidewalls, frame andbreaker. The spikes are distributed over the tread surface so that the maximum number of them can contact the roadway.

The improved tire model turned out to be very successful and won the trust of many domestic and foreign drivers. Kontiki are especially popular in the northern regions of Russia, the Scandinavian and B altic countries.

Cost

Premium tires Continental IceContact 2 R17 will cost the car owner 9,000-11,000 rubles per wheel. The cost of rubber in the minimum size (175/70 R13) starts from 3000 rubles. Performance is maintained for 5-6 seasons.